Mariners batting order

Goody · 01-21-2010, 04:38 PM

The M's added Chone Figgins at 3B so they now have 2 lead off hitters. What do you think they'll do with the line up? Vote in the poll on what you'd do.

"Figgins, the only big leaguer to steal 30 bases or more in each of the past six seasons, led the American League with 101 walks and ranked second to Dustin Pedroia with 114 runs scored in 2009. He also brings a .395 on-base percentage to a team that ranked 29th in baseball in that category last season.

The Mariners also have to make things official at the top of the order. Figgins has started 643 of 894 career games in the No. 1 spot and Ichiro has made 1,397 of his 1,410 career starts at leadoff, so something has to give." -espn

Ichiro is a free swinger. Doesn't take many walks and almost always puts the ball in play. Infield hits will happen less without him lead off. Figgins would not be able to steal as much without a patient hitter behind him or without batting lead off.

The M's don't really have a great #2 style hitter that isn't better at hitting somewhere else in the line up.

Goody · 01-21-2010, 04:56 PM

The reason I'd bat him 3rd is because with two base stealers ahead of him in Figgins and Guiterrez, there'd be more holes for him to squeak the ball through. And with the speed they might often be able to score from 2nd. Either way, the bases should often be nicely filled for the 4 and 5 hitters. I think that line up would really burn out opposing starters.

ms2002 · 01-22-2010, 06:17 AM

I don't think there's really a wrong way to go about it. I think Ichiro would work well as a number 3 hitter, but it seems like he strongly prefers a leadoff role. No need to mess around with something when there's probably very little difference in outcomes.

Here's how I see the 2010 lineup.

1) RF Ichiro
2) 3B Figgins
3) 2B Lopez
4) DH Bradley (with the occasional Griffey start, shifting Bradley to LF and slotting Junior at 6 or 8)
5) CF Gutierrez
6) 1B Kotchman
7) C Moore/Johnson
8) LF Saunders/Langerhans
9) SS Wilson

I also wouldn't mind seeing the Mariners move Figgins to 2B and Lopez to 3B to improve the defense up the middle. My other hopes:

Griffey gets less than 300 PA
Adam Moore gets more PA than Rob Johnson
Michael Saunders gets a fair chance in LF (400+ PAs)

BigHurt35 · 01-22-2010, 07:59 PM

I think Ichiro is entrenched in the leadoff spot. It's definitely a tough call and a good problem to have at the top of the order.

Green & Gold Heart · 01-22-2010, 08:14 PM

Yeah, I wouldn't move Ichiro from the leadoff spot for most anyone.

edddgar · 01-22-2010, 08:24 PM

It will be Ichiro leading off and Figgins number 2. Zduriencik and Figgins both stated that that was the plan at the Figgins press conference. You could really go either way, roughly the same OBP although Figgins does a better job at keeping the ball off the ground. Another bonus is Figgins patience could potentially result in more stolen base attempts for Ichiro while Ichiro's approach would cut down on potential SB attempts. There's really not a wrong answer although Ichiro/Figgins is probably slightly better than Figgins/Ichiro.

Russ · 01-22-2010, 09:45 PM

I'd bat Figgins 9th.

Goody · 01-23-2010, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

I'd bat Figgins 9th.

Not with the M's OBP problems. You need Figgins to get as many PA as possible.

Goody · 01-23-2010, 04:18 AM

Another thing to take into account is Ichiro is getting up there in age for a speedster.

View Poll Results: Yes?
Figgins 1, Ichiro 2	7	26.92%
Ichiro 1, Figgins 2	13	50.00%
Figgins 1, Ichiro 3 (guittiurez 2?)	3	11.54%
Other, Monkey Rodeo 7th inning stretch	3	11.54%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

01-21-2010, 04:38 PM	#1
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	Mariners batting order The M's added Chone Figgins at 3B so they now have 2 lead off hitters. What do you think they'll do with the line up? Vote in the poll on what you'd do. "Figgins, the only big leaguer to steal 30 bases or more in each of the past six seasons, led the American League with 101 walks and ranked second to Dustin Pedroia with 114 runs scored in 2009. He also brings a .395 on-base percentage to a team that ranked 29th in baseball in that category last season. The Mariners also have to make things official at the top of the order. Figgins has started 643 of 894 career games in the No. 1 spot and Ichiro has made 1,397 of his 1,410 career starts at leadoff, so something has to give." -espn Ichiro is a free swinger. Doesn't take many walks and almost always puts the ball in play. Infield hits will happen less without him lead off. Figgins would not be able to steal as much without a patient hitter behind him or without batting lead off. The M's don't really have a great #2 style hitter that isn't better at hitting somewhere else in the line up. __________________ In the past: Laseron Baseball Association creator. Present: I am Rezulm on PT and OOTP Discord. Future: I wish it was the past.

01-22-2010, 06:17 AM	#3
ms2002 All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,493	I don't think there's really a wrong way to go about it. I think Ichiro would work well as a number 3 hitter, but it seems like he strongly prefers a leadoff role. No need to mess around with something when there's probably very little difference in outcomes. Here's how I see the 2010 lineup. 1) RF Ichiro 2) 3B Figgins 3) 2B Lopez 4) DH Bradley (with the occasional Griffey start, shifting Bradley to LF and slotting Junior at 6 or 8) 5) CF Gutierrez 6) 1B Kotchman 7) C Moore/Johnson 8) LF Saunders/Langerhans 9) SS Wilson I also wouldn't mind seeing the Mariners move Figgins to 2B and Lopez to 3B to improve the defense up the middle. My other hopes: Griffey gets less than 300 PA Adam Moore gets more PA than Rob Johnson Michael Saunders gets a fair chance in LF (400+ PAs) Last edited by ms2002; 01-22-2010 at 06:20 AM.

01-22-2010, 09:45 PM	#7
Russ All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Essex HON! Posts: 1,923 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	I'd bat Figgins 9th. __________________ If you don't love Russ, you don't love America. This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

01-21-2010, 04:56 PM	#2
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	The reason I'd bat him 3rd is because with two base stealers ahead of him in Figgins and Guiterrez, there'd be more holes for him to squeak the ball through. And with the speed they might often be able to score from 2nd. Either way, the bases should often be nicely filled for the 4 and 5 hitters. I think that line up would really burn out opposing starters. __________________ In the past: Laseron Baseball Association creator. Present: I am Rezulm on PT and OOTP Discord. Future: I wish it was the past.

01-22-2010, 07:59 PM	#4
BigHurt35 Bat Boy Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 14	I think Ichiro is entrenched in the leadoff spot. It's definitely a tough call and a good problem to have at the top of the order.

01-22-2010, 08:14 PM	#5
Green & Gold Heart Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,242	Yeah, I wouldn't move Ichiro from the leadoff spot for most anyone.

01-22-2010, 08:24 PM	#6
edddgar Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 254	It will be Ichiro leading off and Figgins number 2. Zduriencik and Figgins both stated that that was the plan at the Figgins press conference. You could really go either way, roughly the same OBP although Figgins does a better job at keeping the ball off the ground. Another bonus is Figgins patience could potentially result in more stolen base attempts for Ichiro while Ichiro's approach would cut down on potential SB attempts. There's really not a wrong answer although Ichiro/Figgins is probably slightly better than Figgins/Ichiro.

01-23-2010, 04:18 AM	#9
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	Another thing to take into account is Ichiro is getting up there in age for a speedster.