04/21/2026 6:40p EDT Milwaukee Brewers at Detroit Tigers

[Tiger337]

7 minutes ago, Screwball said:

 

 

 

 

Quoted a bunch here.

I get a kick out of this stuff. I know Lee and Chuck are the leading stat guys here, many others are all over it too. It seems to be used much more today. That's good. I love stats, numbers, and get a kick out of this. I'm also old school. Jimmy Leyland is my hero. 

I don't have a problem with a speedy centerfielder with a bunch of stolen bases. 🙂 And you don't need the second batter to be a good bunter - they should all be able to bunt. No money in bunting. Giggle.

So different today.

I loved Leyland.  He was a character and also knew what he was doing.  Plus, the players loved him.  The Tigers were behind the curve in analytics during that era, but Leyland was a good manager.  

[Tiger337]

1 hour ago, chasfh said:

And how often was that #2 hitter a shortstop?

or second baseman.  The left fielder batted third.  He had the highest batting average and a lot of doubles.  The clean-up hitter was the big slow slugging first baseman.  

[diaspora04]

9 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I loved Leyland.  He was a character and also knew what he was doing.  Plus, the players loved him.  The Tigers were behind the curve in analytics during that era, but Leyland was a good manager.  

 

[Screwball]

I think Lee said above putting the third hitter as the best batter is a fishermans tale, or something like that. I would guess, honest question, according to the stats, the best should be first?

[Screwball]

17 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I love a speedy center fielder who can steal a bunch of bases as much as the next guy. I like one who can get on base a lot and win you a few games with his glove even better. 

News at 11.

[Sports_Freak]

10 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I loved Leyland.  He was a character and also knew what he was doing.  Plus, the players loved him.  The Tigers were behind the curve in analytics during that era, but Leyland was a good manager.  

When reporters questioned his lineups, he would get riled up. He used to play hunches and they seemed to work pretty often. Against all odds at times, totally anti-stat decisions.

[Screwball]

9 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

or second baseman.  The left fielder batted third.  He had the highest batting average and a lot of doubles.  The clean-up hitter was the big slow slugging first baseman.  

Do the stat guys have a position on how lineups should be constructed? I know us old school guys like Jimmy did. I would love to play for that guy.

If I remember right, the Tigers got beat and were out of the playoffs that year so I was really bummed out. The next day Jimmy retired. That was even worse. Spit, and double spit.

[Screwball]

3 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

When reporters questioned his lineups, he would get riled up. He used to play hunches and they seemed to work pretty often. Against all odds at times, totally anti-stat decisions.

Maybe. I had good enough seats at Comerica to sit with the guys who had radar guns. They know who's throwing what and how good all the time. Matchups. Who knows better than the guys on the field at that time.

Some is pretty simple though. If I'm a left handed batter and Skub is pitching I'm telling Skip I'll guard the bat rack that day.

[Tiger337]

9 minutes ago, Screwball said:

Do the stat guys have a position on how lineups should be constructed? I know us old school guys like Jimmy did. I would love to play for that guy.

If I remember right, the Tigers got beat and were out of the playoffs that year so I was really bummed out. The next day Jimmy retired. That was even worse. Spit, and double spit.

The best hitter bats second because it maximizes his run production and gets him more at bats than if he batted 3rd or 4th.  The lead off hitter should get on base a lot.  Best home run hitter who isn't their best hitter bats fourth.  That part hasn't changed much. A lot of today's lineup is matchups though, so it depends on who is pitching like you said.  

[gehringer_2]

i couldn’t watch this one, but looks like Kieder recovered after a bad innings and kept them in it. But 7 h 2 bb, for DeJesus to get 4 outs? What does a guy have to do get pulled around here? 

Edited 1 hour ago by gehringer_2