Where do you bat your best hitter?

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Last year my dd's team had there best hitter in leadoff she also had power and speed. Many times she would lead off game with dbl or triple really brought down other team, but I was always told best hitter goes in 3 hole and power potential 4,5, and 6, hole
2 hole must make good contact and be best bunter ??

 

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It depends... but usually like most people said, it will be 3rd.

It also depends of how you define who is your best batter - by average - 3rd spot, by power, 4th spot, by speed - probably 1st. Usually #1, #3, #4 are your most productive hitters.

Marc

 

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So much of what we see in fastpitch today is based on what many of the coaches played when they were younger.....baseball. The fact is most coaches never played the game of fastpitch (I know that some have but I am talking about the vast majority). Most of their experince comes from playing the game of baseball. Based on that old model of the traditional baseball lineup with speed at the top and power at 3 & 4 and the pitcher bats last. All I can say is, fastpitch is not baseball. One big difference is runs are typically manufactured through out the lineup. After the 1st inning anyone in the lineup can be the lead off batter. Concentration only on the top of the order will will not work IMHO. My observation is that it is better to have your best hitters get as many AB's as possible. That is the only thing that you no for sure going into a game that you can control.

 

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Just do what the MLB does. Seems to work for them. I dont think frank thomas, ablert puholes, babe ruth, ted willams, hank arron, ken griffey jr ever hit #1 too often.

Hammy
The all time home run leader in MLB was in fact a lead off hitter for some time. Soriano is the Cubs very best hitter with great power, Craig Biggio was a long time leadoff hitter with power and not blazing speed, speaking of no speed, Peter Edward Rose. In many peoples opinions Ricky Henderson was a pretty good leadoff hitter himself having hit 81 home runs to lead off a game.

 

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i say 3rd as well but i also think alot of it depends on the rest of the team

 

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Where ever Daddy wants his princess to hit

Way too much truth to this post....

 

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My ideal:

1. Doesn't strike out, can hit for power with great speed.
2. Best bunter/slapper - I want the leadoff and the defense moving.
3. Best hitter - the girl you want at the plate with two outs in the bottom of the 7th and the winning run in scoring position.
4. Power, with the ability to also be an effective lead off the second inning if need be.
5. Best remaining power hitter.
6. - 8. Recreate 1-3 as best as possible
9. Best remaining power hitter after 5. I'm one of those silly people that doesn't put my worst hitter here. The 9 hitter gets good pitches to hit and if 6-8 does anything, 9 has to be able to drive them in, especially with 2 outs, or you have wasted opportunities. If you have a strong overall lineup, this player bats in a lot of RBI situations and can finish in your top 3-4 in RBI's for the season.

 

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Only thing I might change above. I want my best base stealer up first. If she gets on she sets up everyone else to see fastballs. Pitchers know they can't throw the change up and it just makes the power hitters that much better.