Dawn of the Gerald Ford...er, Dale Sveum Era
by Marty McSuperFly on Sep 16, 2008 10:19 AM CDT
28 comments
Dale doesn't have a lot of time to pick out new curtains for the clubhouse, or have that industrial coffee maker removed. He's not even at Miller Park for his debut; he's dodging the rats at Wrigley Field. He seems like the kind of guy who prefers the trough, so maybe it'll work out.
The very first managerial task that we get to critique will be Dale's lineup. I know Jeff is going to be excited to see a post on lineup construction, so let's get to it!
Regular Lineup, post-ASB OPS
2b Weeks .804
ss Hardy .807
3b Braun .951
1b Fielder .850
rf Hart .724
cf Cameron .887
3b Hall .621
c Kendall .637
Melvin and Attanasio made a point yesterday that the onus is now on the players to perform, so Sveum won't want to get too crazy with the lineup. However, based on the post-ASB numbers for the regulars, there is clearly room for improvement. Also, it wouldn't hurt to get some lefties in there against Dempster.
Dempster 2008 OPS against
vs RHB .606
vs LHB .669
Who are the possible substitutions?
Durham .824 post ASB, .805 season
Counsell .653 season
Lamb .596 season
Gwynn
These guys don't have enough PA to go on post-ASB numbers, and Gwynn just got called up, so I'm not looking at their numbers as much as I am trying to get some lefties in against Dempster. Even though it's a new era, a few of the regulars need to sit. It's a no-brainer to bench Hall and Weeks, and Hart has been circling the drain for a while now. Maybe a day or two off will help these guys.
2b Durham
ss Hardy
3b Braun
1b Fielder
cf Cameron
rf Gwynn
3b Counsell
c Kendall
And Kendall sits tomorrow. No excuses.
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I just can't root for TGJ
Something about his slapatude doesn’t allow me to cheer for him.
I’d throw caution to the wind.
2B Durham
3B Hardy
RF Hart (He’ll bond with Sveum via Tattoos and turn it around)
LF Braun
1B Fielder
CF Cameron
SS Escobar
C Kendall
Pitcher spot.
by SgtClueLs on Sep 16, 2008 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
here's my idea
2b Durham
SS Hardy
Lf Braun
1b Fielder
CF Cameron
3b Gamel
RF Nelson
C Kendall
I untuck my shirt!
by Michael M on Sep 16, 2008 12:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Lots of love for Gamel
I’d like to see him play, but not tonight. A little too high a profile for a guy who was in AA for most of the season.
by Marty McSuperFly on Sep 16, 2008 1:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It's sort of sick that in a post focusing on OPS...
…you’d put Gwynn in the lineup in place of anybody. His career ops is, I think, 595. In 40 ABs this year it’s a wopping 461! That’s OPS. Corey Hart is slugging higher than that. His OPS is over 300 points higher. Even a slumping Hart is better than Gwynn. Tony Gwynn is a terrible hitter.
by Danny Noonan on Sep 16, 2008 2:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Everyone's down on Gwynn
I think he’s a decent 4th outfielder, the kind of guy you can plug into a game like this for defensive purposes, and maybe get an infield hit or something for your trouble. Give Hart a day off on a day where he’s virtually guaranteed to go 0-4 with 3K.
by Marty McSuperFly on Sep 16, 2008 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can see that, I suppose
He’s the Craig Counsell of the outfield. He should never really bat, but he’s useful as a defensive sub. I’d call him a 5th outfielder though. If Kapler were healthy, I’d say he should never ever start, just as Counsel should never start unless Branyan is hurt.
Man, it really sucks that Kapler and Branyan are hurt.
by Danny Noonan on Sep 16, 2008 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
at the start of the season
I would have said “who and who????”
but I agree completely.
What’s Branyan’s prognosis? Any chance that Kapler will be back before the end?
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 16, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Branyan is hoping to be back the last week of the season
Kapler may be able to pinch hit towards the end too.
jeff: but i shudder to think of the bullpen analogy to sending the runner
by battlekow on Sep 16, 2008 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the team repeatedly lies about injuries
who knows?
by ol Pete on Sep 16, 2008 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also...
on what planet is there ever a situation in which it’s more likely that Gwynn will get a hit, even an infield one, than it is that Hart will get a hit?
by Danny Noonan on Sep 16, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A planet where baseball is played with three third basemen?
jeff: but i shudder to think of the bullpen analogy to sending the runner
by battlekow on Sep 16, 2008 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
JS Blog has the scoop on the Sveum shakeup
Your four hours before game time lineup:
CF Mike Cameron
2B Ray Durham
LF Ryan Braun
1B Prince Fielder
SS JJ Hardy
RF Corey Hart
3B Craig Counsell
C Jason Kendall
P CC Sabathia
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Sep 16, 2008 2:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That's interesting
Sveum must be pretty focused on the LRLRLR, otherwise I would expect Durham to be first. I like seeing JJ in the 5 and sliding Corey down. Cameron needs to show a little more discipline than usual, but otherwise I kinda like it.
by Marty McSuperFly on Sep 16, 2008 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd vote for a spot start for Gamel or Rivera
Prince has, IMHO, sucked this year
But maybe subbing him out is in the cards for a few days down the line.
Overall, decent lineup – not many major changes though. Lets see how he does with substitutions in the late game (ie pinch hitting for Kendall).
it’d be nice an’ stuff if he’d hit CC before Jason. But maybe he’ll have Jason lay down a bunt to sacrifice over for CC. Still don’t like giving up an out, as there might be 2 outs at that point. And maybe kendall is really a better batter than CC, but CC has just been lucky thusfar, but he certainly doesn’t look lost with a bat in his hands.
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 16, 2008 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Prince seems to tear up Wrigley though.
Bye Ned!
by NoahJ on Sep 16, 2008 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah..i offically take back my comment
in the last 7 days, he’s been hitting 8 for 20 – .400 clip. The best of the regulars.
Weeks and Durham are just behind (4/11 each)
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 16, 2008 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
From an OBP standpoint...
I’m not crazy about Cameron up top. But from an it-may-get-him-an-extra-at-bat standpoint, I’m cool with that.
by Danny Noonan on Sep 16, 2008 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
At this point, why not try it, right?
It’s not like we’ve got a classic lead off guy on the roster.
I have an unreasonable dislike of Bill Hall.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Sep 16, 2008 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like it
someone suggested Cam—→ leadoff a while ago. I just hope he doesn’t play Durham every day now, Rickie’s been pretty dang good lately.
Sat: George 2 (37, missed catch, fielding) Fri: George (35, throw) Tues: George (34, throw)
by Jordan M on Sep 16, 2008 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
they've both been pretty dang good (see above)
maybe durham should play a little 3B.
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 16, 2008 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Racially insensitive/inflammatory comment of the day #2
(see the Wavin’ Hello thread for #1)
Considering the lineup as circular and starting from the #9 slot (hey, Kendall’s likely to get the 3rd out at least once this game)
B
B
B
W
B
Is Sveum playing the race card with this lineup? I suppose we could argue that if he flopped Fielder and Braun like Yost did near the beginning of the season.
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 16, 2008 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
He’s starting Sabathia just to fill four of five lineup spots with black guys.
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on Sep 16, 2008 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
clearly;)
although it would be a 3/4 otherwise
by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 16, 2008 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would have gone
Durham
Braun
Fielder
Hardy
Hart
Cameron
Counsell
Kendall
Sabathia
Get the runs in right away.
by tcyoung on Sep 16, 2008 5:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm sensing
a lack of concept!
Oh noes! What if Sveum isn’t as quotable?!?!
"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"
by roguejim on Sep 16, 2008 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Louis
|
91 | 71 | .561 | 0 | Lost 6 |
|
Chicago
|
83 | 78 | .515 | 7.5 | Lost 1 |
|
Milwaukee
|
80 | 82 | .493 | 11 | Won 3 |
|
Cincinnati
|
78 | 84 | .481 | 13 | Won 2 |
|
Houston
|
74 | 88 | .456 | 17 | Lost 3 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
62 | 99 | .385 | 28.5 | Lost 2 |
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