Lineup 09

by BurGi on Jan 6, 2009 6:07 AM EST Comment 20 comments

I just wanted to know how you think the lineup should look like, now that we have signed Pat the Bat! By the way: I love the signing and I really think he is an impact bat!

My favourite lineup would be this one:

1 Aki (L) and Bartlett vs. Lefties

2 BJ (R)

3 Pena (L)

4 Longo (R)

5 CC (L)

6 The Bat (R)

7 Joyce or Gross (both L) and Zobrist or Aybar (or Ruggi or FPerez) (all B or R) vs. Lefties

8 Navi (B)

9 Bartlett (R) and Aki vs. Righties

I would love to have CC after Carlos and Longo as he is a high AVG guy which is better for RBI (and a low OBP guy ... which is bad leading off) and he would give us speed in the middle of the lineup in front of Pat, our RF and Navi! Then we are a threat on the basepaths all the time and our lineup is also alive in its "lower" parts! with Aki / Bartlett and BJ in front of Carlos and Longo and with Longo (good baserunner as well) and CC in front of the Pat / RF / Navi combo!

I wouldn't sign Rocco (as much as I would love to have him back) as he just "steals" at bats from Aybar and Benzo ... and I think that they have earned a chance to play a bit more (I know ... Rocco earned it as well, but he will be much more expensive I guess ... and maybe a liability on the field) ... despite Burrell (as full-time DH) limiting their (especially Aybar's) playing time!

I would like to see Gross on the roster as well and I would play Joyce full-time in Durham out of ST! Then FPerez and Ruggi could contribute for the 4th outfielder job out of ST!

So ... what do you guys think?

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i still dont understand how people think that joyce is going to be in the minors to start the season

if anything gabe gross is on the verge of lossing his job soon, if we sign gabe kapler or rocco

MLB-Rays,Marlins,Twins, and Reds
NFL-Vikings,Lions(i know Shut up),texans, and Bills
NBA-Timberwolves(also shut up),Cavilers(bye bye LeBron in '10)
NHL- Wild and Penguins
College-Gophers,Gators,Longhorns and Irish.
all of the above mentioned teams are in order by my favorites

by RaysOfHope on Jan 6, 2009 1:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If the Rays think he is not ready to be the FULL-TIME RF I think they will send him down for a month or two!

by BurGi on Jan 6, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I still like BJ Upton in the lead-off spot.

Upton
Crawford
Longo
Pena
Burrell
Navi
Joyce
Aki
Bartlett

by Dbullsfan on Jan 6, 2009 1:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If Upton batted leadoff, this is how I woudl do it

but I would swap Aki to 9th and Bartlett to 8th. Aki would be the 2nd leadoff hitter at 9, and also keep us away from the lefty/righty overload in our 7-1 batters

by Rays4242 on Jan 6, 2009 4:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Joyce

Will be the full time starter unless he blows it in spring training. Plus guy in RF and he hits lefties. And personally Id like to see

Aki
Carl
BJ
Pena
Longo
Burrell
Navi
Joyce
Bartlett

by BJ the Bossman on Jan 6, 2009 2:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

woops

meant to say Joyce hits righties well. And if they are going to start Fernando down in the minors than that pretty much assures Gross as the 4th outfielder.

by BJ the Bossman on Jan 6, 2009 2:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Unless we are able to add a RH 4th OFer and are able to find a trading partner for Gross

btw, I think your lineup and the first one are the 2 that make the most sense to me

by Rays4242 on Jan 6, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

who would be more productive throughout the course of '09 - Joyce in RF or Joyce and Rocco platooning in RF?

I’d like Joyce to be an everyday RF’er but I am somewhat confident (based on reading the same reports that everyone else has read) that Rocco can hold up in a platooning situation.

Regressing to the mean streets of St. Pete

by stpetelawyer on Jan 6, 2009 4:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think both scenarios are complete mysteris to EVERYONE including Joyce and Baldelli

Nobody knows yet whether Joyce can hit lefties over the course of a season, and nobody knows what Rocco can come back and do.

by Rays4242 on Jan 6, 2009 4:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Im slowly warming up to Buster Olneys projected line up

1. Iwamura 2B
2. Upton CF
3. Crawford LF
4. Longoria 3B
5. Pena 1B
6. Burrell DH
7. Joyce RF
8. Navarro C
9. Bartlett SS

by BossmanJunior333 on Jan 6, 2009 4:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I only say that for a few reasons

- I really perfer Crawford near the top of the order. Like I have said many times, Maddon flat out said that Crawford batting 5th in the playoffs would not carry over into the next season. If he bounces back (which he will), you want his speed at the top of the order scoring runs.

- I think wanting to move Upton to lead off might be a little premature. We already have a solid lead off hitter and Upton makes the middle of out order that much stronger.

- I perfer batting Burrell after Pena and Longoria because I truely feel that Longoria and Pena are better hitters. The only thing Pat has on Longoria is walks, but I think its kind of nice having a high OBP right smack in the middle getting on base for the bottom half of the order to drive in. Plus given he is a veteran, Id rather Longoria have protection over Burrell. Having Pena and Burrell behind him should give him some excellent protection (even though we dont believe in that, right?).

- Im really pushing for Joyce to start the year with the Rays. He has been doing very in winter ball and I think with a strong spring, he gets the job. His defense alone is worth his starting in right field.

- If he (Joyce) doesnt make the team for whatever reason, rather than a platoon, I am in complete favor of letting Perez see what he can do. Dont platoon him or anything, just let him play everyday.

by BossmanJunior333 on Jan 6, 2009 5:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would think Crawford at the top in front of doubles and homers hitters

would take away some of his speed. Wouldn’t he be better around 5 or 6 where the contact guys behind him would allow him to go first to third on a single or steal second and score on a single?

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Jan 6, 2009 8:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I see what your saying

rather than have him bat in front of all of the power/strike out guys, have him bat in front of the contact hitters. However, who really are the contact hitters you speak of? I wouldnt really call Joyce a contact guy (although I havent seen much of him), but Navi and Bartlett could pass for that title. Other than Crawford, we really dont have a lot of “contact” guys. A lot of walks, strike outs, power and speed is what our line up essentially is composed of. I still think a guy like Longoria, who is agressive and is a fastball hitter would do well with Crawford in front of him. By all accounts, doesnt having a speedy guy like Crawford on base increase the chances of Longoria seeing more fastballs? Wouldnt that fall right into his trap?

by BossmanJunior333 on Jan 6, 2009 10:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs