Would the Giants clean up with Martinez?

[Rog]

I don't know how J.D. Martinez would affect the Giants' defense, but it's hard to imagine his NOT improving the offensive significantly.  He would seem like an improvement at either the #3 or #4 spot in the order.  He would be the team's best cleanup hitter, but he'd also likely be their best #3 hitter as well.

If the Giants were able to trade for Martinez, it might make sense to have Martinez hit third, but have the pitcher hit eighth so that Span or Nunez could become a second lead off hitter.  This lineup might not be bad:

Panik

Belt

Martinez

Posey

Pence

Crawford

Nunez

Pitcher

Span


The pitcher's hitting eighth is a weakness, but getting more at bats for the best hitters and having a second lead off man might more than make up for it. Nunez is a guy who expands the zone, so he might make sense for the #7 spot immediately ahead of the pitcher.

One advantage of having the pitcher hit eighth is that the #3 spot in the order replaces the cleanup spot as the primary RBI spot in the order.  That way Martinez would get more at bats AND be in the top RBI position.  Plus Posey would retain the "honor" of batting in the traditional clean up spot.

Hey, I'd settle for getting Martinez and then trying to figure the darn thing out.  The options get better with Martinez in the lineup.

[klaiggeb]

I agree, Rog, he'd be an outstanding add!

Last year .307 vs RHP, .306 vs LHP

Hit 3rd, 13 times, 5th, 72 times.

He only played in 120 games last year, but in 2015 drove in 102.

He fits in OUR 3 hole very, very nicely!

My ONLY disagreement with your lineup is Posey IN FRONT OF PENCE.

No thank you!

I continue to point out what a base clogger Posey is.

boly

[Rog]

I understand the call of Pence over Posey. Although Hunter himself isn't a great base runner, he does have speed. Buster is slower, but doesn't get thrown out as often.

If Buster hits this season like he hit last year, I can see batting Hunter ahead of him. But my guess is that the younger Posey is more likely to bounce back than the older Pence.

There are two good things that Buster does when he clogs the bases:

First, he got there in the first place, and that is something he does better than Hunter.

Second, he doesn't get thrown out as much as Pence.

On balance, I'll take Pence for running and Buster for hitting. Since a lineup's first responsibility is to hit (or at least reach base and avoid making an out), I would bat Buster ahead of Hunter unless Buster doesn't bounce back (or Hunter has a superb season).

[klaiggeb]

I'll take Pence for both, Rog.

And for me, it's not even close.

More power, better average (when he's healthy), better legs.



but as to Martinez.

Why did you bring him up?

Or are you just speculating that he'd be a good add?

[Rog]

The Giants have been tied preliminarily to Martinez.

As for Pence vs. Posey as hitters, Buster has hit .307/.373/476/.848 over his career compared to Hunter's .275/.334/.454/.788 as a Giant. Clearly Buster has been by far the better hitter.

Buster has hit .315/.406/.489/.895 with RISP compared to Hunter's .297/.357/.487/.845. With runners on, Buster stands at .324/.396/.510/.906 to Hunter's .302/.356/.493/.849. Again, Buster is clearly ahead.

Buster is likely the Giants' best hitter. And if he isn't, the Giants' best hitter still may not be Hunter.