Fletcher

[nando714]

Has he proved enough (sample size) to bat lead off ?

thoughts?

[2020worldseries]

I’d go 

1 Kinsler

2 Fletcher

3 Trout

[Stradling]

I’d bat him 9th

[aznhockeyguy]

He really reminds me of a better version of Eckstein.  Energizer bunny that puts the ball in play.

[jordan]

I’d like Fletcher-Simmons-Trout and move Kinsler back down to 5th or 6th spot.  Won’t happen in Scioscia’s reign.

[DMVol]

He’s done as soon as Cozart gets back.....

[Jason]

30 minutes ago, DMVol said:

He’s done as soon as Cozart gets back.....

Yep

[nando714]

40 minutes ago, DMVol said:

He’s done as soon as Cozart gets back.....

Sad but true 

[tdawg87]

No reason to move Trout from the 2 hole.

Also, no reason to move him out of the 2 spot in the lineup.

[totdprods]

1 hour ago, DMVol said:

He’s done as soon as Cozart gets back.....

I think JMF may go back, since Valbuena is sort of hitting again for now. Fletcher gives them a little more versatility and speed.

He would be reduced to a UT role though.

[DMVol]

2 hours ago, totdprods said:

I think JMF may go back, since Valbuena is sort of hitting again for now. Fletcher gives them a little more versatility and speed.

He would be reduced to a UT role though.

Could be....When Cozart gets back, Valbuena gets more LH AB’s at 1b....those are AB’s JMF has been getting...

[UndertheHalo]

5 hours ago, jordan said:

I’d like Fletcher-Simmons-Trout and move Kinsler back down to 5th or 6th spot.  Won’t happen in Scioscia’s reign.

I agree.  I think Simmons should be batting 2nd. He makes more contact then anyone on the team.  With Trout in front of him he’ll see good pitches.   Generally I think we need to have Trout in a position to be batting with more runners on base.   

And i’d give Fletcher the leadoff spot.  Why not ?  Kinsler and his .280 OBP is terrible for it.  What’s good about Kinsler is that he has some pop.  He makes way more sense batting 5 or 6.  If Fletcher doesn’t work out at leadoff then when Cozart is back stick him in there. 

Edited June 24, 2018 by UndertheHalo

[Stradling]

3 minutes ago, UndertheHalo said:

I agree.  I think Simmons should be batting 2nd. He makes more contact then anyone on the team.  With Trout in front of him he’ll see good pitches.   Generally I think we need to have Trout in a position to be batting with more runners on base.   

And i’d give Fletcher the leadoff spot.  Why not ?  Kinsler and his .280 OBP is terrible for it.  What’s good about Kinsler is that he has some pop.  He makes way more sense batting 5 or 6.  If Fletcher doesn’t work out at leadoff then when Cozart is back stick him in there. 

I disagree about moving Kinsler out of the leadoff spot.  To call him a .280 OBP guy, while true over the course of the year, he’s been over .220 for the last month.  Now he has been in a funk the last week or so and if that continues then maybe you make a change.  I like the old days when Scioscia would bat Aybar or Kennedy in the 9 spot, someone with decent on base skills and some speed that turned over the top of the line up.  So I would bat Fletcher 9th for now.  But I say this because I prefer Trout batting second.  I like the idea that he bats with one or zero outs in the first inning.  If they decide to walk him with one out in the first inning he can steal second.  I wouldn’t mind Cozart leading off but it has to be after he finds his stroke again.  In June before the injury he was around a .200 OBP.  

[UndertheHalo]

1 hour ago, The Boogie Man said:

I disagree about moving Kinsler out of the leadoff spot.  To call him a .280 OBP guy, while true over the course of the year, he’s been over .220 for the last month.  Now he has been in a funk the last week or so and if that continues then maybe you make a change.  I like the old days when Scioscia would bat Aybar or Kennedy in the 9 spot, someone with decent on base skills and some speed that turned over the top of the line up.  So I would bat Fletcher 9th for now.  But I say this because I prefer Trout batting second.  I like the idea that he bats with one or zero outs in the first inning.  If they decide to walk him with one out in the first inning he can steal second.  I wouldn’t mind Cozart leading off but it has to be after he finds his stroke again.  In June before the injury he was around a .200 OBP.  

No argument from me that Cozart has been bad.  I just tend to think that if placed in the role and left there he would adjust and get on base more.  Just wild speculation tho, for sure.  

I see the appeal of Fletcher batting 9.  I really do think Simmons is well suited to bat  2nd. 

Edited June 24, 2018 by UndertheHalo

[totdprods]

Fernández optioned to SLC today for Robles, so Fletch seems to have secured Marte’s spot until he returns.

[Blarg]

Both Fernandez and Fletcher have one thing in common. Neither have taken a walk this season on the MLB squad. In Fletcher's case that probably doesn't bode well for batting leadoff.

David's minor league numbers are pretty consistent of having an OBP of 50 points above his average. His BAbip is currently .412 at the MLB level so you have to wonder what kind of hitter he really is. And when that player emerges what will his MLB slash line really be? I'm doubtful it will be a leadoff hitter.