Wait... We Have Bench Players?
by Poseur on Mar 1, 2010 12:38 PM CST
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PrintThrough 7 games, LSU has a total of 280 plate appearances. Of these, only 21 of them have been by players who weren't in the Opening Day starting lineup. For a team that came into the season with several question marks on offense, Mainieri's steadfast loyalty to his top guys is pretty remarkable. Only one bench player has even merited a start (Didier).
Hey, Mainieri has certainly earned the benefit of the doubt here, but I'm shocked there hasn't been any real lineup tinkering, just to see what the other guys have got. I'm not saying we need to load up on at bats for Mason Katz or anything, but it would be nice just to see what these incoming players have got. What happens if Dean gets hurt? Or Nola? Wouldn't it be nice for the backups just to have some real game action under their belt?
It's not like LSU was playing the powers of college baseball. These games have been closer to warmups to the real season than anything, though big credit to William & Mary for making these games tough. No one cares if you lose in February. Ask last year's national champion, who dropped two of three to Illinois. This is the time to play with lineups and, yes, maybe lose a game or two in the process trying to find the perfect combination.
And I know it's a small sample size, but Tyler Hanover is currently hitting 143/250/143. That means are cleanup hitter has an OPS lower than Matt Gaudet's batting average. Actually, Hanover's OPS of 393 is 33 points lower than the entire team's OBP. Ouch. There are slumps and then there's whatever Hanover is going through right now, but he hasn't lost any at bats yet, still starting every game in the middle of the order.
Hanover's been dropped to the #5 slot in the order in favor of Micah Gibbs, but how is Gaudet still hitting #8? The 6-7-8 hitters of Landry-Mahtook-Gaudet might be better than most team's top three hitters. That's just silly. It's still early, but Hanover has got to turn this around and soon or Mainieri might actually have to use his bench.
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One of the prime laws of sabermetrics
Thou shalt not fret about batting order. Especially in February.
The first point is more troubling. What’s odd is that Manieri has pretty much cleared the bullpen and given the new guys chances to pitch, but hasn’t given the same treatment to the hitters. But as your season preview pointed out, the lineup isn’t especially deep. Realistically, if Dean goes down, we’re doomed no matter what, and giving a few freshmen a few more at bats won’t solve that.
by 4.0 Point Stance on Mar 1, 2010 1:01 PM CST reply actions
Absolutely
The move to cleanup is more symbolic than anything. The batting order in and of itself is not important, though it is demonstrating that Hanover is not playing himself out of a job (and 7 games is a VERY small sample – I am not calling for him to be benched).
And I am concerned about depth. Build it now, when it doesn’t really matter if you lose.
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com
Speaking of small sample sizes
Jonny Dishon is OPS’ing a blistering 2.750 and is 100% on stolen base attempts – move him to cleanup!
by 4.0 Point Stance on Mar 1, 2010 4:47 PM CST up reply actions
Little early to be panicking
Dontcha think?
Last year it was losing it Illinois. Now we’re concerned with this. Jeez. Relax.
I don't see a panic button
I think Poseur is simply stating the facts. Numbers do not lie.
"Dude, I'm tellin' ya it's jobs. We gotta get jobs. Then we get the khakis. Then we get the chicks." - BASEketball
Well, they can
But let’s face it, if the central point of the column is “we need to develop some depth”, it’s hard to call that a panicky column. And we did not flip out over Illinois last year. The series sucked and we rightfully pointed it out it gave the blueprint to beat LSU (lefty soft-tossers, which was copied by every team that could).
We’re critical of the baseball program, but only in the sense that we’re demanding perfection. We’re arguing the margins, not the center of the team. This is the top program in the country, but how interesting is a bunch of posts that say “We’re good. Wait ’til postseason.”
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com
I certainly don't say that with a harsh voice
I hear what you’re saying. Make no mistake I wholeheartedly identify with what you’re saying. We are the greatest program in the country and we should scrutinize the margins because that is what makes the champions out of the great teams.
It’s fun to talk about. I’m just laid back in that I’m confident the coach has it under control. I’m just going to enjoy the ride.
And practically, you gotta write about something.
I'd feel better if ATVS's homepage said "Don't Panic"
In large friendly letters
by 4.0 Point Stance on Mar 2, 2010 9:28 AM CST up reply actions
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