03-27-2009, 06:53 PM
<!--quoteo(post=25430:date=Mar 27 2009, 06:03 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Mar 27 2009, 06:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Alf ain't Einstein out there either. They're both speedy; their baserunning differences are negligible.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Actually, Soriano is a very intelligent base stealer. He's just under the 80% success rate for his career.
Here's the thing KB, Soriano is not batting leadoff because he wouldn't hit well else-where in the lineup. He's batting leadoff because Lou thinks he's the best leadoff hitter and best utilized there.
Now, I tend to believe that the 1 spot is better off with a high OBP player, but this is a bit of an unusual team. Do you know how good this team is at turning the lineup over? Soriano had quite a lot of chances with men on base last year. Conventional thinking says that a high OBP/low SLG player should be leadoff. But maybe in some weird accidental way, Soriano batting leadoff makes this team one of the top run producers in baseball. After all, Soriano is only guaranteed to lead off an inning once a game.
Actually, Soriano is a very intelligent base stealer. He's just under the 80% success rate for his career.
Here's the thing KB, Soriano is not batting leadoff because he wouldn't hit well else-where in the lineup. He's batting leadoff because Lou thinks he's the best leadoff hitter and best utilized there.
Now, I tend to believe that the 1 spot is better off with a high OBP player, but this is a bit of an unusual team. Do you know how good this team is at turning the lineup over? Soriano had quite a lot of chances with men on base last year. Conventional thinking says that a high OBP/low SLG player should be leadoff. But maybe in some weird accidental way, Soriano batting leadoff makes this team one of the top run producers in baseball. After all, Soriano is only guaranteed to lead off an inning once a game.