Can we please stop batting Gunnar at lead-off?

[DrungoHazewood]

1 hour ago, Yossarian said:

I'm old enough to remember when pretty much every team followed the same philosophy in developing a batting order. 

The leadoff guy was one of the fastest on the team with a high OBP and usually little power.  He was also the best bass stealer, typically. 

Number 2 hitter was a guy with good bat control,  didn't sing and miss a lot,  and could bunt.

Number 3 was the best hitter on the team with a combination of power and average. 

Numbers 4 and 5 were the boppers.  They were the power hitters and usually the home run leaders on the team.

The rest were filled in depending on the situation with the #9 hitter (in the AL) usually the weakest hitter, but with speed. 

The game has changed. 

There have actually been fairly long periods in the game's history where teams more-or-less ignored the requirement that a leadoff hitter be able to get on base. So much of the period before and during my youth (born '71) involved guys like Omar Moreno making almost 600 outs a season but he batted leadoff because he stole 70 bases. But that was okay because they'd have a little second baseman bat 2nd, and each of the handful of times Moreno reached base he could bunt him over to third after he stole second.

The Orioles' prime example was Luis Aparicio, who led the AL in steals for nine straight years but never scored 100 runs in a season because he hit .262, had no power and walked 35 times a year. Nothing against little Louie, he was a great fielder and overall a valuable player. But today he'd hit 8th or 9th. His career OPS is within 20 points of Jorge Mateo's.

[baltfan]

Was really hoping he would prove me wrong today.  Alas…..

[Brooks The Great]

Gunnar's a #3 hitter. Mullins should lead off against righties for now. Cowser is also a better leadoff option, but he's so scorching hot right now, #2-#5 is better for him.

[ChuckS]

2 hours ago, baltfan said:

Was really hoping he would prove me wrong today.  Alas…..

You were proven wrong yesterday, so don’t sweat it. 

[dabirds]

He is not taking any pitches and just flailing away.  He should not be leafing off

[OnlyOneOriole]

13 hours ago, Yossarian said:

I'm old enough to remember when pretty much every team followed the same philosophy in developing a batting order. 

The leadoff guy was one of the fastest on the team with a high OBP and usually little power.  He was also the best bass stealer, typically. 

Number 2 hitter was a guy with good bat control,  didn't sing and miss a lot,  and could bunt.

Number 3 was the best hitter on the team with a combination of power and average. 

Numbers 4 and 5 were the boppers.  They were the power hitters and usually the home run leaders on the team.

The rest were filled in depending on the situation with the #9 hitter (in the AL) usually the weakest hitter, but with speed. 

The game has changed. 

This is what I always remember being the best lineups as well.   For example an Al Bumbry or a Brian Roberts leading off and guys like Singleton and Murray hitting 3rd, 4th, or 5th.

 

IMO you want guys like Gunnar coming to bat with runners on base so he can do what he does best.  Drive in runs.  Batting leadoff?  With the 7 8 and 9 hitters before him barely getting on base?  He really doesn't have a chance to do that.

As long as he is on the team, bat Mullins leadoff.  Or Holliday.   They certainly can't do any worse than they have been.  

Edited April 13 by OnlyOneOriole