Can/Will AEscobar lead off?

[rousieboy]

His Huntsville OBP vs. lefties is nice but vs. the righties lags behind...he has speed enough to steal a few bases...being a rookie is a factor too...

 

Does he lead off if he is the starting Brewer SS in 2009?

[rluzinski]

2009? He would be expected to have a bad OBP against everyone in the majors next year. I'd rather have Kendal lead off before Escobar next year.

[jhart05]

No.

 

Maybe in 4 or 5 years he can be a top of the order guy in the Majors.

[BrewCrewForever]

He could, but I think at first you will see him in the 2 or 7th spot in the lineup.

[Ennder]

If we start Escobar at SS for some weird reason he'd probably be best off batting 8th since he would likely be worse than Kendall.

 

He might lead off for us late 2010 or in 2011 though, but to be a good leadoff hitter he'll have to take more walks than he has in the minors so far.

[kramnoj]

The importance of a leadoff hitter is exaggerated. Look at the teams left in the playoffs. There's good OBP but no basestealing, there's bad OBP and good basestealing and there's barely above league average OBP and very good basestealing. There isn't one leadoff hitter that is very good at OBP and a very good basestealer. Teams just need good players. If you have a guy that works well in the leadoff role, obviously you use them there, but it's not a need that needs to be filled to have a successful team.

[rluzinski]

I have to echo kramnoj's sentiments regarding a leadoff hitters. Why is so much emphasis placed on the leadoff hitter, yet it's OK to have a terrible batter in the 2 hole? A single/bunt/RBI single strategy is largely a losing one in today's game, so it's time to stop constructing lineups like it's 1905.

[endaround]

Why give what is most likely the worst hitter in your lineup the most PAs in a game?

[dadofandrew]

He'll be a #7/8 hitter for a while. Hopefully, he'll develop into a top of the order guy someday.

[rm121978]

Why give what is most likely the worst hitter in your lineup the most PAs in a game?

 

What was Sveum's reasoning for it?

[southpaw121505]

I agree that he'll bat lower in the order to start, whether this year or next. IF he eventually is worthy of batting 1st or 2nd that means hes a superstar, with how he plays D

[Ennder]

Why give what is most likely the worst hitter in your lineup the most PAs in a game?

 

What was Sveum's reasoning for it?

Kendall, Hart and Hall(vs righties) led off?

[rluzinski]

Why give what is most likely the worst hitter in your lineup the most PAs in a game?

 

What was Sveum's reasoning for it?

When was Kendal or Counsell leading off?

[JJHardy7]

Escobar's OBP is high because of his BA. If/When that improves, he has a chance to hit there. My guess is he's eventually a solid #2 hitter.

[Oldcity]

Since I don't want Escobar in the majors next year, I'd flip if he led off. I'm confident neither will happen.

[jhart05]

I believe "rm121978" was talking about Cameron.

 

At the time Sveum put him leadoff he had the worst stats of any regular in September.

[trwi7]

At the time Sveum put him leadoff he had the worst stats of any regular in September.

Not really. That was what about September 18th or 19th? Thereabouts. Hart was much worse.

[rluzinski]

I believe "rm121978" was talking about Cameron.

 

At the time Sveum put him leadoff he had the worst stats of any regular in September.

 

You mean, like over a 2 week period?

[jhart05]

I was just trying to explain who he was talking about.

[rluzinski]

I was just trying to explain who he was talking about.

 

Fair enough. Everyone already knew, though. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Ah, yes. The question of 2009. Who will leadoff for the Brewers? Well they really have no good options. Weeks needs to swing away more and strikes out too much to leadoff. Hart's OBP sucks. Nobody really makes sense except Escobar if he could sustain a .340 OBP because that's where his contact bat would make the most sense in the lineup. So if Escobar is good enough to get that kind of an OBP, then sign me up. Otherwise, who the hell knows.

[kramnoj]

Well they really have no good options. Weeks needs to swing away more and strikes out too much to leadoff.

 

I don't understand this thinking. If you hate strikeouts, you hate strikeouts no matter when they happen in the lineup. But I would think that strikeouts have the lowest impact in the leadoff role. A strikeout means you saw at least 3 pitches, and probably more, so you have the benefit of making the pitcher show his stuff, like announcers like to talk about. Also, if you are batting leadoff and nobody is on base, there is no argument that a strikeout is worse than a regular out, because the hitter failed to advance a non-existent runner.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

So you're saying Weeks is a good leadoff hitter?

[kramnoj]

So you're saying Weeks is a good leadoff hitter?

Well, that's complicated. He has been a good leadoff hitter. This past year, he wasn't good. But that's not really what I questioned.

 

I asked a question, because I was curious about the answer. I've seen other people say that they don't like strikeouts in the leadoff position (some have said the same thing about Cameron in the leadoff role). I'm just trying to understand the reason people think that.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

It's not that striking out is that bad, but the fact is that Weeks is too aggressive of a hitter to be in the leadoff role. He's not the kind of hitter that tries to find anyway to get on base. I'd rather have Weeks down in the order so he can swing away more and use his power.