Where is best batting spot in lineup for Wetherholt ?

[Cardinals1964]

JJ batted leadoff quite a bit in the minors. In past years, Oli often puts the newbies in 7th slot (at least to start out and then moves them up as they do better ). The math shows that batting leadoff (No. 1) vs. 7th in a lineup will have the No. 1 hitter getting 100 to 120 more plate appearances in a 162 game season.
Walker batted .276 his rookie year with the Cardinals . A .276 leadoff hitter getting 100 more plate appearances could translate to 20 + more hits (excluding the walks in those 100 ) .
One thing if JJ ends up batting leadoff is that as the lineup gets thru the first couple innngs, Wetherholt could bat immediately after VS II (if Oli keeps Victor at 9th spot). Those times that VS II does get on base and attempts a steal (he has high success rate ) there would be a few more times that JJ could come up with VS II in scoring positon for Wetherholt.
I think leadoff would be an ideal spot for JJ. Others may want him elsewhere. Your thoughts ? The more at bats he gets in 2026 the better for the team is how I see it .

AAA

[sikeston bulldog2]

Scott leads off. Too much speed to waste. I see a player who will flourish at one spot. At two, I need my best stick handler. I need Scott moved at all costs. Then at three I need speed, medium power and hitting. I need doubles. This is where I hit JJ.

[Jatalk]

The only proven leadoff man we have is Noot but unfortunately he only plays 5 to 10 games per year. After that who knows? Let’s see what shakes out in spring. There will be a lot of shuffling in the line up during the season. That’s the Oli way and honestly we don’t have any proven hitters at any one spot. Couple of them had decent years last year but no one is proven. We traded those guys away.

[sikeston bulldog2]

The only proven leadoff man we have is Noot but unfortunately he only plays 5 to 10 games per year. After that who knows? Let’s see what shakes out in spring. There will be a lot of shuffling in the line up during the season. That’s the Oli way and honestly we don’t have any proven hitters at any one spot. Couple of them had decent years last year but no one is proven. We traded those guys away.

The Noot is too fragile. Cant build a house with a glass frame. Too brittle. Or I might hit him second. I need a stick handler at two.

[Jatalk]

The only proven leadoff man we have is Noot but unfortunately he only plays 5 to 10 games per year. After that who knows? Let’s see what shakes out in spring. There will be a lot of shuffling in the line up during the season. That’s the Oli way and honestly we don’t have any proven hitters at any one spot. Couple of them had decent years last year but no one is proven. We traded those guys away.

The Noot is too fragile. Cant build a house with a glass frame. Too brittle. Or I might hit him second. I need a stick handler at two.

Scott will have to improve significantly. Winn never flourished at lead off best I remember. Your right can count on Noot. A lot to be proven.

[rage-STL]

JJ batted leadoff quite a bit in the minors. In past years, Oli often puts the newbies in 7th slot (at least to start out and then moves them up as they do better ). The math shows that batting leadoff (No. 1) vs. 7th in a lineup will have the No. 1 hitter getting 100 to 120 more plate appearances in a 162 game season.
Walker batted .276 his rookie year with the Cardinals . A .276 leadoff hitter getting 100 more plate appearances could translate to 20 + more hits (excluding the walks in those 100 ) .
One thing if JJ ends up batting leadoff is that as the lineup gets thru the first couple innngs, Wetherholt could bat immediately after VS II (if Oli keeps Victor at 9th spot). Those times that VS II does get on base and attempts a steal (he has high success rate ) there would be a few more times that JJ could come up with VS II in scoring positon for Wetherholt.
I think leadoff would be an ideal spot for JJ. Others may want him elsewhere. Your thoughts ? The more at bats he gets in 2026 the better for the team is how I see it .

Winn - SS
Wetherholt - 2B
Herrera - C
Burly - 1B
Saggese - 3B
Gorman - DH
Walker - RF
Fermin - LF
Scott - CF

[sikeston bulldog2]

The only proven leadoff man we have is Noot but unfortunately he only plays 5 to 10 games per year. After that who knows? Let’s see what shakes out in spring. There will be a lot of shuffling in the line up during the season. That’s the Oli way and honestly we don’t have any proven hitters at any one spot. Couple of them had decent years last year but no one is proven. We traded those guys away.

The Noot is too fragile. Cant build a house with a glass frame. Too brittle. Or I might hit him second. I need a stick handler at two.

Scott will have to improve significantly. Winn never flourished at lead off best I remember. Your right can count on Noot. A lot to be proven.

the entire premise of these debates counts on Scott emerging. That’s part of the plan. When he does, need a good stick in the two hole. Then I bring up the rbi guys.

[rockondlouie]

I've been saying now for months I really like him in the #2 hole (behind Noot when he's ready).

Take advantage of his (obvious) bat-ball contact skills, extra base hit potential as well as his speed.

But

Knowing Oli he'll hit him #6 or #7 behind such "stalwarts" as N. Gorman and J. Walker.

[Melville]

We all know how Marmol likes the left-right-left-right thing. So, if Scott stays at 9, then Winn at 1, Wetherholt 2 , Herrera 3, and Burleson 4. 5-6-7-8 are a little dicey, but say Saggese, Gorman, Walker, ?, then Scott. The 8th spot could depend on who’s catching that day, or who the opposing pitcher is that day.

"We all know how Marmol likes the left-right-left-right thing."
That is true - and unfortunately The Marmot lacks the intelligence to think beyond his own assumptions and habits.
The Cardinals were one of the worst teams in MLB in 2025 (and have been ever since he became the lapdog in the manager's seat) at scoring first inning runs - which is a sever issue since the team leading after the first inning wins nearly 70% of all games.
He needs to devote the first 30-45 games of the season to determine if the roster has the ingredients to correct that massive shortcoming.
Therefore, the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION would be Scott at leadoff and Whetherholt 2nd against RH starters.
The team simply must find out if those 2 can provide an offensive spark on a regularly basis.
There is no logical alternative.
Following them should be DH Herrera, 1B Burleson, SS Winn, 3B Gorman, RF Walker, C Pages/Crooks, and LF Scrum.
Obviously, the idiotic failure to acquire a RH hitting left fielder in the Donovan deal is exposed by the team not having any such option for the #5 spot, which would permit Win to hit 9th.
That said, there is still time for Bloom to pull a rabbit from his hat, so it is still premature to project a lineup.

[Voldemort]

In a prior thread, I placed him at #2 in the lineup.

[sikeston bulldog2]

In a prior thread, I placed him at #2 in the lineup.

I’m hoping two table setters hit before him, hitting him third. My plan is for one of Scott Noot or Winn be on base when he hits often.

[Cardinals4Life]

JJ batted leadoff quite a bit in the minors. In past years, Oli often puts the newbies in 7th slot (at least to start out and then moves them up as they do better ). The math shows that batting leadoff (No. 1) vs. 7th in a lineup will have the No. 1 hitter getting 100 to 120 more plate appearances in a 162 game season.
Walker batted .276 his rookie year with the Cardinals . A .276 leadoff hitter getting 100 more plate appearances could translate to 20 + more hits (excluding the walks in those 100 ) .
One thing if JJ ends up batting leadoff is that as the lineup gets thru the first couple innngs, Wetherholt could bat immediately after VS II (if Oli keeps Victor at 9th spot). Those times that VS II does get on base and attempts a steal (he has high success rate ) there would be a few more times that JJ could come up with VS II in scoring positon for Wetherholt.
I think leadoff would be an ideal spot for JJ. Others may want him elsewhere. Your thoughts ? The more at bats he gets in 2026 the better for the team is how I see it .

AAA

Worst take of all time, guy.
C'mon now. J.J. Will be the best hitter on the team. He was ready last year and didnt get the late season call up. Plug him in at 2B and the 2 hole and watch him shine!

[sikeston bulldog2]

JJ batted leadoff quite a bit in the minors. In past years, Oli often puts the newbies in 7th slot (at least to start out and then moves them up as they do better ). The math shows that batting leadoff (No. 1) vs. 7th in a lineup will have the No. 1 hitter getting 100 to 120 more plate appearances in a 162 game season.
Walker batted .276 his rookie year with the Cardinals . A .276 leadoff hitter getting 100 more plate appearances could translate to 20 + more hits (excluding the walks in those 100 ) .
One thing if JJ ends up batting leadoff is that as the lineup gets thru the first couple innngs, Wetherholt could bat immediately after VS II (if Oli keeps Victor at 9th spot). Those times that VS II does get on base and attempts a steal (he has high success rate ) there would be a few more times that JJ could come up with VS II in scoring positon for Wetherholt.
I think leadoff would be an ideal spot for JJ. Others may want him elsewhere. Your thoughts ? The more at bats he gets in 2026 the better for the team is how I see it .

AAA

Worst take of all time, guy.
C'mon now. J.J. Will be the best hitter on the team. He was ready last year and didnt get the late season call up. Plug him in at 2B and the 2 hole and watch him shine!

You seem to know of him well. If I plugged him in at 3rd and the 3 hole, am I crazy.

[moose-and-squirrel]

JJ batted leadoff quite a bit in the minors. In past years, Oli often puts the newbies in 7th slot (at least to start out and then moves them up as they do better ). The math shows that batting leadoff (No. 1) vs. 7th in a lineup will have the No. 1 hitter getting 100 to 120 more plate appearances in a 162 game season.
Walker batted .276 his rookie year with the Cardinals . A .276 leadoff hitter getting 100 more plate appearances could translate to 20 + more hits (excluding the walks in those 100 ) .
One thing if JJ ends up batting leadoff is that as the lineup gets thru the first couple innngs, Wetherholt could bat immediately after VS II (if Oli keeps Victor at 9th spot). Those times that VS II does get on base and attempts a steal (he has high success rate ) there would be a few more times that JJ could come up with VS II in scoring positon for Wetherholt.
I think leadoff would be an ideal spot for JJ. Others may want him elsewhere. Your thoughts ? The more at bats he gets in 2026 the better for the team is how I see it .

AAA

Worst take of all time, guy.
C'mon now. J.J. Will be the best hitter on the team. He was ready last year and didnt get the late season call up. Plug him in at 2B and the 2 hole and watch him shine!

You seem to know of him well. If I plugged him in at 3rd and the 3 hole, am I crazy.

no, that doesn't make you crazy. believing Scott is going to get on base makes you crazy

[sikeston bulldog2]

JJ batted leadoff quite a bit in the minors. In past years, Oli often puts the newbies in 7th slot (at least to start out and then moves them up as they do better ). The math shows that batting leadoff (No. 1) vs. 7th in a lineup will have the No. 1 hitter getting 100 to 120 more plate appearances in a 162 game season.
Walker batted .276 his rookie year with the Cardinals . A .276 leadoff hitter getting 100 more plate appearances could translate to 20 + more hits (excluding the walks in those 100 ) .
One thing if JJ ends up batting leadoff is that as the lineup gets thru the first couple innngs, Wetherholt could bat immediately after VS II (if Oli keeps Victor at 9th spot). Those times that VS II does get on base and attempts a steal (he has high success rate ) there would be a few more times that JJ could come up with VS II in scoring positon for Wetherholt.
I think leadoff would be an ideal spot for JJ. Others may want him elsewhere. Your thoughts ? The more at bats he gets in 2026 the better for the team is how I see it .

AAA

Worst take of all time, guy.
C'mon now. J.J. Will be the best hitter on the team. He was ready last year and didnt get the late season call up. Plug him in at 2B and the 2 hole and watch him shine!

You seem to know of him well. If I plugged him in at 3rd and the 3 hole, am I crazy.

no, that doesn't make you crazy. believing Scott is going to get on base makes you crazy

Yea I knew something was afflicting me. Either ninth or lead off he must get on base ahead of the power. Thanks on the three hole idea. More rbi opportunities I’m thinking.

[moose-and-squirrel]

JJ batted leadoff quite a bit in the minors. In past years, Oli often puts the newbies in 7th slot (at least to start out and then moves them up as they do better ). The math shows that batting leadoff (No. 1) vs. 7th in a lineup will have the No. 1 hitter getting 100 to 120 more plate appearances in a 162 game season.
Walker batted .276 his rookie year with the Cardinals . A .276 leadoff hitter getting 100 more plate appearances could translate to 20 + more hits (excluding the walks in those 100 ) .
One thing if JJ ends up batting leadoff is that as the lineup gets thru the first couple innngs, Wetherholt could bat immediately after VS II (if Oli keeps Victor at 9th spot). Those times that VS II does get on base and attempts a steal (he has high success rate ) there would be a few more times that JJ could come up with VS II in scoring positon for Wetherholt.
I think leadoff would be an ideal spot for JJ. Others may want him elsewhere. Your thoughts ? The more at bats he gets in 2026 the better for the team is how I see it .

AAA

Worst take of all time, guy.
C'mon now. J.J. Will be the best hitter on the team. He was ready last year and didnt get the late season call up. Plug him in at 2B and the 2 hole and watch him shine!

You seem to know of him well. If I plugged him in at 3rd and the 3 hole, am I crazy.

no, that doesn't make you crazy. believing Scott is going to get on base makes you crazy

Yea I knew something was afflicting me. Either ninth or lead off he must get on base ahead of the power. Thanks on the three hole idea. More rbi opportunities I’m thinking.

i think, and just my opinion after watching some of his clips, JJ should be a gaps/line drive machine. with any kind of on base players ahead of him, he should have a good time knockin them in

the problem there is the on base guys.. don't have a ton of em