Lineup construction

[redsox4evur]

Re: Lineup construction

As far as the lefty / righty thing goes I look at the batter's ratings when making out the lineup. At that juncture you know what hand the opposing starting pitcher is and your player's ratings are based on that rather than overall.

I also stress defense over offense (within reason) for SS and CF.

The last point makes sense...especially if you have guys that mash at first and 3rd and a corner OF spot.

[NCAAFootballFreak]

Re: Lineup construction

Great topic! I play in the AL, so my lineups are as follows:

I typically put my best balance of contact and speed in my leadoff spot. My best contact hitter goes to the #2 spot. To me, there's nothing more rewarding to lead off a game with a walk, then a stolen base. The contact guy then gets him to third by hitting something to the right side either via base hit or even a ground out. Either one is immaterial because the "wheels" will get to third with ease on a ball to the right.

Batting third is my best overall hitter (combination of contact and power). My cleanup guy is the guy with the best power on the team, unless he just has absolutely horrible contact. I then descend 5th, 6th and 7th by power. My #8 guy, I like to be another contact guy and then I put my next-fastest player at the 9-hole because if he gets on base, I have a chance for some big run manufacturing with the leadoff guy circling back around in the lineup next.

I do platoon a lot just because guys get fatigued really quickly on this game. So, I'll start my main 3 OF players 4 out of every 5 games and I try to rotate their days off in a way that I never have more than one of my top three out at the same time. I take the same approach with my IF. My DH is currently my backup shortstop (much bigger bat, but terrible defensively) but I rotate him with the other SS and the second baseman. My third baseman is also my #3 catcher while my starting catcher also plays 1B/3B. So, the flexibility of my infielders and starting catcher make it pretty easy to rotate them time off and DH time.

It's kind of geeky, but I actually went into Excel and made a 10-game rotation of my players to maximize playing time for my top guys (9 out of every 10 games) and still get my bench players enough playing time that I'm familiar with playing with them in case of injuries. My wife laughs at me, but I love it. I track everything on my excel doc. To me, it creates "history" for my franchise.

[tessl]

Re: Lineup construction

Do you alternate righties and lefties? Do you pile on all the hitters you have of the opposite hand (to the pitcher)?

Pitcher 8th or 9th?

Speed at the top? Or do you just lead with your best hitters?

Share your general lineup strategy here.

I use at least one, preferably two speed/stolen base guys at the top of the order. I also pick a team in my franchise with a park which leans in the direction of being pitcher friendly.

I do platoon when necessary based on attributes, not specifically lefty/righty. I also platoon guys with low durability. There are some good generated players with questionable durability who can benefit your team if you use them properly.

[Twinkie12]

Re: Lineup construction

I've adopted the pitcher batting 8th because I dont like having an automatic out immediately before the top of my lineup.

I also like to put my best hitter, or at least someone with some power in the 2 spot. Another general rule is separating lefties and righties if their attributes are at least similar, and that's mostly for the later innings.

It all depends on what you have though. If I dont have a super high OBP guy sometimes ill just hit my best player first.

[KBLover]

Re: Lineup construction

To those who hit your pitchers 8th:

How much do you find it helps your lineup?

I can understand wanting to try to build more momentum as you turn the lineup over, but what if you have your middle of the order start things well - but then the pitcher is 8th instead of 9th? Even if I have a slap-and-tickle hitter 8th, that's better than what my pitchers can do.

Is there some sort of data that would show the pitcher 8th being significantly better than 9th?

Perhaps I should try it - would it be profitable, in your opinions, with this lineup:

(Con/Pow/Current AVG/OBP/SLUG)
Vs RHP:
1. Chris Taylor (79/29/.307/.374/.417)
2. Will Moyer (82/49/.305/.345/.445)
3. Chris Davis (83/99/.333/.381/.617)
4. Giancarlo Stanton (80/98/.296/.377/.593)
5. Christian Yelich (97/66/.322/.396/.583)
6. Colin Moran (75/48 - only 11 ABs as he was just called up)
7. Matt Baldwin (48/79/.202/.257/.393)
8. Jose Campos (67/57/.204/.252/.333)
9. Pitcher

Vs LHP:
1. Chris Taylor
2. Nori Aoki (80/35/.167/.227/.192)
3. Giancarlo Stanton (88/98)
4. Chris Davis (69/84)
5. Matt Baldwin (56/87)
6. Jose Campos (69/66)
7. Tommy Cruz (83/44/.250/.307/.424)
8. Colin Moran (71/48)
9. Pitcher


It looks better than it's played - especially since I'm being carried by the middle three vs RHP (vs LHP - who the heck knows...).

Maybe if I did pitcher 8th, Moran 9th vs LHP and pitcher 8th with Baldwin 9th vs RHP?

Got to get Baldwin going at the plate - maybe that would help.

[Jr.]

Re: Lineup construction

Here's a good article examining the impact of hitting the pitcher 8th

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/mlb-national-league-batting-order-starting-pitchers-eighth-chicago-cubs/

[Trent Booty]

Re: Lineup construction

To those who hit your pitchers 8th:

How much do you find it helps your lineup?

I can understand wanting to try to build more momentum as you turn the lineup over, but what if you have your middle of the order start things well - but then the pitcher is 8th instead of 9th? Even if I have a slap-and-tickle hitter 8th, that's better than what my pitchers can do.

Is there some sort of data that would show the pitcher 8th being significantly better than 9th?

Perhaps I should try it - would it be profitable, in your opinions, with this lineup:

(Con/Pow/Current AVG/OBP/SLUG)
Vs RHP:
1. Chris Taylor (79/29/.307/.374/.417)
2. Will Moyer (82/49/.305/.345/.445)
3. Chris Davis (83/99/.333/.381/.617)
4. Giancarlo Stanton (80/98/.296/.377/.593)
5. Christian Yelich (97/66/.322/.396/.583)
6. Colin Moran (75/48 - only 11 ABs as he was just called up)
7. Matt Baldwin (48/79/.202/.257/.393)
8. Jose Campos (67/57/.204/.252/.333)
9. Pitcher

Vs LHP:
1. Chris Taylor
2. Nori Aoki (80/35/.167/.227/.192)
3. Giancarlo Stanton (88/98)
4. Chris Davis (69/84)
5. Matt Baldwin (56/87)
6. Jose Campos (69/66)
7. Tommy Cruz (83/44/.250/.307/.424)
8. Colin Moran (71/48)
9. Pitcher


It looks better than it's played - especially since I'm being carried by the middle three vs RHP (vs LHP - who the heck knows...).

Maybe if I did pitcher 8th, Moran 9th vs LHP and pitcher 8th with Baldwin 9th vs RHP?

Got to get Baldwin going at the plate - maybe that would help.

Maaaan... Chris Taylor leading off and batting over .300 lol

I think batting the pitcher 8th is better than 9th because if the nine hitter is a speedy guy then he scores on a gap shot by the 1/2/3 hitter.

My lineup usually is:
1.) Speed/On Base guy
2.) Low strikeout/high contact guy (Thought about putting Seager here)
3.) Best hitter (Cano)
4.) best Power Hitter (Cruz)
5.) All Around (Seager)
6789 guys are based on hitting abilities. I usually use speed in the bottom third and power in the 6 hole

[KBLover]

Re: Lineup construction

Maaaan... Chris Taylor leading off and batting over .300 lol

I think batting the pitcher 8th is better than 9th because if the nine hitter is a speedy guy then he scores on a gap shot by the 1/2/3 hitter.

My lineup usually is:
1.) Speed/On Base guy
2.) Low strikeout/high contact guy (Thought about putting Seager here)
3.) Best hitter (Cano)
4.) best Power Hitter (Cruz)
5.) All Around (Seager)
6789 guys are based on hitting abilities. I usually use speed in the bottom third and power in the 6 hole

Interesting - I'll have to play around with the lineup.

And I know with Taylor. Guess I'm glad I got him in MLB14 before what he did this season, though he K's a lot for a low-power guy

[Trent Booty]

Re: Lineup construction

Interesting - I'll have to play around with the lineup.

And I know with Taylor. Guess I'm glad I got him in MLB14 before what he did this season, though he K's a lot for a low-power guy

Yeah, it's always cool to see Mariners in people franchises.

[timmermac]

Re: Lineup construction

I go with speed in the first two slots, because speed kills. My best contact and power hitter is third. More power bats are 4-6. If I have another power hitter, he's 7. 8 is my weakest hitter an 9 is the pitcher's spot. I play with legends and ignore budget, so my current Braves lineup is Billy Hamilton (acquired via trade), Eric Young, Jr., Ted Williams, Mike Schmidt, Johnny Bench, Freddie Freeman, Robin Yount and Andrelton Simmons, with the pitcher hitting 9th.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Lineup construction

Something that I should add to my previous post: My team has a lot of left handed hitters. Although I've gotten a lot better at hitting lefty on lefty, a good left hander can still really mess up my lineup.

I do have one big right handed bat (Jose Bautista) and another right handed bat that is really mashing lefties in my franchise (Yan Gomes). I've started using a strategy where I put those two bats in evenly spaced parts of my lineup when facing righties so that an opposing manager can't completely shut down my lineup or mess up my lineup strat by bringing out a lefty.

Getting those two particular players may be difficult. I abused the old trade system. However, if you have a a lineup that is mostly reliant on lefties like mine, consider getting a couple of "lefty specialists" and sprinkling them in your lineup in order to to "protect" your left handed bats. Danny Valencia immediately springs to mind, but there are plenty of other guys and you can usually get them for cheap.

[NEOPARADIGM]

Re: Lineup construction

I have little to add except that I'd say it's one of the funnest thing in the game, those moments tinkering before a game, and how when you get it "just right" you just kinda know: "there it is."

More generally:

1. Best speed & contact combo guy
2. Best contact guy, some power a bonus
3. Best hitter
4. Most power
5. #2 most power
6. Preferably a balanced hitter, your #2 or 3 "best hitter" type
7. HOPEFULLY another solid bat
8. scrub slot if necessary, otherwise your "#8 hitter"
9. Speed & contact, effectively your leadoff #2

[Speedy]

Re: Lineup construction

Do you alternate righties and lefties? Do you pile on all the hitters you have of the opposite hand (to the pitcher)?

Pitcher 8th or 9th?

Speed at the top? Or do you just lead with your best hitters?

Share your general lineup strategy here.

I generally hit the pitcher 8th...I find it gives my 2-4 hole hitters much more opportunity to drive in runs.

Every so often it bits me in the rear as the pitcher comes up with 2 outs and a guy on 2nd but I think the good outweighs the bad.

I've found, as far as lineups go...when I have a hitter having a hard time, if I put him in the 2-hole (in front of my best hitter, Freddie Freeman, at the 3), it helps tremendously. Maybe it's a placebo but I find I can get more walks and more base hits.

[Trent Booty]

Re: Lineup construction

I generally hit the pitcher 8th...I find it gives my 2-4 hole hitters much more opportunity to drive in runs.

Every so often it bits me in the rear as the pitcher comes up with 2 outs and a guy on 2nd but I think the good outweighs the bad.

I've found, as far as lineups go...when I have a hitter having a hard time, if I put him in the 2-hole (in front of my best hitter, Freddie Freeman, at the 3), it helps tremendously. Maybe it's a placebo but I find I can get more walks and more base hits.

I think the #2 spot is the most important in the whole lineup. It's a wildcard. You have the Jays putting 30-HR MVP candidate Donaldson (and Bautista there before him) and then there's teams like the Rangers who put Roughed Odor (not sure about the first name spelling) there. I usually like to put a guy like Seager there.

[redsox4evur]

Re: Lineup construction

I think the #2 spot is the most important in the whole lineup. It's a wildcard. You have the Jays putting 30-HR MVP candidate Donaldson (and Bautista there before him) and then there's teams like the Rangers who put Roughed Odor (not sure about the first name spelling) there. I usually like to put a guy like Seager there.

Yea the 2 hole is pretty key. The Sox have a good top 4. Betts gets on base a lot. Then they go with Pedroia, a former MVP who hit out of the 2 hole, then Ortiz and Ramirez to round it out.