Playing with the lineup

[bedir than average]

Given the current Mariners roster, what lineup would you expect to see? How much playing time does a Ben Broussard get? The Bench includes Willie, Rivera, Broussard and WHO?

I think the "standard" lineup vRHP looks

1. Ichiro
2. Vidro
3. Beltre
4. Ibanez
5. Sexson
6. Guillen
7. Johjima
8. Lopez
9. Betancourt

The Lack of lefties is rather apparent. If Reed or Dobbs are the last guys on the bench they and Broussard will likely get some time instead of Guillen, maybe Sexson, and I expect to PH. But even the most used LH batter with a Hargrove led club could get less than 150 ABs, that's of about 5600 on average in the AL or a mere 2.7%.

[Wiggen]

NOt exactly Murderer's Row, is it? If Sexson and Beltre get off to the kinds of starts we've seen lately, then April, May, and June are going to be pretty desperate.

[Goose]

Lately as in just last year? (well for Sexson anyways).

June they were both pretty good.

Richie:.255/.319/.539(not many walks, but the power came back)

And Beltre was the 2004 version in June:

.324/.387/.611

[Goose]

Speaking of Beltre, I'm very interested as to where Hargrove will put him in the lineup.

Once he got out of his slump towards the end of May, he was one of our better hitters next year and looked like a decent #3 for most of it. But a good majority of his success came while in the 2 hole.

He spent most of his year in the 2 hole, 3 hole, and 6 hole. Getting 258,163, and 115 at bats respectively.

Here's how those break down:

#2:.310/.367/.574
#3:.277/.331/.515
#6:.252/.312/.357

Obviously the 6th spot is out of the question. While his performance as our #3 hitter wasn't anything to sneeze at, he obviously likes the 2 hole.

So where would you put him?

[bedir than average]

, what lineup would you expect to see?

I asked first. And already answered with my expectation.

So you answer.

[JoeyJoJoJuniorShabadoo]

1. Ichiro - CF
2. Jose Vidro - DH
3. Adrian Beltre - 3B
4. Raul Ibanez - LF
5. Richie Sexson - 1B
6. Kenji Johjima - C
7. Jose Guillen - RF
8. Jose Lopez - 2B
9. Yuniesky Betancourt - SS

Rene Rivera - C
Jeremy Reed - OF
Greg Dobbs - 3B/LF
Willie Bloomquist - UT


I think Ben Broussard is going to be dealt for minor league filler.

[Goose]

Alot of this also depends on weather Vidro will return to form. If he does, he's an obvious choice for the 2 hole. If he doesn't (which I don't think he will) then I don't think he needs to be that high.

As such, for the moment, my primary lineup is this:

1.Ichiro-CF
2.Beltre-3B
3.Ibanez-LF
4.Sexson-1B
5.Johjima-C
6.Guillen-RF
7.Lopez-2B
8.Vidro-DH
9.Betancourt-SS

Obviously Ibanez looks alot better in the 3 hole if he repeats 2006, but I think we all know thats probably not going to happen. Beltre would start off in the 2 hole for me, maybe it will help him get off to a better start. If he's hitting like he did there last year after about a month or so, I would consider moving him back to the 3 hole. But he has to prove to me that what he did during 80% of 2006 is legit.

[hot rod]

I have a hard time putting Beltre high in the batting order with a OBP of .328. He had 1 month where he hit very good and half of that month was against NL teams. One other month maybe Sept he hit fair. Its the four months of poor production where batting him high in the order will kill us. At some point we have to realize that Beltre is a very poor hitter for the money. His ability to get on base is pitiful. Each hitter needs to prove his worth......if he has a decent OBP move him up.

Irchiro .370 (OBP)
Vidro .350 (guessing)
Ibanez .350
Sexson .332
Johjima .332
Guillen .340 (guessing)
Beltre .328
Lopez .318
Betan .318

IMO this would give us the best chance to score runs.

[JasonAChurchill]

It sounds like Bavasi and company are still lookingto make one somewhat major move that could affect either the starting rotation or the regular offensive lineup.

[Goose]

Well, that statement makes me nervous......

[Chris]

I could only wonder what "somewhat major" means. Does that mean some other teams fans will be very happy about a deal with our Mariners?

[marinerswinws]

Originally Posted by JasonAChurchill

It sounds like Bavasi and company are still lookingto make one somewhat major move that could affect either the starting rotation or the regular offensive lineup.

You mean Jeff Weaver or is there more to come.

[Goose]

Considering the Weaver thing popped up pretty much right after JAC said that, I'm assuming that's what he was talking about.