Trouble At The Top-Finding Production Out of the Leadoff Spot

[ShaneDawg85]

You could run down the reasons why the offense has been so horrible this year and are on pace to have the worst single season output by the team in a 162 game season since 1988, but one of the biggest culprits has been generating some offense at the top of the batting order.  

Batting 1st

2018: .639 OPS, 11 Different Hitters; Most AB's: Mancini (209/.720 OPS)

2017: .724 OPS, 9 Different Hitters; Seth Smith (212/.780 OPS)

2016: .737 OPS, 8 Different Hitters; Adam Jones (450/.791 OPS)

2015: .813 OPS, 7 Different Hitters; Manny Machado (447/.877 OPS)

It's been a downward trend, and while guys like Jones or Machado weren't meant for the leadoff spot over the course of the long haul then or now, getting consistent productivity out of the leadoff spot has been a problem and one of the 2,131 reasons the offense is where it is right now.  Looking at the internal options, it's hard to see where the productivity next year is going to come.  Best bet is Villar based on his skill set and past productivity, but he's only 17 games in here and we're still looking to see what we've got.  Mancini has been the "best" of the bunch this year, but his strikeout propensity doesn't make him prime leadoff material.  Nunez has the OBP going, but he's only got 25 games to his credit and didn't profile as a high on-base guy in the minors.  Mullins has the speed and so far so good out of the leadoff spot, here's hoping he keeps it up the rest of the way.  The O's have a lot of positions of need and questions to answer, and who is batting first is one of them.

[99ct]

1 minute ago, ShaneDawg85 said:

...one of the 2,131 reasons ...

 I see what you did there 

[Frobby]

In Mullins and Villar, we have two guys who are more in the mold of a leadoff hitter than anyone we’ve had in a while.    Let’s hope one or both of them fill the bill.     

[Redskins Rick]

You could pick out any spot in the lineup 1-9 and say they have under performed this year.

[Tx Oriole]

11 minutes ago, Frobby said:

In Mullins and Villar, we have two guys who are more in the mold of a leadoff hitter than anyone we’ve had in a while.    Let’s hope one or both of them fill the bill.     

 I think either one. 

[El Gordo]

B Rob spoiled us.