Comments on: Soriano is the Best Leadoff Hitter

By: jeff

jeff — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:41:52 +0000

I think mike fontenot would be a good fit into a table seeting role for the lineup. Alfonso soriano’s leadoff homers are not valuable with no one on base.

By: jeff

jeff — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:39:35 +0000

Mike fontenot needs more playing time and would fit well into a table setter in the lineup. What good are leadoff homers with no one on base?

By: boomer

boomer — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:00:47 +0000

GREAT article on this at baseball prospectus…
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7184

By: boomer

boomer — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:31:11 +0000

“They’re not even sample sizes, but anything more than 150 plate appearances, in my opinion, is a good enough sample size to get a good reading on what can be done by a player.”

I think this 150 plate appearance number is SIGNIFICANTLY low. I’d say you need more like 1000 plate appearances to get a good reading on someone.

By: Matt Jacobs

Matt Jacobs — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:00:00 +0000

^ I was going to say the same thing. 151 is not enough of a sampling. Things can swing one way or another too much in that span of time. He could have been in the midst of a hot streak, or cold streak. Too skewed for me.

For me, a number two hitter that can do their job properly is more of a concern.

By: silkdaddy

silkdaddy — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:40:00 +0000

I don’t remember anyone saying that it should be Theriot…

I don’t think that DeRosa’s 151 at-bats in the leadoff spot tell you anything. Not enough data. The guy has a career OBP of .341…a lot better than Sori’s .328.

Should be DeRosa.

By: sean

sean — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:28:07 +0000

As much as I think Soriano should bat lower in the order, you are right. The stats do speak for themselves. I can’t help wondering though, if Lou started the season with him in the five spot and stuck with it for the season, would he would find a way to start performing there? Maybe he has just been coddled too long and not been forced to learn how to hit breaking balls. I just figure that his speed will decline soon and we will end up leading off with not only a slow but also a bad OBP hitter. Oh well, I imagine Lou doesn’t want to experiment much this year and I understand why.

By: bleacherbummer

bleacherbummer — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:51:30 +0000

I would bat D.Lee 1st, followed by Theriot, Fukodome, Ramirez, Soriano, Soto, Pie, DeRosa. But I’m guessing I’ll never see that lineup to know if it works or not.

By: Joe Aiello

Joe Aiello — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:44:19 +0000

DeRosa’s career as leadoff: .272 / .308 / .371

By: CTS

CTS — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:42:10 +0000

I never said he would. I stated that he should.

Murton or DeRosa are other in-house options who could lead off very well.