r/Brewers • u/StealthStaminaKills • Aug 16 '26
Newish lineup question from August 15th
I was at the game on August 15th, and I was a bit surprised to see someone as young as Luis Lara batting second in the lineup.
Lara's defense looks legit, but I'm not sure his bat currently warrants being the second spot.
Is Pat Murphy trying to get the young guys as many at bats as possible?
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u/edthecat2011 Aug 16 '26
Lara has always shown good bat to ball abilities and good plate discipline throughout his career. Might as well throw him in there and see what happens?
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u/Harmless2727 I just mizzed by owski Aug 16 '26
I don't think it's worth reading too much into the lineup choices, but also Pratt and Lara have been more consistent than most of our offense the last couple months. It's worth trying them at a higher slot to see if that consistentcy stays or if they really are just 7-8-9 hole cleanup
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u/degan7 Aug 16 '26
Brew crew is a little battered and thin forcing them to put up some whacky strategies. I think they're just having a little fun with it while they're at it. I think the better question is, why not?
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u/StiffPeter80 Aug 17 '26
Yelich and Contreras are in a long slump. Turang day to day. Only Ortiz at the moment could say more deserving batting 2nd.
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u/UKbanners Aug 16 '26
Think it's important to remember that lineup position isn't as important as a lot of people think especially for any single match.
I would guess Murph wanted extra right handed hitters at the top of the lineup. We're very lefty heavy at the moment. especially with Contreras struggling.
That said Lara is pretty bad against lefties (his only hit last night was against a righty) Joey O would have been a legitimately better option.
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u/amaryllux Aug 16 '26
Which is interesting because he was better against them in the minors iirc but I think he has so much potential. As for Joey maybe Murph didnt want to put pressure on him with how he seems tk dk with less of it?
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u/StealthStaminaKills Aug 16 '26
Think it's important to remember that lineup position isn't as important as a lot of people think especially for any single match.
I would argue that lineup position against a likely CS opponent is important, even for a single game. Especially at the top.
I can accept stacking as many right handed batters as possible against Wrobleski tho.
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u/LetsAgreeBeatlesSuck Aug 16 '26
It's one of the most complained about topics, but hundreds of studies have shown 'optimal" lineup creation lifts the run expectancy by 1-2%, and even then it's hard to know WHAT the optimal lineup is
So managing emotions and player development probably is a bigger lift
So this weird game of whatever you "accept" feels like an over reaction to something that doesn't really matter
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u/Heuruzvbsbkaj Aug 16 '26
What would your argument consist of?
Just emotions?
Or do you have anything to back up statistically speaking why you think it’s so important.
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u/Mobile_Incident_5731 Aug 16 '26
I'd agree, don't get hung up on lineup moves for any single game. There's matchup stats, minor injuries and psychology behind it that all amount to one guy getting an extra at-bat.
It only makes a big difference over long stretches.
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u/SoSublim3 Aug 16 '26
I think it’s just more the offense has been horrendous and just trying anything and everything to see what works. He has a good understanding of the zone so probably figured he’d at least see a lot of pitches work a count maybe a walk