Cleveland Sports Forum

Happy opening day, every one!

Indians Opening Day lineup

1. CF Leonys Martín
2. 3B Jose Ramirez
3. RF Tyler Naquin
4. 1B Carlos Santana
5. DH Hanley Ramirez
6. LF Jake Bauers
7. C Roberto Perez
8. 2B Brad Miller
9. SS Eric Stamets

SP Corey Kluber

What happened to the good old days when the best hitter on the team batted 3rd?

Welcome to the 21st century and analytics. #2 batter gets 18 more at bats per year than the #3 hitter. 4 games worth of at bats. So teams started batting their best guy 2nd.

Wasn’t it the Angels with Trout that started it? Might be wrong about that. But it’s the rage now.

I assume it has a lot to do too with much more old fashioned idea of not having lefty following lefty and righty following righty in the order.

With Francona maybe, but rest of baseball it is what I posted above. Analytics. Search it up.

Here is one article I found with a quick search, as an example.

https://www.sfgate.com/sports/shea/arti ... 398216.php

Why it's Naquin hitting 3rd and Bauers 6th rather than the other way around may relate to some other criteria.

Well he's not our guy anymore but I'll post it here anyway:

Lonnie Chisenhall breaks his finger in his first game and will miss more than a month

Kind of lot wha't happening to all our guys; and what happens to Lonnie always.

Gotta laugh but gotta feel bad for Lonnie. Stay away from him he's jinxed!

By the way, real nice sliding grab in foul territory for Bauers out in LF.

Scoreless after 3, Kluber off to a nice start.

The only other notable I saw was Jose Ramirez trying to bunt his way on in the first inning. He had NO problem getting down the line - he flew. (He was out but it's good news)

Hillbilly wrote:Welcome to the 21st century and analytics. #2 batter gets 18 more at bats per year than the #3 hitter. 4 games worth of at bats. So teams started batting their best guy 2nd.

Wasn’t it the Angels with Trout that started it? Might be wrong about that. But it’s the rage now.

And Boston has put Mookie Betts there this year.

Makes sense, he would get more at bats, and also get some runners on base. Especially in the AL.

Could be a typical game - at least for now.

Still 0-0 after 5. Granted both teams have their aces going. I think rotation depth is the Twins' weakest area.

Bauers with another couple of nice plays in left field. Surprisingly comfortable out there.

Also nice to see Leonys Martin continue to hit.

I forgot how much fun it was to watch Perez haplessly flail at pitches.

At least Kluber was fun to watch today.

This might be a year where you watch the pitching half of inning then go take a pee break and grab a beer.

Ugh !!!

What an offense.

0 runs 2 hits 13Ks

Watching Diamondbacks / Dodgers game. 7 innings for LA - 8 HRs