Opening Day Lineup

[Stradling]

The board is kind of slow over the holidays so I figured this is as good of time as any to predict our opening day lineup. We play Seattle opening day so we will probably face King Felix.

Calhoun

Joyce

Trout

Albert

Josh

Aybar

Freese

Ianetta

Rutledge

Weaver

[wopphil]

Switch Aybar and Freese and you probably nailed it.

[NorCal Halo]

I think Green starts over Rutledge.

[Sherlock31]

Calhoun
Joyce
Trout
Albert
Josh
Freese
Aybar

Ianetta
Green

 

Weaver

[arch stanton]

Calhoun

Trout

Pujols

Hamilton

Joyce

Aybar

Freese

Ianetta

Rutledge

[Sherlock31]

Calhoun

Trout

Pujols

Hamilton

Joyce

Aybar

Freese

Ianetta

Rutledge

2 lefty follow by a switch hitter? That's not Mike's style.

[bloodbrother]

Calhoun - RF

ZOBRIST - 2B(DO IT DIPOTO)

Trout, CF

Pujols, 1B

Hamilton, LF

Freese, 3B

Aybar, SS

Joyce, DH

Iannetta, C

As far as today's personnel goes...I figure right now it would be

Calhoun, RF

Joyce, DH

Trout, CF

Pujols, 1B

Hamilton, LF

Freese, 3B

Aybar, SS

Green/Rutledge, 2B

Iannetta, C

[Ohtaniland]

Starting his 4th season with the Angels and we still misspell Iannetta. I spelled it Ianneta last season.

Anyway...

Calhoun (Calzone & @ngelswin sign in RF)

Trout

Joyce

Pujols

Hamilton

Freese

Aybar

Green

Iannetta

Scherzer (according to one ML official)

[Blarg]

King Felix will be upset.

[Jeremiah]

The only thing I'd say about the lineup is that I'd rather the team not push Trout down the order. It gives him fewer AB's over the course of the season. There's also the opportunity cost of giving what would have been his AB's in the two spot to an inferior batter.

[Blarg]

If the #1 and 2 batters do their job Trout has far more opportunities to score runners.

 

Last season the difference between the amount of plate appearances between Pujols in the #3 spot and Trout at #2 is 10.

 

The amount of times Trout came to bat with runners on base was 297, Pujols it was 334. With RISP Trout 157, Pujols 203.

 

Granted some of those guy on base were named Trout for Pujols to hit in but success rate with RISP Trout 1.024 OPS and Pujols .739.

 

Move Trout to 3rd if you want to score more runners.

[gurn67]

If the #1 and 2 batters do their job Trout has far more opportunities to score runners.

 

Last season the difference between the amount of plate appearances between Pujols in the #3 spot and Trout at #2 is 10.

 

The amount of times Trout came to bat with runners on base was 297, Pujols it was 334. With RISP Trout 157, Pujols 203.

 

Granted some of those guy on base were named Trout for Pujols to hit in but success rate with RISP Trout 1.024 OPS and Pujols .739.

 

Move Trout to 3rd if you want to score more runners.

Unfortunately, as long as we have the same manager and owner, I don't think that's ever going to happen.

[Stradling]

Unfortunately, as long as we have the same manager and owner, I don't think that's ever going to happen.

Except Scioscia said it would happen and possibly as early as this year.

http://m.angels.mlb.com/news/article/103744664/mike-scioscia-considering-mike-trout-in-no-3-slot-in-angels-lineup

Edited December 27, 2014 by Stradling

[Second Base]

If it were me, Calhoun and Trout would be 1-2, Joyce would hit 5th and I'd have Green or Featherston over Rutledge.

I'd also move Santiago to the pen to work in a variety of roles including setup, long relief and lefty specialist. I'd slide both Heaney and Tropeano into the rotation with Richards, Shoe and Weav.

[xboom28x]

I'm waiting for the inevitable Iannetta should bat 2nd lineup.

[Ohtaniland]

Except Scioscia said it would happen and possibly as early as this year.

http://m.angels.mlb.com/news/article/103744664/mike-scioscia-considering-mike-trout-in-no-3-slot-in-angels-lineup

 

I don't really care if Pujols hits 3rd or 4th but why does he have to be joined at the hip with Trout? .....Oh maybe it's because Albert is batting .181 as an Angel when Trout is not hitting ahead of him in the lineup.

[Docwaukee]

recent theory and modeling has your best hitter hitting second.  

[QuinlansMinion]

Joyce

Trout

Calhoun

Pujols

Hamilton

Freese

Aybar

Cron

Green

Ianetta

This is what I would like to see happen but I doubt will. Why bat Calhoun in front of Trout? If our main objective is to get good obp in front of Trout, Joyce can provide that. Calhoun can hit for power, hitting him behind Trout is a good idea. Plus this lineup is perfect lefty righty balance. Also im tired of seeing Pujols flailing with Trout on base. Calhoun is our 2nd best hitter. He needs to be driving in runs as much as possible. I also like Trout batting 2nd with two good obp guys ahead of him. Trout batting 2nd will produce a lot of extra ab's.

[Oz27]

Joyce

Trout

Calhoun

Pujols

Hamilton

Freese

Aybar

Cron

Green

Ianetta

This is what I would like to see happen but I doubt will. Why bat Calhoun in front of Trout? If our main objective is to get good obp in front of Trout, Joyce can provide that. Calhoun can hit for power, hitting him behind Trout is a good idea. Plus this lineup is perfect lefty righty balance. Also im tired of seeing Pujols flailing with Trout on base. Calhoun is our 2nd best hitter. He needs to be driving in runs as much as possible. I also like Trout batting 2nd with two good obp guys ahead of him. Trout batting 2nd will produce a lot of extra ab's.

Pujols had a better OPS and OPS+ than Calhoun last year.

[QuinlansMinion]

Pujols had a better OPS and OPS+ than Calhoun last year.

That may be true but im not sure anyone would argue that Pujols has more upside than Calhoun.

Also theres the righty lefty aspect for that lineup I posted. I also dont think Calhoun is ideal for leadoff. He seems like he would benefit from seeing more fastballs with Trout on base.

[bloodbrother]

I will say that I like the Angels chances of leading the league in runs scored if they are able to trot out a 10 man lineup

[NachoPop]

Joyce

Trout

Calhoun

Pujols

Hamilton

Freese

Aybar

Cron

Green

Ianetta

This is what I would like to see happen but I doubt will. Why bat Calhoun in front of Trout? If our main objective is to get good obp in front of Trout, Joyce can provide that. Calhoun can hit for power, hitting him behind Trout is a good idea. Plus this lineup is perfect lefty righty balance. Also im tired of seeing Pujols flailing with Trout on base. Calhoun is our 2nd best hitter. He needs to be driving in runs as much as possible. I also like Trout batting 2nd with two good obp guys ahead of him. Trout batting 2nd will produce a lot of extra ab's.

They have 2 DHs now?

[Troll Daddy]

Aybar

Calhoun

Trout

Hamilton

Pujols

Joyce

Freese

Iannetta

Rutledge / Featherton

[Docwaukee]

I don't understand why so many are putting the 4th OFer Joyce at the top of the order. The dude has sucked his entire career and probably won't be a regular in the lineup. 

he's not a 4th OFer.  He's gonna be the primary DH.  He's an above average offensive player with a nice obp.  What are you seeing that's telling you he sucks.  I'm quite curious.  

[DW711]

I don't understand why so many are putting the 4th OFer Joyce at the top of the order. The dude has sucked his entire career and probably won't be a regular in the lineup. 

 

and he was 2 for 7 in steals last year.

 

No reason to bat him ahead of Trout...all that does is kill some of his value.