Quote:
Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II
The idea is that your 1-4 hitters are going to be much more talented than your 6-8 place hitters, so you want to maximize the number of opportunities your best hitters have to come to the plate with runners on base. Statistically speaking, it's actually a sound strategy.
Edit: Some not-quite-scientific analysis. |
I think, ideally, you'd get someone with a .400 OBP to be your #9 hitter. Wouldn't matter how well or how poorly they hit for average as long as they were good at drawing walks. Get that extra baserunner for your top 3 hitters, so you can treat your 1-3 as if they were 2-4 guys for most of the game without sacrificing the 15-20 PA they gain each season batting a little higher in the lineup.
Thing is, though, over the course of 162 games that's not much of a marginal benefit. If you HAVE a player who gives you great defense and a .400 OBP but isn't much of a hitter otherwise, absolutely - bat the pitcher 8th.
Use him to maximize the value of your best players. If you don't have that guy, you aren't gaining much by batting the pitcher 8th.