Brent Rooker batting 2nd

[patdog]

With him slumping so badly the last few games, would you move him back to 3rd, 4th or 5th in the batting order just to change things up and hope he gets going again?

 

[Drebin]

With him slumping so badly the last few games, would you move him back to 3rd, 4th or 5th in the batting order just to change things up and hope he gets going again?

I wouldn't. He's your best hitter so you want to get him up as often as possible. He's slumping some because he's being pitched to a lot differently right now. He needs to make the adjustment.

 

[patdog]

By that logic, he should have been batting leadoff all season and no one would ever bat their best player in the 3 or 4 spot.

 

[8dog]

Before last night he went 3-8 in the regional and reached base 4 of 9 PA. Just doesnt feel that way bc his outs have been so bad

He is pressing a little but he will be fine if he will just accept a walk

 

[KingBarkus]

By that logic, he should have been batting leadoff all season and no one would ever bat their best player in the 3 or 4 spot.

Not exactly. You need to protect him with a good hitter in front and back of him in the order. The 9 hole hitter is usually your worst batter in the lineup.

 

[Drebin]

By that logic, he should have been batting leadoff all season and no one would ever bat their best player in the 3 or 4 spot.

Most teams bat their best hitter third with high OBP guys ahead of him, if they have a viable threat in the cleanup hole. In our case, we moved Rooker to second with Mangum behind him to force teams to pitch to him. Otherwise he'd never get pitches to hit. Rooker doesn't hit leadoff because he's not a leadoff hitter.

 

[klong-dog]

I wouldn't mind seeing Stovall, Mangum, Rook, Grid, C. Brown as top 5.

 

[patdog]

Exactly. So why are we batting him 2nd? Put him at 3rd or 4th with Brown, Gridley or Stovall behind him. I don't think it makes a huge difference, but he's been slumping (even with the 3 for 8 going into last night he hasn't had a home run in a while) and I think maybe a change might make a difference. Of course, time might make a difference too.

Edit: I do agree the biggest thing is he just needs to relax and quit pressing.

 

[Drebin]

Exactly. So why are we batting him 2nd? Put him at 3rd or 4th with Brown, Gridley or Stovall behind him. I don't think it makes a huge difference, but he's been slumping (even with the 3 for 8 going into last night he hasn't had a home run in a while) and I think maybe a change might make a difference. Of course, time might make a difference too.

Edit: I do agree the biggest thing is he just needs to relax and quit pressing.

The thought is that he gets better pitches to hit in the two hole, and he might get an extra at bat per game up there. There is some logic to it.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong; just explaining why he's there. Teams are less likely to pitch around him if Mangum is behind him, and then power guys in the middle. They are pitching around him a little right now because he is getting himself out by fishing.

 

[patdog]

If he was actually getting better pitches to hit it would be different. But he's not. Honestly, I don't think it makes all that much difference where he hits, as long as its in the top half of the lineup and there's a decent hitter behind him to protect him. The traditional 1-2-3 is only guaranteed to come up in that order once per game anyway. I was fine with the move to 2nd in the order, and I really don't think going back to 3rd or 4th should make all that much difference. Just think a change when you're slumping it worth a try.