Lineup construction

[franch1se]

My lineup, just at the trade deadline

Vs LHP

SS Jose Reyes
C Derek Norris
RF Matt Kemp
LF Justin Upton
1B Wil Myers
3B Will Middlebrooks
2B Jedd Gyorko
CF Melvin Upton

VS RHP

SS Jose Reyes
C Derek Norris
RF Matt Kemp
LF Justin Upton
CF Wil Myers
1B Yonder Alonso
3B Will Middlebrooks
2B Jedd Gyorko or Cory Spangenberg

Norris is hitting .276, 14 HR, 72 RBI
Kemp .300 25 HR, 82 RBI
Upton .297 27 HR 90 RBI
Myers .305 20 HR 80 RBI

I wish this was happening IRL

[Bobhead]

Interesting responses. I've always platooned my lesser guys (I use the Mets, basically with last year's roster). I have Dan Murph, Duda, Wil Flores, Jed Lowrie, and Dilson Herrera as my infield. I'm basically picking my best 4 for the day depending on the pitcher and remaining energy levels. Usually, it's Jed Lowrie, Herrera, or Flores taking a seat on the bench.

In the LF, I platoon between Eric Young Jr, Matt DenDekker, and Torii Hunter, depending on the pitcher and the rest of my lineup (eg: I'm more inclined to play Hunter if Duda or Granderson are sitting and I need another solid bat).

I've also clung very tight to the alternating of LHB and RHB.

My typical LHP lineup is:

CF - Juan Lagares (R)
1B - Daniel Murphy (L)
2B - Dilson Herrerra (R)
RF - Curtis Granderson (L)
C - Travis D'Arnaud (R)
SS - Jed Lowrie (S)
3B - Wilmer Flores (R)
Pitcher
LF - Eric Young Jr or Torii Hunter (S/R)

That leaves a bench with Lucas Duda, Matt Dendekker, Eric Young or Torii, Eric Campbell, and my back-up catcher Anthony Recker.

Against RHP...

SS - Jed Lowrie
3B - Daniel Murphy
2B - Dilson Herrera
RF - Curtis Granderson
C - Travis D'Arnaud
1B - Lucas Duda
CF - Juan Lagares
Pitcher
LF - Matt DenDekker

I will definitely have to try experimenting with non-platoons and consecutive RHBs or LHBs, it's just always seemed like a taboo to me, I've never tried deviating from it.

I'm a virtual Tony La Russa, lol.

(David Wright is on the DL with a multi-month injury)

[32MJ32]

I'm much like the consensus - contact and speed early, power middle, and if possible, more contact and speed late. I've found the best way to mitigate hitting into double plays is to steal 2nd as much as possible

This is a pretty obvious one, but sometimes it's the obvious things we can miss:

If you have a DH, pay ZERO attention to his overall rating. It factors in fielding and arm stats which don't apply. You're much better off playing a 70-rated dude with great hitting stats than an 85-rated dude who has 99 for his arm or whatever. You can really find some value - both in the free agent pool and on the trading block - for top DH's with average overall ratings

[calbrs04]

Since I use the Giants, I basically keep it to the same lineup that they use in real life:

LF- Aoki
2b- Panik
3b- Duffy
C- Posey
RF- Pence
1b- Belt
SS- Crawford
CF- Pagan
P

I prefer to have Pagan batting 8th since he is a solid contact hitter. Also if he gets on base, I can have him steal and then bunt him over to third with the pitcher.

When playing at a AL park I usually have Posey as the DH and Susac hit 9th.

[rjackson]

I pay attention to having balance in the line-up as far as handedness but player ratings are typically more important to me versus the handedness of the pitcher. I do like to have a #2 hitter to be right-handed and have a little pop, though. This is because if my 9 hitter or lead-off are on first, the pitchers get a little more predictable in their approach of the hitter. I get a good amount of 2-run HR's this way. Also, I prefer a high-contact see many pitches type at lead-off rather than just someone with speed. I will run but my team doesn't have much speed and I like that hole created when 1B has to hold the runner.

[TonyMoraco]

Great thread!

[mrsaito]

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.

[redsox4evur]

Quote: Originally Posted by mrsaito

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.