Sadly I think that's what we're in for this year -- any games we lose by 1-3 runs, Bannister is going to view it as "well, we were just one big swing away from tying it up".

The thing that's frustrating is that Gallo isn't super slow. He's not a base stealing threat for the most part, but I'd think he could take an extra base on a long single if he got a good jump on the pitch out of the pitcher's hand. He would be a good guy to have on base. Not like he's Prince Fielder or something.

If they're gonna give him THAT much effing room on the left side, he's got to figure something out with that.

I'm going to give him a pass Game 1 in that he was zoned in on other things and wasn't prepared to change his approach and/or didn't want to in the middle of the game. If he continues to not at least try to keep them honest with less than 2 outs and a 2-3 run deficit, then I'm not going to be thrilled.

Batting 6th... a full-swinging Gallo is fine.

Batting 2nd with Andrus and Beltre behind you... unacceptable.

Your job at the #2 hitter is to put ducks on the pond OR bring them in, which ever is applicable.

Ego or not... this is about winning baseball games, not proving you can beat a defense.

The only logic I've heard is that even with the shift, if power is your game... swinging for a HR is going to net more Rs for you than taking what the pitcher gives you.

Has Bannister explained why he thought/thinks batting Joey Gallo 2nd was a good idea in the first place?

TXAggie2011 said:

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Has Bannister explained why he thought/thinks batting Joey Gallo 2nd was a good idea in the first place?

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You want your most productive hitters at #2/#3 in the lineup. So that's Gallo/Beltre.

DallasAg 94 said:

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Batting 6th... a full-swinging Gallo is fine.

Batting 2nd with Andrus and Beltre behind you... unacceptable.

Your job at the #2 hitter is to put ducks on the pond OR bring them in, which ever is applicable.

Ego or not... this is about winning baseball games, not proving you can beat a defense.

The only logic I've heard is that even with the shift, if power is your game... swinging for a HR is going to net more Rs for you than taking what the pitcher gives you.

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The idea is your value is in the long-ball, and ultimately it doesn't matter whether they have 8 guys in right-field -- they aren't going to catch a ball over the fence.

So it essentially boils down to the value of a bunt single every other at-bat versus a homerun every 10 at-bats. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I imagine the bunt single every other at-bat is more valuable when you have less than 2 outs, down 3 or more runs, and have 0-1 baserunners on (which the baserunner thing is kind of a given as they won't shift like that with a runner on 2nd).

free_mhayden said:

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TXAggie2011 said:

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Has Bannister explained why he thought/thinks batting Joey Gallo 2nd was a good idea in the first place?

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You want your most productive hitters at #2/#3 in the lineup. So that's Gallo/Beltre.

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That's what he said and he then hit Beltre 4th? 20% time Gallo gets on, it's a home run. Hitting 2nd limits the usefulness of base clearing home runs and limits Beltre and Andrus' potential to drive in runs and be driven in (especially Andrus.)

The annoying thing is, at least to me, we don't really have a number 2 hitter with the way Banister wants to structure the lineup right now. Deshields is an obvious leadoff hitter with his speed and base stealing ability. But if you want to hit Andrus 3rd, I don't really know what you do at 2.

No way you would hit Beltre at 2. Same with Mazara. There's also no way you'd put Rua (hasn't really shown he's a MLB player yet) or Chirinos (skillset doesn't match a 2 hitter) in that spot. Same thing with Odor. Choo is the only guy that might make sense there, but I just don't know how much confidence I have in him anymore, and he absolutely is not playing at the level he's being paid.

Obviously taking Gallo out of the 2 spot after one game would be a little silly, but if he doesn't come through for a while I feel like you might need to entertain putting Elvis there and hitting Mazara or Beltre 3rd. I could also see this becoming a "WTF are you doing Banister" thing like it was last year when Odor and Napoli were two near given outs and he kept rolling them out there day after day

There isn't a great solution but I don't view Gallo as the best of the available solutions.

Since DeShields can run well, he relatively less than anyone on the roster needs home runs and doubles to the fence to get around the bases.

Elvis showed some newly found power last year, but he's still a get on base and score runs guy.

And I think you can keep going about how a home run slugger isn't your best fit for #2 in this lineup given you have Elvis and Choo and while I've ragged on him in the past, given the current roster, Mazara.

Gallo's walks are the only thing that brings him into the conversation, and maybe that's what Bannister is focusing on.

TXAggie2011 said:

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Has Bannister explained why he thought/thinks batting Joey Gallo 2nd was a good idea in the first place?

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IIRC, JD said it had to do with high OBP, among other things.

free_mhayden said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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Batting 6th... a full-swinging Gallo is fine.

Batting 2nd with Andrus and Beltre behind you... unacceptable.

Your job at the #2 hitter is to put ducks on the pond OR bring them in, which ever is applicable.

Ego or not... this is about winning baseball games, not proving you can beat a defense.

The only logic I've heard is that even with the shift, if power is your game... swinging for a HR is going to net more Rs for you than taking what the pitcher gives you.

---

The idea is your value is in the long-ball, and ultimately it doesn't matter whether they have 8 guys in right-field -- they aren't going to catch a ball over the fence.

So it essentially boils down to the value of a bunt single every other at-bat versus a homerun every 10 at-bats. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I imagine the bunt single every other at-bat is more valuable when you have less than 2 outs, down 3 or more runs, and have 0-1 baserunners on (which the baserunner thing is kind of a given as they won't shift like that with a runner on 2nd).

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That was my point. And I didn't have, nor want to find the numbers. And, I decided to not give example numbers like you did.

jtstanley4621 said:

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The annoying thing is, at least to me, we don't really have a number 2 hitter with the way Banister wants to structure the lineup right now. Deshields is an obvious leadoff hitter with his speed and base stealing ability. But if you want to hit Andrus 3rd, I don't really know what you do at 2.

No way you would hit Beltre at 2. Same with Mazara. There's also no way you'd put Rua (hasn't really shown he's a MLB player yet) or Chirinos (skillset doesn't match a 2 hitter) in that spot. Same thing with Odor. Choo is the only guy that might make sense there, but I just don't know how much confidence I have in him anymore, and he absolutely is not playing at the level he's being paid.

Obviously taking Gallo out of the 2 spot after one game would be a little silly, but if he doesn't come through for a while I feel like you might need to entertain putting Elvis there and hitting Mazara or Beltre 3rd. I could also see this becoming a "WTF are you doing Banister" thing like it was last year when Odor and Napoli were two near given outs and he kept rolling them out there day after day

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If Gallo were a RHB, he'd be 3rd and Andrus 2nd, IMO.

Gallo is a natural 3rd or 4th... and I'd think Beltre a better 3rd.

But you wouldn't want
DD-RHB
Andrus-RHB
Beltre-RHB
Gallo - LHB
Mazara-LHB
Choo-LHB
Odor-LHB
Robinson-LHB\Rua-RHB
Chirinos-RHB

The way this team is put together... I just don't see it working. You can't hide any of your deficiencies.
Delino has a terrible arm, but great range in CF. You will give up extra bases.
Choo\Mazara\Rua\Robinson are poor defenders, and haven't shown the Offense to compensate for it.
Chirinos has never played 100 games in a season. At 33, his best days are over.

You have lots of LHBs, but they are all the same player, sans Choo. Gallo/Mazara/Odor

And then there is pitching issues. What happens when we lose a SP or two. And RP.

Gallo in the 2 spot protects against walks or intentional walks against him. Can't walk him with who's coming right after.

TXAggie2011 said:

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free_mhayden said:

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TXAggie2011 said:

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Has Bannister explained why he thought/thinks batting Joey Gallo 2nd was a good idea in the first place?

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You want your most productive hitters at #2/#3 in the lineup. So that's Gallo/Beltre.

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That's what he said and he then hit Beltre 4th? 20% time Gallo gets on, it's a home run. Hitting 2nd limits the usefulness of base clearing home runs and limits Beltre and Andrus' potential to drive in runs and be driven in (especially Andrus.)

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I think he's hitting Beltre 4th because Beltre wants to be hitting 4th. It's where he has hit the majority of his time in Texas, so I think he's pretty immune to lineup shakeups.

Hitting 2nd doesn't limit Gallo at all. Season data basically shows that lineup order after the first inning is irrelevant. Gallo is getting 20 extra at-bats per slot in the lineup.

Statistically your most productive hitter should be batting 2nd.

Gallo hits for power, walks and doesn't ground into double plays.

Not sure what else you are really looking for in a 2-hole hitter?

I like the fact that he walks and does not ground into double plays, but with primarily the bottom of the order hitting in front of him, I get the feeling a lot of his at bats are going to be with the bases empty, which negates his power some.

Sadly, I don't think batting order is going to make much of a difference this year

Fister is the anti-Gallardo

I wish it were easier for me to ignore the people behind home plate. Tonight's game features two annoying kids that will not stop dancing/waving/dabbing for the camera.

That's unfortunate. Hate the annoying background fans.

Not all fans in the background are annoying though.

It's more of a personal fault of mine. I'm just very easily distracted by that stuff, unfortunately.

I hate the dab, and Cam Newton for helping popularizing it

I will say it's a fad that I figured would be gone by now, surprised of the stying power of it

These two teams are awful chatty with each other. Where's the hate?

This is where Odor needs to settle down and not try to hit a 5 run home run

fister for Cy Young
Great at bat Roughned
Rua blows

Is Rua really the best option out there? I mean can Profar be any worse, at least until we call up Calhoun

Anyone but him..
I don't know how he is your starting LF by choice

Dallas just doesn't like pitching to the Rangers. Worst career ERA va any opponent

Kinda like how we never wanted to go against Vlad, or Cleveland doesn't want to face Elvis...