Trout batting second is a bust

[Troll Daddy]

This Kiiid should lead MLB in RBIs every year. In before some know it all says you should bat your best hitter second. 

[tdawg87]

I opened the thread expecting a link to an intelligent Fangraphs article but then I read who posted it and said "Oh".

[Lou]

lol 

[Blarg]

With the way the Angels roster is set up batting Trout 2nd has not seemed to bolster his ability to drive in runs. There are not enough quality at bats for him with low on base percentage leadoff hitters and guys like Bour batting behind him giving pitchers no reason to not just walk him.

For Trout to have the pitchers attention there would need to be no outs and multiple runners on base but not with first base open. Otherwise we are seeing analytics say walk the best player in baseball and try your luck with s string of barely league average hitters.

The cure is obviously getting Upton and Ohtani back in the lineup but for now they have to manufacture base runners from the back end of the lineup which hasn't been that easy to do and leaves Trout starting the game or innings with bases empty. 

Even with Upton and Ohtani I would still like to see Trout batting third with the hopes Fletcher or Calhoun can hold down leadoff and Ohtani bat second. Then follow Trout with Upton so the opposition has to be very cautious in their game management of the first 4-5 batters. 

 

[Angelsjunky]

It truly is an off day.

[Lou]

where should a team's best hitter bat in the order?

[Troll Daddy]

4 minutes ago, Lou said:

where should a team's best hitter bat in the order?

No set rule ... depends on the team. We do know the team hasn’t benefited much with Trout batting second.

[Stradling]

On this team, absolutely 2nd.  

[UndertheHalo]

I think he should bat 7th.  This is because 7 is a lucky number and that’s important.  

[tdawg87]

There's only one real bust to talk about today:

[Troll Daddy]

8 minutes ago, Stradling said:

On this team, absolutely 2nd.  

You must be right ... La Stella is leading the team with 17 RBIs. 

[Stradling]

Good for La Stella, sounds like he is batting where he should. 

[Lou]

1 minute ago, tdawg87 said:

There's only one real bust to talk about today:

[Docwaukee]

1 hour ago, Troll Daddy said:

This Kiiid should lead MLB in RBIs every year. In before some know it all says you should bat your best hitter second. 

I thought you were a runs plus RBI guy?  

Trout leads the team in runs plus RBI.  

[Troll Daddy]

11 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

I thought you were a runs plus RBI guy?  

Trout leads the team in runs plus RBI.  

Exactly ... although, he’s only ahead of of Calhoun by 2 who’s batting .202

 

[Docwaukee]

4 minutes ago, Troll Daddy said:

Exactly ... although, he’s only ahead of of Calhoun by 2 who’s batting .202

If calhoun got on base more, Trout would have more RBI.  

If bour were a better hitter, Trout would have more runs.  

[Docwaukee]

btw, I don't necessarily have a problem with Trout batting 2nd or 3rd.  Wherever it is, he's going to lead the league in walks.  there isn't a player you can put behind him that would force a pitcher to pitch to him.  Since that the case, I would prefer him 2nd with two good players behind him to drive him in like Ohtani and Upton.  

[Chuck]

7 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

If calhoun got on base more, Trout would have more RBI.  

If bour were a better hitter, Trout would have more runs.  

/thread 

[Troll Daddy]

4 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

If calhoun got on base more, Trout would have more RBI.  

If bour were a better hitter, Trout would have more runs.  

Okay captain obvious ... and if he was batting third he would have more RBIs. 

[Docwaukee]

2 minutes ago, Troll Daddy said:

Okay captain obvious ... and if he was batting third he would have more RBIs. 

but fewer runs

[Troll Daddy]

3 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

btw, I don't necessarily have a problem with Trout batting 2nd or 3rd.  Wherever it is, he's going to lead the league in walks.  there isn't a player you can put behind him that would force a pitcher to pitch to him.  Since that the case, I would prefer him 2nd with two good players behind him to drive him in like Ohtani and Upton.  

Not necessarily true at all

[Troll Daddy]

11 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

but fewer runs

or more runs

Trout lead MLB in Runs scored in 2016 with over 400 AB’s batting third I believe.

[Troll Daddy]

Trout also had 100 RBIs in 2016 primarily batting third. 

[Docwaukee]

switching Trout one spot is likely immaterial to the number of runs this team would have scored to date.  

[Docwaukee]

3 minutes ago, Troll Daddy said:

Trout also had 100 RBIs in 2016 primarily batting third. 

he had 111 in 2014 when he batted 2nd the entire year.