Kendall Better Be Batting 8th !!!
by South Side Rob
Why do I listen to Steve "Sparky" Fifer? I don't hate him. I don't even dislike him. I like the guy. He's like a little brother that just won't settle down!
He's freaking out over the Kapler signing. I understand his job involves knowing about all sports and maybe that is why he gets so many Brewer thoughts wrong.
He thinks either Weeks or Hardy will bat 8th next year and he seems to think Kendall will be batting 2nd. Kendall has to bat 8th. Period!
Nobody knows the strike zone better on this team and Hardy has proven if given a chance to drive in runs in a run-scoring position in the batting order, he is more than capable.
If you put Kendall in the 8th position, he will do a fine job in clearing the pitcher's spot in the order. What I mean by that is he can work the count for a walk or a base-hit. Now, you have enough speed to move up on a pitcher bunting, or, the pitcher makes what could be the last out of the inning and looking ahead to the next inning, you begin with the top of the lineup instead of the pitchers' spot. That doesn't seem like that big of a deal but trust me, it comes up enough in a close game where it is a big deal.
I don't believe Melvin is done shaping this team. I hope not. While just about all of our top prospects have made it to the big leagues and have had pretty much instant success, there is no reason to not believe that Matt LaPorta will do the same. With that in mind, Melvin faces the problem at left field. What I believe he is trying to do is just buy some time at left field. LaPorta should be ready in 2009, 2010 tops. As such, there is no reason to get tied into a long-term deal filling that position.
Ok. I'm Doug Melvin (Ok, stop laughing). I continue to phone St. Louis and I dangle Bill Hall and Chris Capuano, and either Alcides Escobar, Mat Gamel, or Brent Brewer for Scott Rolen. If I land the deal, I have Rolen at 3rd, Braun in left, Hart in center, and Gabe Gross in right. When LaPorta is ready, have him play right field or by then, Braun may become a very solid outfielder and can be moved to right field. Plus, by then, there are so many more things that can happen at that time. While its important to think about 2-4 years down the line, we are in position to win the whole thing right now...
Sounds right to me...putting Kendall in the 8th spot for the reasons you mentioned.
Ricky Weeks walked 78 times last year...OB% of .374....and stole 25 out of 27 bases. We talked alot about Weeks on the Brewer Nation last year. What are your thoughts about Weeks and whether he is improving at the plate or not improving....Should he bat leadoff or 2nd?
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Steve...
With the lineup as it is currently constructed, Weeks bats lead off, in my opinion. The only other option would be Hart, but he's best protecting Fielder.
In all truth, I think Weeks would be better suited for the two-hole so he can bunt people over and drive in some runs and still be on-base for Braun, Fielder and Hart.
But again, he's a fine lead off option for us, and he'll be better than he was last year (barring injury of course). I guarantee it.
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Here is what Sparky is talking about South Side. As much as I hate to say this, Ned understands the value of a quality "at bat" however I don't know if he is smart enough to trade the quality at bat for the pop at the 2 spot. Ned envisions Kendall as a person who can handle the bat, take pitches and move runners when asked. (whether he is bunting, hit and run, or just putting the ball in play) Hopefully Ned will realize that he has never managed like this and when he has asked for these things to be done in the past the job was not accomplished. Now the question is, is Ned going to stay within himself and manage the ball club how he has been doing in the past or is he going to switch his style up and stick to the small ball scheme. In my mind the only way this team will succeed is with JJ in the 2 hole while Kendall is in the 8 hole. I am a firm believer in the second leadoff man with that if you have a player like Kendall who puts together quality at bats but lacks the speed of a leadoff man what better place to have them at to protect that free out position we call the pitchers spot. So the choice is up to Ned Yost granted he has not always been the best tactics manager he has always been aggressive and put a lot of trust into his players, now with another year of seasoning and the addition of athletic veteran leadership, barring injury there is no reason this ball club with this lineup should not be playing into October in 2008. Go Crew.
Kyle in Tosa
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I don't know what you are talking about. You obviously want Kendall to bat in the leadoff spot because he brings so much energy to the team. He is the brewer's emotional support leader through thier hard times beacuse there are going to be a lot of lows in 2008, and 2009, and 2010...
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Rob, Rob, Rob, you pay attention to Sparky ? Sparky, who never met a stat he didn't mangle ? Sparky, whose volume goes up (even louder) when he doesn't have a clue what he's talking about or when someone questions his knowledge/perspective ? That Sparky ?
When Sparky says something worth discussing, send that out as a BULLETIN - the radio doesn't automatically give you credibility.
Now to your lineup question
Why not take your lineup argument one step further and speculate on what the lineup looks like without another move being made, what it would look like with Rolen (minus Hall), and what it might look like with a free agent signee at the top of the lineup like Kenny Lofton (going with your one-year theory before LaPorta is ready.)
And while you're at it, how about the rotation, who would be your starters, what would you add/dangle as trade bait (your Capuano inclusion for Rolen), and what other position(s) would you want filled, and who would you target ?
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