Odd strategy or great idea? | High School Baseball Web

Passion4baseball1,000+ posts

I had a friend of mine tell me the other day he is trying a new approach to his line up. He is putting his best 4 hitters at 6-9 and his five worst hitters at 1-5. His thinking is most pitchers throw more fastballs to the 6-9 hitters and the top 5 get more breakers so he wants to increase the quality of the at bats of his best hitters by having them see more fastballs. He knows they will get less at bats but he hoping the less at bats means greater production overall.

Odd Strategy or great idea?

11/21/1410:49 AM

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JCGStill working on a clever handle

11/21/1410:52 AM

Smitty2810,000+ posts

Originally Posted by JCG:

I was thinking that but couldn't put it into words - this visual says it perfectly.

11/21/1410:56 AM

fenwaysouth10,000+ posts

My vote is odd. I prefer to win baseball games.

11/21/1410:59 AM

Passion4baseball1,000+ posts

hahahahaha

I figure your better hitters at the top so they get more at bats.

11/21/1411:01 AM

JCGStill working on a clever handle

Originally Posted by Passion4baseball:

hahahahaha

I figure your better hitters at the top so they get more at bats.

Not only that but your friend's plan would help the opposing pitcher settle in. I think many if not most pitchers take an inning or two to establish their stuff and a rhythm, so giving them 2 easy innings is not a good idea. And I'll bet that stats show that the team that puts up a crooked number in the 1st generally wins.

Now putting your "best of the rest" hitter, if he's got speed, in the 9-hole is worth considering.

11/21/1411:28 AM

IEBSBL1,000+ posts

I agree with the dung pile poster. "IF" it worked. I would only work once through the lineup and it wouldn't only work against someone that had no info on the team.

11/21/1411:52 AM

Buckeye 201510,000+ posts

Originally Posted by IEBSBL:

I agree with the dung pile poster. "IF" it worked. I would only work once through the lineup and it wouldn't only work against someone that had no info on the team.

My thoughts exactly. I'm hoping this thread is a joke to try to liven up a frigid week....is the OP from Buffalo?? He may have a serious case of cabin fever

11/21/1412:25 PM

lefthookdad5,000+ posts

Very odd, like IEBSBL stated, it may work but only once. I doubt it would work period if they are playing against a local team. Kids know each other and will sniff that out pretty quickly.

11/21/1412:39 PM

playball20115,000+ posts

R we talking HS team?

he would do better if he teaches non-hitters to hit, or bunt well.

How does he think the "bad hitters" would feel if they knew he was throwing them to wolves so the good hitters get the FB?

imo never a good idea to put the struggling hitters all together in same group in lineup

11/21/144:18 PM

Coach_May10,000+ posts

You want your best hitters to get the most at bats. You want your best pitchers to get the most innings. You want your best fielders to play in the field.

Do you really want your worse hitters to be pitched to like they are a 3 4 5 hitter? Talk about giving them no shot.

11/21/144:57 PM

The Doctor5,000+ posts

Have they fired this guy yet? A lot of times your good ball players have smart baseball parents, this would definitely get ugly in most areas.

11/21/146:19 PM

meachrm100+ posts

Inovation is fine but quite often the adults in the game make things much more complicated than it needs to be.

www.BaseballByTheYard.com

11/22/147:04 AM

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