OK, I can't help myself, these lineups are driving me nuts. WRT to the Cub lineup, I think there are several realities that Counsel has to accept. His players have limitations and/or are broken right now. So, stop using a lineup that is not working. Please. Craig, until certain players remember how to hit, .....
1) If you play Happ, it has to be as leadoff or ninth. He still walks a ton, so has a good OBP even though he hasn't hit. But he can't hit in the middle of the order - he is just not a run producer, never has been.
2) Bat Hoerner second for now. Face it, he is currently your best hitter. Get him more ABs.
3) Bat Busch 3rd or 4th - he is about the only one currently driving in runs. He is wasting one AB a game as leadoff.
4) Move PCA down to 7th. He hit well there, less pressure, less expectation, less frequency. You need his D, but get him out of cleanup.
5) Move Shaw up to 5th or 6th. Not into the "pressure" roles of cleanup or the 3 hole - but move hiim out of 9th.
6) Split up Suzuki and Tucker. It's broken - accept it and stop trying to force it.
7) Play Caissie every day until he stops hitting - sit Tucker, Happ, Suzuki, and Armstrong once or twice a week each.
8) Tucker's woes have now entered his fielding. You can't just put him out there and expect success. Let the kid play every day in right.
So - I say a base lineup of Happ, Hoerner, Busch, DH, Caissie, Shaw, PCA, Swanson, and Catcher (with DH mainly being Suzuki or Tucker) is about the best you can make of this mess right now. Subject to change if any of them start to hit again.
Glad I could help.
1) If you play Happ, it has to be as leadoff or ninth. He still walks a ton, so has a good OBP even though he hasn't hit. But he can't hit in the middle of the order - he is just not a run producer, never has been.
2) Bat Hoerner second for now. Face it, he is currently your best hitter. Get him more ABs.
3) Bat Busch 3rd or 4th - he is about the only one currently driving in runs. He is wasting one AB a game as leadoff.
4) Move PCA down to 7th. He hit well there, less pressure, less expectation, less frequency. You need his D, but get him out of cleanup.
5) Move Shaw up to 5th or 6th. Not into the "pressure" roles of cleanup or the 3 hole - but move hiim out of 9th.
6) Split up Suzuki and Tucker. It's broken - accept it and stop trying to force it.
7) Play Caissie every day until he stops hitting - sit Tucker, Happ, Suzuki, and Armstrong once or twice a week each.
8) Tucker's woes have now entered his fielding. You can't just put him out there and expect success. Let the kid play every day in right.
So - I say a base lineup of Happ, Hoerner, Busch, DH, Caissie, Shaw, PCA, Swanson, and Catcher (with DH mainly being Suzuki or Tucker) is about the best you can make of this mess right now. Subject to change if any of them start to hit again.
Glad I could help.
