OK, this may be an unpopular opinion, but I was at every home game last year, so this is based on both last season’s stats and my personal observations.
From everything I have read, and listening to Clement on a radio interview, this is the projected batting order entering spring practice:
Chat 2B
Gonzalez SS
Graham LF
Elko 1B
Dunhurst C
Bench CF
McCants RF
Leatherwood, Alderman, Harris DH
Burford 3B
My question is, with the options we have on this year’s team. why should Chat be even starting, much less leading off? He finished 2021 with a .240 BA in SEC games and a .271 BA overall, both of which were eighth on the team, ahead of only Baker among regulars. The next lowest BA in SEC play was .297 by Bench, with McCants highest at .351, followed by Leatherwood at .349, Graham at .341, Elko at .333, Gonzalez at .325 and Dunhurst at .313. Chat also walked only 11 times, while striking out 33, which was second highest on the team. His on-base percentage was .336, ninth on the team, trailing the other 7 regulars and Ben Van Cleave.
I admittedly have not seen them yet this Spring, but last year I got so tired of seeing Chat lunge at everything that it drove me crazy. He does not put together good ABs, at least he did not last year. He is impatient and his plate approach is the antithesis of a good lead-off hitter. He seemed to get so enthralled with the long ball last year that he reminded me of Willie Mays Hayes in Major League II. Also, he did not steal a base all year, does that sound like a lead-off hitter?
One thing that really bothers me about the projected line-up above is that one of Leatherwood or Alderman, who everyone says has really improved, would be getting only part-time ABs. Leatherwood has the best arm on the team and hit .349 in SEC play. Why would we be sitting him to play a guy who hit over .100 less against SEC pitching.
I would much prefer to see McCants moved to second base and lead-off. He was a far better hitter statistically than Chat and also stole 11 bases. He is also not a great OF, second base appears to be his best position. Then move Bench to CF and play Leatherwood in RF full-time and DH Alderman-or rotate him and Tim between IB and DH. If Chat plays anywhere, I would put him at third and have him bat ninth-I admittedly know nothing about Burford. But moving Chat to the bench would be OK by me.
The other possible lead-off would be Bench who led the team in SBs with 14. But otherwise, I bat him eighth and then whoever wins the job at third bats ninth. (Bench could also play 3B if we have another good OF option). But the idea of Chat leading off based on his performance last year just makes no sense to me.
From everything I have read, and listening to Clement on a radio interview, this is the projected batting order entering spring practice:
Chat 2B
Gonzalez SS
Graham LF
Elko 1B
Dunhurst C
Bench CF
McCants RF
Leatherwood, Alderman, Harris DH
Burford 3B
My question is, with the options we have on this year’s team. why should Chat be even starting, much less leading off? He finished 2021 with a .240 BA in SEC games and a .271 BA overall, both of which were eighth on the team, ahead of only Baker among regulars. The next lowest BA in SEC play was .297 by Bench, with McCants highest at .351, followed by Leatherwood at .349, Graham at .341, Elko at .333, Gonzalez at .325 and Dunhurst at .313. Chat also walked only 11 times, while striking out 33, which was second highest on the team. His on-base percentage was .336, ninth on the team, trailing the other 7 regulars and Ben Van Cleave.
I admittedly have not seen them yet this Spring, but last year I got so tired of seeing Chat lunge at everything that it drove me crazy. He does not put together good ABs, at least he did not last year. He is impatient and his plate approach is the antithesis of a good lead-off hitter. He seemed to get so enthralled with the long ball last year that he reminded me of Willie Mays Hayes in Major League II. Also, he did not steal a base all year, does that sound like a lead-off hitter?
One thing that really bothers me about the projected line-up above is that one of Leatherwood or Alderman, who everyone says has really improved, would be getting only part-time ABs. Leatherwood has the best arm on the team and hit .349 in SEC play. Why would we be sitting him to play a guy who hit over .100 less against SEC pitching.
I would much prefer to see McCants moved to second base and lead-off. He was a far better hitter statistically than Chat and also stole 11 bases. He is also not a great OF, second base appears to be his best position. Then move Bench to CF and play Leatherwood in RF full-time and DH Alderman-or rotate him and Tim between IB and DH. If Chat plays anywhere, I would put him at third and have him bat ninth-I admittedly know nothing about Burford. But moving Chat to the bench would be OK by me.
The other possible lead-off would be Bench who led the team in SBs with 14. But otherwise, I bat him eighth and then whoever wins the job at third bats ninth. (Bench could also play 3B if we have another good OF option). But the idea of Chat leading off based on his performance last year just makes no sense to me.
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