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Donny hitting lead-off is not working.........

59 PA
.231 .305 .365 .670

Donny hitting 3rd........

250 PA
.309 .386 .423 .808

May be time to put Noot back up there?

Last 35 PA's
.267 .371 .600 .971

We are 9-4 since he was put in the leadoff spot and have scored 72 runs in those 13 games. I would say overall it’s more than working, it’s excelling. He’s literately been the only regular not hitting since becoming the leadoff hitter. So I wouldn’t mess with it.

Futuregm2 wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 14:37 pm We are 9-4 since he was put in the leadoff spot and have scored 72 runs in those 13 games. I would say overall it’s more than working, it’s excelling. He’s literately been the only regular not hitting since becoming the leadoff hitter. So I wouldn’t mess with it.

20 of those runs came against the hapless ChiSox in two games.

We also got shutout in back-to-back games, scored only one run in another.

Donny's not hitting since being moved to leadoff, I'd put Noot back there.

When Nootbaar gets on base at least twice in a game, the Cardinals are 28-12.

When Noot scores at least one run in a game, the Cards are 20-7. When he scores two or more, they’re 7-1.
-Bernie

First, anyone can hit anything in 59 PAs.

Second, lead-off has been a black hole for the Cards all year. Donovan's line is shabby but it fits in perfectly with the team's lead-off OPS. Nootbaar's 692 OPS in more than 300 PAs isn't much better.

The key is runs. I'd be interested in how many runs the team has scored in the first inning for each lead-off man, a comparison with other teams, and an adjustment for quality of pitching faced. Anyone?

rockondlouie wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 14:47 pm

Futuregm2 wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 14:37 pm We are 9-4 since he was put in the leadoff spot and have scored 72 runs in those 13 games. I would say overall it’s more than working, it’s excelling. He’s literately been the only regular not hitting since becoming the leadoff hitter. So I wouldn’t mess with it.

20 of those runs came against the hapless ChiSox in two games.

We also got shutout in back-to-back games, scored only one run in another.

Donny's not hitting since being moved to leadoff, I'd put Noot back there.

When Nootbaar gets on base at least twice in a game, the Cardinals are 28-12.

When Noot scores at least one run in a game, the Cards are 20-7. When he scores two or more, they’re 7-1.
-Bernie

I don’t know, when Donny was hitting 3rd we were terrible in RBI from the 3rd spot of the lineup. We’re averaging 5.5 runs per game with him hitting leadoff. We’ve scored 5+ runs in 9 of the 13 games that Donovan has been in the leadoff spot. Yea, we were shutout twice. But overall it’s been an explosive lineup over the last two weeks. I like having guys that are actually hitting the ball with some power in the 3rd-6th spots like we have right now.

I will say, Donovan should hit leadoff vs RHP. Against LHP, I’m not sure about it. I’d say heck no against LHP, but our options to hit leadoff vs LHP aren’t great. Maybe Winn?

We really need a good RH bat that can hit for power. Even after Herrera gets back from the IL.

Futuregm2 wrote: ↑30 Jun 2025 14:56 pm I will say, Donovan should hit leadoff vs RHP. Against LHP, I’m not sure about it. I’d say heck no against LHP, but our options to hit leadoff vs LHP aren’t great. Maybe Winn?

We really need a good RH bat that can hit for power. Even after Herrera gets back from the IL.

His splits support this. Huge difference righty vs lefty pitcher this year.