Is the Tribe Too Left?

 

This is not a political statement.  When the Indians signed outfielder Trot Nixon recently, GM Mark Shapiro dicussed how Nixon would fit nicely in the line up in the #2 spot in the batting order.  Looking at how the potential order would shake out, it doesn’t make sense to hit the former Boston player after Grady Sizemore.  It would appear to make the batting order very left handed at the top and very right handed at the bottom.  Here would be the line up against right handers if Nixon hits #2–

 

Sizemore               CF

Nixon                     RF

Martinez                 C

Hafner                   DH

Blake                     1B

Dellucci                  LF

Peralta                   SS

Marte                     3B

Barfield                  2B

 

Although Martinez is a switch hitter, it sets up the first four hitters being lefties, and it also forces Casey Blake to hit fifth which means Travis Hafner won’t get anything to hit.  That can be remedied by hitting Pronk third and Martinez fourth, but does having Blake hitting fifth really a sign of a great offensive team?  Plus, this set up means the last three hitters in the order bat right handed, meaning the opposition can easily use situational relievers to get the bottom of the order retired.  Let’s look at an alternative–

 

Sizemore             CF

Barfield                2B

Hafner                 DH

Martinez                C

Dellucci                LF

Blake                   1B

Nixon                   RF

Peralta                 SS

Marte                   3B

 

This lineup is more balanced in terms of left handed and right handed hitters.  Moving Barfield into the two hole gives the team good speed at the top of the order, and with Sizemore a terror against righties and the former Padre hammering lefties, no matter who is pitching, someone is lethal among the first two hitters.  The only question is Dellucci in the five hole, but he can be switched with Nixon depending on who is swinging the bat better.  It also does not allow opposing managers to bring in situational guys for more than one hitter.  This lineup makes more sense than the urge to put Nixon and his high on base percentage following Sizemore.

 

The lineup could be stronger with Ryan Garko at 1B instead of Blake.  I don’t think Blake is going to suddenly be a 100 RBI guy, but Garko has the potential to do just that.  Now, I realize that Karim Garcia knocked in 50 runs in a half season with the Tribe, so the potential for Garko being a flop is there.  However, we know what Blake can do.  If defense is a major concern, start Garko and remove him after six innings if the Tribe has the lead. 

 

It will be interesting to see if Nixon remains in the #2 spot when the season begins.  The best news is that the crack of the bat and the pop of the ball into a glove starts a week from today.  Spring is on the horizon, in spite of the cold weather northeast Ohio has suffered through lately.

 

MW