Batting Order Banter

[batmagadanleadoff]

The Athletic asks: What is the best batting order for the 2020 Mets?



https://theathletic.com/1666438/2020/03/10/what-is-the-best-batting-order-for-the-2020-mets/https://theathletic.com/1666438/2020/03/10/what-is-the-best-batting-order-for-the-2020-mets/



Excerpt:

A batting order can be constructed in hundreds of thousands of ways — 362,880 to be exact — and for the Mets, almost none of them feel just right. This is largely a good problem for New York to have. It is difficult for the Mets to figure out how to build that everyday lineup, not because of a dearth of options, but because of a surplus. “We have a lot of guys that profile hitting in the top just because of their ability to get on base. We have a lot of guys that have the ability to drive in runs, hitting in clutch situations and with runners in scoring position, that can hit in the middle,” manager Luis Rojas said. “We've thought about it. There's so much depth that you can almost play around a little bit with the lineup. But we're not there yet.”

I've written occasional posts here over the years, opining that the #2 hole is the most butchered and misunderstood slot in a baseball lineup. I guess I should take that back now, because according to this piece, that's not true anymore. MLB, not surprisingly, given the explosion of data and the proliferation of statheads with advanced math degrees now working in baseball, has figured it out -- and that your best hitters should be at the top of the lineup, including at the #2 slot. In fact, one current trend is to bat your best hitter second, not third or fourth. The reasoning is that the #3 hitter gets to bat more than any other batter, with two outs and nobody on, the most inefficient circumstance there is as far as run expectancy goes. Then there's the obvious fact that the #2 slot will get more PA's than the #'s 3&4 over the course of a season. Pete Alonso, for example, batted almost as many times from the #2 hole as from the #3 hole last season.

[Centerfield]

Conforto's injury throws this into question. But if he's ok:



1. Nimmo - CF

2. Davis - LF

3. McNeil - 3B

4. Alonso - 1B

5. Conforto - RF

6. Ramos - C

7. Cano - 2B

8. Rosario - SS



If Conforto is out you replace him with Dom Smith and switch him with Cano in the lineup.



If Ces is healthy then you start him instead.

[Ceetar]

well, Comforto is out so I guess we hope for Cespedes. Cano's not batting 7th either.

[Edgy MD]

I'm not comfortable with the best-hitter-should-bat-second thing, simply because there are different ways hitters are good, so the best hitter may be a situation-dependent designation.



I didn't like Duda batting second and I don't like Alfonso there. It just seems to take so much opportunity off the table.



That said, well, yeah, I don't want Miguel Cairo hitting there either.

[Vic Sage]

=Centerfield post_id=33150 time=1583875502 user_id=65]
Conforto's injury throws this into question. But if he's ok:



1. Nimmo - CF

2. Davis - LF

3. McNeil - 3B

4. Alonso - 1B

5. Conforto - RF

6. Ramos - C

7. Cano - 2B

8. Rosario - SS



If Conforto is out you replace him with Dom Smith and switch him with Cano in the lineup.



If Ces is healthy then you start him instead.