where would you put this hitter in your lineup

Eric F · May 4, 2018

bmakj said:
same batter every game? again, these are 10 yr old girls. need to try to build confidence, not diminish it.

It starts with the player understanding that the batting order is not a ranking. The order is stacked to give the team the best chance to score runs based on the strengths of each batter and how it compliments the batters before and after them. Having a high OBP player last in the order improves the likelihood that there will be a runner on base for the top of the order, which tends to be productive since those are typically the best hitters. In the last spot, I like using a player who is close to being a 1-2 slot type - some speed, might not have great power, but finds a way to get on base. IMO, the player in the last spot is pretty important. More important than #6.

As others have said, rolling the lineup from game to game can be a very good thing from a development standpoint. My DD's 14U TB team often does this for friendlies.

_MIA_ · May 4, 2018

My 8YO DD was batting 7th last fall on her 10U team. She has batted either 4th or 5th this spring and I mentioned something about it (forgot how I coined it). Her exact response to me was "So what is the difference between 4th and 7th?...." I wouldn't worry about it ruining her confidence..if she keeps hitting well her confidence will be fine.

Sparky Guy · May 4, 2018

I think I would have this girl in the #5 slot. She doesn't K or BB much. She makes contact and puts the ball in play. Put her behind the top 4 who will most likely get on base for her to move around or in. She sounds like a good option make the defense have to make plays. At 10U that's when the biggest mistakes happen when the ball is put in play and there are runners on.

Last year I had a slapper in the #4 spot. The first 3 hitters were really good at getting on base. She drove in more runs than any girl on the team by a large number. She always put the ball in play. The funny part. Mom got made at me for not putting her in the lead off spot when my lead off slapper was struggling.

Fastpitch_Dad · May 4, 2018

Is she a catcher or pitcher with 2 or 3 fast girls in front of her that get out a lot?

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CoachJD · May 4, 2018

If you're looking for research on lineup construction, start (and end, really) here: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Playing-Percentages-Baseball/dp/1494260174

Seattlecoach · May 6, 2018

I assume this is you kid? I recommend dropping it and not looking back. Or, if it really bothers her, work hard to be 1st in OBP, not 6th.

chinamigarden · May 6, 2018

I would put her in the bottom half of the lineup. Every stat you posted shows her to be a middle of the pack hitter. There looks to be too many other kids performing at a higher level for her to be in the top of the lineup

quincy · May 6, 2018

DD has been just some random player for a couple teams and apparently does not perform great at practice but has been able to claw her way up the batting order once games started.

That is OP, how do you claw your way up from last.

bmakj · May 7, 2018

she is my DD, and I have no problem with her batting late in order. but dead last every single game is my issue. Order has been pretty much the same all game, except for one game this past weekend, every other hitter got moved around, but DD was still last. and she had a decent weekend at the plate, other than getting frozen by changeups a couple of times (4 for 9, all singles, 2 Ks, 1 BB, 2 RBI, perfectly laid down sac bunt in championship game of tournament in her only AB). all her season ranks are about the same, now 3rd highest BA on team (0.400), of course PAs are now far less than most other girls on the team (she even has fewer than some of the girls that have missed a couple of games, she has been at every game).

Of course it may seem like production is less, she has less opportunities. her biggest issue right now is confidence, have told coach this, not certain how batting last every single game is going to help that, especially when offensively she is producing at same rate as most of her teammates.

Eric F · May 7, 2018

bmakj said:
she is my DD, and I have no problem with her batting late in order. but dead last every single game is my issue. Order has been pretty much the same all game, except for one game this past weekend, every other hitter got moved around, but DD was still last. and she had a decent weekend at the plate, other than getting frozen by changeups a couple of times (4 for 9, all singles, 2 Ks, 1 BB, 2 RBI, perfectly laid down sac bunt in championship game of tournament in her only AB). all her season ranks are about the same, now 3rd highest BA on team (0.400), of course PAs are now far less than most other girls on the team (she even has fewer than some of the girls that have missed a couple of games, she has been at every game).

Of course it may seem like production is less, she has less opportunities. her biggest issue right now is confidence, have told coach this, not certain how batting last every single game is going to help that, especially when offensively she is producing at same rate as most of her teammates.

I get the argument about getting less ABs. However, it seems like you're still looking at the batting order as a ranking. Also, if these are tournament games you're talking about, it's pretty likely that putting the best team on the field is more of a priority for the coach than making sure every player gets equal playing time...as it should be.

In my experience, the single best way to get the the position you want - on the field or in the batting order - is to be better than the player who already has that spot. Not "just as good". Be better. Be undeniably better. If you're not, get back to work. As a coach, I'm not likely to replace a player who has proven herself with a player who is "just as good". The justification needs to be pretty compelling. Especially in a tournament.

where would you put this hitter in your lineup

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Eric F

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