Padres batting order in 2012. An offense? or an O-ffense?

by Zen Blade on Jan 3, 2012 1:52 PM PST

In another thread I started about what our starting line up might actually be able to do at the plate... and it's still several months until opening day.

So, likely starters:

Catcher: Hundley

1B: Alonso/Guzman?

2B: Hudson/PTBNL?

3B: Headley

SS: Bartlett/PTBNL?

RF: Venable

CF: Maybin

LF: Quentin

Based on last year's performance, Hundley, Headley, Maybin are locks. Those three each met or surpassed expectations on the field and at the plate. However, for the rest of this post, there will be no mention of fielding. We are building a batting order. Adding to the above names, Guzman looked really good at the plate: ~.850 OPS However, he doesn't really have a position considering the presence of Alonso/Rizzo/Blanks/Quentin on the team, although maybe he will out compete them all.

The two poorest players on the above list of Hudson and Bartlett, and I could see a situation emerging where we trade our surplus LF/1B for a SS or 2B player/prospect who wins a starting job in spring training.

With that being said, here's my batting order with Stolen Bases in parenthesis:

Maybin (40)
Venable (26)
Headley (13)
Quentin (1)
Hundley (1)
Alonso/Guzman (0/9 Guz)
Hudson (19)
Bartlett (23)

That doesn't look horrible... If Maybin and Venable grow a bit at the plate, and if Headley/Quentin/Hundley/Guzman have years somewhat close to their 2011 years, this could be a nice offense (for the Padres). I have Quentin listed as 4th, but I could see him batting 6th, with Hundley or Alonso/Guzman in the clean up position, depending on who is having the better year. I feel with our speed at the top of the order, we would probably be best served if our clean up hitter has a high OBP or a high contact rate... which Quentin seems to do well at (lots of fly balls and HBP).

Additionally, this team can run. Guzman had 9 bags last year. I didn't realize that. Maybin will probably try to surpass last year's total. So will Venable/Denorfia, assuming they platoon in right. Our only real holes are at 2B and SS, although one never knows how a new player will do in PETCO.

Anyone else? Thoughts on our batting order?

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

not that bad

honestly that’s a league average lineup. hudson/bartlett aren’t awful, and there are plenty of decent teams with worse double play combos.

only colorado and arguably arizona have better lineups in our division (assuming upton continues to be a monster).

maybin, headley, and hundley all have a good chance of being top 3-4 hitters at their positions next year and they all contribute defensively. alonso and quentin could also be plus bats whereas venable and norf combined for 3.3 WAR last year.

as bad as the offense looked last year, it was the least of our problems. The padres gave up 593 runs and allowed 611, for a pythagorean record of of 79-83. we lost a lot of close games and that reflects on a lack of leadership, a poor bench that lacked quality roleplayers, and just a team that just didn’t vibe well together.

the offense will be better next year. we had black holes at C, 1B, and LF for most of the year last season, and they figure to be positions of strength coming up. the bench (forsythe/cab, baker, norf/ven, kotsay, guzman) is much much better than last season both situationally (i.e. pinch hitting) and as fill-ins for injured starters. The offense will help us score more runs, and the bench weapons we have now should help us win more close games.

kotsay and quentin are also definite character guys. latos didn’t have a monster year last season, but losing him (and maybe hudson) also sounds like it could be addition by subtraction in terms of chemistry and leadership. i worry about the bullpen without bell and qualls as mentors but buddy and ballsley are the best pitching coaches in the bigs.

by iheartyourfart on Jan 3, 2012 3:55 PM PST reply actions

On that last note about the bullpen

We’re sure to pick up a journeyman arm somewhere. Joel Zumaya’s name is floating around the Padres, and there are plenty of veteran relievers on the market. Someone will fill the “mentor” role.

Yakety Sax: Making divisional matchups hilarious since 1963.
Gaslamp Ball: SMELLS LIKE PROSPECTS IN HERE

Please, call me StrangeBro.

by StrangeBroP25 on Jan 3, 2012 4:43 PM PST up reply actions

i cant stand venable's inability to put his bat on the ball

and you can’t have maybin leading off. the lead-off hitters approach could hinder his numbers. i do feel we need to have maybin AND venable/deno out there every day as our best defensive options so here goes:

Venable/deno
headley
guzman
quentin
maybin
hundley
bootlett
cabrera/forsythe/parrino (blow me o-daawwwwggg)

by justGWYNNbaby on Jan 4, 2012 10:22 AM PST reply actions

I would go

Maybin
Headley
Alonso
Quentin
Venable/Deno
Hundley
Hudson
Bartlett

With Guzman filling in for Quentin and Alonso fairly frequently. I think that is at least an average lineup when adjusted for ballpark. The defense will probably be a little above average as well.

The pitching is a bigger problem. I’ve just got no faith in Richard or Moseley. Though we have better alternatives I don’t think they will get used until later in the season. The bullpen should be about average.

by Antonio Olivares on Jan 4, 2012 11:10 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Prediction for June 1

Denorfia
Maybin
Headley
Quentin
Alonso
Grandal
Bartlett
Hudson

Understanding is a three edged sword; your side, their side and the truth.
Bolttalk Podcast - the Best Chargers show on the Web!

by TheAxManCometh on Jan 4, 2012 11:42 AM PST reply actions

I prefer an "offense first" alignment, myself.

1. CF Maybin (40 SB)
2. 3B Headley (.374 OBP, 10 home runs, 20 SB)
3. RF Guzman (Best contact hitter, opposite field hits score Maybin and Headley)
4. LF Quentin (.267 with 24 homeruns, -25 UZR/150, 3 WAR)
5. 1B Alonso (.289/.360/.440, what I think he’s capable of eventually)
6. C Hundley (.255/.314/.420, career average)
7. 2B Hudson (.246/.329/.352, 2nd year, same as first)
8. SS Bartlett (who cares)
9. Pitcher

The reason I go with Guzman and Quentin in the OF is that I don’t want to rely on Alonso to start the season. We can take some of the pressure of him if he’s batting no higher than 5th. I’d even be okay with Nick batting ahead of him occasionally. We just have to take the hit on OF defense until he shows he’s ready. We went to the series with Vaughn and an aging Tony Gwynn on the corners.

I want the best offense on the field until the starter is pulled. Then we pull Guzman and possibly even Quentin and replace them with the two best defenders; Venable and Deno. Bullpen preserves the lead, Street closes it out, we win.

"When you find your way. Then you see it disappear."

by padmadfan on Jan 4, 2012 3:46 PM PST reply actions

Take the weight off Alonso and put it right on Maybin

If they run that line up out on the field, Maybin will worn down to nub by the All Star break.

by field39 on Jan 4, 2012 3:59 PM PST up reply actions

And yet, Steve Finley survived.

"When you find your way. Then you see it disappear."

by padmadfan on Jan 4, 2012 4:08 PM PST up reply actions

so... we just won't play defense then?

That outfield will not survive…

by Zen Blade on Jan 4, 2012 5:18 PM PST up reply actions

No, we play for a lead then play to preserve it with Venable and Deno.

"When you find your way. Then you see it disappear."

by padmadfan on Jan 4, 2012 7:32 PM PST up reply actions

bc of his d and hitting

Guzman might be more valuable on the bench. why have him stink it up in RF and hit with nobody on base when you could save him for later in the game when the game is within reach and you have guys on base.
the longer he’s out there the more of an issue his defense becomes. if hes on the bench we wont have to use our bullets until they can do some damage

by iheartyourfart on Jan 4, 2012 8:51 PM PST via Android app reply actions