The 2018 Lineup

[BaseballJones]

It bears repeating... Here are the 2016 and 2017 numbers for these guys:

Moreland
2016: 22 hr in 460 ab
2017: 22 hr in 508 ab
* So it would seem you can figure that Moreland is about a 22 hr kind of guy

Pedroia
2016: 15 hr in 633 ab (1 hr every 42 ab)
2017: 7 hr in 406 ab (1 hr every 58 ab)
Career: 1 hr every 43 ab
* It would seem that Pedroia is basically a 1 hr every 45 ab or so guy; will only play half the season though

Bogaerts
2016: 21 hr in 652 ab (1 hr every 31 ab)
2017: 10 hr in 571 ab (1 hr every 57 ab)
* Is Bogaerts more of a 1 hr every 31 ab guy or 1 every 57 ab guy? Clearly he's capable of at least being a 1 hr every 40 ab guy, which would translate into about 15-16 homers over a full season.

Betts
2016: 31 hr in 672 ab (1 hr every 22 ab)
2017: 24 hr in 628 ab (1 hr every 26 ab)
* It would be fair to suggest maybe he's a 1 hr every 24 ab kind of guy, which would translate into about 28 homers over a full season.

Bradley
2016: 26 hr in 558 ab (1 hr every 21 ab)
2017: 17 hr in 482 ab (1 hr every 28 ab)
* I don't know which guy is the "real" Bradley, but let's say he can hit one hr every 25 ab; that would translate into roughly 21 homers over a full season.

Hanley
2016: 30 hr in 549 ab (1 hr every 18 ab)
2017: 23 hr in 496 ab (1 hr every 22 ab)
* Maybe his 2016 was his last really good power year and his 2017 is more like his new norm. But it wouldn't shock me to see him hit 25 homers with regular playing time.

The point is that I think it's eminently reasonable to think that among Hanley, Bradley, Betts, and Bogaerts, we could see an increase of about 16 homers or so. Just with some regression to the mean, not even taking into account a new "launch angle" approach. Add in improvement from Benintendi (just because that's hopefully what players growing into their prime do) and a full season from Devers, and I think just with the guys they have now they could improve 20-25 home runs (and maybe 40 runs or so). It would still put them near the bottom of the league but still. If their pitching is what it ought to be, then bumping up their run production by 40 runs over 162 games (that's a quarter of a run a game) would put them in the top 3 in the AL. That would be a very, very good and dangerous team.

And that's not even really asking for everything to go right. That's simply asking for guys to be somewhere in between their 2016 and 2017 numbers.

 

[TonyPenaNeverJuiced]

Alex Cora said every lineup he writes down has Betts and Benintendi first and second.

 

[Jerry’s Curl]

Makes sense.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Let's not get carried away. As a group, those three guys have averaged 21 HR apiece the past two years. More power would be a good idea, but we're not quite sending three Juan Pierres up there.

Not quite a lineup of Juan Pierres, but compare them to the other playoff teams (MFY, HOU, CLE) or even the Twins, and they're sorely lacking in the power department. Averaging 21 homers puts them in Marwin Gonazalez territory. Is there even another competitive team that doesn't have a clear cut 30 plus HR guy other than Boston? There are a lot of teams that have multiple 30 plus homer guys, whereas currently Boston doesn't have one. It's certainly possible Mookie, or Hanley or heck even Devers hits 30 plus, but I wouldn't call any a lock or even probable necessarily. Clearly it's not required to win, as the Sox won 93 last season without power, but I just think it's hard to get very far into the postseason when the other teams can slug you to death.

 

[shaggydog2000]

So something like:

RF Betts (R)
LF Benintendi (L)
DH Hanley (R)
3B Devers (L)
SS Xander (R)
1B Moreland (L)
2B Pedroia (R)
CF Bradley (L)
C Vazquez (R)

When everybody is healthy. There isn't a huge back to back set of proven mashers, but the lineup is actually pretty deep. Sure, there will be people in slumps at various times, but overall it should produce decently. Development (Devers, Benintendi, maybe even Vazquez) and bounce back years (Betts, Xander, Bradley, Hanley) determine how good it could be.

 

[The Gray Eagle]

but I just think it's hard to get very far into the postseason when the other teams can slug you to death.

If your starting rotation actually shows up, then the other team is much less likely to slug you to death. In the past 2 postseasons, the Red Sox rotation has been beyond horrific, which is why they got slugged to death. In 7 starts, they pitched 23 innings and allowed 28 earned runs, with zero quality starts.

If the rotation pitches anything like that in the next postseason series, it doesn't matter who is in the lineup, they will have no chance to win.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Makes sense.

And as soon as Mookie hits a leadoff home run or a triple with nobody on in his second time up, it'll be "why isn't he batting 3rd or 4th" around here. Would be a tough call for me, but Cora's the boss now. Man, I hope he gets back to more 2016 production than 2017 (although 2017 wasn't bad). Maybe he and the others really need that big protection bat, like a JDM.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

If your starting rotation actually shows up, then the other team is much less likely to slug you to death. In the past 2 postseasons, the Red Sox rotation has been beyond horrific, which is why they got slugged to death. In 7 starts, they pitched 23 innings and allowed 28 earned runs, with zero quality starts.

If the rotation pitches anything like that in the next postseason series, it doesn't matter who is in the lineup, they will have no chance to win.

Very valid point.

 

[TonyPenaNeverJuiced]

And as soon as Mookie hits a leadoff homer run or a triple with nobody on in his second time up, it'll be "why isn't he batting 3rd or 4th" around here. Would be a tough call for me, but Cora's the boss now. Man, I hope he gets back to more 2016 production than 2017 (although 2017 wasn't bad). Maybe he and the others really need that big protection bat, like a JDM.

If that does indeed happen after a leadoff homer, imagine what'll happen when he hits his 35th overall for the year...

 

[The Gray Eagle]

If that happens, then I'll be glad that our best hitter got the most at-bats.

 

[Buzzkill Pauley]

If that happens, then I'll be glad that our best hitter got the most at-bats.

This.

And, of course, while leadoff homers are cool, don’t forget the lineup turns over at least twice every game.

The late-summer ‘15 and mid-spring ‘16 Sox were a dynamic offensive, at least in part, because Betts was so good at driving in Bradley.

 

[Yelling At Clouds]

It bears repeating... Here are the 2016 and 2017 numbers for these guys:

Moreland
2016: 22 hr in 460 ab
2017: 22 hr in 508 ab
* So it would seem you can figure that Moreland is about a 22 hr kind of guy

Pedroia
2016: 15 hr in 633 ab (1 hr every 42 ab)
2017: 7 hr in 406 ab (1 hr every 58 ab)
Career: 1 hr every 43 ab
* It would seem that Pedroia is basically a 1 hr every 45 ab or so guy; will only play half the season though

Bogaerts
2016: 21 hr in 652 ab (1 hr every 31 ab)
2017: 10 hr in 571 ab (1 hr every 57 ab)
* Is Bogaerts more of a 1 hr every 31 ab guy or 1 every 57 ab guy? Clearly he's capable of at least being a 1 hr every 40 ab guy, which would translate into about 15-16 homers over a full season.

Betts
2016: 31 hr in 672 ab (1 hr every 22 ab)
2017: 24 hr in 628 ab (1 hr every 26 ab)
* It would be fair to suggest maybe he's a 1 hr every 24 ab kind of guy, which would translate into about 28 homers over a full season.

Bradley
2016: 26 hr in 558 ab (1 hr every 21 ab)
2017: 17 hr in 482 ab (1 hr every 28 ab)
* I don't know which guy is the "real" Bradley, but let's say he can hit one hr every 25 ab; that would translate into roughly 21 homers over a full season.

Hanley
2016: 30 hr in 549 ab (1 hr every 18 ab)
2017: 23 hr in 496 ab (1 hr every 22 ab)
* Maybe his 2016 was his last really good power year and his 2017 is more like his new norm. But it wouldn't shock me to see him hit 25 homers with regular playing time.

The point is that I think it's eminently reasonable to think that among Hanley, Bradley, Betts, and Bogaerts, we could see an increase of about 16 homers or so. Just with some regression to the mean, not even taking into account a new "launch angle" approach. Add in improvement from Benintendi (just because that's hopefully what players growing into their prime do) and a full season from Devers, and I think just with the guys they have now they could improve 20-25 home runs (and maybe 40 runs or so). It would still put them near the bottom of the league but still. If their pitching is what it ought to be, then bumping up their run production by 40 runs over 162 games (that's a quarter of a run a game) would put them in the top 3 in the AL. That would be a very, very good and dangerous team.

And that's not even really asking for everything to go right. That's simply asking for guys to be somewhere in between their 2016 and 2017 numbers.

This isn't exactly deep analysis, but it's all about health, no? Betts, Bogaerts, Pedroia, Moreland, and Hanley all played through injuries at one point or another last year; maybe some improvement on that front will mean a return to (closer to) 2016 levels.

Stating the obvious, perhaps.

 

[Pozo the Clown]

Wondering if the signing of Nunez has Cora rethinking the Betts-Beni 1-2. Could see a Nunez, Beni, Betts top of the order.

 

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Wondering if the signing of Nunez has Cora rethinking the Betts-Beni 1-2. Could see a Nunez, Beni, Betts top of the order.

I’d rather see Nunez break up the LHH crowding the bottom half of the order.

 

[BaseballJones]

This isn't exactly deep analysis, but it's all about health, no? Betts, Bogaerts, Pedroia, Moreland, and Hanley all played through injuries at one point or another last year; maybe some improvement on that front will mean a return to (closer to) 2016 levels.

Stating the obvious, perhaps.

Well that and a new "launch angle" philosophy, which I think will specifically help Bogaerts tremendously.

 

[flymrfreakjar]

If Mookie really is projected to provide the most power on the team, it’s hard for me to be fully on board batting him leadoff. At least bat him second where there’s a shot to drive someone in with a double.

 

[Spelunker]

If Mookie really is projected to provide the most power on the team, it’s hard for me to be fully on board batting him leadoff. At least bat him second where there’s a shot to drive someone in with a double.

For that first at bat of the game?

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

FWIW, Mookie has driven in a run every 7.52 plate appearances when batting in the first spot in the lineup. He's driven in a run every 7.30 plate appearances batting elsewhere in the lineup (1557 PA vs 752 PA). Not really a notable difference...at least not a clear cut case that he shouldn't lead off.

 

[TonyPenaNeverJuiced]

FWIW, Mookie has driven in a run every 7.52 plate appearances when batting in the first spot in the lineup. He's driven in a run every 7.30 plate appearances batting elsewhere in the lineup (1557 PA vs 752 PA). Not really a notable difference...at least not a clear cut case that he shouldn't lead off.

Do you (sorry I don't know where to look for it) have stats on this YoY? I'd be interested how that shakes out in 2016 vs. 2017...

 

[Al Zarilla]

If Mookie really is projected to provide the most power on the team, it’s hard for me to be fully on board batting him leadoff. At least bat him second where there’s a shot to drive someone in with a double.

Sounds like Alex has made up his mind. Other notable “best all around hitters on the team” that were asked to split significant time between leadoff and second, third or fourth have been Mccutchen and Trout. Cutch ultimately settled in at third; Trout at second or third. Guys like Williams and Joe D. were never considered for leadoff of course because they didn’t run well. If one of their long legs ever got broken you might have had to shoot them.

Mookie the quandary, but Cora’s made up his mind sounds like.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Do you (sorry I don't know where to look for it) have stats on this YoY? I'd be interested how that shakes out in 2016 vs. 2017...

2016 vs 2017

1 RBI every 7 PA at leadoff in 2016
1 RBI every 5.487 PA anywhere else in 2016 (3rd, 4th, 9th)

1 RBI every 6.96 PA at leadoff in 2017
1 RBI every 7 PA anywhere else in 2017 (2nd, 3rd, 4th)

 

[nvalvo]

I think JDM is signing any day now. (Maybe I'm mistaken; indulge me.) My lineup, post-JDM:

9 Betts R
7 Benintendi L
6 Bogaerts R
0 Martinez R
5 Devers L
3 Ramírez R
2 Vázquez R
8 Bradley L
4 Núñez R

The bench becomes:

3/P Moreland L
2 Leon S
2/3/4/5/7/9 Swihart S
6/5/4 Marrero R (or 6/5/4/8 Lin S, if we decide he's more flexible/has more upside. But he's optionable, so I keep him in AAA as depth, especially since we're not short on guys who can cover CF.)

We have three catchers. This means that whichever of Moreland or Ramirez didn't start can be aggressively double-switched into the game in the late innings, either when we're behind or when we want to add IF defense. If we can keep the BP at 6, I'd love to have Brentz, too for the same purpose.

Marrero/Lin gets late inning defensive innings for Devers up late in close games after he's hit.

I want to avoid putting three RHH in a row, but we do have a pretty good left-handed bench bats in Moreland and Swihart in case of ROOGY situations.

Bradley and Núñez become a kind of second top of the order, setting the table for Betts and Benintendi.

 

[Pozo the Clown]

Marrero/Lin gets late inning defensive innings for Devers up late in close games after he's hit.

Mike Lowell is coming to Ft. Myers to work with Devers on his D. Hopefully, late-game, defensive subs will not be frequently required.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2018/02/18/special-instructors-camp-are-who-who-red-sox-alumni/adL3aiuR8GkycHO9V5QgAL/story.html

 

[RedOctober3829]

My lineup with Nunez, no Pedey, and JD. Assuming Brentz is the 4th OF and will be used against lefties.
RHP
Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Martinez DH
Moreland 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Nunez 2B
Vazquez C
Bradley, Jr CF

LHP
Betts RF
Benintendi CF
Martinez LF
Ramirez 1B
Bogaerts SS
Nunez 2B
Devers 3B
Brentz DH
Vazquez C

 

[flymrfreakjar]

For that first at bat of the game?

I mean doesn’t it make sense to have your best power guy batting in a spot where there’s at least the opportunity to drive in a run? I understand wanting to get him the most possible ABs but if he’s batting second, and if the leadoff guy can get on base with some consistency, that’s an extra at bat per game with the potential for scoring. Houston had the luxury of batting Springer first because they had plenty of power through the lineup, but that was a deficiency for the Sox. If they get JDM that’s alleviated somewhat, but I still like the idea of having Benintendi, Mookie and Martinez starting the game and getting the most possible plate appearances.

 

[EricFeczko]

My lineup with Nunez, no Pedey, and JD. Assuming Brentz is the 4th OF and will be used against lefties.
RHP
Betts RF 131
Benintendi LF 118
Martinez DH 130
Moreland 1B 103
Bogaerts SS 109
Devers 3B 112
Nunez 2B 100
Vazquez C 83
Bradley, Jr CF 105

LHP
Betts RF 131
Benintendi CF 118
Martinez LF 130
Ramirez 1B 112
Bogaerts SS 109
Nunez 2B 100
Devers 3B 112
Brentz DH ???(85)
Vazquez C 83

That's my guess as well I've added projected wRC+ (steamer) in red. This weights the best players towards the top of the lineup, though the bottom of the lineup may be better than projected (if Devers ends up playing better than his projected 112, I could see him moving to fifth in the lineup). Hanley/Moreland should provide decent 1B production (moving us from bottom 5 to middle of the pack). I think Martinez may spell Betts/Benintendi in the outfield for days off as well, since all three of our starters can easily slide into CF (giving Martinez the easier LF position).

That lineup is horrifically potent; there's decent reason to think both vazquez and brentz may be closer to 100 wRC+, meaning that every position in the lineup is projected to be average or better (and roughly half the lineup to be at least 10 percent better than average). Such a distribution may generate more runs than a lineup with an uneven distribution.

 

[BaseballJones]

The lineup suddenly looks really different.

Nunez at 2b for the time being. Then a supersub when Pedroia comes back. Martinez at DH. Hanley and Moreland platooning and being a nice bat off the bench. Can also give Martinez a day off at DH from time to time (do DH's need a day off?). Moreland can be the defensive 1b late if he doesn't start.

I like the contract too, but regardless of the contract, let's not forget what Martinez has been the last four seasons:

2014: 441 ab, 23 hr, .315/.358/.553/.912, 154 ops+
2015: 596 ab, 38 hr, .282/.344/.535/.879, 139 ops+
2016: 460 ab, 22 hr, .307/.373/.535/.908, 142 ops+
2017: 432 ab, 45 hr, .303/.376/.690/1.066, 166 ops+
TOT: 1929 ab, 128 hr, .300/.362/.574/.936, 149 ops+

Major, major offensive addition no matter how you slice it.

 

[EricFeczko]

The lineup suddenly looks really different.

Nunez at 2b for the time being. Then a supersub when Pedroia comes back. Martinez at DH. Hanley and Moreland platooning and being a nice bat off the bench. Can also give Martinez a day off at DH from time to time (do DH's need a day off?). Moreland can be the defensive 1b late if he doesn't start.

I like the contract too, but regardless of the contract, let's not forget what Martinez has been the last four seasons:

2014: 441 ab, 23 hr, .315/.358/.553/.912, 154 ops+
2015: 596 ab, 38 hr, .282/.344/.535/.879, 139 ops+
2016: 460 ab, 22 hr, .307/.373/.535/.908, 142 ops+
2017: 432 ab, 45 hr, .303/.376/.690/1.066, 166 ops+
TOT: 1929 ab, 128 hr, .300/.362/.574/.936, 149 ops+

Major, major offensive addition no matter how you slice it.

Yup, Ortiz left a gaping hole in our offense last season. We just went from bottom 5 in DH/1B to top DH (best DH last year was Nelson Cruz) and middle of the pack 1B.

To put it another way, our DH is projected now to produce 30-50 percent more runs than last year. Our 1B: 5-15 percent more runs.

 

[Jerry’s Curl]

My lineup with Nunez, no Pedey, and JD. Assuming Brentz is the 4th OF and will be used against lefties.
RHP
Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Martinez DH
Moreland 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Nunez 2B
Vazquez C
Bradley, Jr CF

LHP
Betts RF
Benintendi CF
Martinez LF
Ramirez 1B
Bogaerts SS
Nunez 2B
Devers 3B
Brentz DH
Vazquez C

I really hope we see more Hanley vs RHP or else JDM will be pitched around or IW for Moreland quite often.

 

[gedman211]

I think it makes sense to hit put Nunez leadoff and and JD and Mookie back to back. I think history tells us that your 2 best hitters produce the most when they hit consecutively. It just scares pitchers silly.

 

[Merkle's Boner]

I really doubt Marrero/Lin break camp with the Sox. Last year, Marco Hernandez was someone everyone was very high on and I think he is going to get every chance to be that super-sub. I'm not sure if he's not a better option than Nuñez, depending on each of their health.

 

[trs]

For that first at bat of the game?

If Betts plays 150 games, that would be 150 times he is coming to bat with no chance to knock anyone in but himself. You put someone in there with a .375 OBP, you would think that you gain around 55-60 opportunities with a man on base. I wonder if that's significant enough to play him elsewhere.

 

[SouthernBoSox]

Mookie also absolutely destroys fastballs. I want our best fastball hitter in front of JDM and I think that guy is Mookie.

 

[The Gray Eagle]

Batting order really doesn't matter much.

"It doesn’t actually matter all that much. Or, as the writer Jack Moore once began a piece at FanGraphs, "When it comes to sabermetric studies, no single item sees more energy expended with less gain than the analysis of batting orders.

The authors of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball, the 2007 sabermetrics tome that contains the authoritative analysis of lineup order optimization, found that the difference between a perfect lineup and any typically constructed lineup, regardless of its philosophical underpinnings, is worth only about 10 to 15 runs over a full season. At the generally accepted exchange rate of 10 runs per win, that’s not much — and it’s the figure for a full lineup. The leadoff spot alone would be worth but a fraction of a fraction of a win, which can make the energy invested in the matter seem unwarranted.

"Almost no matter what you do, as long as you have some kind of a reasonable lineup, it’s just not much of a gain," says Mitchel Lichtman, one of the coauthors of The Book."

The leadoff hitter will obviously get more PAs than the other hitters:

"Lichtman estimates that each jump up the batting order increases total plate appearances by 2.5 percent, which, over the course of a 650-PA season, yields a 49-PA increase between the cleanup and leadoff spots."

Those extra PAs will also come later in games, when the top of the lineup turns over. I have zero problem with Mookie Betts getting the most PAs, especially ones late in games. Late in a close game, I'd rather have Betts up there than Nunez.

And I certainly won't be unhappy when Mookie leads off the game with a HR and gives our starting pitchers the lead. Scoring first is a great thing.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

If Betts plays 150 games, that would be 150 times he is coming to bat with no chance to knock anyone in but himself. You put someone in there with a .375 OBP, you would think that you gain around 55-60 opportunities with a man on base. I wonder if that's significant enough to play him elsewhere.

Who is this .375 OBP hitter you're going to put in front of Betts in the lineup? Do the Sox have a hitter that gets on base at that sort of clip? At the moment, the answer is no.

Among qualified hitters, Pedroia led the team last year in OBP at .369, followed by Benintendi (.352) then Betts (.344). Nunez reached at a .353 clip in his short time with the team. Pedroia has a career OBP of .366, Benintendi .353, Nunez .320. None of them strike me as a clear cut better option at the top of the order than Betts.

 

[Marbleheader]

If Moreland ever bats cleanup, Alex Cora should have his 'smart guy' card revoked.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

LHP
Betts RF
Benintendi CF
Martinez LF
Ramirez 1B
Bogaerts SS
Nunez 2B
Devers 3B
Brentz DH
Vazquez C

So far in their brief careers, JBJ has been a much better hitter vs. LHP than Benintendi (.703 OPS, 91 wRC+ vs. .583/60), so if anybody sits for Brentz it should be the latter, unless he figures something out quickly.

 

[RedOctober3829]

So far in their brief careers, JBJ has been a much better hitter vs. LHP than Benintendi (.703 OPS, 91 wRC+ vs. .583/60), so if anybody sits for Brentz it should be the latter, unless he figures something out quickly.

I'd rather play Benintendi than Bradley if it comes down to the two. He needs to get more reps as a younger hitter.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

I'd rather play Benintendi than Bradley if it comes down to the two. He needs to get more reps as a younger hitter.

I'd rather have the better player in the lineup (not better overall, but better vs. LHP, especially when defense is accounted for). Benintendi will get plenty of reps vs. the LHPs in opposing bullpens.

Of course, both/and is also an option -- Beni could sit for Brentz vs. some LHPs and JBJ vs. others. That way neither of them would lose more than 15-20 starts.

 

[Minneapolis Millers]

...Of course, both/and is also an option -- Beni could sit for Brentz vs. some LHPs and JBJ vs. others. That way neither of them would lose more than 15-20 starts.

I think this is likely. This team is built such that no player needs or is likely to play 160 games (Mookie and maybe X will come closest but, assuming perfect help, will still get 1-2 days off per month and top out in the low 150s). Mostly, Cora will keep everyone fresh, and the bench players will get regular work.

 

[trs]

Who is this .375 OBP hitter you're going to put in front of Betts in the lineup? Do the Sox have a hitter that gets on base at that sort of clip? At the moment, the answer is no.

Among qualified hitters, Pedroia led the team last year in OBP at .369, followed by Benintendi (.352) then Betts (.344). Nunez reached at a .353 clip in his short time with the team. Pedroia has a career OBP of .366, Benintendi .353, Nunez .320. None of them strike me as a clear cut better option at the top of the order than Betts.

You're right, no one was at .375 last year, and perhaps while Pedroia isn't playing, Betts is the best option, but his .344 last year was just 1 point above Bogaerts. One thing to think about is how many of Betts's hits go for extra bases, and last year it was about 43%. Bogaerts on the other hand had just 33% of his go for extras. If in a case where players have similar OBP, would it make sense to put the singles hitter at 1? I'm certainly not trying to suggest that a lead-off double is a "waste," but single followed by a double leaves a man at second and a run scored, whereas the other way around the man is on first.

In the end it probably isn't going to make up for much of a change in terms of lineup efficiency, and it's very sensible to hit Betts first regardless.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Given that lineups mean squat - unless you plan of having me bat leadoff ..

In the absence of Pedroia:

What I would do

Nunez 2B
Bogaerts SS
Benintendi CF
Betts RF
Martinez DH
Devers 3B
Ramirez 1B
Bradley CF
Vazquez C

What Cora will do:

Betts RF
Benintendi CF
Martinez DH
Ramirez 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Nunez 2B
Bradley CF
Vazquez C

With Pedroia:

What I would do

Bogaerts SS
Pedroia 2B
Benintendi CF
Betts RF
Martinez DH
Devers 3B
Ramirez 1B
Bradley CF
Vazquez C

What Cora will do:

Betts RF
Benintendi CF
Martinez DH
Ramirez 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Bradley CF
Pedroia 2B
Vazquez C

The bench is Swihart, Moreland, Marrero, Leon

Holt is traded/released before his contract kicks in

Brentz replaces Leon if they find a taker

 

[Rich Garces Belly]

Given that lineups mean squat - unless you plan of having me bat leadoff ..

In the absence of Pedroia:

What I would do

Nunez 2B
Bogaerts SS
Benintendi CF
Betts RF
Martinez DH
Devers 3B
Ramirez 1B
Bradley CF
Vazquez C

What Cora will do:

Betts RF
Benintendi CF
Martinez DH
Ramirez 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Nunez 2B
Bradley CF
Vazquez C

With Pedroia:

What I would do

Bogaerts SS
Pedroia 2B
Benintendi CF
Betts RF
Martinez DH
Devers 3B
Ramirez 1B
Bradley CF
Vazquez C

What Cora will do:

Betts RF
Benintendi CF
Martinez DH
Ramirez 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Bradley CF
Pedroia 2B
Vazquez C

The bench is Swihart, Moreland, Marrero, Leon

Holt is traded/released before his contract kicks in

Brentz replaces Leon if they find a taker

I hate any lineup with JD batting 5th

 

[Rich Garces Belly]

The lineups I would use are the following (I want to point out that I’m super high on Devers):

VS righties

Betts RF
Ben10 LF
JD DH
Devers 3B
Hanley 1B
X SS
Bradley CF
Vazquez C
Nuñez 2B

VS lefties

Betts RF
Nuñez 2B
JD LF
Devers 3B
Hanley 1B
X SS
Ben10/Jackie CF
Brentz DH
Vazquez C

 

[BuellMiller]

I hate any lineup with JD batting 5th

Yeah, almost as bad as when Jimy started batting Carl Everett 6th in 2000. (Although, he did put up his best numbers there, so maybe Jimy knew something).

 

[Margo McCready]

Mookie rf
Beni lf
Xander ss
JD dh
Devers 3b
Hanley 1b
JBJ cf
Vasquez c
Nunez 2b

I would go with this same lineup regardless of pitcher handedness when all the regulars are starting.

 

[chawson]

The lineups I would use are the following (I want to point out that I’m super high on Devers):

VS righties

Betts RF
Ben10 LF
JD DH
Devers 3B
Hanley 1B
X SS
Bradley CF
Vazquez C
Nuñez 2B

VS lefties

Betts RF
Nuñez 2B
JD LF
Devers 3B
Hanley 1B
X SS
Ben10/Jackie CF
Brentz DH
Vazquez C

JBJ shouldn’t be platooned against lefties. He hits them just fine, better than RHP last year. Nunez is also historically better vs. RHP than LHP.

I’m with you on Devers hitting cleanup and your RHP lineup in general.

 

[nvalvo]

I am seeing some lineups with Núñez in the top half. Respectfully, I think people need to spend some time with his baseball-reference page to remind themselves that we saw basically the best months of his career in Boston last year. I like Núñez, but he's a hair-better-than-league-average hitter whose value is derived from positional flexibility, and — perhaps for the Red Sox — a swing that is a good fit for Fenway's dimensions (easily his best numbers for any park where he has more than 75 PA). He should be batting 7-9 in a lineup with Championship aspirations.

He has a lower OPS+ the last three seasons than JBJ, for instance, 106 to 107.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

I hate any lineup with JD batting 5th

According to the Tango/Book formula the #5 hitter should be better, if anything, than the #3 hitter, but really your three best hitters should be batting in the 1, 2 and 4 spots. #1 spot should emphasize OBP, #4 SLG, #2 a balance of the two.

Your fourth and fifth best hitters should be in the #3 and #5 spots, emphasizing contact at #5 and power at #3.

With that in mind, I'd vote for something like this:

Benintendi lf
Betts rf
Devers 3b
Martinez dh
Bogaerts ss
Hanley/Moreland 1b
JBJ cf
Nunez/Pedroia 2b
Vazquez c

That said, as long as Betts and Martinez are in the top 4 slots somewhere I don't think it matters a ton. It's a pretty deep lineup and you could shuffle it a lot of different ways.

 

[MikeM]

Ok...