the lineup

[Raider917]

why didnt i start this thread sooner?

[Modern_epic]

Seriously? This is his change? Cito never ceases to confuse me.

[Avenger]

He finally changes the lineup, but does it by moving Vernon Wells up in the order? The guy that was struggling the most of anybody?

Cito is too funny.

the clean up spot is the most important position in a lineup not #3, i'm sure you know that though, he put our best hitter at 4. As for not moving Vernon down i'm certain its because he wants speed at the top of the lineup and i agree with him

[s e n s i]

As for your point about a lack of speed in the bottom of the order, the number of times the speed difference comes into play probably isn't as valuable as the increased at bats and higher leverage of situations with where those two are batting now. Plus, when these situations come up late in games, you come to the one place Cito likes making in game moves: subbing the Prime Minister of Defence into the game as a pinch runner. That alone probably eliminates 25% of the time this is a potentially outcome affecting concern.

Speed difference came into play tonight!

[Modern_epic]

the clean up spot is the most important position in a lineup not #3, i'm sure you know that though, he put our best hitter at 4. As for not moving Vernon down i'm certain its because he wants speed at the top of the lineup and i agree with him

Actually, according to people who have looked at this statistically, the number one spot in the order is pretty conclusively to be the most important spot. But four is probably a close second. Or maybe the number two spot. Not three, though.

And Rios is almost certainly faster than Wells, and having a better year, so I'm not sure what you are talking about with speed at the top of the order.

Speed difference came into play tonight!

I didn't see the game, so I can't say for sure, but looking at that lineup, I'm guessing this is a joke? Rios and Inglett were both in the bottom half of the order...

[s e n s i]

Speed difference came into play tonight!

I didn't see the game, so I can't say for sure, but looking at that lineup, I'm guessing this is a joke? Rios and Inglett were both in the bottom half of the order...

Yeah. Rios stole 2nd, and then 3rd on the Barajas K, and then scored on a soft Inglett single. Inglett stole second, and then took 3rd on a wild pitch, and then scored on Hill's liner to left.

[Modern_epic]

Ah. I don't know if I would claim it 'came into play' in a game we lost so badly... but it is good to hear we are productively stealing bases.

Looking at the other side, though, if Rios's two hits were in the three spot like he used to be, he may have driven in some runs, which would also be nice.

[Raider917]

wells goes 0/5 today 0/9 now as a #3 hitter
wells goes 0/3 today 0/12 now as a #3 hitter

[evilRyu]

wells goes 0/5 today 0/9 now as a #3 hitter
wells goes 0/3 today 0/12 now as a #3 hitter

lol.. this is just...... sad...... wow, our franchise player folks!

[Michael Bradley]

In 1997, Joe Carter only batted 3rd or 4th in the Jays lineup. He had 668 plate appearances that year and 102 RBI.

His final line? .234/.284/.399 (.683 OPS).

So yeah, Cito is not going to move Vernon Wells, barring some sort of divine intervention. I still don't understand why he moved Rios, who while struggling, at least had an OPS in the .750 range. Wells is sub-.700.

[Mustard_Tiger]

Vernon has the experience in the 3 spot!

At least that's my guess on Cito's logic there.