data.3news-bydate.train.rec.sport.baseball.104844 Maven / Gradle / Ivy
From: [email protected] (sanjeev punjabi)
Subject: Re: Why is Barry Bonds not batting 4th?
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Lines: 30
In article <[email protected]> [email protected] (matthew bohnert) writes:
>>>consistent hitter -- definitely the best in the National League. IMHO, to
>>>have Williams, a streaky hitter (and not really a clutch hitter) batting
>>>4th ahead of Bonds is simply an injustice to the Giants and fans of the
>>>Giants.
>>
>>(2) Having Bonds batting behind Williams means that Matt will get
>> more good pitches to hit. This is important since he struggles
>> so much with breaking balls. Opposing pitchers don't want to
>> walk Williams to get to Bonds.
>>
>
>You're definitely correct in that Williams absolutely has to be sandwiched
>in between Clark and Bonds. He must, and I mean MUST, get fastballs to
>hit...otherwise he becomes little more than Sixto Lezcano in disguise.
>What I would suggest is perhaps batting Bonds, Williams, and Clark
>3-4-5, the reason being that I feel Bonds' potential basestealing
>abilities are wasted when he's stuck behind two slow runners.
>I think the chance of getting 20-30 extra stolen bases with Bonds in the
>3 spot would more than offset any drop in in run production by having
>Clark in the 5 spot.
>
>Matt
>
Williams does not like hitting cleanup!!
Secondly, Bonds and Clark (in that order) are a lot more productive with
runners in scoring position than Matt "I am streaky, free swinger" Williams.
Sanjeev