Originally posted by Smolder
overbay in cleanup? couldn't be worse than matty there...and he's our most consistent hitter right now-this kid is incredible. but i'm also concerned the pressure might be too much for him...remember the start of the season?
I posted on another thread yesterday that it would be a mistake to take the temptation to bat Overbay 3rd. That's what ruined Travis Lee . . . that, and his lack of desire.
With a picture-perfect swing, outstanding fielding at 1B, and the best base-running 1B in the league, Travis felt he had to hit 40 HR in the 3-slot. That's when the popups take over. (Y'know, like Williams, Finley, and even Womack, hacking indiscriminantly at every pitch.)
But I've changed my mind. Lyle Overbay is an intelligent hitter, who knows his role. He's another Mark Grace. He'll hit .300 and drive in runs . . . and pick his spots for a HR now and then.
And, although our Catchers have been hitting well behind Overbay batting 7th, hitting ahead of Gonzo will move him to a new dimension. (I believe he's already 3rd on the team in RBI's.)
And with Counsell and Bautista, or Counsell and Baerga, hitting ahead of him, well, the D'backs are back! Of course, if Brenly returns to the stale ol' Womack and Spivey 1 and 2, it's going to hurt everyone else in the lineup, including Overbay.
So I do think it's just a matter of time until Overbay is moved to 3rd permanently. It might even be as good a combination as Gonzo and Walker would have been, batting 3 and 4. (Don't let Williams hear it. He'll probably want to screw that up, too!)
