2014 batting order

first order of business, this thread assumes that we keep all of our outfielders and they roll with what they have now.

now, my #1 concern is where Kemp hits because his level of play and where he hits could have the biggest impact on fielding a dominant order. imo, Kemp needs the most plate appearances possible and he needs to hit in front of our best hitter...basically, he needs to hit in the 2-hole in front of Hanley. that should be Kemp's home for all of 2014, unless there's an injury or guys need a day off and such. the #2 hole is becoming a dynamic spot in MLB and Kemp should be the best there.

my #2 concern is DBB settling for his left-right-left-right bullshit...which would mean that CC is hitting at top of our lineup ( maybe even Dee at times). this cannot happen. CC needs to either hit 8th or be on the bench. period.

anyway this is how i'd fill out the order;

Puig ( everyday)
Kemp ( everyday unless they rest him)
Hanley ( everysinglefuckingday)
AGon ( everyday)
Guerrero ( everyday, do not jerk him around)
AJ/Ethier
Uribe ( every time he's in the lineup)
CC/AJ

mostly CC and Ethier rotating. Guerrero's glove is a question...i don't think his bat will be. right now they're saying he's favorite to start at 2B with Dee also in the mix. if Dee's in the lineup he better not be hitting higher than 8th...slide everyone up one after AGon. it's a top heavy lineup, but should our 6-8 batters put together good ABs and get it back to Puig, opposing pitchers then have to run a hell of a gauntlet and get through Puig/Kemp/Hanley/AGon. not easy.

 

I have to disagree on a number of points. Crawford's walk rate did improve last year. As a leadoff hitter, he has respectable .304/.353 Not bad at all.

If he plays, he should leadoff. He is gaining his legs back and he is a pretty smart base runner.
I think that when he plays, the order should be:
Crawford
Puig
Agon
Kemp
Hanley
Uribe
Guerrero (I know nothing about him)
AJ

When he does not, it should be (IMO)
Puig
Ethier
Hanley
AGon
Kemp
Uribe
Guerrero
AJ

When Kemp sits (and he will)
Crawford
Puig
AGon
Hanley
Ethier
Uribe
Guerrero
AJ

I think that Uribe has proven he can hit 6 or 7 reliably. I also think AJ needs in the 8 hole to save his legs and to get a walk when possible. Kemp may need more at bats but until he proves completely healthy, I would not put in the 1 - 3 holes. There will be equal playing time for all. Puig may get more at bats but the other three will be dependent on pitching matchups and health.

 

are those his leadoff numbers from last year? if they are that changes quite a bit.

 

I'm not a big fan of Puig at the top but on Crawford's days off I'm ok with it. I also don't want him moving around in the outfield. Let him play RF exclusively until he can hit a cutoff man. Ethier can handle CF on Kemps days off. Ethier also would cover LF on Crawford's days off. When Puig runs through the wall, Ethier can play RF. I'm going to assume for the sake of this thread that Guerrero will be the masher he's said to be. If he's not, and Uribe is last year or better Uribe, I swap them in the order. If both suck it causes some problems. Here's how I write the cards.

Opening Day
Crawford LF
Puig RF
Hanley
Kemp CF
Agon
Guerrero
Uribe
AJ

Crawford rests
Puig RF
Kemp CF
Hanley
Agon
Guerrero
Ethier LF
Uribe
AJ

Kemp rests
Crawford LF
Puig RF
Hanley
Agon
Guerrero
Ethier CF
Uribe
AJ

Puig has run through a wall and is DTD
Crawford LF
Kemp CF
Hanley
Agon
Guerrero
Ethier RF
Uribe
AJ

 

Yes sir:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=crawfca02&year=&t=b

 

Be prepared to have dee in the lineup at 2B. It doesn't sound too promising that Guerrero will be MLB ready by opening day.

 

Didn't they say the same thing about Puig and then he hit .500 in ST?

 

Gotta keep kemp fresh. Hasn't shown he can stay healthy in quite some time.

Crawford
Puig
Hanley
Gonzales
Kemp
Uribe
Guerrero
Aj

 

This is whats fun about this lineup. I think everyone's lineups are totally viable.

 

Gordon
Ellis
Kemp
Ethier
Rivera
Loney
Uribe
AJ Ellis

 

Ford and I need help getting back to the future. We're stuck in the year 2011.

 

Puig
Ethier
Hanley
A-Gon
Kemp
Uribe
Ellis
Guerroro/Dee/?

 

thanks. nice work there. that changes a lot. i still want Kemp in the 2-hole, so that means Puig slides down in the lineup for me...moving into a RBI spot...hell, i think i want Puig in the cleanup spot and AGon behind him for protection now. something like this;

CC
Kemp
Hanley
Puig
AGon
Guerrero
AJ
Uribe

that way, Hanley still protects Kemp and teams still have to give Puig pitches because AGon's up next...having AGon behind Puig also gets AGon out of his way on the basepaths. lol

or without CC and with Ethier in;

Puig
Kemp
Hanley
AGon
Guerrero
Ethier
AJ
Uribe

i like Uribe in the 8-hole...brings more speed and a little more pop to the bottom of the lineup than AJ does.

 

If Kemp shows he can lay off a slider, I would bat him 7th or 8th. If he can't lay off a slider, then he's on the bench until he can.

 

Sorta.

It wasn't Puig's hitting they were concerned with, it was whether he could adapt to the ML game and play the field the right way. They were right about that, he was/is unpolished. Remember, had Crawford and Kemp not been on the DL at the same time, Puig would have stayed in the minors until September.

 

Maybe not all you're stuck in, ...anybody got a water hose?