Kenny Smith is a Genius
February 26, 2010Cavaliers Open Thread Game #60: Cavs at Raptors
February 26, 2010In a recent interview from Goodyear, Arizona, Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore said that head coach Manny Acta plans to place him second in the batting order behind Asdrubal Cabrera.
A heavy portion of Sizemore’s home run total over the last two seasons have come with the bases empty. As stated by Sizemore, Acta estimates that the lead-off man receives approximately 150 at-bats with no one on base. Moving Sizemore’s power potential behind a solid contact hitter like Cabrera would help maximize run scoring potential.
During his 30-30 campaign in 2008, Sizemore hit .277 with an on-base percentage of .390 – not poor by any stretch of the imagination. Cabrera, for comparison sake, hit at a clip of .308/.361/.438 last season (hitting .301 as a lead-off hitter). While the OBP is sacrificed a bit, the run-scoring potential is seen as being higher. Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo is currently slated to bat third.
As Manny Acta heads into his first season with the Cleveland Indians, many fans will be looking to see how he differs from his predecessor, Eric Wedge. Wedge was thought by many to be the stubborn, set-in-his-ways type that would not alter his thinking regardless of any items pointing to the contrary.
This move by Acta would be a good start for those looking for some contrast. For much of the last two seasons, many have been calling for Sizemore’s power potential to be moved down the batting order. Entering 2010, Sizemore has only 119 at-bats out of the 2-hole, versus 2,753 as a lead-off man.
The upcoming SABR-toothed Triber will look into the 2010 lineup a bit further. Stay tuned…
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(photo: Scott/WFNY)
16 Comments
Well, that’s something. But let’s consider the other side of this: Is it good to have Cabrera hitting leadoff? What kind of history does he have doing so? He’s not the prototypical leadoff guy, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t thrive there. Just another side to think about.
I was wondering the same thing, LM. As a leadoff hitter last year, Cabrera put up .301/.340/.459 in 133 ABs. In fact, he posted a higher OPS hitting leadoff than batting 2nd (.799 vs. .781), where he got considerably more ABs.
He hit leadoff last year when Sizemore went down.
Not sure about Sizemore second I bet that lineup doesn’t last long.
wow first holmgren says he going with one QB and finally gradys power wont be wasted at leadoff. when did cleveland coaches/presidents start making so much sense??? now brown just needs to make sure to give Varejao, JJ and Hickson major minutes and ill be happy
err and Moon
@216in614- Word. On all counts.
Wish we could have a better leadoff than Cabrera, but it’s about time we moved Sizemore back. It was absurd the numbers he was putting up at the top (power, relatively low average)
Um…150 at bats with no one on base? granted he won’t play every game, but there are 162 games. That’s 162 at bats with no one on base, not counting the ones that come during the course of the game. I would guess more like 250 at bats with nobody on, but I’m no Manny Acta.
^LOL nice catch Eric!
I’m glad to see this move finally made after so many Sizemore home runs were wasted with the bases empty. This ought to lead to plenty more RBI opportunities.
I think this will work….Astrubel only has an infield pop up in less than 2% of his at bats.
It’s about time the Indians move Grady to second in the lineup. Studies have shown that teams should bat their best hitter second in the lineup in order to maximize run production. I’m glad to have a manager like Acta who actually analyzes data when making his moves and explains his reasoning to the fans. I’m excited to have him on board.
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