Spring Training 2011: Derek Jeter to No. 2 and MLB's 8 Needed Lineup Shifts
The position in which hitters hit in a lineup can be determined by many different factors. Some of these are speed, power and on-base percentage or a combination of the three.
Every manager looks at the way he draws up the lineup card differently, and you can really see the difference in managers by looking at these factors.
There are some players that are put into a spot based off pedigree and some off perception, while some are even in the lineup due to their salary, even though there maybe a better player on the bench.
I'm going to take a look at some players who need to be moved up, down or even into a lineup for what is best for the team. I'll be using mlbdepthcharts.com's projections for my judgment.
Derek Jeter to the No. 2 Hole
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The 36-year-old shortstop is coming off one of the worst years of his career. Of course, with his pedigree, a bad year for Jeter is better than what many players could ever do.
His average dropped from .334 in 2009 to .270 last year. His homers also dropped (18 to 10), as well as stolen bases (30-18), on-base percentage (.406-.340) and slugging percentage (.465-.370).
Some are questioning whether or not the aging shortstop still has enough left in him to put up another stellar year.
Jeter is penciled in as the leadoff hitter for the Yankees, but I think he should be dropped down to the second spot while giving Brett Gardner the job as the offense's spark plug.
Gardner was better than Jeter in average (.277 to .270), on-base percentage (.383 to .340), slugging percentage (.379 to .370) and stolen bases (47 to 18).
Gardner hit .290 in the leadoff spot in 93 at-bats versus .283 in 591 at-bats for Jeter.
Gardner seems to be a better fit for the leadoff spot, where he can utilize his speed in a maximum number of chances. Having Jeter batting behind him is also a plus for the Yankees, as he is a great contact hitter who has an understanding of the game that is among the best of his peers. Using the two at the top of the order will improve the Yankees offense.
Chipper Jones to the No. 2 Hole
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This change for Chipper is extremely unlikely, as he has spent over a decade and a half in the third spot for the Braves. Chipper is nearing his last legs at the age of 38, but he still has some qualities that make him a great second-hole hitter.
First is his amazing ability to get on base, as his percentage in 2010 was .381. The ability to get on base in front of the trio of Jason Heyward, Brian McCann and Dan Uggla would do wonders for the Braves offense.
Another positive is his understanding of the game, as he is an equal to Jeter as far as the understanding of the game. Chipper would be more than willing to do the little things to move runners over, and it may even improve his production, as he would be more likely to have fastballs to hit.
The bigger problem may be finding his replacement for the three hole, as none of those three players have had a great deal of experience hitting in that spot. If one of those could replace him, though, the move would do wonders for the Braves lineup.
Joe Mauer to the No. 2 Hole
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Joe Mauer's career .327 average proves the point that he is one of the best pure hitters in today's game. At the age of 27, Mauer has already racked up four Silver Sluggers, three Gold Gloves and one MVP award.
Mauer has been a consistent threat for the Minnesota Twins out of the three hole in the lineup, but I think his package fits better one spot sooner.
Mauer has just two double-digit homer years, 2006 (13) and 2009 (28), so far in his seven-year career. Mauer's homer total doesn't profile as well as everything else he does in the three hole.
Mauer would fit better in the two hole, where his average, on-base percentage (career .407 OBP) and doubles (averaging just under 35 the last three years) would help set up Justin Morneau, Delmon Young and Michael Cuddyer.
Moving him to the No. 2 spot would also allow rookie Tsuyoshi Nishioka to bat possibly in the ninth spot, putting Mauer in a sort of "third hole" once the lineup turns over.
Mauer is unlikely to move out of the three hole because of his all-around production, but he may be a better fit as the No. 2 hitter because of his lack of home run power.
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Carlos Beltran Down to the No. 5 Hole, Ike Davis to Cleanup
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Before injuries that have slowed his career, Beltran was one of the best players in baseball. He was a consistent 30-30 threat that hit for a high average while playing great defense.
The former center fielder will be moving to right field this season, one of the results of his numerous injury problems. He is also coming off an injury-plagued season where he hit .255 with seven homers in 64 games.
Mlbdepthcharts.com projects that Beltran will hit cleanup this year, behind David Wright and ahead of Jason Bay and Ike Davis. The problem is that Beltran has played only 145 games the past two years, and while his 2009 season was still productive, the 2010 season has me worried about his play going forward.
There is a chance that he gets back to what he was 2006 to 2008, when he averaged nearly 34 homers and 113 RBI a season, but it seems very unlikely.
I think the team should move Beltran down one spot in the order while bumping young first baseman Davis up to the fourth hole, leapfrogging Beltran and Bay. Davis had a very good rookie season, hitting 19 homers and knocking in 71 runners.
Changing the order this way will provide Davis a chance to show his future value and Beltran the opportunity to build himself back up while not having to be the top enforcer to protect Wright. It should also give him a chance to knock in plenty of runs.
Logan Morrison to the No. 2 Hole
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As of right now, mlbdepthcharts.com has Omar Infante hitting in the No. 2 hole while Morrison hits in the six hole.
As much as I hated to see Infante get traded as a Braves fan, he had a career year in 2010 and is very unlikely to reproduce it. He has a career average of .274 but had a huge .321 average in 2010.
A regression should be coming for Infante, while the 23-year-old Morrison has a chance to improve upon his .283 average from 2010. Even if he doesn't, I project that his average and all-around season will be better that Infante's.
One of Morrison's biggest strengths is his ability to draw walks while not striking out, as shown by his 41-51 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 62 games in 2010.
If Morrison's .283/.390/.447 slash line is any indication of his future, Morrison will be an All-Star for years to come.
Tyler Colvin in Left or Right Field
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If given 500 at-bats, Colvin has the power and potential to be a 30-homer hitter as soon as 2011. The problem, however, is two aging outfielders that made a combined $33 million last season.
Kosuke Fukudome seems set as the Cubs' Opening Day right fielder and leadoff batter with Alfonso Soriano set in left field.
The main reason, in my opinion, that Colvin doesn't already have one of these spots is because of the salaries of the two players, even though it means a potential drop-off in production.
Colvin is 25 years old and has a future spot in the outfield locked up, so it seems foolish to hold him away from his development for players that are on declines in their career.
Fukudome and Soriano both have different strengths. Fukudome is going to get on base at a much higher clip (.371 to .322 OBP last year), while Soriano is going to bring more power (24 homers to 13).
I think that Colvin should replace Soriano, but either would be great for the club and would make the fans happy.
Paul Konerko to the No. 3 Hole
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Konerko is coming off a season in which he posted a slash line of .312/.393/.584 with 39 homers and 111 RBI. He had a career high in his batting average on balls in play, which helped a little with his high average, but also posted an average of .277 in 2009 after rough back-to-back years in 2007 and 2008.
Mlbdepthcharts.com has Adam Dunn hitting in the three hole in front of Konerko, but Dunn's protection would do wonders for Konerko if he batted ahead of him.
Dunn poses a huge power threat by having hit at least 38 homers every year since 2004. Having that power potential hitting behind Konerko would force teams to pitch to him, giving him a chance to nearly replicate his 2010 season.
Konerko also is more likely to have a high average, as Dunn's career high was .267 in 2009. Konerko has had only four seasons of his 14-year career with an average lower than that.
Michael Young to the No. 2 Hole
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Michael Young's 162-game averages include a .284/.347/.448 slash line, which is an improvement over the .265/.342/.301 slash line of then-21-year-old Elvis Andrus, who is expected to hit second for the Rangers according to mlbdepthcharts.com.
This isn't a knock on Andrus, who is a future All-Star shortstop that will be a top base-stealing threat for years to come, but Young is simply a better fit for the second spot in 2010.
Young has hit a combined .299/.351/.455 the last three years in the second hole in the lineup. The veteran makes great contact and has solid power and great baserunning abilities that make him a potent offensive threat, especially at the age of 34.
This would also allow the young shortstop Andrus to hit in the ninth hole, making him a proverbial leadoff hitter whenever the lineup turns over.
Andrus (32 steals) and Ian Kinsler (15 steals) in front of Young's ability to move them over to set up the big bats behind him would be a great fit in Texas.
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