Is it time to move Albert Pujols down in the lineup?

[Homebrewer]

The biggest obstacle to moving Albert down is Albert. I don't think they would even dare to bring the subject up in front of him.

[nate]

Bat Hamilton third against RHP and Pujols third against LHP.

[Homebrewer]

Bat Hamilton third against RHP and Pujols third against LHP.

That might be a good way to sort of ease Albert into the concept/idea of batting somewhere other than 3rd.

[70runner]

#3 slot is the 5th best hitter???  on what planet?

 

Trout would be hitting 3rd on any team not run by Scioscia/Pujols

 

Anyone remember Abreu?...he hit 3rd even tho he was mush at the plate, pretty much like Pujols

 

Move Trout to 3rd, Hamilton, then Pujols

[nate]

If Trout his third then who hits second?  I am find with him hitting second.

[RePLAY]

...seeing Howie hit to a Triple-Play is gonna be brutal.

[Red Halo]

If Trout his third then who hits second?  I am find with him hitting second.

 

Aybar would probably be the best choice.

[Guest]

I'm glad you've addressed this, Chuck (and surprised, ha). Moving Albert from #3 is blatant to everyone, but I assume he won't be moving in the lineup unless it's his own choosing. I also doubt anyone has the stones to tell him he's not batting 3rd anymore.

There a roughly 0% chance of this happening. Albert doesn't listen to Scioscia or anyone for that matter, and he's chronicled this behavior in many instances. His stubbornness and ego were the reasons he missed all of last year. Having Pujols at the 3 spot is like giving a blind man a guide cat instead of a guide dog. Poor 3's kill any sort of run production, end offensive rallies, and create undesirable situations for the cleanup hitter. It's a very important spot.

In other words: Kole and Trout get on base and Pujols GIDP or (barely) reaches on a fielder's choice; the brilliant cleanup hitter, Freese will end the inning via K or self immolation.

Scioscia & co. need to quit being so submissive with guys like Pujols (is there anyone like him?). He needs to receive the same treatment everyone else receives. Honestly, I wouldn't mind Don Mattingly coming becoming the skipper and putting Pujols in check.

Edited April 7, 2014 by failos

[ten ocho recon scout]

I would bat pujols between hamilton and ibanez. At worst, we wear down the defense by making them shift back and forth 3 hitters in a row. No one wants to walk that far more than once.

Sun tzu psych warfare them to death.

[CanadianHalo]

I really think it's a no brainer. Pujols is not helping this team. Kendrick hits wayyyyyy too many ground balls to be batting third.

I want Hamilton to hit third but I also don't wanna mess with a good thing right now for his sake.

[mota_madness]

i sense a day off to "get things right" coming!  

[xboom28x]

As long as the Angels are close to .500 for the month of April, let Pujols remain hitting 3rd in the lineup.

 

If the Angels offense is struggling to score runs, playing well below .500 and he's batting below the mendoza line, then I would say drop him in the order.

[fan_since79]

Chuck, I'm glad you've opened your eyes about Pujols. He's struggling at the 3 hole, but I suspect that he won't be moving anywhere in the lineup unless he chooses to do so on his own. Albert doesn't listen to Scioscia or anyone for that matter. His stubbornness and ego is what led him to miss all of last year. His ego is not only hurting his career, it's also killing the team. Having a lackluster hitter at #3 kills this teams chances at producing runs. Scioscia & co. need to quit being so submissive and supress egos in the way Don Mattingly treats Puig.

 

The manager moves him down and if he refuses to play, well, he gets to ride the pine.

[RePLAY]

do a small move.  Switch Hamilton to 3 and Pujols to 4.

[ELEVEN]

I would bat pujols between hamilton and ibanez. At worst, we wear down the defense by making them shift back and forth 3 hitters in a row. No one wants to walk that far more than once.

Sun tzu psych warfare them to death.

Infield Death March. I like it.

[Ohtaniland]

Chuck, I'm glad you've opened your eyes about Pujols. He's struggling at the 3 hole, but I suspect that he won't be moving anywhere in the lineup unless he chooses to do so on his own. Albert doesn't listen to Scioscia or anyone for that matter. His stubbornness and ego is what led him to miss all of last year. His ego is not only hurting his career, it's also killing the team. Having a lackluster hitter at #3 kills this teams chances at producing runs. Scioscia & co. need to quit being so submissive and supress egos in the way Don Mattingly treats Puig.

For $240M he should be willing to sweep the parking lot. Batting third in the lineup is not guaranteed in his contract or a vested right with the MLBPA. Why is everyone so afraid to sit him down and tell it like it is. You kinda suck right now so we need to move you down to 5th or 6th until you start mashing. Thanks......end of discussion.

[fan_since79]

Post of the year, Hamiltown!

[Angels_Make_Me_Drink]

Put him behind Hamilton. Let Hambone protect Trout.

[Ohtaniland]

Post of the year, Hamiltown!

or a warning point.

[Guest]

The manager moves him down and if he refuses to play, well, he gets to ride the pine.

Kinda like when everyone told him to stop playing while injured. Nobody tells him what to do, and he will never ride the pine—that's an unreasonable expectation, and most likely an impossibility.

Edited April 7, 2014 by failos

[Guest]

For $240M he should be willing to sweep the parking lot. Batting third in the lineup is not guaranteed in his contract or a vested right with the MLBPA. Why is everyone so afraid to sit him down and tell it like it is. You kinda suck right now so we need to move you down to 5th or 6th until you start mashing. Thanks......end of discussion.

I totally agree with you, as do most of us here. I guess this issue is why people assume the coaches ineffective leaders—especially the man at the helm. I love Scioscia and defend him all the time, but the dude needs to start watching episodes of the Sopranos for lessons on assertiveness and unlock his inner Italian mafioso. I'm tired of carefree Scioscia he needs to give more shits.

Maybe Arte stutters when talking to Pujols solely due to fear. I guess that explains how&why he surrendered his franchise to one man.

Edited April 7, 2014 by failos

[Adios]

Yep.  And this is going to turn out to be the worst contract in Angels history.   Vernon might be relieved to hear that.

We still have 8 years left including this year.  I don't think there is a remote chance that he plays all 10 years of that ridiculously overpaid contract.   I still have hope that he can get it going, but it is painfully obvious that he will never be the same player that he was in St. Louis, and definitely not for 10 years.  Unfortunately for us, we are paying him for his PAST accomplishments and not his current abilities.  And this is not personal.  Albert seems like a great family man.  Great win today.  Wish I could have seen it, but I was working.  

[Brent Maguire]

I honestly have no idea where you came up with that criteria.

Also Trout has never hit 4th, nor should he.

It's from "The Book" by Tom Tango and other. Very good book if anybody ever gets the chance to read it. 

[Itchynut]

I dunno...

 

1. Calhoun (obvious)

2. Aybar (can bunt and run; hard to double up)

3. Trout (obvious)

4. Hamilton (mashing)

5. Kendrick (ability to go gap to gap; RBI; something Freese is not doing)

6. Ibanez (R, L, R, L, ...)

7. Pujols (Get act together)

8. Ianetta (Gotta put him somewhere)

9. Freese (singles hitter / flip lineup)

Edited April 7, 2014 by Itchynut

[Jason]

I say move him down in the order. It won't help Pujols but it is what the team needs to win.