A constant rash of injuries has already required roster juggling and the bench has been shifted and the Norfolk Express is already getting a workout with the AAA roster bleeding into the Majors on a regular basis. So let\u2019s try to simplify a few things for the Skip, and, more importantly, his boss \u2013 Mike Elias, Lord Of All Things Remotely Baseball Related when it comes to the O\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take one thing off all of their plates for the foreseeable future. Your lineup decisions can start in the two spot (and, really, if Taylor Ward continues to work counts and hit double anything close to the way he has, you can go ahead and start your work even further down the line). Oh, I know it runs counter to what the previous novice skipper was yelping around these parts<\/a> but Henderson is and should be the Orioles leadoff hitter as long as he is under their employ (which sadly won\u2019t be as long as any of us had originally hoped).<\/p>\n Consistency Is Good<\/p>\n I\u2019ll admit that I used to fight this notion. I wanted a prototypical lead-off guy for the longest time. Would have told you that batting your best hitter first takes away too many potential run-producing opportunities, etc. Nope. Get your best baseball player the maximum number pate appearances you can as often as you can.<\/p>\n It really is that simple. And Gunnar is clearly that guy. I wouldn\u2019t even have dropped him one spot Thursday night against a very tough lefty in Parker Messick. Not with the way he swung the bat on that homestand. And I swear on al things holy I fashioned this column before Messick nearly no-hit the O\u2019s Thursday night<\/a>.<\/p>\n Part of Henderson\u2019s somewhat slow immediate start and some of the at bats that were not up to his peak quality may have had to do with where he was hitting. Does he get a little caught up with pull-side power chasing down deeper in the lineup? Does batting first reinforce some of his best qualities in terms of how he works pitchers? Well, years of watching every game and a quick glance at the numbers would affirm all of that.<\/p>\n So let\u2019s leave it alone. Let him be a 40-40 guy (or, um, 50-50 guy?) while hitting leadoff and go ahead and chuck that bat in disgust when they walk you and then snag second base while Ward looks at ball three.<\/p>\n In his career (entering the Guardians series) Gunnar has an .876 OPS batting first, best of any spot in which he\u2019s had at least 30 plate appearances. So that\u2019s a start. He also has more than twice as many home runs batting leadoff than anywhere else (yes, he does have the most career PA in that spot).<\/p>\n At this point, with him looking like an MVP again now that he\u2019s healthy again, it comes down to batting first, second or third. Those are the real options. What\u2019s that meant to this point?<\/p>\n What Do The Numbers Say?<\/p>\n Batting 1st: 819 PA – 36 2B \u2013 11 3B \u2013 44 HR \u2013 107 RBI \u2013 24 SB\/5 CS<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 .272\/.344\/.532<\/p>\n Batting 2nd: 232 PA \u2013 14 2B \u2013 1 3B \u2013 11 HR \u2013 31 RBI \u2013 6 SB\/1 CS<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 .280\/.332\/.509<\/p>\n Batting 3rd: 711 PA – 36 2B \u2013 6 3B \u2013 19 HR \u2013 79 RBI \u2013 30 CB\/5 CS<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 .275\/.353\/.443<\/p>\n Let him be the ultimate engine. He is their catalyst and when he is fired up, they are fired up. I wouldn\u2019t even mess with it much against lefties, honestly. If Jordan Westburg comes back<\/a> and looks like his best self \u2013 and then manages to stay in the lineup for a period of time \u2013 and you wanna dabble with that, okay. But sliding Adley in the three hole, upon his return, and having Pete Alonso in the prototypical clean-up spot and Westy at 5 is something I could sink my teeth into.<\/p>\n But let\u2019s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, let\u2019s let Gunnar do his thing before anyone else and see where that takes this team. And that means back leading off Friday night.<\/p>\n
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