What Type of Leadoff Hitter Do You Use?

The Game · 02-23-2022, 09:15 PM

For most of my OOTP life, going back to 2011 I typically like the Tim Raines, Rickey Henderson type of leadoff hitter. Great speed, great AVG, high OBP. My current leadoff hitter on my Delgado Tigers dynasty is Anna Kournikova .324/.344 379 SB thru 5 seasons. Led league 3 years in a row at 100 per year. This year she has 61 CS 13 times and AVG & OBP are down but while she still has a solid % i am tired of her running into pitch outs. I want to trade her after the season, will probably get $11 mil in arbitration. I want to go with more of a high OBP low speed type of player. Someone that hopefully has a high doubles # but where i dont feel compelled to run every time he/she is on base. Unfortunately i like stolen bases and my custom award is the Golden Spokes award. i also have the #2 guy in EBL SB on my team who makes a lot of $$. i need to move 1 or both to save $$ after the season. i like Stefan slightly more.

What type of hitter do you use?

Curve Ball Dave · 02-23-2022, 09:46 PM

I look for a fast guy who can get on base early and often. Even if he doesn't steal bases, I want a speedy guy who can take extra bases whenever possible. I don't use the DH in my universe so I can't have two easy outs back to back. I also don't want to start the first inning with one out all the time.

kq76 · 02-23-2022, 10:09 PM

I love SB, but maybe even more importantly, the threat of stealing, so I want a SB threat even if another guy might be better otherwise. Watching Rickey Henderson the impressive thing to me wasn't so much his SB, but how much pressure it would put on the defensive team, how many mistakes he would cause them to make. I doubt OOTP recreates that aspect of SB (if it does, please tell me!), but I don't care, I love it.

Of course you want a guy who has good OBP too. I don't think BA matters for leadoff.

fifthorkid · 02-23-2022, 11:18 PM

Wait......"Anna Kournikova"........

GeoWar · 02-24-2022, 02:57 AM

high contact hitter --- good eye ---- average speed ... stealing rating above average ---- good bunter ----- and hire an excellent first base coach

MathBandit · 02-25-2022, 11:40 AM

Whichever of my top-3 hitters has the highest OBP:SLG ratio, usually. In a perfect world my best hitter bats 2nd, then my 2nd and 3rd-best hitters bat 1st/4th based on which is better at on-base vs power.

The only lineup spot where I even consider or look at speed/stealing is 6th, where I ideally want the best base-stealer of my four worst hitters.

The Game · 02-25-2022, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fifthorkid

Wait......"Anna Kournikova"........

This is from last year.

Bobfather · 02-26-2022, 03:18 AM

do you have an alternate lead-off hitter? I would move her to 9th and have the double lead-off effect. Or if she can she move runners over bat her second. As far as pitchouts are concerned (I play out games) and find that taking a couple of pitches offsets that. It also depends on who else is available after filling out the rest of the lineup. Many years ago playing SOM my lead-off hitter was Kevin McReynolds. He had decent OB% But low for a lead-off hitter stole about 25 bases but also hit 30 bombs. The next year I picked up a real lead-off hitter, but it was a fun experiment.

Pelican · 02-28-2022, 05:21 PM

I prefer to have a guy (or girl) with a good eye (OBP) leading off, with the best contact hitter batting second. At very least that can lead to small ball tactics like hit-and-run (or run-and-hit), moving the runner over by hitting behind him (or her); although I don’t use the sacrifice bunt. Stolen bases are a bonus for me. What I look for in a leadoff guy (or gal) is great speed and high base running rating. Also important (and rare in contemporary players) is the ability to bunt for a hit. On teams I don’t manage, I have moved good OBP players with speed to leadoff, even if they were not great average (contact) hitters. They can be very productive. What I don’t like is wasting a legit power hitter in the leadoff position. Need that bat farther down, third or cleanup, to drive in runs.

SR000 · 03-23-2022, 08:22 PM

Who wouldn’t want Ricky Henderson or Tim Raines as a leadoff hitter but still, Wade Boggs was one of the greats too. When your OBP is .450 or better and hit 40+ doubles a year, speed isn’t as big a deal.

02-23-2022, 09:15 PM	#1
The Game Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Inside The Game Posts: 30,937	What Type of Leadoff Hitter Do You Use? For most of my OOTP life, going back to 2011 I typically like the Tim Raines, Rickey Henderson type of leadoff hitter. Great speed, great AVG, high OBP. My current leadoff hitter on my Delgado Tigers dynasty is Anna Kournikova .324/.344 379 SB thru 5 seasons. Led league 3 years in a row at 100 per year. This year she has 61 CS 13 times and AVG & OBP are down but while she still has a solid % i am tired of her running into pitch outs. I want to trade her after the season, will probably get $11 mil in arbitration. I want to go with more of a high OBP low speed type of player. Someone that hopefully has a high doubles # but where i dont feel compelled to run every time he/she is on base. Unfortunately i like stolen bases and my custom award is the Golden Spokes award. i also have the #2 guy in EBL SB on my team who makes a lot of $$. i need to move 1 or both to save $$ after the season. i like Stefan slightly more. What type of hitter do you use? Attached Images __________________ Go today don't wait for tomorrow It isn't promised, all the time you get borrowed Don't live your life for other people Don't bottle your emotions till they crack and fill a couple just sorrows Take your mind and refocus go get a paper write your goals out Throw your middle fingers to all your haters "Stay Strong"

02-23-2022, 10:09 PM	#3
kq76 Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 11,755	I love SB, but maybe even more importantly, the threat of stealing, so I want a SB threat even if another guy might be better otherwise. Watching Rickey Henderson the impressive thing to me wasn't so much his SB, but how much pressure it would put on the defensive team, how many mistakes he would cause them to make. I doubt OOTP recreates that aspect of SB (if it does, please tell me!), but I don't care, I love it. Of course you want a guy who has good OBP too. I don't think BA matters for leadoff. __________________ My OOTP Wishlist \| My FAQ List OOTP Wiki \| Your Recommended Team Nicknames, By City (A Crowdsourced Project)

02-24-2022, 02:57 AM	#5
GeoWar All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 850	high contact hitter --- good eye ---- average speed ... stealing rating above average ---- good bunter ----- and hire an excellent first base coach __________________ Cal. State Fullerton -- NCAA Champion - Baseball 2004 Texas Longhorns -- NCAA Champion - Baseball 2005 Oregon State Beavers -- NCAA Champion - Baseball 2006 and 2007 With unity comes VICTORY !

02-26-2022, 03:18 AM	#8
Bobfather All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Boston Ma. Posts: 1,624	do you have an alternate lead-off hitter? I would move her to 9th and have the double lead-off effect. Or if she can she move runners over bat her second. As far as pitchouts are concerned (I play out games) and find that taking a couple of pitches offsets that. It also depends on who else is available after filling out the rest of the lineup. Many years ago playing SOM my lead-off hitter was Kevin McReynolds. He had decent OB% But low for a lead-off hitter stole about 25 bases but also hit 30 bombs. The next year I picked up a real lead-off hitter, but it was a fun experiment. __________________ I play out every game—one pitch mode. Last edited by Bobfather; 02-26-2022 at 03:21 AM.

02-28-2022, 05:21 PM	#9
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 2,939	I prefer to have a guy (or girl) with a good eye (OBP) leading off, with the best contact hitter batting second. At very least that can lead to small ball tactics like hit-and-run (or run-and-hit), moving the runner over by hitting behind him (or her); although I don’t use the sacrifice bunt. Stolen bases are a bonus for me. What I look for in a leadoff guy (or gal) is great speed and high base running rating. Also important (and rare in contemporary players) is the ability to bunt for a hit. On teams I don’t manage, I have moved good OBP players with speed to leadoff, even if they were not great average (contact) hitters. They can be very productive. What I don’t like is wasting a legit power hitter in the leadoff position. Need that bat farther down, third or cleanup, to drive in runs. Last edited by Pelican; 02-28-2022 at 05:22 PM.

02-23-2022, 09:46 PM	#2
Curve Ball Dave Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,351	I look for a fast guy who can get on base early and often. Even if he doesn't steal bases, I want a speedy guy who can take extra bases whenever possible. I don't use the DH in my universe so I can't have two easy outs back to back. I also don't want to start the first inning with one out all the time. __________________ "Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing"-Warren Spahn.

02-23-2022, 11:18 PM	#4
fifthorkid Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 49	Wait......"Anna Kournikova"........

02-25-2022, 11:40 AM	#6
MathBandit All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 1,445	Whichever of my top-3 hitters has the highest OBP:SLG ratio, usually. In a perfect world my best hitter bats 2nd, then my 2nd and 3rd-best hitters bat 1st/4th based on which is better at on-base vs power. The only lineup spot where I even consider or look at speed/stealing is 6th, where I ideally want the best base-stealer of my four worst hitters.

03-23-2022, 08:22 PM	#10
SR000 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 62	Who wouldn’t want Ricky Henderson or Tim Raines as a leadoff hitter but still, Wade Boggs was one of the greats too. When your OBP is .450 or better and hit 40+ doubles a year, speed isn’t as big a deal.