but the main reason this hasn’t happened is because of the poor performance both Fielder and Braun put up when batting 3-4 last year under Yost to start the season. The sample size is incredibly small but both sluggers publicly said they preferred Braun in the 3 spot and Fielder in the 4 spot. Yost caved, and I doubt we ever see it again.

I’d love to see Prince get more hittable pitches.

but Braun and Fielder are very different players. Braun would be pitched around more often just like Fielder is now. Braun, however, does not have the same batter’s eye as Fielder and many of the walks that Fielder is getting now in the cleanup spot would turn into pop-ups and groundouts for Braun in that same spot. Sure Fielder’s HR’s and Runs would go up, but his OBP would likely see a small dip and his batting average would stay about the same assuming he shows the same plate discipline. Braun’s numbers would go down as the extra walks he would be taking would easily be wiped out by the extra outs he would be making on pitches out of the zone. While Fielder may see a slight increase in his production by batting third, Braun’s production would undoubtedly decrease dramatically to the point that overall this change would likely have a negative impact. Even though there really would be “nothing to lose” by trying this for the rest of the season, Braun’s and Fielder’s confidence levels could be affected in such a way that their production next year could be hurt (look at Bill Hall and JJ Hardy as guys that put too much pressure on themselves).

however, as others have said, this was tried before. mainly early in 2008. both guys were struggling and after they were switched back (Braun to 3rd, Prince to 4th) they both stated that they preferred the order we see now. so given their preferences I don’t see it changing.

Braun #4

We know that Mat Gamel will probably be up and playing most days next year. Anybody think he can hit in the 2 hole? Then you would have Gamel, Braun, Fielder, forcing the other manager to either burn his bullpen or have a lefty pitch to Braun.

You also might be able to argue for 3. Fielder, 4. Braun, 5. Gamel and get the same thing.

• Fielder almost certainly has a platoon split. The fact that he hasn’t had much of one this year is more than likely just a fluke. Perhaps his platoon split is below average but it takes many years before one could conclude it with any certainty.

• The whole protection thing has little statistical evidence to back itself up with. At the very least, the debate is still wide open. IBB’s go up, certainly. That’s not always a bad thing, however.

• I think it would make very little difference who bats first in the long run. It’s probably not even worth messing with.