Rangers Projected Lineup

[love_that_reefer]

Rangers manager Ron Washington had Hank Blalock in the sixth spot in his projected lineup over the weekend and said he liked him there.
Washington indicated that he was currently looking at something like: LF Frank Catalanotto, 2B Ian Kinsler, SS Michael Young, DH Milton Bradley, CF Marlon Byrd, 3B Blalock, 1B Ben Broussard/Chris Shelton, RF David Murphy and C Jarrod Saltalamacchia/Gerald Laird. When Nelson Cruz or Jason Botts starts over Catalanotto versus lefties, Kinsler would lead off. The arrangement is definitely bad news for Blalock's value. The third baseman was just about the Rangers' best hitter when healthy last year and he should probably bat cleanup against righties.

Milton Bradley is the cleanup guy? Marlon Byrd is hitting fifth? Salty hitting ninth? This lineup sucks right now and Washington best not be stubborn. This lineup can be a lot better. Washington should go with

Byrd
Catalanotto
Young
Blalock
Bradley
Broussard
Salty
Kinsler
Murphy

[Dry1313]

Kinsler is at worst a #2.

[love_that_reefer]

Kinsler adds speed and power to the bottom of the lineup. You need guys like that because the bottom of the order always comes up in big spots.

[Dry1313]

True, but you don't knock down one of you best established 3 hitters to the bottom of the lineup for that reason.

[love_that_reefer]

Established? Kinsler gets moved around the lineup constantly and has only played two seasons. Catalanotto, Young, Blalock and Bradley are all established hitters in this league. Kinsler hits well from the #8 hole and and you a player like Kinsler in the bottom of the order.

[Saber]

Wow, no big bopper in sight.

[catman]

It sounds like a very "fluid" lineup. They have a few decent players, but only a couple of bonafide stars -- Blalock and Young (with Kinsler being very close).
The Twins have had some decent luck using lineups like this one -- having speed at both ends of the order and a couple of guys that can drive in runs at the bottom of the order also.

[Saber]

Blalock a star now?

[Molina00]

I think Blalock hit star status when he had that 30 HR, 100 run, 100 RBI season and hit the game winning homerun off Gagne in the All-Star game. He has just had injury problems since then.

This could very well be the weakest lineup I have seen since I started following the Rangers though, at least in terms of homerun power. They have always had somebody who could hit it out of the park. Now they have some potential 20 homerun hitters, but that's about it. They will need Blalock to get back into all-star form this year more than ever.

[catman]

I agree. They have a lot of hitters that have gap-power and could hit a few doubles and triples, but they don't have anyone that I would be afraid to pitch to with the bases loaded and 2 outs, leading 4-1.

[catman]

Where does Hamilton fit into the lineup? Will he hit 5th or 1st?