TLR to set the lineup based on 'the numbers'

Nighthawk · February 26th, 2008, 06:07 PM

Unfortunately, instead of 'the best 9 hitters' being in the lineup, he means the 8 guys he likes best and our choice of B- grade pitchers....with the pitcher batting 8th...

Quote:

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Tuesday his pitchers would bat eighth in spring training games in which the designated hitter is not used.

La Russa then plans to continue the practice once the regular season starts.

"We'll hit the pitcher eighth," he said. "We're going to have a second leadoff as the ninth-place hitter."

SI.com - MLB - La Russa: Cardinals pitchers will bat eighth - Tuesday February 26, 2008 6:10PM

bedir than average · February 26th, 2008, 06:23 PM

That's the second NL Central club to ponder this this year.

BleacherBum593 · February 26th, 2008, 08:44 PM

Bedir - Yep, the other team (Milwaukee) is copying the concept that LaRussa introduced during the McGwire years to get him AB's with potentially more runners on base.

He brought the concept back last season to try to generate more scoring opportunities for Pujols.

BleacherBum593 · February 26th, 2008, 09:27 PM

Here's the #'s from last year when the Cards batted the pitcher in the 8th slot per the following article today - Notes: La Russa to bat pitcher eighth - Skipper wants speed and on-base skills at the bottom of lineup By Matthew Leach / MLB.com

Quote:

the Cardinals did score more runs when the pitcher was batting eighth last season. They scored 4.34 runs per game during the season's first 106 games, and after the switch was made, they averaged 4.64 runs per game.

More specifically, both the No. 8 and No. 9 spots performed more effectively. Cardinals pitchers hit .191 with a .217 on-base percentage and a .242 slugging percentage during the time they were ninth in the lineup. After La Russa changed tactics, pitchers put up a line of .210/.248/.240.

No. 8 hitters before the switch hit .263/.316/.338, while after the switch, No. 9 hitters hit .265/.321/.388.

February 26th, 2008, 06:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	That's the second NL Central club to ponder this this year. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

February 26th, 2008, 08:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
BleacherBum593 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St Louis (LF Bleachers) Posts: 1,884	Bedir - Yep, the other team (Milwaukee) is copying the concept that LaRussa introduced during the McGwire years to get him AB's with potentially more runners on base. He brought the concept back last season to try to generate more scoring opportunities for Pujols. __________________ "Build it and they will come"