Should Kris Bryant bat 3rd?

[JP Hochbaum]

The Correlated Run Contribution stat is a stat I invented to help further evaluate how well a hitter is performing. It helps to use this stat and OBP to help determine who should hit where in a lineup. For example, a high OBP guy should be hitting 1 or 2 or 9 in the Cubs lineup, to get on base for the 3, 4 and 5 hitters who should have higher averages versus higher OBP’s.

So I have arranged an ideal lineup based on this philosophy.

https://sportsstatsandscience.wordp...referred-cubs-lineup-arranged-by-crc-and-obp/

 

[CSF77]

Interesting. I'm not sure you need a new stat though.

Ideally you trade to improve LF with a power LH bat. This solves a bunch of issues with the line up. Right now they are depending on Montero to protect Bryant. Not working.

Now a adjustment: swap Rizzo and Bryant. Bryant needs protection while learning. Rizzo is proven power. Easy enough and let's Castro bat 5th.

 

[brett05]

Right now, I bat Bryant 2nd (Said that from the first series) until his power arrives.

 

[CSF77]

Alacantara: .277/.358/.596 3 HR BB%: 12.7% SO%: 25.5% 47 AB's. (200 AB's would be ideal)
Baez: .286/.348/.524 1 HR BB: 4.8% SO%: 28.6% So he is starting to make contact again. BB% is low. SO% while high is way better than last year. He needs 200 AB's IMO

Right now they promoted Szczur to fill LF. He was at .262/.298/.452 BB%: 7.1% SO%: 26% So more of a filler type.

IMO Alcantara in LF hitting 9th is ideal pretty soon. Baez needs to get his BB% around 10% while getting his SO% around 25%. He should be pulling that vs AAA pitching before even thinking of promoting him.

 

[CSF77]

Right now, I bat Bryant 2nd (Said that from the first series) until his power arrives.

Maddon also knows home runs can come in bunches.
"They're there, it's going to happen," he said. "We haven't done it yet, but still held serve pretty well and I find that encouraging, actually."
Cubs top prospect Kris Bryant, who led the Minor Leagues with 43 home runs last season and paced the Major Leagues this spring with nine, has yet to hit his first big league homer. Jorge Soler has two, and both came in the same game, April 13.
"They just need to see more on the Major League level," Maddon said of the young Cubs. "It's not like they've not seen the velocity or seen the break. It's probably more the sequencing, when pitches are thrown maybe, less predictability on the other side that they have to get used to."

I tend to agree with this. Goes along with any guy adapting. They have all seen every pitch but is has more to do with experience. Pitchers have to learn how to sequence their pitches and locations and to not be predictable. Hitters have to go through that also. Right now Baez and Alcanatara's numbers are improving but it is due to facing pitching that is not as apt in pitch sequence.

 

[JP Hochbaum]

Yep batting Bryant second would be a good option as well, especially since you get LRLRL 1-5

 

[JZsportsfan]

Right now, I bat Bryant 2nd (Said that from the first series) until his power arrives.

His power hasn't gone anywhere. Pitchers have just been pitching around him since day 1. He is walking just over 22% of his PA. That's pretty crazy. But his power might actually be more prevalent in the 2 hole since Soler and Rizzo would be behind him in the order. Castro and Montero have had good starts to the season, but they aren't really big power guys. Bryant needs a little protection. Hopefully Baez can find his footing in AAA soon, so we can add another big power bat to the lineup early in the summer

 

[brett05]

JZ,

His SLG% shows a lack of power. Pitchers make mistakes, he's not been able to take advantage of them as of yet.

Castro isn't a big power guy but he's protection. Same was true of Grace when those times he'd bat behind Sosa IIRC.

 

[JP Hochbaum]

Ha! Bryant is batting third today!

 

[CSF77]

I didn't see the line ups yet. saw this though:

[video=youtube;ye8UpxnPzPE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=60&v=ye8UpxnPzPE[/video]

 

[dabears253313]

Kris Bryant should bat 4th, Anthony Rizzo should bat 3rd and Starlin Castro should bat 2nd.

 

[CSF77]

LHSP. Maddon bats Rizzo 2 vs them. He just flipped Bryant and Soler.

 

[Ari Bear]

Kris Bryant should bat 4th, Anthony Rizzo should bat 3rd and Starlin Castro should bat 2nd.

Ive been saying Castro should be hitting 2nd all a long. He's got the traits of a number two hitter, he's not a power guy. I just wish Soler would get some of his plate discipline back that he was showiing in the begining and he needs to find his power while he's at it
1) Fowler
2) Castro
3) Rizzo
4) Bryant
5) Soler
6) Montero
7) Coghlan
8) Russel

 

[brett05]

I think the belief is that Castro can't hit in the two hole. I'd like to see him flop with the protection he has now.

 

[JP Hochbaum]

Castro has to hit at a .320 or higher clip to get the OBP needed to put in the two hole, that is just not gonna happen with his batting style.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Some time soon, it will make sense to put Russell at 2.

 

[SilenceS]

Russell hasn't shown the ability to walk at the higher levels yet. AA, AAA, majors. I mean he has done better the past week but is still over 45% k rate.


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[SilenceS]

I still wouldn't mind rizzo 2nd, Castro third, Bryant 4th, soler 5th


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[Parade_Rain]

Russell hasn't shown the ability to walk at the higher levels yet. AA, AAA, majors. I mean he has done better the past week but is still over 45% k rate.


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That's why I said some time soon and not now.

 

[CSF77]

I still wouldn't mind rizzo 2nd, Castro third, Bryant 4th, soler 5th


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The problem with moving Castro up is it puts a void behind Bryant.

Rizzo .473 OBA 21 RS
Bryant: .442 OBA 10 RS

These 2 have been feeding:
Castro: .298 BA 15 RBI (leads the team)
Montero .298 BA 13 RBI (2nd best)

So those 2 have been feeding on Rizzo and Bryant's OBA. If you remove Castro's bat from an RBI spot and put into a OBA spot I believe it hurts team run generation more than anything.

Soler: .265 AB (not really good right now) OBA .327 pretty much the same situation. Moving him down to 5 with Montero to 6 and Castro to 7 increases production behind Bryant.

To back fill the #2 spot: Well right now Szczur IMO is the best bet. limited action he has put up a .357 OBA and he brings speed to the top. About the best option right now.

I would push Coghlan into a 4th OF role. Lake I would push into the IF more.

What resolves this situation is if Alcantara puts it together in Iowa then let him start in LF. He brings speed and power and a SH bat that this team can use.