View Full Version : How would you build your line-up?
Well let's hear it, I'll start:
I go through this with my starters, in this order.
# Attributes Desired
3. Best Hitter. Period.
5. Next Best Hitter.
2. Best Right-Field Hitter.
4. Best Hitter Remaining
1. The fastest starter you have that can get on base without looking like an idiot.
6. Best Power Hitter Left....All-or-Nothing...end the inning or cash in big.
8. Singles Hitter who can get it to the last batter without killing the rally.
9. Second Lead-off man if you have one in HS, in pros P
7. The "other" starter.
#3-Best hitter
#1-next best hitter, must have speed
#4-power
#5-next best power
#2-good bat handler, speed
#6-someone who can run
#7-more power than #6
#9-next fastest left
#8-whatever is left over
1.OBP! dont care if he's fast just needs to get on (drawing bb's is a plus)
2.Bat handler (bunt, hit and run)
3.Best Hitter
4.Power
5.Second Best Hitter
6.Makes contact
7.Speed (preferably put your guys here that can hit a fastball but not much else)
8.worst hitter
9.remaining player who strikes out the least
pnthrz4life
12-20-08, 02:04 PM
I'm going to be a bit unconventional here, but think about this.
#2. Best hitter
#3. Next best hitter
#1. OBP and good baserunner (not necessarily speed but it's nice)
#4. Best RBI Guy (sac fly or puts ball on ground with RISP less than 2 out)
#5. Clutch Hitter
#9. OBP
#6. Power
#7. Slowest bad hitter left
#8. Defensive Specialist (teach how to bunt and such)
Xslugger19
12-21-08, 02:27 PM
1. fastest player w/ the best OBP
2. pure contact specialist
3. best hitter on your team
4. next best hitter who has the most power
5. person with the secondmost power
6. next best contact hitter
7. most likely a contact hitter or a power guy who cant hit off speed
8. worst hitter
9. another fast player with good OBP (it's like having two leadoff guys)
1. Contact hitter that works the count, makes contact and is very fast. This hitter must get on base so he has a very high OBP. He must work the count so the opposing starting pitcher's pitch count gets high quickly. Doesn't strike out much so that he constantly puts pressure on the opposing defense at the plate and on the bases.
2. Another contact hitter with a stronf OBP. Has very good bat control and works the count. Has the ability to hit deep in the count and is a very good fastball hitter as the SB threat batting lead off will get him fastballs. This batter must also have the abiltiy to work the count so that if the lead off hitter doesn't he does make the pitcher throw pitches. He must also be able to hit deep into the count to give the base stealer opportunities to steal the base. He also must handle tha bat as he will be called upon to hit behind the runner occasionally. Occasional power and atleast gap power is a plus.
3. Best over all hitter but he also must be a guy that does not strike out a ton as he will be in alot of RBI situations. Should be a guy who drives the ball so better than gap power is required. In many cases this will be your highest OBP because of the pitcher being careful to him so this guy also should be your highest OBP+Slug% guy.
4. RBI machine with tremendous power. Should not be a guy that strikes out alot as he protects your #3 hitter. If he is a streaky power hitter who strike out alot pitchers will pitch around your best hitter in the #3 whole and make a guy who is streaky and prone to K's beat them not your best hitter. Shoudl be a guy who is very good at driving runs in in other ways than hitting HR's
5. This is the guy that is the straky HR guy. This is the guy with the most power on your team but is not a contact hitter. He doesn't have to protect anyone as the pitcher either has to go after the # 3 or #4 hitters in RBI position so it is OK to be a free swinger.
6. Good hitter with occasional power. Good RBI guy as he is protecting the free swinging power guy. This guy will see many RBI situations when the streaky guy is hot as the pitchers will pitch around the streaky all out power guy when he is hot. This guy must be able to put the ball in play so he is a guy that makes good contact. Also - good OBP as he is in the role of lead off alot as the streaky guy is prone to strike out alot to end innings.
7. Good bat control guy with good OBP. Not alot of speed down in the opder so this is a guy that can hit and run so that you are putting pressure on the defense with the #6 guy on 1B without having to steal bases. Similar to #2 hitter.
8. Weakest hitter int he line up - defensive specialist. Should be able to handle fastball as many pitchers get to this part of the line up and just try to blow the weaker bat away.
9. Similar to leadoff hitter. Good OBP - works the count and can steal bases. Serves as the second lead off hitter in the line up.
7.
4hitter
12-22-08, 11:51 PM
Leadoff- OBP, wrks the count, someone who can work a count and share info with the rest of the order. Can steal bases and is also smart on the bases. Would rather have a slow guy that is smart on the bases than a fast guy who is in a pickle all game long.
2nd- Good contact guy, Someone who can bunt, someone who hit n run, a second leadoff if possible Can hit to all fields
3rd- Best hitter, likes to hit with guys in scoring position and possibly the best clutch guy on the team. Who I want up when the game is on the line.
4th- Another clutch hitter regardless of power. Can put the ball in play and hits well with guys in scoring position
5- Another guy that puts ball into play and can also start off innings (3 and 4th often end innings or clear the bases)
6- Another guy who can handle the bat, put the ball in play, bunt, run (if possible)
7- Scrappy player who doesn't strike out a lot, will put ball in play in all at bats and will come up with a big hit once in a while.
8- (on a highschool team) please let me have a deep order in which I have another guy that can hit this far down in the order. Can hit with the count. Plays baseball, meaning can hit n run, bunt, hit for the situation, usdaully has little power but can pick up the team once in a while.
9- Usually the fastest non hitter on the team. Scrappy and is learning how to be a lead off for the next season. This guy is important in the late innings, but mostly helps out on the defensive side of the field.
4hitter
12-22-08, 11:57 PM
My question is for you that say you put your worst hitter 8. I understand that 9 is supposed to be your second lead off, but why would you let the worst hitter possibly get more at bats than a guy in the 9 spot? The more plate appearences that someone gets, the more that they can help you out right? I know we are HS coaches, so most of us will be working with 2 to 3 guys in our order that can hit a little to not at all, so I would say get your hits while you can and teach your worst hitters how to bunt and hit n run. Just a question to bring about a debate.
My question is for you that say you put your worst hitter 8. I understand that 9 is supposed to be your second lead off, but why would you let the worst hitter possibly get more at bats than a guy in the 9 spot? The more plate appearences that someone gets, the more that they can help you out right? I know we are HS coaches, so most of us will be working with 2 to 3 guys in our order that can hit a little to not at all, so I would say get your hits while you can and teach your worst hitters how to bunt and hit n run. Just a question to bring about a debate.
Good question. My take - The top of the order normally are 3 of your better hitters, run producers and guys that put pressure on the defense. I don't want those guys constantly coming up with nobody on. I want those guys coming up in run producing situations. If my worst hitter is batting just in front of them the other team can pitch around guys to make my worst hitter be the run producer and make my top of the order constantly come up with nobody on. By batting the worst hitter 8th they will still make him produce runs but if he fails I have my second lead off hitter to start the rally in the next inning before my top of the order gets up.
Of course I expect that iwth a good team none of my hitters will be considered weak hitters.
pnthrz4life
12-23-08, 12:53 PM
This is a good debate question. It reminds me of when the San Francisco Giants put Barry Bonds 3rd instead of 4th so that he can get more at bats. The difference between major league and high school is the length of the season. In a 20 game season, the difference between an 8 and 9 hitter is 2 or 3 plate appearances. In the MLB, the difference is around 20-25. I just thought it was more important to have people on for my leadoff hitter (who can bunt and hit and run) so that he can use all of his skills.
Good question 4hitter.
Every team is different, but I always tried to keep an eye on what a guy would do to the people behind him. If Billy Baseclogger is my slowest runner but best hitter, I avoid putting him third. Nothing worse than having a guy on first and not being able to get him in with a doubles hitter behind him. Like most everyone else already said, you want a fast guy hitting ninth for the same reasons. If I could afford to, I also tried to put my third or fourth best hitter in the seven or eight spots for three reasons. He would probably get some good pitches to hit, he'd be in a position to bring home the 4-5-6 hitters if they got on, and I always hated going into my half of an inning thinking "the only way this isn't a 1-2-3 inning is if the pitcher hits or walks one of these guys."
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