Lineup options wide open for Melvin
03/01/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Thursday is the beginning of the Cactus League season for the Diamondbacks and it's also the start of what promises to be a month of lineup experimentation for Bob Melvin.
The Diamondbacks skipper has plenty of combinations to work with thanks to a roster deep with versatile players.
"The possibilities are endless," he said.
Provided he's healthy, Craig Counsell figures to be the primary leadoff guy with center fielder Eric Byrnes getting his share of at-bats there, especially against left-handed pitching.
"Couns is probably the guy here," Melvin said. "But we'll look at Byrnes here, too, certainly against left-handers."
The second spot in the order is the one with the most possibilities. If Counsell hits leadoff, Byrnes is a leading candidate to hit second along with second baseman Orlando Hudson.
Melvin, though, is also considering hitting catcher Johnny Estrada here. Estrada is not fleet of foot, but does have other attributes that are attractive in a No. 2 hitter.
"He hits the ball to all fields," Melvin said. "And the numbers show that if you stack your best hitters, that's how you score the most runs in bunches. He's certainly not a prototypical [No.] 2 hitter."
When Alex Cintron or Andy Green is in the lineup they could also see time there as could Jeff DaVanon when he plays center in place of Byrnes.
The Nos. 3 and 4 spots look more set with third baseman Chad Tracy and left fielder Luis Gonzalez.
Ideally, a right-handed hitter would follow back-to-back lefties like Tracy and Gonzalez, but at least initially Melvin is looking at lefty swinging Shawn Green in this spot over righty Conor Jackson.
With Jackson starting his first full Major League season, Melvin doesn't want to put any additional pressure on him.
"If Conor gets off to a nice start and I wanted to split up the lefties up I could potentially do Conor five and Greenie six," Melvin said. "Also if it becomes a problem and I think we need to split the lefties up."
Assuming he doesn't hit seventh, Melvin is leaning toward Estrada in the No. 7 hole with the eighth spot being either Byrnes or Hudson, whichever doesn't hit second.
In a National League lineup, the eighth spot is a tough one because the hitter has to know when to be aggressive and when to be patient. Pitchers will often pitch around the eight hitter to get to the pitcher and at other times will go after the eighth-place hitter.
"That can be one of the most difficult spots in the lineup to hit," Melvin said.
Not only are there lots of choices when it comes to the order, there's as many if not more when it comes to who will be in the lineup on a day-to-day basis.
While Byrnes figures to get the majority of the playing time in center, DaVanon will also see plenty of action. A switch-hitter, DaVanon had better numbers against lefties last year, but that was in just 28 at-bats.
"Just watching him hit right now, to me he's a much better left-hander hitter," Melvin said.
Melvin will also have to find a way to get Tony Clark plenty of at-bats, as well as reserves like Cintron, Andy Green and Damion Easley, two of whom are expected to make the team. With Cintron and Green able to play second, short and third and Easley able to play all four infield positions, that opens up plenty of possibilities. In addition, Easley and Green can both play the outfield.
So based on whether the opponent is starting a lefty or righty will go a long way to determining what lineup Melvin uses. There won't be strict platoons, but Byrnes' days off will likely come against left-handers as will Estrada's, with backup catcher Chris Snyder better vs. southpaws.
"We can matchup a little bit more this year than we did last year," Melvin said.
With the loss of Troy Glaus' 37 homers, will the Diamondbacks lineup be better than last year when they finished 10th in the NL in runs scored?
"I think our at-bats will be tougher and deeper," Melvin said. "I think we'll make pitchers work a little bit more, put the ball in play more to put more pressure on the defense and have less strikeouts. And potentially we can move runners a little better.
"Given the depth one through eight, I think we'll have a strong feeling that we'll have a chance to score in every inning this year."
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Thursday is the beginning of the Cactus League season for the Diamondbacks and it's also the start of what promises to be a month of lineup experimentation for Bob Melvin.
The Diamondbacks skipper has plenty of combinations to work with thanks to a roster deep with versatile players.
"The possibilities are endless," he said.
Provided he's healthy, Craig Counsell figures to be the primary leadoff guy with center fielder Eric Byrnes getting his share of at-bats there, especially against left-handed pitching.
"Couns is probably the guy here," Melvin said. "But we'll look at Byrnes here, too, certainly against left-handers."
The second spot in the order is the one with the most possibilities. If Counsell hits leadoff, Byrnes is a leading candidate to hit second along with second baseman Orlando Hudson.
Melvin, though, is also considering hitting catcher Johnny Estrada here. Estrada is not fleet of foot, but does have other attributes that are attractive in a No. 2 hitter.
"He hits the ball to all fields," Melvin said. "And the numbers show that if you stack your best hitters, that's how you score the most runs in bunches. He's certainly not a prototypical [No.] 2 hitter."
When Alex Cintron or Andy Green is in the lineup they could also see time there as could Jeff DaVanon when he plays center in place of Byrnes.
The Nos. 3 and 4 spots look more set with third baseman Chad Tracy and left fielder Luis Gonzalez.
Ideally, a right-handed hitter would follow back-to-back lefties like Tracy and Gonzalez, but at least initially Melvin is looking at lefty swinging Shawn Green in this spot over righty Conor Jackson.
With Jackson starting his first full Major League season, Melvin doesn't want to put any additional pressure on him.
"If Conor gets off to a nice start and I wanted to split up the lefties up I could potentially do Conor five and Greenie six," Melvin said. "Also if it becomes a problem and I think we need to split the lefties up."
Assuming he doesn't hit seventh, Melvin is leaning toward Estrada in the No. 7 hole with the eighth spot being either Byrnes or Hudson, whichever doesn't hit second.
In a National League lineup, the eighth spot is a tough one because the hitter has to know when to be aggressive and when to be patient. Pitchers will often pitch around the eight hitter to get to the pitcher and at other times will go after the eighth-place hitter.
"That can be one of the most difficult spots in the lineup to hit," Melvin said.
Not only are there lots of choices when it comes to the order, there's as many if not more when it comes to who will be in the lineup on a day-to-day basis.
While Byrnes figures to get the majority of the playing time in center, DaVanon will also see plenty of action. A switch-hitter, DaVanon had better numbers against lefties last year, but that was in just 28 at-bats.
"Just watching him hit right now, to me he's a much better left-hander hitter," Melvin said.
Melvin will also have to find a way to get Tony Clark plenty of at-bats, as well as reserves like Cintron, Andy Green and Damion Easley, two of whom are expected to make the team. With Cintron and Green able to play second, short and third and Easley able to play all four infield positions, that opens up plenty of possibilities. In addition, Easley and Green can both play the outfield.
So based on whether the opponent is starting a lefty or righty will go a long way to determining what lineup Melvin uses. There won't be strict platoons, but Byrnes' days off will likely come against left-handers as will Estrada's, with backup catcher Chris Snyder better vs. southpaws.
"We can matchup a little bit more this year than we did last year," Melvin said.
With the loss of Troy Glaus' 37 homers, will the Diamondbacks lineup be better than last year when they finished 10th in the NL in runs scored?
"I think our at-bats will be tougher and deeper," Melvin said. "I think we'll make pitchers work a little bit more, put the ball in play more to put more pressure on the defense and have less strikeouts. And potentially we can move runners a little better.
"Given the depth one through eight, I think we'll have a strong feeling that we'll have a chance to score in every inning this year."
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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