There's good arguments both for and against keeping Kendall in the lead-off position.
Trouble is, what choices do we have?
Ro doesn't strike out much, but he also doesn't walk much.
Jones has the speed but hasn't been hitting the ball well.
Bleday doesn't strike out too much and also walks a lot, but he's also not hitting well lately.
I guess it all comes down to just getting on base, and in that regard, Toffey's OBP of .465 and solid batting average might make him our best choice.
I also think Kendall/Infante back-to-back, power lefty and power righty, could be a real headache for opposing teams and pitchers.
So here's my stab at a line-up:
Toffey
Coleman (he mostly puts the ball in play, doesn't K much, decent BA)
Kendall
Infante
Bleday
Hayes (Bleday before Hayes for the L/R alternation)
Delay
Jones (Paul when he recovers)
Kaiser
That gives us L S L R L R R S(L) R
Problem with this is Ro has to play LF and Scott sits since Hayes has to DH. An alternative approach would be to use Scott in LF and let Ro DH and then use Hayes off the bench. Hayes is such a good clutch hitter, however, that I would be hesitant to take him out of the line-up. However, being "clutch" is exactly what you want in a pinch-hitter. He'd also be able to concentrate more on pitching where he is doing a solid job at present.
Trouble is, what choices do we have?
Ro doesn't strike out much, but he also doesn't walk much.
Jones has the speed but hasn't been hitting the ball well.
Bleday doesn't strike out too much and also walks a lot, but he's also not hitting well lately.
I guess it all comes down to just getting on base, and in that regard, Toffey's OBP of .465 and solid batting average might make him our best choice.
I also think Kendall/Infante back-to-back, power lefty and power righty, could be a real headache for opposing teams and pitchers.
So here's my stab at a line-up:
Toffey
Coleman (he mostly puts the ball in play, doesn't K much, decent BA)
Kendall
Infante
Bleday
Hayes (Bleday before Hayes for the L/R alternation)
Delay
Jones (Paul when he recovers)
Kaiser
That gives us L S L R L R R S(L) R
Problem with this is Ro has to play LF and Scott sits since Hayes has to DH. An alternative approach would be to use Scott in LF and let Ro DH and then use Hayes off the bench. Hayes is such a good clutch hitter, however, that I would be hesitant to take him out of the line-up. However, being "clutch" is exactly what you want in a pinch-hitter. He'd also be able to concentrate more on pitching where he is doing a solid job at present.
