Evan Roberts made an overature to Mendy about potentially batting Pete Alonso 2nd and Juan Soto protecting him at 3rd. Mendy shut it down pretty quickly, but the thought experiment was fun while it lasted. I think ideally Pete protects Soto and some combination of Vientos and Nimmo protect Pete, which is a pretty stacked top 5 for starters to have to face in any order they appear.
I've also heard arguments for batting McNeil 9th, as it provides an increased likelihood that someone will be on base when the order resets, assuming he can return to form.
I do think that it's hard to go wrong with the lineup we're trotting out there offensively. All these guys bring something to the table, and I'm excited to watch. I'm hoping for a repeat of 2022 where it felt like every at bat made the pitcher throw 12 pitches and the batter got the next man up more often than not.
I think there's value in lineup assessment but not as an offense-only consideration. Constructions get more consideration when you see the opposing pitcher and then various performances against. In a vacuum, its just a silly exercise. For the most part, the best hitters will be at the top and aim to get the most ABs.
one note I recently heard. The 3 hole comes up as the position in the order where the batter most comes up with none on and 2 out.
This was fun. Indeed, my five minute lineup is batting those two players next to each other. Though after reading the Kalkman excerpt maybe I should switch #3 with #4. Those of us young enough to grow up with baseball video games are probably more receptive to the idea that the order is of little importance than Keith Hernandez would be!
And R-1969 is right there with 1999. That is my lineup against right handed starters. Against lefty starters, if Marte is healthy and playing, I bat him in the #2 hole so it becomes
Nice lineup Brian. Maybe switch Alonso and Vientos because of Pete's has a better career OBP. Not because of protection. I will give you a moment to have fun though.
Paul, I love the top part of your lineup, but players need to stay in their comfort zone so I can’t see it. Plus, Lindor hit .303 and was phenomenal in the lead off spot. Good thought though!
While I get it that Soto is a great hitter wherever he is in the line-up, but if you like analytics, Soto's best career numbers (with the biggest sample sizes) are when he hits third in the order. He hit second all year last year just in front of Judge and his OPS in the #2 slot in 2024 was the same as his career OPS in the #3 slot with just over half the number of plate appearances.
Looks like a lot of offense regardless of who bats where, but conventional wisdom says put your three best on base guys at the top of the order and follow that with three more who will knock them in. Back in the olden days teams would not place a big power hitter leading off, save for Ricky Henderson, who could not only start off a game with a long ball, but also take walk, steal two bases and come home on a sac fly. In my Mets fantasy world I saw Jeff McNeil, even in an odd numbered year, returning to his plus .300 form and batting in the three hole. Then I woke up with his 2 hits in his first 13 spring at bats and realized he will be batting 8th or 9th depending on if Jose Siri keeps pounding the ball. I do believe that this is the year they see if Vientos is the real deal and when you consider that he only played in 111 games with 413 at bats, it is easy to see how he will improve over 27 HR, a .266 average and an OPS of .837. If they can get 25 HR from Alvarez, 22 from Nimmo and 18 out of the Siri platoon, this team will score north of five runs a game.
Evan Roberts made an overature to Mendy about potentially batting Pete Alonso 2nd and Juan Soto protecting him at 3rd. Mendy shut it down pretty quickly, but the thought experiment was fun while it lasted. I think ideally Pete protects Soto and some combination of Vientos and Nimmo protect Pete, which is a pretty stacked top 5 for starters to have to face in any order they appear.
I've also heard arguments for batting McNeil 9th, as it provides an increased likelihood that someone will be on base when the order resets, assuming he can return to form.
I do think that it's hard to go wrong with the lineup we're trotting out there offensively. All these guys bring something to the table, and I'm excited to watch. I'm hoping for a repeat of 2022 where it felt like every at bat made the pitcher throw 12 pitches and the batter got the next man up more often than not.
No way Id put Marte second.
I think there's value in lineup assessment but not as an offense-only consideration. Constructions get more consideration when you see the opposing pitcher and then various performances against. In a vacuum, its just a silly exercise. For the most part, the best hitters will be at the top and aim to get the most ABs.
one note I recently heard. The 3 hole comes up as the position in the order where the batter most comes up with none on and 2 out.
This was fun. Indeed, my five minute lineup is batting those two players next to each other. Though after reading the Kalkman excerpt maybe I should switch #3 with #4. Those of us young enough to grow up with baseball video games are probably more receptive to the idea that the order is of little importance than Keith Hernandez would be!
1. Lindor
2. Nimmo
3. Soto
4. Alonso
5. McNeil
6. Vientos
7. DH
8. Alvarez
9. CF
And R-1969 is right there with 1999. That is my lineup against right handed starters. Against lefty starters, if Marte is healthy and playing, I bat him in the #2 hole so it becomes
1. Lindor
2. Marte
3. Soto
4. Alonso
5. Vientos
6. Nimmo
7. Alvarez
8. McNeil (or Acuna if he gets MLB reps)
9. CF.
By the end of July:
Lindor SS
Soto RF
Vientos DH
Nimmo LF
Alvarez C
Baty 3B
Alonso 1B
McNeil 2B
J Williams CF
I'd be excited if Baty and Jett were in the lineup due to their great hitting.
Nice lineup Brian. Maybe switch Alonso and Vientos because of Pete's has a better career OBP. Not because of protection. I will give you a moment to have fun though.
I like Brians lineup. Look at the Phillies with Schwarber leading off. That one still stuns me.
.366 OBP for Schwarber last year
I love The Book which says OBP is the key factor. Based on that, the lineup is:
Soto
Lindor
Alonso
Nimmo
Vientos
Winker
McNeil
Alvarez
Taylor
I like Soto as leadoff because he can hit a lot of game-starting HRs. The team that scores first wins 67% of the time.
Paul, I love the top part of your lineup, but players need to stay in their comfort zone so I can’t see it. Plus, Lindor hit .303 and was phenomenal in the lead off spot. Good thought though!
Lindor
Soto
Nimmo
Alonso
Vientos
McNeil
Alvarez
Baty
Siri
While I get it that Soto is a great hitter wherever he is in the line-up, but if you like analytics, Soto's best career numbers (with the biggest sample sizes) are when he hits third in the order. He hit second all year last year just in front of Judge and his OPS in the #2 slot in 2024 was the same as his career OPS in the #3 slot with just over half the number of plate appearances.
Looks like a lot of offense regardless of who bats where, but conventional wisdom says put your three best on base guys at the top of the order and follow that with three more who will knock them in. Back in the olden days teams would not place a big power hitter leading off, save for Ricky Henderson, who could not only start off a game with a long ball, but also take walk, steal two bases and come home on a sac fly. In my Mets fantasy world I saw Jeff McNeil, even in an odd numbered year, returning to his plus .300 form and batting in the three hole. Then I woke up with his 2 hits in his first 13 spring at bats and realized he will be batting 8th or 9th depending on if Jose Siri keeps pounding the ball. I do believe that this is the year they see if Vientos is the real deal and when you consider that he only played in 111 games with 413 at bats, it is easy to see how he will improve over 27 HR, a .266 average and an OPS of .837. If they can get 25 HR from Alvarez, 22 from Nimmo and 18 out of the Siri platoon, this team will score north of five runs a game.
Lindor
Soto
Vientos
Nimmo’s
Alonso
Alvarez
Siri
Winker
McNeil