What is the starting lineup in2009?

[ramllov]

The Cleveland Indians starting lineup

#......Name ..................... POS. R HR RB1. SB OBP.

1. Grady Sizemore ............ CF ...120 30 95 35 400
2. DeRosa ....................... 3B ....95 15 75 5 370
3. Travis Hafner ................ DH ....70 20 70 1 370
4. Johnny Peralta .............. SS ....90 20 90 3 345
5. Victor Martinez ............. C ...85 20 85 0 370
6. Shin-Soo Choo ............. RF ...80 20 75 10 400
7. Ryan Garko .................. 1B ...80 20 80 0 355
8. Ben Francisco ............... LF ...75 15 60 10 330
9. Asdrubal Cabrera ............2B ...90 10 60 10 350

Now that is the starting lineup at the beginning of the season.

I would like to see a few things happen.

3b, SS and 2ndbase be switched for the best defensive alignment.

I would also like to see LaPorta take over left field sometime in June or July and have Ben Francisco become the fourth outfielder.

If LaPorta does not make it out of the minors. Brantley is promoted and becomes the LF. Put him at the ninth position in the lineup and Cabrera at the eighth. The combination of Brantley and Sizemore back to back with their speed should open up the running offense.

This is the best potential of the Indians daily offense. Of course, Shoppach pitching to Lee and Martinez to first base. Shoppach could catch for another starter as well. If he keeps hitting.

Dellucci should be gone by June, if not before.

[Chief24Wahoo]

1. Grady Sizemore CF
2. Mark DeRosa 3B
3. Victor Martinez C
4. Jhonny Peralta SS
5. Travis Hafner DH
6. Shin-Soo Choo RF
7. Ryan Garko 1B
8. Ben Francisco LF
9. Asdrubal Cabrera 2B

I don't like having Hafner in the 3 hole to start the season, I'd like to see him at either the 5 or 6 spot so hopefully that takes a little pressure off of him. Hopefully he can return to form. I'd like to also get rid of Dellucci as soon as possible and get LaPorta up on the ball club.

[WiscTribeFan]

I think it would be more important for LaPorta to start off the season strong in AAA before worrying as to when he should be in our starting OF. I wouldn't expect him on the big league roster until after the All-Star break, but probably not until September.

[Erie Warrior]

We should do an over/ under on the number of different lineups used this season.

[skatingtripods]

Sizemore
DeRosa
Choo
Peralta
Martinez
Hafner
Garko
Shoppach (Francisco)
Cabrera

L, R, L, R, S, L, R, R, S. Hard to matchup against, pop all the way up and down, good OBP in the 2 and 3 spot. Less pressure on Vic and Haf and more ability for two out hitting.

[Chief24Wahoo]

We should do an over/ under on the number of different lineups used this season.

LOL I say 80. One of my biggest pet peeves about Wedge.

[scott]

Sizemore is gonna have a .400 OBP this year?

[Toxicadam]

I would also like to see LaPorta take over left field sometime in June or July

I just don't see this happening at all. Besides him not being ready yet (either with the glove or the bat) the Indians are going to resist starting his clock until as long as possible. Crowe (or even Brantley) are more likely to see time this year than LaPorta.

To me, the big question is what that middle of the lineup will look like. Hafner is a huge question mark and you have to figure out where is the best place to put him (6th?). Then you have streaky guys like Peralta and Garko who could be somewhere in there. Then you have Victor and Choo, who represent consistency but might not have that prototypical power you expect from those spots.

[carnegie44115]

CF Sizemore
2B Cabrera
C/1B Martinez
SS Peralta
DH Hafner
2B DeRosa
RF Choo
1B Garko/C Shoppach
LF Francisco

I think if Cabrera is up to what he did in the 2nd half last year, he can be in that no.2 spot to give some more speed at the top of the line-up. So with a starting RH, the RH doesn't face a RH batter until Peralta, and he would be forced to pitch to Peralta who was big in that clean-up spot, because he has Pronk hitting behind him. Then give some more R/L swap with DeRosa and Choo. Having either Garko or Shoppach and BenFran in the 8 and 9 spots is pretty good to have.

[Chiefroy]

1. Grady Sizemore CF
2. Mark DeRosa 3B
3. Victor Martinez C
4. Jhonny Peralta SS
5. Travis Hafner DH
6. Shin-Soo Choo RF
7. Ryan Garko 1B
8. Ben Francisco LF
9. Asdrubal Cabrera 2B

I don't like having Hafner in the 3 hole to start the season, I'd like to see him at either the 5 or 6 spot so hopefully that takes a little pressure off of him. Hopefully he can return to form. I'd like to also get rid of Dellucci as soon as possible and get LaPorta up on the ball club.

I think I favor this configuration most, though I'd consider swapping Choo/Garko vs lefties. If we see Hafner any lower than 5th, it will probably be a bad sign.

[Mcreek]

Sizemore
Derosa
Choo
Peralta
Martinez
Garko
Hafner
Dellucci
Cabrera

[redneckofsc]

Sizemore
Derosa
Choo
Peralta
Martinez
Garko
Hafner
Dellucci
Cabrera

MCreek, I guess you are the only one in touch with reality, since you are the only one who put Dellucci in the lineup.

[Jhonny]

Why does the number of lineups matter? The Indians always have a bunch of part time players, and 2009 is no exception. I also second Laporta in the lineup by June. Law says he's MLB ready now. Unless he struggles, why wait?

Sizemore
Derosa
Choo
Martinez
Hafner
Peralta
Garko/Shoppach
Francisco/Dellucci
Cabrera

[Mcreek]

Red, I'm penciling in Dellucci for at least 300 AB's b/c you know Wedge will play him semi-reguarly as he did last year and Nixon the year before. I'm basically going by Wedge's history in playing his grinders irregardless of what numbers they post.Bottom line is if Dellucci is on the roster he will play and play alot.

[redneckofsc]

Red, I'm penciling in Dellucci for at least 300 AB's b/c you know Wedge will play him semi-reguarly as he did last year and Nixon the year before. I'm basically going by Wedge's history in playing his grinders irregardless of what numbers they post.Bottom line is if Dellucci is on the roster he will play and play alot.

If he stays healthy, 275-300 ab is just about right.

[Chief24Wahoo]

Why does the number of lineups matter? The Indians always have a bunch of part time players, and 2009 is no exception. I also second Laporta in the lineup by June. Law says he's MLB ready now. Unless he struggles, why wait?

Sizemore
Derosa
Choo
Martinez
Hafner
Peralta
Garko/Shoppach
Francisco/Dellucci
Cabrera

It's hard to get in a rhythm as a hitter if you're constantly being moved around in the order. Especially when Wedge gives them such a short duration at any particular spot in the order. Doesn't even let the players get into a rhythm before he shuffles the entire lineup around.

[Stu]

We should do an over/ under on the number of different lineups used this season.

we should do an over/under on the number of different lineup THREADS created this year.

[TitoFrancona]

It's hard to get in a rhythm as a hitter if you're constantly being moved around in the order. Especially when Wedge gives them such a short duration at any particular spot in the order. Doesn't even let the players get into a rhythm before he shuffles the entire lineup around.

I won't say outright that you are wrong, but I'm trying to figure out, other than your leadoff and #2 hitters, why any hitter's approach at the plate would be different simply based on what spot in the order he hits? Yeah, I understand that some hitters don't hit well in pressure situations and maybe they're more comfortable batting lower in the lineup, but the approach should be the basically the same whether you're batting 3rd or 9th.

[AGoodPerson]

Opening Day, Lee Vs, Sabathia, Brand New Scum Stadium -

(-one day lineup only)

#1 Sizemore cf
#2 Cabrera 2b (.346 lifetime v. LHs, CC: lethal v Lhs past two seasons)
#3 DeRosa lf
#4 Martinez 1b
#5 Garko dh (.315, .894 lifetime v. LHs)
#6 Peralta ss (I wavered on this, #6 or #7. P hit LHs .241 last year and Shoppach cremated them. My take is C could be out of the game late so a pinchhitter would be necessary if Shoppach placed here)
#7 Shoppach c (Victor and Kelly are the only guys in this team who would have a clue about sabathia)
#8 Francisco rf
#9 Carroll 3b

I'd hate to anticipate sitting Hafner or Choo much. Easily inserted for late-inning blows on the skank pen.

[Chiefroy]

Opening Day, Lee Vs, Sabathia, Brand New Scum Stadium -

(-one day lineup only)

#1 Sizemore cf
#2 Cabrera 2b (.346 lifetime v. LHs, CC: lethal v Lhs past two seasons)
#3 DeRosa lf
#4 Martinez 1b
#5 Garko dh (.315, .894 lifetime v. LHs)
#6 Peralta ss (I wavered on this, #6 or #7. P hit LHs .241 last year and Shoppach cremated them. My take is C could be out of the game late so a pinchhitter would be necessary if Shoppach placed here)
#7 Shoppach c (Victor and Kelly are the only guys in this team who would have a clue about sabathia)
#8 Francisco rf
#9 Carroll 3b

I'd hate to anticipate sitting Hafner or Choo much. Easily inserted for late-inning blows on the skank pen.

I thought that L/U was crazy until I thought a little about it. But as long as we're experimenting for a game, let's move Grady down to 3rd in the order and let Cabrera or DeRosa leadoff. If Barfield is on the roster, play him at 2B batting 9th, Cabrera at SS, Jhonny at 3B. If Gimenez is on the roster, play him at 3B batting 9th.

If Dellucci and Mujica are on the roster, buy 'em hookers the night before and tell 'em to have fun for a couple of days.

[drewd]

1. Grady Sizemore CF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera SS
3. Shin-Soo Choo RF
4. Jhonny Peralta 3B
5. Victor Martinez 1B
6. Mark DeRosa 2B
7. Travis Hafner DH
8. Kelly Shoppach C
9. Ben Francisco LF

[ramllov]

This is a much greater response than I anticipated.

Thanks for your thoughts and ideas.