How would you make up a batting order ?

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http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...ll10.ART_ART_04-10-09_C7_JQDGU29.html?sid=101

In case anyone missed this story over the weekend its about Ohio State's Sam Marder batting leadoff. I always had the school of thought to have your best hitter number 1 aswell since obviously the leadoff hitter is going to get the most at bats so why wouldnt you want your best hitter to get the most at bats ? If you were coaching the buckeyes softball team would you have it the same way ? Seems like alot of coaches want a lefty with some speed at the top of the lineup - even if they might be one of the weaker hitters on the team - they "look" like a leadoff hitter as opposed to Ms Marder.

 

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I'll give more thoughts later but it really depends on the squad you have and how they are doing in recent games. If you can't come up with one of the typical rotation of hitters you have to rely on what you got to produce some runs.

 

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i like a good hitter and great fast baserunner

 

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I spent last year with one of my better batters last, and she had the second most runs on the team. You almost have to hide the lesser bats, but you will always get them in one at bat, so you got to hope for something.

 

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I would use a pencil incase i need to make a change
LOL

 

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The biggest consideration with Ms. Marder, other than being a great hitter, is that she is also their catcher. This allows a courtesy runner to come in for her every time she reaches base, which I'm sure OSU does quite regularly.

If she were at any other position on the field, I can't believe OSU has her in the leadoff spot, just not enough wheels, and they would give up outs to move her around the bases.

 

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Games that count i put weaker players down in the order, But I found that scrims are a inspiration to weaker players to improve and build in the mental game. I try to have weaker players bat more at the top of the order to encourage them in a game atmosphere. It also helps the better batters improve in a more stressful order......if it is a scrim game there is nothing at stake to using weaker players up in the order but a lot to gain. In games that do count I hide the weaker batter between two players with a good OBA% and have my best batters who get on base at the best % 1 and 2 spots...It pans out ok having those runners on early in the game.

 

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The biggest consideration with Ms. Marder, other than being a great hitter, is that she is also their catcher. This allows a courtesy runner to come in for her every time she reaches base, which I'm sure OSU does quite regularly.

If she were at any other position on the field, I can't believe OSU has her in the leadoff spot, just not enough wheels, and they would give up outs to move her around the bases.

All due respect I'm sure that this is not the reason why OSU is having Marder lead off. Plain and simple it is because she is the best hitter in the big ten. After the first at bat of the game the spped factor is no different then it is at any other time during the game.

She is a HR waiting to happen every at bat. Moving her around is not the teams main objective.

 

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I disagree - Your best hitter is not just there to get hits your best hitter is there to drive in runs. The lineup at OSU is interesting but you wont see this become a trend i promise you. Most teams will drop run production if you put your best stick 1st. They will get on but weaker hitters will not get them in to score. It is easier to pitch around them as well and teams have done so to Sam since. I do not however totally subscribe to the fact the first hitter must be left handed and a speed burner. If they dont get on for good average the big hitters have noone to drive in. Softball is more a power game than ever so do whatever you can with the lineup to get runners on for your big hitters to pound them around the bases.