like_that;778718 wrote:Hoops and I were talking about this on the Sox thread. I like this lineup (pronk and sizemore are back with this lineup):

1. Brantley
2. Cabrera
3. Choo
4. Pronk
5. Sizemore
6. Santana
7. O Cab
8. Laporta
9. Hanahan

Laley23;778717 wrote:Before yesterday Acta said this (paraphrasing), to the question of where Grady would hit when he came back:

"I can make whatever decision I want. I will and have been thinking about it. I will have Grady somewhere, and in the middle of the order is a possibility. But I wont tell you till he comes back, cause you guys need a story for the next week."

IMO, after saying he is our leadoff hitter when asked times before, this says Acta is REALLY considering moving Grady down a bit.

like_that;778718 wrote:Hoops and I were talking about this on the Sox thread. I like this lineup (pronk and sizemore are back with this lineup):

1. Brantley
2. Cabrera
3. Choo
4. Pronk
5. Sizemore
6. Santana
7. O Cab
8. Laporta
9. Hanahan

Wooball;778729 wrote:I had not read/heard this from Acta. I agree with you as well, before Acta was pretty adamant that Grady was our leadoff hitter so this may be an indication that he plans to move him into the middle of the lineup. I'd really like to see him in the 4 spot while Pronk is out. I'd hate to screw around w/ 1-3 because they have been going so good lately.

What would you think if they put Grady at #2, and have Cabrera 3 and Choo 4?

Wooball;778713 wrote:I know, you don't fix something that wasn't/isn't broke. And it hasn't seemed to matter much where these guys hit in the order, and Acta has been on fire w/ every decision he has made. But, I think this lineup would provide the greatest depth 1-9 with guys hitting in spots that would best utilize their abilities. What do you think?

Sizemore is due to be activated on Thursday and ready to play this weekend. With Hafner out and Santana struggling mightly, why not put Grady into the 4 spot?
1 – Brantley – LF
2 – Cabrera – SS
3 – Choo – RF
4 – Sizemore – CF
5 – Duncan/Kearns/Buck – DH
6 – Santana - C
7 – Cabrera – 2B
8 – Laporta – 1B
9 – Hanahan – 3B

See how Grady responds to hitting in the 4 hole. I’m not sure if it is mental w/ Grady that he wants to hit in the leadoff spot, but right now with Santana struggling and Hafner out, Acta can make a compelling argument to Grady that the team really needs him in the middle of the lineup rather than saying what he really wants to say, that Brantley is excelling at the top of the order and Grady’s game plays better somewhere between 3-6 in the lineup.

IF/WHEN Santana rights the ship, he would be ideal in the 5 spot between Grady and Pronk, who could hit in the 4 and 6 spots in either order once Pronk is back healthy.



Also, with Brantley, Choo, Cabrera, Hafner, Santana being either switch hitters or LH, and with Kipnis, Phelps and Chisenhall all being LH, would you be opposed to moving Sizemore for a RH hitting corner outfielder for the middle of our lineup (unlikely)? Or moving Sizemore for prospects while moving some of our own prospects for a RH hitting corner outfielder (more likely)?

bases_loaded;778944 wrote:You said the tail spin was supposed to begin when Hafner and Grady were on the DL...you can't start this thread...

Cleveland Buck;779013 wrote:It really is time to go get Chisenhall and see what he can do up here. We need a guy at 3B who can provide more than 2 singles per week, especially when Hafner and Sizemore are out more often than not.

You can't move Brantley from the leadoff spot. He's simply too good at shortening up his stroke and making contact in 2 strike counts as opposed to Grady who probably strikes out more than any other leadoff hitter in baseball (I'm not putting forth the effort to see if that is 100% factual or not).

The only hesitation I would have with that is, our pitchers aren't out there blowing people away. They all pitch to contact and rely on the ground ball out. I would be cautious about moving a guy that picks it at gold glove quality at 3B to give Lonnie a shot to play. If we had a proven player ready to step in at 3B, I'd be all for it. But until Hanahan either drops below .200 or starts kicking it around in the field, it could be risky to bring up the kid to let him play while things are going well. And I was 100% for having Chisenhall start the year as our 3B, but I am willing to recognize how the improved defense at 2B and 3B has made this team better.

royal_k;779095 wrote:Grady has 22 hits in 18 games played. 6 HR, 10 doubles, and 6 singles. That's 16 extra base hits out of 22. That is proof enough to me he needs to be hitting in an RBI position. The only problem you run into is the seperation of LH hitters in the middle of the line up. They could possibly move LaPorta up in there somewhere to equal it out.