Overthinking setting lineups

joejccva71 · 03-26-2019, 09:41 AM

Can someone give me some advice on how they set their lineups through their season? I understand in the beginning having your speed guy be first, then contact 2nd, and your 3rd and 4th power hitters, but once the season starts rolling, how do you determine your lineups?

Do you just base it on who's doing well and putting the players who are in a slump or not hitting well at the 7, 8, and 9th spots?

This confuses me. What do you guys do? I feel like I may be overthinking this too much.

Reed · 03-26-2019, 11:03 AM

Probably overthinking it. Generally speaking
1st batter good on base average (singles hitter and/or lots of walks) and good speed
2nd hitter (similar to 1st)
3rd most put the best overall hitter here, others put good but not best hitter here)
4th usually 2nd best power hitter, or maybe best hitter.
5th 3rd best power hitter
6-9 usually hitters get worse as you get lower on the line up.
Also might factor in if opponent has lefty/righty pitcher.
My personal opinion, people overthink the lineup construction. It is more important on who is in the lineup.
Also, most people (I think) just let the players stay in their lineup slot when they are in a slump, or bench them for a day.

panda234 · 03-26-2019, 11:35 AM

What are some of the issues with letting the AI set the lineup? I usually do and then make minor adjustments. it usually ends up as discussed above.

Juggernt · 03-26-2019, 11:41 AM

I think there's some sabermetric evidence that putting your best hitter in the two hole is the way to go. There's also evidence that OBP is more important to your leadoff hitter than speed.

TPinrose · 03-26-2019, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juggernt

I think there's some sabermetric evidence that putting your best hitter in the two hole is the way to go. There's also evidence that OBP is more important to your leadoff hitter than speed.

Agree.

But having said that, if your lead off guy isn't getting on base, I would change him out no matter how fast he is.

The Yurpman · 03-26-2019, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juggernt

I think there's some sabermetric evidence that putting your best hitter in the two hole is the way to go. There's also evidence that OBP is more important to your leadoff hitter than speed.

This is what I do now. I play as the Red Sox and I put Betts in the 2nd spot. Leadoff, I try to have a good OBP player with a little speed (Benintendi). Betts at 2. Then I try to go left, right, left, etc. if I can. (ie. JD Martinez, Devers, Pearce, JBJ, etc.) There's no right way to set a lineup. The better the hitter, the higher in the order they hit, basically.

Grafton19 · 03-26-2019, 12:15 PM

I bat Trout 2nd or 5th at times

03-26-2019, 09:41 AM	#1
joejccva71 Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 101	Overthinking setting lineups Can someone give me some advice on how they set their lineups through their season? I understand in the beginning having your speed guy be first, then contact 2nd, and your 3rd and 4th power hitters, but once the season starts rolling, how do you determine your lineups? Do you just base it on who's doing well and putting the players who are in a slump or not hitting well at the 7, 8, and 9th spots? This confuses me. What do you guys do? I feel like I may be overthinking this too much.

03-26-2019, 11:03 AM	#2
Reed All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 1,939	Probably overthinking it. Generally speaking 1st batter good on base average (singles hitter and/or lots of walks) and good speed 2nd hitter (similar to 1st) 3rd most put the best overall hitter here, others put good but not best hitter here) 4th usually 2nd best power hitter, or maybe best hitter. 5th 3rd best power hitter 6-9 usually hitters get worse as you get lower on the line up. Also might factor in if opponent has lefty/righty pitcher. My personal opinion, people overthink the lineup construction. It is more important on who is in the lineup. Also, most people (I think) just let the players stay in their lineup slot when they are in a slump, or bench them for a day. Last edited by Reed; 03-26-2019 at 11:06 AM. Reason: Added info.

03-26-2019, 11:35 AM	#3
panda234 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 264	What are some of the issues with letting the AI set the lineup? I usually do and then make minor adjustments. it usually ends up as discussed above.

03-26-2019, 11:41 AM	#4
Juggernt Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 357	I think there's some sabermetric evidence that putting your best hitter in the two hole is the way to go. There's also evidence that OBP is more important to your leadoff hitter than speed.

03-26-2019, 12:15 PM	#7
Grafton19 Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 468 Blog Entries: 1	I bat Trout 2nd or 5th at times