Vote Lind for Cleanup
See what can happen with a little bit of variation in the lineup? Cito Gaston gives Vernon Wells the day off, and Adam Lind steps in and does what Wells hasn’t been able to do all season; hit consistently. Today’s 5 for 5 game was an outstanding case, but maybe Cito should reconsider leaving Lind in the number four spot permanently.
Besides, moving Lind up also breaks up the steady stream of right handed batters at the top of the lineup. Basically, moving Adam Lind up turns him into a feared lefty circa David Ortiz early 2000’s. With Lind’s split statistics basically split down the middle against left and right handed pitching, he has the potential to do much more damage by batting higher in the lineup. Now as we saw today, if Alex Rios could get a few hits or at least get on base, then today’s box score probably would have been much different.
I don’t necessarily understand the entire dichotomy of constructing a lineup, but much like eyebleaf at Sports and the City I am at least baseball saavy enough to understand what works and what doesn’t work. So maybe Vernon’s ego takes a bit of a hit by being moved down a spot, but frankly Adam Lind has earned his place to hit cleanup on the Blue Jays lineup. Until Vernon Wells can prove otherwise, I’d say either leave him down in the lineup or don’t play him at all.
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Vote Lind for Cleanup.
Where's the poll? I want to cast my vote!
I'd vote to keep Vernon in there. It was just last week that Lind was in the midst of his own ugly streak.
Basically, moving Adam Lind up turns him into a feared lefty circa David Ortiz early 2000's.
Wow, one game and we are turning him into Ortiz in his prime? Bit of a jump there isn't it? Yes Lind has had a decent year thus far but lets not get crazy here.
I am not necessarily opposed to Lind batting cleanup, in fact I think it is a good idea for awhile, but like Dave said just last week Lind was in a miserable slump. Batting Lind 4th is not going to solve all of the Jays problems.
Dave, Lind was hitting .105 during his mini-slump between May 18th and 27th. But Wells on the other hand is hitting .210 since May 12th. During that same period, Lind has been hitting .278. When Lind crashes, he crashes hard – but overall, he's still hitting over .300.
Johnny, I'm probably getting a little ahead of myself with that statement about Ortiz, but I just so desperate for the Blue Jays to have that one hitter in the middle of the lineup that opposing players are scared to face. I don't think the Jays have had someone like that since Carlos Delgado.
Lind's got my vote.