Production from First Base =

[82CardsGrad]

An easy win... Welcome Brandon Allen! First major league dinger and 4 RBI's tonight! Reynolds hits another bomb and J UP continues to do his thing at the plate...

Gotta believe this team is poised to compete next season.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Allen goes 3 for 4 tonite with 3 runs scored and some very solid defense. Oh, and we won by a touchdown!
The recipe is being put together nicely... 2010 should be a fun year!!!

 

[HooverDam]

Im excited for Allen as well, Im glad that it looks like the D'backs finally have a left handed guy who can eventually hit in the heart of the lineup. Maybe down the road he can hit between Upton and Reynolds to break up the righties if Hinch/the Dbacks think thats particularly important.

Maybe next year if he develops quick enough we could see a lineup like:

1. 2B R. Roberts R
2. SS S. Drew L
3. RF J. Upton R
4. 1B B. Allen L
5. 3B M. Reynolds R
6. C M. Montero L
7. LF C. Jackson R (or Parra I guess)
8. CF C. Young R

It seems like a pretty balanced lineup with nice power in the middle especially. Maybe the 5 spot is too low for Reynolds and not giving him enough ABs, I suppose you could move everyone up a slot and move either Drew or Roberts down.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Im excited for Allen as well, Im glad that it looks like the D'backs finally have a left handed guy who can eventually hit in the heart of the lineup. Maybe down the road he can hit between Upton and Reynolds to break up the righties if Hinch/the Dbacks think thats particularly important.

Maybe next year if he develops quick enough we could see a lineup like:

1. 2B R. Roberts R
2. SS S. Drew L
3. RF J. Upton R
4. 1B B. Allen L
5. 3B M. Reynolds R
6. C M. Montero L
7. LF C. Jackson R (or Parra I guess)
8. CF C. Young R

It seems like a pretty balanced lineup with nice power in the middle especially. Maybe the 5 spot is too low for Reynolds and not giving him enough ABs, I suppose you could move everyone up a slot and move either Drew or Roberts down.

Wow... Not sure why you would take Drew out of the leadoff slot? And Young?? You're joking right?? Let's just hope he plays well enough in Reno and maybe if he gets recalled to enable a halfway decent trade!

2010 starting lineup I'd like to see would be:

1.) Drew - SS
2.) Roberts - 2B
3.) Upton - RF
4.) Reynolds - 3B
5.) Montero - C
6.) Allen - 1B
7.) Parra - CF
8.) Oeltjen - LF

Jackson would spell Oeltjen on a fairly routine basis. Romero would spell Parra on a regular basis...
And, let's hope we find some quality bullpen help and Webb can come back in style!

 

[CardEd]

Production from First Base = 25 runs in two games

 

[HooverDam]

82CardsGrad, Stephen Drews career OBP is .328, thats not really lighting the world on fire at any position, especially at lead off. Now I think he can improve it a bit, but even in his best year so far (last year) it was a meager .333. I was also trying to keep the lineup L/R balanced which this organization seems to be fairly big on.

I am not nearly as down on CY as others here are. I think he should get another chance next year to be the starting CF because his defense is quite good and I think he has potential. You could have a lot worse guys hitting 8th in your lineup anyway (though perhaps not this year). If CY can ever get his average up to about .260 and be the superior fielding Mike Cameron he was advertised as Id be perfectly happy with him as a starting CF.

I hope the D'backs see if Parra can play some Center Field the rest of this year and in the Spring and if CY continues to stink it up next year he can be the 4th outfielder or Parra can play that role, whichever.

And I really have no clue why you'd put Oeltjen ahead of Jackson. Jackson is a very good contact hitter and one of the few patient hitters the D'backs have. He's not going to provide a ton of power but between Upton, Reynolds, Young, and perhaps Allen they'll have plenty of that. If he can get healthy and be his normal .290+ avg/.360+ OBP Im not sure why you wouldn't want him starting.

The the Snakes can take the money they've saved not signing a more well known 2nd Baseman and getting rid of Rauch and hopefully get some bullpen help.

 

[82CardsGrad]

82CardsGrad, Stephen Drews career OBP is .328, thats not really lighting the world on fire at any position, especially at lead off. Now I think he can improve it a bit, but even in his best year so far (last year) it was a meager .333. I was also trying to keep the lineup L/R balanced which this organization seems to be fairly big on.

I am not nearly as down on CY as others here are. I think he should get another chance next year to be the starting CF because his defense is quite good and I think he has potential. You could have a lot worse guys hitting 8th in your lineup anyway (though perhaps not this year). If CY can ever get his average up to about .260 and be the superior fielding Mike Cameron he was advertised as Id be perfectly happy with him as a starting CF.

I hope the D'backs see if Parra can play some Center Field the rest of this year and in the Spring and if CY continues to stink it up next year he can be the 4th outfielder or Parra can play that role, whichever.

And I really have no clue why you'd put Oeltjen ahead of Jackson. Jackson is a very good contact hitter and one of the few patient hitters the D'backs have. He's not going to provide a ton of power but between Upton, Reynolds, Young, and perhaps Allen they'll have plenty of that. If he can get healthy and be his normal .290+ avg/.360+ OBP Im not sure why you wouldn't want him starting.

The the Snakes can take the money they've saved not signing a more well known 2nd Baseman and getting rid of Rauch and hopefully get some bullpen help.

Drew's OBP is a concern, however since he's been in the leadoff role it seems he's greatly improved on that (I don't have actual stats to support that claim) and hey, the D-backs have been winning.
I am the founding member of the Get CY's ASS OUTTA HERE Club! He does not belong on a major league field, period...
And, regarding Oeltjen/Jackson, I can go either way on that one really... I am a bit skeptical about CoJack and if he did start, he'd have to produce quickly or I would want Oeltjen in there ASAP...

 

[Black Jesus]

we need good chemistry guys and everything points to Chris Young being a cancer and Conor Jackson being the most boring person on earth.

These new young guys have some grit to them and seem like a team.

 

[Brandon_Webb]

Jeez, no love for CoJack. When he's healthy he's still an effective hitter and would certainly expect him to be the starter over Oeltjen next season.

 

[HooverDam]

we need good chemistry guys and everything points to Chris Young being a cancer and Conor Jackson being the most boring person on earth.

These new young guys have some grit to them and seem like a team.

Why is CoJack the most boring guy on Earth? He was on Byrnes dating show and did the little cop video w/ Byrnes and ODog last year or whenever that was. He seems like a fun loving guy to me. I think fans often put a bit too much into chemistry and over rate things like 'grit'. We've heard numerous stories about teams and teammates that hated each other (ie Johnson and Schilling) and they found a way to win.

 

[Nash2Amare]

82CardsGrad, Stephen Drews career OBP is .328,

Drew's last two years leading off = .360 obp

 

[BC867]

They're ruining another young player.

I'm going to post about position in the batting order again, this time concerning Brandon Allen . . . because Matt Williams was just very opinionated about it during the game.

He said that Allen is very accustomed to hitting in the middle of the batting order and is probably uncomfortable hitting 8th. And, of course, that he will not see any good pitches batting ahead of the pitcher.

He came into the game hitting .333 (7 for 21), so was "rewarded" by being dropped to 8th and going 0-3 with 2 strikeouts.

When are we going to stop hiring stupid Managers who make it difficult for young players to gain confidence?

Or is it still Josh Brynes setting the batting orders for his stooges?

I hate it. And apparently so does Matt Williams? But it goes on and on.

 

[Dback Jon]

Wow. All that from one game...


Yup, the Dbacks RUIN young players. Look how much they ruined J-Up and Reynolds.

 

[HooverDam]

Drew's last two years leading off = .360 obp

I did not know that, good stat research Drew still has some power and will probably always hit between 15-20 HRs a year, so Id be fine w/ him in the #2 slot, especially if creates left-right balance. I don't have a super firm opinion on it one way or the other, I suppose they can juggle him and Roberts in those two slots next year and see what works. Or if Roberts hits a wall and struggles you can go: Drew, Jackson, Upton, Allen, Reynolds or whatever.

 

[BC867]

Wow. All that from one game...

Yup, the Dbacks RUIN young players. Look how much they ruined J-Up and Reynolds.

Justin Upton was a disappointment at the plate until he was finally permanently moved to the #3 spot, ahead of Reynolds.

That was a year after he batted 3rd in two games, did well (just as Brandon Allen has done well), then was inexplicably dropped in the batting order. Just as Allen was today.

That's my point.

How about Chris Young? A power hitter who strikes out a lot and tries to hit every ball into the air batting leadoff because he has speed. Then bounced around the batting order. 3rd. 7th. 5th. 8th. 2nd. 6th.

Josh Byrnes, who fashions himself a Manager, uses passive Managers who (1) don't have the experience or guts to do what's right and (2) can't leave well enough alone when they stumble on something that works.

Again, as Matt Williams said tonight, use a young player in his comfort zone.

Advancing to the Major Leagues is traumatic enough without trying to turn a young player into something he has never been. Not at the Major League level.

Brandon Allen didn't make it to the Majors as a #8 hitter.

 

[DWKB]

So....is 7th "middle of the order"?

Brandon Allen hitting 5th:

.167/.231/.167

Brandon Allen hitting 7th:

.556/.600/1.111

 

[Dback Jon]

But J-Up DID DEVELOP as a DBACK, which shoots your lame-ass two-note bitching out of the water.

Stephen Drew has developed as a Dback. Miguel Montero has developed as a Dback. Connor Jackson developed as a Dback. Gerardo Parra is developing nicely as a Dback.

There has been ONE failure, Chris Young, and that seems to be mental on HIS part - lack of toughness. Face it, your bitching that the Dbacks don't develop young talent HAS NO MERIT.

 

[82CardsGrad]

But J-Up DID DEVELOP as a DBACK, which shoots your lame-ass two-note bitching out of the water.

Stephen Drew has developed as a Dback. Miguel Montero has developed as a Dback. Connor Jackson developed as a Dback. Gerardo Parra is developing nicely as a Dback.

There has been ONE failure, Chris Young, and that seems to be mental on HIS part - lack of toughness. Face it, your bitching that the Dbacks don't develop young talent HAS NO MERIT.

 

[BC867]

Face it, your bitching that the Dbacks don't develop young talent HAS NO MERIT.

Did you send a note to Matt Williams too? His "bitching" about Allen being dropped to 8th was said on Fox Sports during the game.

'Sorry, but the concurring opinion of a former Major Leaguer (currently a D'backs employee) overrides either of our opinions as fans.

And his, about a young player's place in the batting order, coincides with what I've posted. That gives the point merit.

BTW, where did I say, "The D'backs don't develop young talent"?

I referred to points such as using Young in the leadoff position which he was obviously not suited for. And taking a year to place Upton in the 3rd spot, where he quickly became an All Star.

Now they're doing it with Allen.

There's another reason for his succeeding is imperative. He is so smooth fielding 1B. Picking the ball out of the dirt. Stretches. Tagging the runner on pickoff attempts. It's a pleasure to watch him give security to our infielders, pitcher and catcher.

 

[HooverDam]

'Sorry, but the concurring opinion of a former Major Leaguer (currently a D'backs employee) overrides either of our opinions as fans.

Thats one of the stupidest things Ive ever read on a sports forum. You think just because someone has a played a sport on the highest level their opinion is somehow worth more than yours? Many athletes are dumb as a bag of rocks and were successful at their sport more because of physical reasons than mental ones.

Look at the former players in all sports who constantly make fools out of themselves and repeatedly demonstrate their ignorance. In baseball Joe Morgan is the king of this, in basketball its Greg Anthony.

 

[binkar]

Brandon Allen didn't make it to the Majors as a #8 hitter.

I agree that Allen shouldn't be hitting 8th, but no one really makes it to the league as a #8 hitter. Players with major league abilities generally don't bat that low in the minors. You know that.

 

[DWKB]

Does nobody else want to see BC867 explain "middle of the order success" and hitting the difference between his production hitting 5th vs 7th?

 

[82CardsGrad]

Does nobody else want to see BC867 explain "middle of the order success" and hitting the difference between his production hitting 5th vs 7th?

No... IMO, if Allen does what he's capable of doing, he'll be our #5 or #6 hitter regardless of what BC867 thinks...

 

[BC867]

Does nobody else want to see BC867 explain "middle of the order success" and hitting the difference between his production hitting 5th vs 7th?

OMG. My post was about Allen being dropped to 8th. Eighth. Why do you keep responding about 5th or 7th.

If a starting pitcher goes 7 innings (which is the least of what we'd like to see), that's probably 3 AB's for Allen being pitched around -- not seeing a pitch over the plate, with the Pitcher due up next.

Is that the way for a power hitting rookie to bring the confidence he built in the Minors to the Majors?

In the National League, a light hitting veteran middle infielder, Catcher or CF would best fill the spot in front of the Pitcher.

That's been the Diamondbacks problem ever since Brenly (even with Johnson, Schilling and Gonzo leading us to a Championship) and his American League style of managing in the NL.

 

[DWKB]

OMG. My post was about Allen being dropped to 8th. Eighth. Why do you keep responding about 5th or 7th.

Why did you being up "the middle of the order"? 7th is hardly "middle of the order" and so far Allen has excelled hitting 7th.