Possible Lineup Scenarios

In light of our recent trades and the acquisition of Edgar Renteria from the Red Sox, I thought this would be a good moment to churn out some possible lineups for next year. Since we don’t seem to possess a bona fide leadoff hitter (yet), there are several different versions listed.

Lineup A
1. M. Giles (R) – 2B
2. E. Renteria (R) – SS
3. C. Jones (S) – 3B
4. A. Jones (R) – CF
5. A. LaRoche (L) – 1B
6. J. Francoeur (R) – RF
7. B. McCann (L) – C
8. R. Langerhans (L) / K. Johnson (L) – LF
Comments: This version makes the top of the lineup lopsided with right handed hitters, and the bottom of the lineup lopsided with left handed hitters. This lineup also throws all of the young players at the bottom of the lineup where they are not protected by more experienced hitters.

Lineup B
1. R. Langerhans (L) / K. Johnson (L) – LF
2. M. Giles (R) – 2B
3. C. Jones (S) – 3B
4. A. Jones (R) – CF
5. A. LaRoche (L) – 1B
6. J. Francoeur (R) – RF
7. E. Renteria (R) – SS
8. B. McCann (L) – C
Comments: This gets a bit more lefty/righty back and forth throughout the lineup. Throughout his career, Renteria has been a much better hitter lower in the lineup. The Red Sox hit him second last year for the vast majority of games. As a number 2 hitter in 2005 Renteria compiled a .278 average with a .337 on-base percentage. But as a number 7 hitter in the Red Sox lineup last year he compiled a .314 average with a .415 OBP. We can track his numbers the same way from 2002 – 2004. Batting 2nd he was .281 / .333, batting 7th he was .330 / .403 (also, batting 5th .315 / .387, batting 6th .299 / .347). As of late, he seems to feel more comfortable hitting lower in a batting order. The main problem with this lineup is the untested guys hitting leadoff.

Lineup C
1. E. Renteria (R) – SS
2. M. Giles (R) – 2B
3. C. Jones (S) – 3B
4. A. Jones (R) – CF
5. A. LaRoche (L) – 1B
6. J. Francoeur (R) – RF
7. B. McCann (L) – C
8. R. Langerhans (L) / K. Johnson (L) – LF
Comments: Since Renteria has hit in the leadoff spot for all of 48 at-bats the last five years, this lineup probably won’t happen. It’s also right/lefty top and bottom lopsided.

Overall, I’m a big fan of Lineup B. Even though neither of the guys that would be leading off have had much experience with that, it does not disturb the other batters in the order. Some people have suggested putting Giles in the leadoff spot because he gets on base well, but his career numbers in the first spot in the order are .264 / .339 as opposed to his number batting second, .303 / .372. Giles is a lot more effective as a number two batter, and since Renteria is not as effective a number two hitter as he is in the lower part of the order then it makes more sense to keep Giles at 2 and Renteria at 6 or 7. I also like a veteran like Renteria hitting behind Francoeur, it should improve the pitches he will see and take some of the pressure to produce off of him.

As for the two guys at the top, Kelly Johnson was .357 / .438 in limited leadoff duty and and Langerhans was 2 for 5. Lineup B also allows the Braves to identify a player they can try and trade for that is both an outfielder and a leadoff man.