I know if it ain't broke, yadda yadda, but there is no way in hell that Rowand shouldn't be hitting third and Thomas shouldn't be hitting fifth.

 

How does Rowand keep getting chooched to seventh or sixth, behind three or four slower guys with worse averages?

Winning another game?

Winning another game?

Mmmmmmmmmm, yes.

He's one of our best hitters for average and he has more speed. Why not have him closer to the top?

Balancing out the line-up with a good bat near the bottom. Nothing wrong with that.

He's one of our best hitters for average and he has more speed. Why not have him closer to the top?

We are winning. I don't care if Frank bats lead-off, a Win is a Win!

In my opinion, having Thomas bat third makes no sense whatsoever. I know his OBA is always really good, but until he can get his average consistently above .270 (with more than 50 abs) he needs to hit fifth, or at the highest, fourth.

We are winning. I don't care if Frank bats lead-off, a Win is a Win!

 

This is the kind of thinking that will bite you in the ass when the strategy totally backfires in a more important game...say, for example, the playoffs and say, for example, against a better team than the AAAA Royals.

This is the kind of thinking that will bite you in the ass when the strategy totally backfires in a more important game...say, for example, the playoffs and say, for example, against a better team than the AAAA Royals.

A better team then the Royals, you meen like the Dodgers, Padres and Indians.

This is the kind of thinking that will bite you in the ass when the strategy totally backfires in a more important game...say, for example, the playoffs and say, for example, against a better team than the AAAA Royals.

it's the 3rd game of the series, we already won the first 2, ozzie always does something different with the 3rd game of the series.

don't freak out.

When has Thomas NOT batted third this season? Why is he batting third?

 

The Dodgers, Indians, and Royals are definitively NOT playoff teams and the Padres are only because they play in a bad division.

Aaron has hit his best in the 3rd spot and is our best hitter with runners in scoring position. Big Hurt would bat 4th, but Konerko needs his protection so it all makes sense. This isn't a move that's discipling Thomas, but more like helping Rowand and Konerko.

Think critically, folks. I realize it's tough to do when we're all high-fiving one another and patting ourselves on the back as fans.

Aaron has hit his best in the 3rd spot and is our best hitter with runners in scoring position. Big Hurt would bat 4th, but Konerko needs his protection so it all makes sense. This isn't a move that's discipling Thomas, but more like helping Rowand and Konerko.

 

EXACTLY.

Think critically, folks. I realize it's tough to do when we're all high-fiving one another and patting ourselves on the back as fans.

 

So you disrupt your moody superstar who has complained in the past about being moved out of the #3 hole, just to beat Kansas City, who you have beaten 8 straight times anyway? Why risk it? It ain't broke, don't fix it, especially when dealing with Frank.

Aaron has hit his best in the 3rd spot and is our best hitter with runners in scoring position. Big Hurt would bat 4th, but Konerko needs his protection so it all makes sense. This isn't a move that's discipling Thomas, but more like helping Rowand and Konerko.

Rowand hits his best in the leadoff spot.

So you disrupt your moody superstar who has complained in the past about being moved out of the #3 hole, just to beat Kansas City, who you have beaten 8 straight times anyway?  Why risk it?  It ain't broke, don't fix it, especially when dealing with Frank.

 

 

So let's get to the heart of this post then: Thomas is still filling out part of the lineup card, not Ozzie.

LOL Ozzie is managing the best team in the MLB, (with average talent, according to experts) and all he does in win games. And Sox fans including myself constantly rip on him. But he must be doing something right.

So let's get to the heart of this post then: Thomas is still filling out part of the lineup card, not Ozzie.

 

Why even test it? Frank is killing the ball and drawing walks. He isn't hurting the team in the 3 spot. Why risk a tempertantrum and the clubhouse meltdown for a minimal gain right now? If Frank wasn't hitting this might be a consideration, right now it is just kicking a sleeping dog in the nuts.

Whatever he wants because it's working? Everyone is contributing to this team and that's huge. That shows that we will be able to count on guys like Ozuna in the future.

I really don't see why its so bad having Frank bat third. He gets on base. He hits the longball. Whats the big f***ing deal?

Why even test it?  Frank is killing the ball and drawing walks.  He isn't hurting the team in the 3 spot.  Why risk a tempertantrum and the clubhouse meltdown for a minimal gain right now?  If Frank wasn't hitting this might be a consideration, right now it is just kicking a sleeping dog in the nuts.

 

Okay, good point, but it seems like Frank is really being accommodated in a way that I thought Ozzie wouldn't necessary. With everyone else, they are plugged in wherever they need to be on that day. If Frank is even remotely healthy, he's called up early (after nearly insisting) and then plugged into the three hole as a dh on a daily basis.

Edited June 22, 200520 yr by Hideaway Lights

Think critically, folks. I realize it's tough to do when we're all high-fiving one another and patting ourselves on the back as fans.

Ok, here is how to think critically. Big Frank has one of the best OBP of all time. Not only that but he is on pace to hit about 47 homers. You put your best hitter in the 3rd spot, thats it. he is our best hitter. You cannot make the case that A-row is a better hitter than Frank because his average is higher. He does not protect hitters behind him and in front of him like Frank does, and will never scare the opposing team like Frank does. And nobody will get on base like Frank does. Sorry

Once more, insert 1-liner to end thread:

 

49-22. PERIOD.

Okay, good point, but it seems like Frank is really being accommodated in a way that I thought Ozzie wouldn't necessary. With everyone else, they are plugged in wherever they need to be on that day. If Frank is even remotely healthy, he's called up early (after nearly insisting) and then plugged into the three hole as a dh on a daily basis.

 

I could buy that a lot more if Frank wasn't splitting time with Everett essentially. Usually he would be playing everyday, which he has not been. Everett is still seeing a decent amount of PT at Frank's expense. Plus Frank has earned the right to lose his spot in the batting order.