I have had a lot of converstations about Dunn's spot in the everyday lineup and I have also heard a lot of conversations about him. What does the soxtalk community think, is there a consensus on whats best. His career 162 game average is .250/.381/.521/.902 with 40 HR and 98 RBI. I have heard people say he belongs batting third becuase the high OBP extends the first inning of the game, or his high HR total allows for a first innings go ahead HR (something that batting 4th isn't guranteed). I have heard people say he should bat 4th, sandwhiched between sluggers becuase he will get more fastballs and opportunities to drive in more runs or hit multiple run HRs. I have heard people say he strikes out too much and should not bat 3rd becuase he helps shorten the first inning. So which one is it. Where is the best spot for him.

I have heard people say he strikes out too much and should not bat 3rd becuase he helps shorten the first inning.

A strikeout is still an out, might even be a long one since it requires more pitches, and he makes fewer of them with that .380-ish OBP. I think this actually argues in favor of him hitting 3rd.

3rd. No question for me.

A strikeout is still an out, might even be a long one since it requires more pitches, and he makes fewer of them with that .380-ish OBP. I think this actually argues in favor of him hitting 3rd.

This.

Ideally, he'd be hitting 4th, but for our situation I like Beckham-Dunn-Konerko for 2-3-4.

 

 

Ideally, he'd be hitting 4th, but for our situation I like Beckham-Dunn-Konerko for 2-3-4.

Ideally, Quentin would hit like its 2008, and Dunn could hit 4th.

It'll work itself out as the season goes, but I'd rather see Dunn hit 4th.

Ideally, Quentin would hit like its 2008, and Dunn could hit 4th.

 

The division is a wrap if this happens.

Pierre

Beckham

Quentin

Dunn

Konerko

Rios

Ramirez

Pierzynski

Morel

 

Man... That looks awesome if they all hit like they should.

Rios-Dunn-Konerko is my 3-4-5.

Ideally, Quentin would hit like its 2008, and Dunn could hit 4th.

 

Ideally. I'm starting to lose faith in Quentin, though.

 

 

I'd love Beckham-Quentin-Dunn-Konerko

I'd like to see the lineup like this:

 

1. Pierre

2. Beckham

3. Rios

4. Dunn

5. Konerko

6. Quentin

7. Pierzynski

8. Ramirez

9. Morel

 

I like the idea of Dunn hitting 4th.

Quentin will be a better hitter than Rios this year but I don't want either of them batting 3rd to start the season. Dunn should be in the 3 hole at the beginning of the year.

Pierre

Beckham

Quentin

Dunn

Konerko

Rios

Ramirez

Pierzynski

Morel

 

Man... That looks awesome if they all hit like they should.

 

This is what I would like as well!

 

I voted for the 3 spot. I think it makes the most sense to me, for a lot of reasons that people have stated. These are the kinds of polls I enjoy though. No answer is wrong, because where ever he bats, he will still hit some long and kickass home runs, and get on base.

Voted third, I like Paulie batting 4th like last year.

 

 

If we didn't have Konerko to fit in, I'd say fourth, I like Konerko in the 4th spot, so that bumps Dunn somewhere, and third seems like the spot. Now if Q comes around, Oz has some options, and they all look pretty damn nice.

 

I'm just bracing for a swinging third strike to end the first.

3rd. But as others said, if Quentin is in 2008 form, I want Dunn hitting 4th.

3rd. But as others said, if Quentin is in 2008 form, I want Dunn hitting 4th.

In other words, Dunn 3rd until someone else earns it.

And I'm hoping someone else earns it.

I know I am lonely on this island, but I would love to see Dunn hit 4th with Rios in front of him, getting protected.

To me it makes no sense to leadoff Pierre, if Dunn is hitting third. I personally would solve this by finding a new LF, but since that isn't going to happen.... this would be my lineup:

 

Pierre

Beckham

Rios

Dunn

Konerko

Quentin

Pierzynski

Ramirez

Morel

He should be hitting in the 4th spot. But I have more of an issue in where Rios is currently hitting. If you're gonna hit him in a spot other than 3rd, put Quentin 5th.

Any of these scenarios are great if it is because people are getting on base. If it becomes Ozzie shuffling lineups like during the Jerry Manuel years, than ::SS, you may need more room on that island. That could be a lethal order.