why do the Cardinals do this?

[diamond]

I noticed all other teams have the pitcher to bat last in the National League, the Cards always have it second last...why?

[Andy117]

Because Tony LaRussa thinks he's smarter than everyone else.

[diamond]

Is he? whats his reasoning?

[pavyracer]

So that the pitcher will not be the last out in the bottom of the 3rd if everyone is retired in order before.

[diamond]

thanks.

[Brock Landers]

he did this with Mcgwire too, its so the bases can potentially be loaded for Pujols, since he bats 3rd.

[diamond]

AH I see, so if Pujols is out, he would not be doing that or?

[bettilimbroke999]

How to be a good baseball manager

Step 1 Get the best players

Step 2 Stand in the dugout and watch the game (occasionally pointlessly argue with the umps even though a call hasnt been overtuned in 100 years in baseball except for the HR instant replay)

Step 3 If your team wins bc they had 5x the talent of the shitbox broke teams you are one of the best baseball managers in the league, if team loses then you are trash you shoulda told them to get hits and throw shutouts instead of swingin at balls and pitchin like trash

[str]

Usually this is done so as to not negate the speed of the leadoff guy or to extend the 1-4 hitting positions. I do not follow Cards baseball but if that's what they are doing it is one or the other. With Pujols in the lineup my guess it is more opportunity for him to drive in runs.

[Richkas]

Larussa's alcoholic way of thinking is why. Him and Duncan get nailed every night. I know some gay guy who is a waiter at the restaraunt they go to.

[LT Profits]

They use the 9-spot like a second leadoff spot. That is why the 9-hiitter is usually a leadoff type hitter.

[nobodyukno]

Doesnt make a difference really now that the 7 guy is always going to come up with 2 outs to try to turn the lineup over rather than the 8 guy.

[PureGuava]

does not make that much of a difference

[Whippit]

I've seen brewers do same thing but Ken Macha is so effin stupid that he probably wasn't even aware it was happening

[Brock Landers]

Larussa's alcoholic way of thinking is why. Him and Duncan get nailed every night. I know some gay guy who is a waiter at the restaraunt they go to.

Mike Shannon's or Dierdorf and Heart's?

[gryfyn1]

Tom Tango and The Books take on it ..

That Whole Hitting The Pitcher Eighth Thing The Cardinals and Brewers have hit the pitcher eighth in the past, and it's actually a smart, albeit insignificant, strategy. Yes, giving an awful hitter more plate appearances by hitting him higher in the lineup is costly, but the benefit of having a better number nine hitter interacting with the top of the lineup is worth the trade-off, by about two runs per season. By putting a decent hitter at the bottom of the order, the top spots in the lineup will have more runners on base to advance with walks and hits and drive in with hits.

[Panekkkk]

How to be a good baseball manager

Step 1 Get the best players

Step 2 Stand in the dugout and watch the game (occasionally pointlessly argue with the umps even though a call hasnt been overtuned in 100 years in baseball except for the HR instant replay)

Step 3 If your team wins bc they had 5x the talent of the shitbox broke teams you are one of the best baseball managers in the league, if team loses then you are trash you shoulda told them to get hits and throw shutouts instead of swingin at balls and pitchin like trash

You forgot the rules to being a shit manager:

Step 1 Never know the right time to pull your starter.

Step 2 When you finally pull your starter: Be sure to bring in a reliever during a clutch situation who has terrible numbers against the current opponent's batter. You know, when the opposing hitter is something like 12-24 .500 with 3 HR's against your reliever. Something like that.

Step 3 Ignore statistics entirely and constantly claim that you have the best "baseball instincts"

[THEGREAT30]

it's called strategy, good day

[Cabo]

it's called strategy, good day

I say it's called stupity, and have hated LaRussa since day one he came here to St. Louis. And he calls it "double lead off".

[stealthyburrito]

thing is, guy sucks behind the pitching spot.

[killough34]

cuz hes got brendan ryan hitting ninth hes been hittin just like a pitcher this year.

[cubswin]

I dont think it works

[big joe 1212]

Because Tony LaRussa thinks he's smarter than everyone else.

[Igetp2s]

Its these kinds of scenarios where I feel sabermetrics falls apart and gets exposed. People claim it adds runs. It might make your top of the order stronger, but it allows pitchers to pitch around the 6 and 7 hitters, and might force a pitcher out of the game sooner than a manager might want. That's what the analysis fails to take into account.

[Eagle1958]

He does it to get the pitcher to the plate quicker so he can have more at bats per game. I think it has something to do with whats in the water they are drinking in the Midwest.