July 14, 2008
Lineup Runs
The lineup analysis for the National League is here. The lineup Clint Hurdle constructed scores 7.428 runs per game. Wow. The best lineup has Chipper at the top of the order and scores 7.647 runs. It has the two Cubs at the bottom, except Soto bats eighth and Fukudome bats ninth. The worst lineup puts Braun in the leadoff spot and scores 7.049 runs per game. I wouldn't mind that every game.
The AL lineup pales in comparison. The lineup as constructed by Francona scores 6.359 runs per game. The best lineup has Terry's top two hitters, Ichiro and Jeter, at the bottom of the order with Jeter batting 8th and Ichiro 9th. Still, that lineup scored 6.639, way below the worst NL lineup. The worst lineup for the AL scores just 6.121 runs per game.
This is a very good sign for the NL gaining back home field advantage in the World Series. We'll see if it hold up, or if the NL folds like they did in interleague play.
That AL lineup would be better with Ian Kinsler in it, though still not as good as the NL bunch.
Aren't the NL line-up's stats a little inflated by the fact they get to face NL pitching all year?
All of the analysis about how much better the NL was performing before interleague match-ups and guess what happened? The NL got rocked and it wasn't even close.
We'll see what happens. Maybe the NL line-up is better, or maybe the retirement community that is NL starting pitching had something to do with it.
Not that anyone asked but here is the lineups as I would have set them:
NL:
HR, CU, CJ, AP, LB, MH, RB, GS, KF
AL:
IS, JM, JH, AR, MB, MR, KY, DP, DJ
Or you could bat Jeter first and then take him out after he bats!
The NL lineup looks better, but if Cook or Dempster get in the game it might be enough for the AL to make up the difference (IMO). Those guys are having good years, but they aren't good enough pitchers to keep an All-Star lineup at bay. It's especially disconcerting that they are on the team since Hamels and Santana aren't.
