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Sheffield should bat leadoff!

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Sheffield should bat leadoff! -
MtrCtyPimp Reputation:89 Level:All-Star Since:May 10, 2007
	May 5, 2008 1:34 pm Score: 90
	The guy likes to work counts and take pitches and has decent speed, so why not? If I was Leyland this would be my starting lineup for tonight. Sheffield ( can take his pitches and lack of rbi production wont be as glaring till his bat gets going again) Polanco (can still stay in his favorite spot) Granderson (best hitter on team at the moment by my estimation) Maggs (Best run producer) Guillen (Most clutch) Miggy (I would bat him even lower until his leg problems heal, im not crazy about him clogging up bases when he does get on) Jones (would keep lineup balanced L/R) Pudge (any production is a bonus) Renteria (can work as the 2nd leadoff hitter) Thoughts appreciated
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Sheffield should bat leadoff! -
iffy48126 Reputation:94 Level:All-Star Since:Sep 8, 2007
	May 5, 2008 1:57 pm Score: 88
	You want a guy with 15 hits in 23 games batting leadoff? Personally I think Sheff's best spot would be "in a van down by the river"............. Granderson moving to #3 has some merit, but he does fine at leadoff, so why move him? Jones? Lineup balance? What difference does it make where you bat this guy? He can make an out at any spot in the order. For kicks" Granderson CF Polanco 2B Guillen DH Ordonez RF Cabrera 1B Renteria SS Thames/Thomas LF Rodriguez C Inge 3B
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Sheffield should bat leadoff! -
MtrCtyPimp Reputation:89 Level:All-Star Since:May 10, 2007
	May 5, 2008 5:02 pm Score: 91
	Say what you want about Sheffield but his OB% is still very respectable and he can work a count with the best of them and thats really all a leadoff hitter should be able to do. Sheffield still does lead the team in walks. I love Granderson period anywhere he bats but lets not kid ourselves here he is not a true leadoff hitter and never will be.... I ask you this how can Sheffield batting leadoff hurt the team? Why waste an extra AB every game that Granderson has to take with nobody on base ? Just a thought
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Sheffield should bat leadoff! -
kevin070 Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Dec 12, 2007
	May 5, 2008 5:19 pm Score: 94
	Granderson is still the best option at leadoff. My second choice would be Renteria, not Pudge. Sheffield is playing left tonight and batting 6th. If Sheffield is back in the field then Thames days as a Tiger may be numbered. Jones was designated for assignment today, so he's gone. Matt Joyce was called out to replace Jones. Clete Thomas wasn't called back up because he's not hitting. He's needs more time in the minors still. The 3-4-5 slots should be Granderson-Ordonez-Cabrera. Granderson is ready for that run producing role. They just need to find a decent leadoff hitter before they can do this.
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Sheffield should bat leadoff! -
tennyskj Reputation:94 Level:All-Star Since:Sep 18, 2006
	May 6, 2008 1:57 pm Score: 92
	You want a guy with 15 hits in 23 games batting leadoff? Personally I think Sheff's best spot would be "in a van down by the river"............. Guess what? Ryan Howard (Phillies) is batting a whopping .165. I wonder if you think he should be sent "down by the river" as well? Your ignorance of Sheffield and the game of baseball in general is frightening. You were probably one of the people talking smack about Sheff at this point last year as well. Then, once May, June, July and August came around... you went out and bought his jersey. Fair weather fans are annoying.
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Sheffield should bat leadoff! -
MtrCtyPimp Reputation:89 Level:All-Star Since:May 10, 2007
	May 9, 2008 1:12 am Score: 90
	Tigers are a troubled team at this point and what is scaring me most is Verlander's fastball has disappeared and nobody seems to be asking where it went and Bonderman cant seem to strike anyone out with what used to be a deadly slider to right handed hitters. As far as the offense is concerned its still not producing up to capabilities but pitching wins in the long haul, not hitting. I still do wish they would bat Sheff in the leadoff spot because nobody on this team can take a walk like Sheffield and he can steal a base at a very high % whenever he pleases.....this team needs a jolt.
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Sheffield should bat leadoff! -
iffy48126 Reputation:94 Level:All-Star Since:Sep 8, 2007
	May 9, 2008 11:34 am Score: 91
	Good point about Justin Verlander's fastball. He can still throw one at +95 early in the game......but, by the second time around the order, it seems to slip to the low 90s. I wonder if it is a lack of conditioning? Without the fastball he had for the last two seasons - he is nothing but a back of the rotation starter. Control seems erratic at times as well - same with Jeremy Bonderman.
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Sheffield should bat leadoff! -
Andrew Miron Reputation:78 Level:Pro Since:May 9, 2008
	May 9, 2008 11:15 pm Score: 40
	There is no way that Sheffield should be batting lead off. His lack of production to this point should move him down in the lineup into a less important role instead of the pivital lead off spot. Also, moving Sheffield to lead off would leave Granderson to the third spot which is really out of place. Looking at the Tigers lineup they don't have anybody fast except Granderson so lead off his is born in role. Sheffield if his lack of production continues should definetly be moved down in the lineup if he is in the lineup at all
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Sheffield should bat leadoff! -
MtrCtyPimp Reputation:89 Level:All-Star Since:May 10, 2007
	May 10, 2008 3:57 am Score: 90
	I dont think Leyland will ever consider Sheffield for the leadoff spot but that is my suggestion. A leadoff hitter is not paid to produce runs....he is paid to score runs and work counts so the others in the dugout can see what a pitcher is featuring that day to give them an edge before they bat. I dont care what Sheffield is hitting now because if bats leadoff all I care about is OBP and he is still top 5 in walks in the AL and in my opinion is the best base stealer on this team. Sheffield in his current state resembles an old Ricky Henderson than the Gary Sheffield that I remember. Again I am not for moving him down or benching him but batting him in the leadoff spot.....lest we forget Grandy is not a leadoff hitter but bats there and has stuck because he was/is our best option.....he is not a true leadoff hitter. What is so inconceivable about Sheffied batting leadoff? Isnt he suited best for that spot right now?
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