Grady Sizemore/Tribe Lineup

• Wooball

  

  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)?
• OneBuckeye

  

  Completely agree. We saw how much better Brantley has played hitting number 1. I think you give it a try.
• Laley23

  

  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

  

  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
• Con_Alma

  Brantley is a good lead-off hitter. Sizemore has more power than Brantley. I want as many chances as possible for someone to be on base with Sizemore's power as opposed to Brantley.
• Laley23

  

  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

  
  To me, that is perfect. But how do you shift it with Hafner out for another month?
• Wooball

  

  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.

  
  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

  

  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

  
  
  The only problem I see here is Choo, Hafner, and Sizemore having 3 left handed sticks in a row. It would be nice if Santana could break that up, ideally in the 5 spot.
• Laley23

  

  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?

  
  Im not opposed, especially the way Asdrubal is swinging. But I think his lack of Ks, makes him ideal for moving the runner along without a sac bunt. Plus, its tough to move the MVP out of his current spot. Again, I wouldnt be opposed to anything that gets Grady down in the order for a prolonged time (IE, Wedge did it for like a week and pussied out lol).
• vball10set

  To be honest, Grady's fragililty is getting old, BUT--you have to have him in the lineup IF and WHEN he's healthy...however, it's really too bad he can't be counted on for any extended period of time.
• OneBuckeye

  

  I would not touch Druby in the lineup.
• bases_loaded

  

  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)?

  
  You said the tail spin was supposed to begin when Hafner and Grady were on the DL...you can't start this thread...
• lhslep134

  

  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).
• Wooball

  

  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...

  
  You're correct, I did. And they promptly dropped 2 at Chicago. They have since won 3 games w/ smoke and mirrors at home, and 1 game they lit up Edinson Volquez. How they have managed to actually gain ground with those 2 guys out is pretty amazing. With them out there are up to 4 guys in the lineup that aren't major league hitters, or at least shouldn't be on a 1st place team (Hanahan, Everett, Kearns, Duncan, Buck, Carerra) plus your clean-up hitter is just keeping his head above the mendoza line.
• bases_loaded

  

  They have put themselves in position to make the playoffs. Get the city excited. Then get swept
• Cleveland Buck

  

  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.
• Wooball

  

  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.

  
  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.
• HitsRus

  

  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).

  without putting forth the effor, either...I think you're right.
  
  

  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.

  Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Third baseman anchors the defense.
• devil1197

  The offense has been fine with Hanahan dipping. His glove is better than Lonnie's right now and there is no need to call up a player right now from AAA outside of an injury.
  
  Let Grady bat cleanup while Pronk is on the shelf and moved everyone down one spot in the order.
• royal_k

  

  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.
• devil1197

  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.

  
  Honestly, the only batters I wouldn't switch is 1-2-3 with Brantley, Cabrera, and Choo.
  
  The rest could be flip flopped daily and it wouldn't make a difference to me.
• royal_k

  

  And I agree with leaving Hanahan where he's at. He has been a rock at 3rd. Lonnie has made a lot of errors. Our defense is a big reason we are where we are.
• grodt

  

  I've changed my stance on this issue in the past few weeks. Although I don't think Grady is as bad of a leadoff hitter as he's made out to be I think now he helps the lineup more from the 3-5 hole then he does leading off, especially with Pronk on the DL. Brantley has really done a good job getting on base and I don't want to mess with the top of the order with the way Asdrubal has been hitting. When Grady comes back I'd like to see him go to the 5 hole so Santana can break up the string of lefties. I know Santana is struggling but there is no one else that is an everyday starter that I would put in the 4 hole.