It's Lonely At the Top

[DOUGHBOYS]

I know the tide for on base percentage is overwhelming and that most, especially Numerish, rely and love their OBP.
And I'm just a Schmo ona Message Board going nowhere fast, but chalk one up for some Managers around baseball.

OBP'ers love 'their guys' at the top of the lineup.
Why?
I don't know.
Some, even sold Managers on putting guys like John Jaso or Yunel Escobar at the top of the lineup.
Oops, bad examples they're still there, for some reason.
Baseball has changed.
Never do we see a hit, a sacrifice, and let the best hitters on our team knock in the leadoff hitter.
Never.
Times have changed.
OBP'ers thought that instead of a fast leadoff hitter, a fella who gets on base would be better.
It's not.

There are only 15 hitters in baseball with a .400 OBP.
Most of these players are best hitters on their team quality. Not a one trick pony like Jaso or Escobar.
Ben Zobrist, Daniel Murphy, Odubel Herrera, Jonathon Villar, Christian Yelich, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley Jr, are all in this club due to a hot first two months.
Mike Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, Bryce Harper, David Ortiz, Brandon Belt, Jose Altuve, and Ryan Braun are all wonderful, gifted hitters who pitchers do not want to beat them and would rather pitch to the next fellow.
That leaves Dexter Fowler who could belong in either group on a given day.

Managers, most Managers (ahem Jaso and Escobar) are turning the page on OBP.
Springer leading off in Houston.
Machado and Jones in Baltimore.
Blackmon in Colorado.
Carpenter in St Louis.
Tulo and Bautista in Toronto.
Guyer in Tampa. (Hey! It's Tampa.)
Betts in Boston.
Ellsbury, Granderson, and Kinsler....

The trick is not to get an OBP'er at the top of the lineup. The trick is to get one of the best hitters at the top of the lineup.
Baseball doesn't work in a 'Bing, Bing, Bang, Bang' type of lineup world any longer.
The Bang should be near the top of the lineup. Giving that team more chances for more Bang.
More Bang for your buck, you might say.
When facing 8, 9, 1 a pitcher looks at Jaso as a welcome sight after retiring the first two hitters easily.
Not so, Jose Bautista.
The power-ladened leadoff hitter offers something that a two out walker does not.
A chance to score.
Right away.

OBP'ers depend on the great hitters to be drive in their guy. Take out that middle man!
Let's give the better hitters more at bats.
OBP'ers are the deviled egg on Thanksgiving Day.
We don't need to leadoff that way!
We only get so many calories and with the better options on the table, screw the deviled egg.

A fast hitter at the top is nice, but no threat.
Heck, Billy Hamilton is trying to find playing time on a crappy team, let alone lead off time.
Same with Jaso and Escobar types.
They'll soon be phased out as well.
A pitcher needs to have stress and a price to pay from pitch one.
When Jaso or Escobar step in the box,,,,,nothing.
Put Springer or Bautista in there and the blood pressure goes up.
Well done, (most) Managers.

[headhunters]

to hijack this a little- and move to golf- us ryder cup captains get to be really really dumb only every other year- along with johney miller. tiger woods last on sunday- to "anchor" that lineup. "in case it comes down to to the last guy". tiger woods should be 1,2,3 EVERY time- where his point always counts. of course now that is speith. ok- back to baseball.