The assumption was the following opening-day starters (2012 OBP/SLUG):
RF - Travis Snider (.324/.328)
CF - Andrew McCutchen (.400/.553)
LF - Starling Marte (.300/.437)
SS - Clint Barmes (.272/.321)
3B - Pedro Alvarez (.317/.467)
2B - Neil Walker (.324/.426)
1B - Garrett Jones (.317/.516)
C - Russell Martin (.311/.403)
Bench - Presley, Tabata, Harrison, Sanchez, McKenry
Just about all of my tinkering with lineups resulted in Neil Walker leading off. I'm concerned about putting inexperienced, low on-base percentage players at the top of the lineup (Marte, Snicer) with the most at-bats.
Here's the one I liked the most, taking into consideration on-base percentage and balancing left and right-handed batters.
1 Walker S
2 Jones L
3 McCutchen R
4 Alvarez L
5 Martin R
6 Snider L
7 Marte R
8 Barmes R
9 P
From all that I've been gathering and reading, it seems like speed is overrated at the top of the order if the player doesn't get on base. I could see it changing if Marte, Snider, or any of the other outfielders (Tabata, Presley, Sands, etc.) start getting on a lot. If so, you could move them up. But, to start the year, it seems like you shouldn't be giving away outs and at-bats to lower-performing players.
If Marte hits like he has this winter in the Domincan Winter leagues, you could see a lineup like this:
1 Marte R
2 McCutchen R
3
4 Walker S
5 Alvarez L
6 Snider L
7
8 Barmes R
9 P
The weather is going to get nicer one of these days and, before you know it, it will be opening day. Let's Go, Bucs!
