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Jim Leyland answered questions about one of the most inexplicable managing decisions he’s made this year, batting Timo Perez 3rd. I’m not going to continue to harp on this past this post, but even the thought process for batting Perez third is broken. Here is what Leyland told the Free Press
Leyland gave several reasons for hitting Perez third: It gave him another left-handed bat against Bannister, who has done better against right-handed batters than against lefties. Perez also could bunt and he could score from first on an extra-base hit.
Now I think the Freep mis-stated about Bannister’s splits, but getting the extra lefty bat in the lineup is the only part that made any sense. First, the idea that that your number 3 hitter would be bunting is dumb. Especially when your number 4 hitter is having an MVP season. So you use your number 3 hitter to bunt, opening up a base, and inviting an intentional walk. There is a reason that number 3 hitters don’t bunt.
Second, presuming that Perez could score from first on an extra base hit also presumes that he’d get to first base. He For someone who hasn’t broken the 300OBP barrier since 2003 (when he hit 301) that is foolish.
And if you want to look at all the players on the Tigers roster who could a)bunt and b)score from first on a single and c)bat left handed I see Curtis Granderson, Carlos Guillen, and Ramon Santiago.
Perez was a black hole amongst standout offensive performers last night and the sad thing is he performed exactly as expected.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
The rationalization is worse than the original decision. Being able to score from first on a double as a reason to bat a guy in the 3-hole? Speed’s nice, but a sub .300 OBP guy can’t steal first base.
Platoon advantage? Look at the career numbers: Marcus Thames is a much more productive hitter against right-handers than is Timo Perez.
Well stated.
Santiago can bunt and has good speed (and he switch hits!). Leyland, please hit him third. I totally agree with Jeff, the explanation is worse than the original decision.
Absurd.
Amen!!!
Best 15 bucks i ever spent:
http://www.baseball-reference......ti01.shtml
Leyland needs to get off his high horse sometimes and favor common sense over his ‘hunches’. There was no reason to have Perez in the lineup at all, with a healthy Thames and Maybin available. Complete and utter joke. He’s not a top 5 manager and after some of his crap that he’s done this season I am starting to doubt he’s a top-10 manager. Maybe he can submarine the season some more tonight by batting Casey lead-off.
Leyland should have a Bill Veeck moment and allow us, the posters here at this fine establisment play manager for a game.
I’m serious too.
@Stephen: Well spent money.
If Leyland reads stats?
Nice work Stephen!
I’m still steaming today over this one, it was such a reckless decision by Leyland.
I’m ok with him going with his gut from time to time and there is nothing more boring than a “by the book” manager. But the odds of it working were worse than a crap-shoot.
We just do not have enough games left to be screwing around like this. It’s far from over but I hope he can figure out how to get his best 9 on the field every night.
Burn out, maybe?
Tbone…well said concerning “hunches.” Yes, most guys go “by the book,” but there’s a reason: the book has been written over many years and is correct a higher percentage of the time.
As Ordonez says, “they can’t fall further behind.” Let’s hope they start playing and managing like it.
Haha, well done Stephen.
Are we really surprised at this explanation? It’s not like he’s a HOF manager. He’s a sub-.500 manager that plays his “hunches” and made all the same stupid decisions last year but they worked out so he was a “genius” and the “reason we won”. Nevermind the fact that he got here when Bonderman took a big step forward (taking a half step back this year), Verlander and Zumaya arrived on set and emerged as potential pitching stars, Fernando Rodney seemed to put it all together, Magglio got semi-healthy, Carlos Guillen remained healthy, and had a full year of Placido Polanco while Monroe over performed.
Not to mention the amount of luck we got last year.
Perfect storm of things worked in Jim’s favor last season.
Double, Double toil and trouble. That’s all Perez has been doing in the third spot. Double after Double. Isn’t that good enough?