It must suck to be Jason Kendall.

[AzzurriDawg4]

He is batting 9th. For the Brewers. A National League team. That's right, after the pitcher.

By the way, just saw the motivational poster fark-off on the Fark Board, outstanding stuff.

 

[PineGroveBully]

The theory is that it gives you a second leadoff hitter. On most teams the 3rd hitter is the best overall hitter, so this puts 3 position players in front of him after the first time through the lineup. Tony Larussa started it and is toying with still and Ned Yost picked it up from him. The Cardinals were .500 when using it last year and 6 games under .500 when the pitcher batted 9th.

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

but my theory is to get your best hitters to the plate as many times as possible.

 

[Todd4State]

I think the idea is to get more baserunners, so you have a better chance of having a baserunner on when the top of the order comes up. Not to mention you also will likely have a better baserunner than the pitcher on, which would allow your leadoff hitter, who often times is a good bunter and typically handles the bat well to do more things like hit and run and sacrifice, and etc.

I think LaRussa originally did it in the NL so that McGwire would have a better chance to drive in people.

 

[snoopdog]

It's probably better for him to bat ninth. He has Rickie Weeks batting behind him instead of the pitcher. It seems like it would hurt the self-esteem a little though.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

[No message]

 

[lawdawg02]

I think LaRussa originally did it in the NL</p>

i think bobby cox did this back in the otis nixon days. i could be wrong (i was never a braves fan).

 

[BlindDawg]

Braves have never done it. Cox was actually asked about it in spring training this year and he is very much against doing it. He said he didn't understand why you would do it, and you would never see one of his teams doing it.