RBI to AB Ratio

I personally don't look at RBI as a stat in HS. I pay more attention to LOB than RBI. There is so much that is out of a HS players control to be an RBI machine.

No idea for college, but it is a much more useful stat IMO in college than HS.

The order depends. If I have a Yelich type batter he hits 1, if he is a beefier player then he'll be 3. I'd maybe move him to 4 if I have 3 kids who get on at a high rate to put ahead of him. I typically want my best hitter to get an AB in the first inning.

I’ve always been a big believer in balance, and I hate dead innings. I know it takes depth (that isn’t always there) but I’ve had success with a sneaky good hitter in the 7 spot. He always seems to come up in the middle of the game with an opportunity to break it open and swing the momentum. I don’t have any stats to prove it, it’s just something that I’ve noticed over the years.

Statistically it’s been recognized over the course of the season there’s a drop off in at bats between the #2 and #3 hitter. It’s why in college you often see the best hitter, including power batting second.

Batting a player in the bottom third of the order for line up balance provides that hitter significantly less opportunities.

Regardless of level there are always going to be some players better than others. But once at the successful high school age travel teams, college and pro ball everyone is supposed to be accomplished enough (relative to that level of play) to get the job done. So, give your perceived best players the most at bats.

My thoughts are similar to RJM's.  First, RBI ratio is relatively meaningless because where you hit, who you hit behind and how good the group is as a whole are big factors that are somewhat out of the control of the player.

I lean heavily toward making sure best hitters get as many AB's as possible.  So, for me, no on the balanced lineup from that standpoint.  I did subscribe to some of the other new thoughts in my later years of coaching, like placing the best hitter at #2 or even #1 instead of traditional #3.  Beyond that, the order did factor in many other things that provided some level of balance but was specific to what the group had to offer as a whole and individually.  Left/right, mixing speed and slow, etc. when you have the luxury of minimal dropoff in abilities top to bottom.

Good Knight:

the final result is the same HS or College. One RBI each 6 at bats is a "objective".

The batting line-up is goal "score more runs than opponent"!!! #1 and # 2 hitters should each have a 500 on base %.

the #3 hitter should be a left handed pull hitter. Move the runner from 1b to 3B.

Daily teaching should include "how to drive in runs". This requires a different mentality.

Bob