01-07-2009, 01:31 AM
<!--quoteo(post=9666:date=Jan 6 2009, 10:11 PM:name=HTC)-->QUOTE (HTC @ Jan 6 2009, 10:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I don't want Lee hitting second and I don't want him hitting third. If Soriano's healthy enough to steal bases like he started doing toward the end of 08, I could probably handle Lee hitting second, but if not, you're just asking for double plays in front of the heart of the order. Lee needs to be hitting about fifth or sixth at this point.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If he's not batting behind Theriot, he's not going to hit into nearly as many DP's. He had more DP chances than anybody in baseball by a lot because Theriot only hits singles or walks in front of him. In fact, it happened <b>230 times </b>last year(1b, bb, hbp). His history would also suggest his lack of power was more of a fluke than his big increase in groundballs. We'll see. I'm sure he's every bit as frustrated about it as we are and is working to get the loft back in his swing. It's possible he's never a 30 homer hitter anymore, but it's very possible he never has that high of a groundball rate again as well. The bottom line is he's still a very good hitter, and where he bats won't make a difference on our outcome this year.
If he's not batting behind Theriot, he's not going to hit into nearly as many DP's. He had more DP chances than anybody in baseball by a lot because Theriot only hits singles or walks in front of him. In fact, it happened <b>230 times </b>last year(1b, bb, hbp). His history would also suggest his lack of power was more of a fluke than his big increase in groundballs. We'll see. I'm sure he's every bit as frustrated about it as we are and is working to get the loft back in his swing. It's possible he's never a 30 homer hitter anymore, but it's very possible he never has that high of a groundball rate again as well. The bottom line is he's still a very good hitter, and where he bats won't make a difference on our outcome this year.
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