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Pitcher comfy in 8 spot
Yost uses non-traditional line-up
By Mike Kennedy
By putting the pitcher in the eight spot it allows you to have essentially two lead off batters instead of just one.
As you may know, in the National League there is no designated hitter. So, that means no Frank Thomas, no Jim Thome and no Jason Giambi, who all bat as the DH in the American League, which of course means no steroids in the four spot of the batting order.
Each manager in the NL has his own strategy on how to incorporate the pitcher into the batting order without creating an automatic out. Some managers don’t have to worry about anything. Take for example Tony La Russa with Adam Wainwright on the mound, he doesn’t have to worry because Wainwright bombed one to left field against the Brewers last Wednesday night.
Sometimes even Ned Yost has little to worry about. Like when Yovani Gallardo, who hit two homers and three doubles last season, steps up to the plate. That being said, when there is a less talented pitcher on the mound for Yost he tends to place the pitcher in the eight spot instead of the traditional nine hole.
This has been highly successful so far this season for Yost and the Crew for many reasons. By putting the pitcher in the eight spot it allows you to have essentially two lead off batters instead of just one. If the pitcher, or pinch-hitter, gets on base it allows Jason Kendall a great opportunity for a plate appearance before Rickie Weeks because Kendall will see many more fast balls.
Another reason this works out many times for the Brewers is because throughout this young season the ninth batter has been up at the beginning of the inning, which with Kendall hitting creates a far less chance that the first batter will create the first out and allows less stress for Yost who would have to figure out pitching situations for the next inning.
Kendall is hitting .341 for average in the nine spot and has an incredible .455 slugging percentage. While there may be arguments stating that Kendall should be higher in the lineup, the nine spot fits him perfectly as he possesses the right amount of power to drive in runs and get on base at the bottom of the lineup.
However, all the credit cannot be given to Yost. La Russa was one of the first successful managers to place the pitcher in the eighth spot, but this year has only used it for specific situations. Yost is far more consistent with his eighth spot in the lineup and, by my count, has only put the pitcher in the nine spot once this year, Thursday against La Russa and the Cardinals.
So while other lineups will have the pitchers waiting until the lead off batter is on deck, Yost has decided the best way for the Brewers to win is for his stellar pitching staff to lay down a bunt and push the runners ahead for Kendall to step in a drive a few runs across.
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