Braves Projected Lineup

[PurpleBrave]

Fangraphs/Roster Resource has

1. Acuna
2. Albies
3. Riley
4. Olson
5. Ozuna
6. Harris
7. Murphy
8. Kelenic
9. Arcia


Think we shuffle this around and bat Harris higher? Snit has said he likes him 9th because "it's like having an extra leadoff hitter".

Another projected lineup

https://mlbplayingtime.com/atlanta-braves/

[cajunrevenge]

I would guess they hit Kelenic 9th. Low pressure spot in the lineup and gives him the protection of Acuna behind him.

[Ozzie Swanson]

Would prefer Kelenic hit 9th so he sees more fastballs with Acuña behind him.

[bravesfanMatt]

I like Kelenic at 9th and Harris right where he is. Then replace Murph with TDA because we know twit will play him more.

[Slippyjms]

Id go with

Acuna
Harris
Albies
Riley
Olson
Ozuna
Murphy
Kelenic
Arcia

[Enscheff]

Let’s hope snit is smart enough not to put the 2nd best hitter #5.

[Enscheff]

Snit insisting on entrenching Albies in the 2 spot is nothing other than pure dinosaur thinking. He doesn’t belong at the top of the lineup because he doesn’t get on base enough. At the very least he should flip-flop Harris and Albies based on pitcher handedness.

These are fairly trivial decisions though. As long as Acuna/Olson/Riley hit at the top, Ozuna/Murphy/Albies/Harris hit in the middle, and Kelenic/Arcia hit at the bottom, this will be another all-time great offense.

[Slippyjms]

Snit insisting on entrenching Albies in the 2 spot is nothing other than pure dinosaur thinking. He doesn’t belong at the top of the lineup because he doesn’t get on base enough. At the very least he should flip-flop Harris and Albies based on pitcher handedness.

These are fairly trivial decisions though. As long as Acuna/Olson/Riley hit at the top, Ozuna/Murphy/Albies/Harris hit in the middle, and Kelenic/Arcia hit at the bottom, this will be another all-time great offense.

The question to me depends alot on what the team plans to do with Harris. Is he a top middle or bottom of the order hitter. We have 3 lefties and ideally LHP should have to pay serious penalties for facing them.

With

Acuña
Harris
Albies
Riley
Olson
Ozuna
Murphy
Kelenic
Arcia

Albies' RHH protects Harris and Olson and his bat to ball skills are great for moving Acuna and Harris along the bases and getting on ahead of Riley and Olson.

[Enscheff]

Yes, we all understand lineup construction concepts from the 1970s.

Modern lineup construction involves getting the best batters the most PAs. Each spot lower in the order costs the player ~17 PAs. Giving a hitter like Olson an additional 17 PAs means he hits 1-2 more HRs. Giving him 34 more PAs and he hits 3-4 more HRs. Olson should not be batting 5th, period.

[thethe]

Kelenic will be in 2 hole before end of season

[Slippyjms]

Yes, we all understand lineup construction concepts from the 1970s.

Modern lineup construction involves getting the best batters the most PAs. Each spot lower in the order costs the player ~17 PAs. Giving a hitter like Olson an additional 17 PAs means he hits 1-2 more HRs. Giving him 34 more PAs and he hits 3-4 more HRs. Olson should not be batting 5th, period.

This also isn't 2008 either. And not everything operates in a vacuum. One of the big differences today is the 3 batter minimum. If these shifts could add 50 RHH PA for Ozzie is it worth it then. If Olson and Riley lose 4 HR total by moving down a slot how many homers does Harris get for jumping up 7 spots in the order? Do we actually lose any runs in the grand scheme of things?

[Slippyjms]

@Enscheff also I'm not trying to fight as much as I am discuss. I think there's an extra synergistic element that's entered the game and hasn't been fully determined since the new CBA

[Garmel]

Kelenic will be in 2 hole before end of season

That only happens if you're referring to Cy's mom.

[thewupk]

That only happens if you're referring to Cy's mom.

If that's the case then he's already there

[Enscheff]

@Enscheff also I'm not trying to fight as much as I am discuss. I think there's an extra synergistic element that's entered the game and hasn't been fully determined since the new CBA

This is not complicated, and completely understood by every single front office. The best hitters bat at the top to maximize their PAs. And yes, they will stagger handedness…which is also fully understood.

It is not rocket science to have the best hitters bat most often. So no, giving Harris more PAs at the expense of Riley and Olson is, under no scenario, a good thing unless Harris progresses to become a better hitter. If that happens, then the lineup should change to accommodate that fact.

[Slippyjms]

This is not complicated, and completely understood by every single front office. The best hitters bat at the top to maximize their PAs. And yes, they will stagger handedness…which is also fully understood.

It is not rocket science to have the best hitters bat most often. So no, giving Harris more PAs at the expense of Riley and Olson is, under no scenario, a good thing unless Harris progresses to become a better hitter. If that happens, then the lineup should change to accommodate that fact.

Nobody is arguing against getting the best hitters ABs. The discussion is how to best support all the hitters in the lineup in order to maximize run production.

Harris would see a lot less LHP late squeezed between Acuna and Albies. Harris is an excellent candidate to make a jump as well. He just needs to improve his LA. His EV/50 is in the top 15 in baseball.

[buck75]

If Harris continues to show he can hit LHPs, he might back second a lot in 2024.

[thewupk]

This lineup will score a lot of runs. That's all the analysis we really need.

[Heyward]

Still need a RH OF'er for LHP's, but overall agree with most have said. Me personally, i would go:

Acuna
Olson
Riley
Ozuna
Albies
Murphy
Harris
Arcia
Kelenic

[Super]

Can’t help but think Harris will be 9th almost nightly, not that I agree with it.