"Hoover" <Hoover@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:3775v3lq0h7h00uetl86g9v2vod426bljd@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Group:
>
> Quite a few changes from the Padres openig day lineup of
> 2007 and the one which debuted yesterday. Here are the
> "respectable" batting orders, as Dizzy Dean might say:
>
>
> ===============================================
> 2007 2008
> ================================================
>
> Marcus Giles Brian Giles
> Brian Giles T. Iguchi
> A. Gonzalez Kouzmanoff
> Josh Bard A. Gonzalez
> Mike Cameron Scott Hairston
> Khalil Greene Khalil Greene
> Kouzmanoff Josh Bard
> T. Sledge McAnulty
> Greg Maddux Jake Peavy
>
>
> Three of the eight position starters are gone (Sledge, Cameron and
> Marcus Giles). Only Khalil Greene batted in the same spot (6th).
> LF Paul McAnulty was a pinch-hitter in the 2007 opening game...
> ironically a 4-3 loss to the Rockies !
>
>
> Hoover
I would have to say that McAnulty is a clear offensive upgrade over Sledge
(not enough info yet to compare them defensively). Probably a net plus.
Iguchi is also a better offensive option than M.Giles, buth as a
top-of-the-lineup guy and in terms of fitting with the organizational
hitting philosophy. Defensively, he should be very comparable. A net plus.
Hairston/Cameron is a more complex comparison. It's a definite defensive
downgrade in CF (although Hairston was originally ticketed to be part of
the
LF platoon and backup to Edmonds in CF). Since he hasn't really
established
his "level" in the majors yet, it's hard to say where he would be relative
to Cameron. He flashed a bit of power last year, and is probably capable
of
better numbers than Cameron's career .251/.341/.445 line. What is lost is
speed, but the stolen base is not a huge part of the Oakland-style
"Moneyball" philosophy that Alderson has implemented. Lets call this one a
push for now.
Maddux was probably only the opening day starter last season to allow
Peavy
to get the home opener start (or are we looking at the home opener lineup
there???) so it's an artifact of manager's decision. Clearly Jakkkkkkkkke
is
a huge upgrade at SP.
Also, B.Giles in the leadoff role instead of M.Giles is a big upgrade,
putting Brian's on-base skills to use in the spot where his current
skillset
is best suited.
Kooooooz appears to have come of age, and having the tandem of him and
Gonzalez in the heart of the lineup is a big upgrade there with Bard
moving
back to a more appropriate spot in the lineup.
Overall, our offensive lineup should be superior to last season's in
pretty
much all areas. And when Edmonds is healthy, it should improve even more,
as
well as the defense.
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