Simmons can HIT!!!

[Billy_Ball]

12 game hitting streak!  Garret Anderson watch out!

[Troll Daddy]

I expect to see more power coming from him. I would love to see more gap doubles and 10 + HRs this season. I know he has it in him.

[Slegnaac]

I think an ideal lineup at this point would be

1. Escobar

2. Trout

3. Calhoun

4. Pujols

5. Cron

6. Simmons

7. Perez

8. Gia/Pennington

9. Ortega/Gentry

But it wont happen because MS refuses to separate Trout and Pujols

Why do you want Trout batting behind the 8 and 9 hitters?

[dimitrig]

11 game hitting streak!  Simba's batting average higher than Pujols and Trout!

 

While I'm reading too much into April numbers....

 

Side note - Erick Aybar is hitting .136. 

 

The trade wasn't for Aybar. Aybar was to fill in a gap. Newcomb and Ellis are pitching very well.

[marcosantinia12]

Currently Escobar has been great leading off. Need a better #2 hitter.

 

He's better than our current #2 hitter.

I agree, but replacing a bad #2 hitter with a slightly "less bad" #2 hitter doesn't equal a good # 2 hitter. I'm not saying Simmons isn't a good overall hitter, I am baffled by his ability to put the ball in play... but a guy who can't take walks and put the ball in play is the exact opposite you'd want in the 2 whole in my opinion. Low on base for the run producers, and higher probability to double up and even take away runners from those mid order guys. I think he can become a good #6 hitter because of his ability to put the ball in play, bu he isn't a table setter.

It's obviously not the best option, but since we are limited to what we have and Nava being is injured, I'd suggest Trout moved to #2.

I would put Ortega and Gentry 9th. I think they'll eventually start getting on-base more often. That puts Gentry's Career OBP of .335 (Very similar with Ortega) and Escobar in front of Trout. I'd follow with Calhoun 3, Pujols 4. 

[Billy_Ball]

The trade wasn't for Aybar. Aybar was to fill in a gap. Newcomb and Ellis are pitching very well.

 

Yes, I know Newcomb was the centerpiece of the deal, but Aybar was our regular SS from 2007-2015, and would have been this year if the trade wasn't made.

[AngelsLakersFan]

Why do you want Trout batting behind the 8 and 9 hitters?

 

You mean Nava / Gentry / Simmons / Ortega aren't already 8 & 9 hitters?

Edited April 21, 2016 by AngelsLakersFan

[AngelsLakersFan]

I agree, but replacing a bad #2 hitter with a slightly "less bad" #2 hitter doesn't equal a good # 2 hitter. I'm not saying Simmons isn't a good overall hitter, I am baffled by his ability to put the ball in play... but a guy who can't take walks and put the ball in play is the exact opposite you'd want in the 2 whole in my opinion. Low on base for the run producers, and higher probability to double up and even take away runners from those mid order guys. I think he can become a good #6 hitter because of his ability to put the ball in play, bu he isn't a table setter.

It's obviously not the best option, but since we are limited to what we have and Nava being is injured, I'd suggest Trout moved to #2.

I would put Ortega and Gentry 9th. I think they'll eventually start getting on-base more often. That puts Gentry's Career OBP of .335 (Very similar with Ortega) and Escobar in front of Trout. I'd follow with Calhoun 3, Pujols 4. 

 

Trout batting second is the most mind numbingly obvious move we've faced all year, right along with adding a legit LFer. So obviously it won't happen.

[Stradling]

What do you want? Let's hear it.

What I want is two OBP guys followed by Trout, Calhoun and then Albert. If I can't have that, which I can't right now with the way the team is "hitting", I'd prefer Escobar, Trout, Calhoun, Albert.

[Stradling]

Nava when he plays has been good at getting on base, so has Escobar.

[Stradling]

I don't have a problem with Escobar hitting first. He's been a bright spot offensively and that's the main reason he was brought here.

Our 1-4 hitters should be our best hitters. Nava and Gentry are not.

If you're going to give me a hard time for saying Joyce has been solid offensively so far, I'm going to say the same for Nava this year.

A guy who hasn't been able to stay on the field consistently the past 2 years and who has an OBP of .333 in 8 games doesn't impress me.

Fair enough. Last year was Nava's worst year. His OBP would have been 2nd on the team last year.