MLB: How to Increase Offense Using the "Flexible Batting Order" Rule

Offense is down dramatically in 2011, continuing the trend that started last year.

As recently as 2009, American League teams averaged 4.82 runs a game. They are averaging 4.29 runs a game this season. 

In 2009, National League teams averaged 4.43 runs a game; this year, 4.09.

A possible solution to the problem of decreasing offensive production is the "Flexible Batting Order."

Rickey Henderson was the greatest lead off batter of all time, yet he was guaranteed to lead off only the first inning.

Let's use the 1998 New York Yankees to illustrate how the "Flexible Batting Order" works. The following was the Yankees batting order for the first game of the 1998 World Series:

 New York Yankees        
1. Knoblauch     2B
2. Jeter             SS
3. O'Neill           RF
4. Williams        CF
5. Davis             DH
6. Martinez        1B
7.Brosius          3B
8. Posada          C
9. Ledee            LF

Kevin Brown retired the Yankees in order in the first inning. Bernie Williams, Chili Davis, and Tino Martinez were the scheduled batters in the second inning.

Manager Joe Torre could bat them in any order he wanted. He could have Williams lead off as scheduled, or he could choose to have either Davis or Martinez lead off.

He probably wouldn't have made any changes.

But in the eighth inning, Jorge Posada, Ricky Ledee, and Chuck Knoblauch were the scheduled batters. Torre could have Knoblauch lead off instead of Posada. He could bat Ledee and Posada in any order after Knoblauch.

The manager has the option of batting the first three hitters of any inning in any order.

The 2011 New York Mets have one of the greatest lead off batters in today's game.

Say the Mets are playing the Philadelphia Phillies, who have Roy Halladay on the mound. It is the eighth inning with the Mets trailing by a run.

The scheduled batters for New York are MIke Pelfrey (don't be snide and ask what's Pelfrey doing still in the game in the eighth inning), Jose Reyes, and Justin Turner.

Manager Terry Collins could have Reyes lead off the inning instead of a pinch-hitter for Pelfrey. He could also decide to have Turner hit after Reyes and drop Pelfrey's spot to third in the inning.

The advantages to the offense over the course of a season would be tremendous.

Reyes has a better chance of reaching base than most pinch-hitters. If he gets to first, he is a threat to steal. He makes the pitcher concentrate on him, which means the pitcher will pay less attention to the batter, increasing the chances of the batter succeeding.

If Reyes reaches base, he could be sacrificed to second, giving the Mets two chances to tie the game. He could also steal third.

Reyes has good power—he leads the league with 15 triples and is slugging .529. If he leads off instead of batting second and he triples, the Mets have two chances to get him home from third without the benefit of a base hit.

If a team's leadoff batter has home run power, a manager may hesitate to have him lead off an inning later in the game for many reasons. Depending on the score, it may be better to have a leadoff batter such as Rickey Henderson hit third with the hope that he will come up with one or two runners on base.

The "Flexible Batting Order," unlike the designated hitter rule, does not change the basic nature of the game. It doesn't even increase the number of plate appearances a lead off hitter or any other batter will make in a game.

It simply allows the manager to have the choice of rearranging the order in which the first three scheduled hitters in any inning bat.