4.0 DELI SCRUBS

Here is the proper way to make a line up......

If you think you are better then the person hitting in your spot then prove it........

1. The leadoff man must be a patient batter. He should lead the team in bases on balls and fewest strikeouts. He needs a good eye at the plate because a walk is as good as a hit in his case. He must also be fast and will probably be among the top base stealers on the squad. He needs to lead the team in runs scored.

2. This hitter must be a good contact hitter with the ability to go with the pitch and drive it to the opposite field. He must also be able to bunt and he should have reasonable speed.

3. This is the best hitter you have. Bat him in the three hole to maximize the number of times he will go to the plate. He has the ability to drive in runs with extra base hits, too.

4. This batter is similar to number three, but may be more of a long-ball hitter and may have a few more strikeouts, as he is a free swinger. His foot speed may be slightly slower, too.

5. This is third straight long-ball RBI threat you send to the plate, and this player has the ability to lead the team in not only runs batted in, but also in strikeouts. This may be your slowest player, too. Be aware that some kids have trouble dealing the pressure of spots one, three, and four in the order. There is less pressure in this position.

6. This batter is very similar to number two in the order as it is surprising how many times you will need a bunt from this batter.

7. & 8. These are your weakest batters who can still hit the fastball but struggle against the curve, or do not have confidence to hit higher in the order. Slower foot speed may be a factor, too.

9. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the worst hitter on the squad. You should tell your number 9 hitters that they are a second-leadoff man and the walk is as good as a hit. If he gets on base twice in a game, odds are that you will win. This spot is reserved for a slumping player or one who has trouble with the breaking ball, but nonetheless, has a good eye and has good speed.

I agree with many of your thoughts Scott, but not all. First, we need to stop this "if you want to hit higher in the line-up--prove it" shit. If you have that mentality (like the Padres do--Jim Edmonds getting traded prematurely to the Cubs who has 16 HRs now) you'll fuck up the line-up and the justification of where people hit as the list suggests. Second, the lead off hitter seldom if ever leads the team in walks. If you look at the MLB top 10 in career walks on one (Ricky Henderson) was a lead off hitter. Next, you mention "bunting" many times. Have I not been paying attention or have I missed the bunt signal? Nobody on the Scrubs bunts for strategical purposes. Example, we are down a run or tied, we have a runner on first with less than one out. I have seen runners on third many times with one or less outs and we can't score. Furthermore--this power thing you mention as basis for hitting 3-5....our team hit exactly 5 HR's in 604 official at-bats and I think Martins was the only one hit from the power slots. We aren't a slugging team (could change with Derek on board) and we need to make a line-up top to bottom with consistency. Lastly, the 7-9 shouldn't be a spot necessarily for the 'weakest' hitters. If that's the case you are giving the other team theoretically a 'free' inning several times a game for they will account for dead innings (no production). Besides all that Scott--you hit the nail right on. Let's have a productive year.