Hanley Leading Off is the Right Call

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Swimming Upstream

Hanley Leading Off Is The Right Call.

The speedy shortstop will be remaining in his familiar role.

Throughout the off-season, the Marlins pondered how to replace Miguel Cabrera’s production in the lineup. Taking one of the most capable and feared hitters out of the lineup leaves a void that few could fill. Briefly, the Marlins entertained the idea of hitting Hanley Ramirez in Cabrera’s vacated third spot in the order, a position Ramirez briefly filled in 2007. While Ramirez’ production was solid in the middle of the order, he looked out of sorts and off his game.

While Hanley may not be the ideal leadoff hitter, he generally does not see a lot of pitches per at bat (last year 3.62 pitches per at bat) and is reluctant to walk, he is a fantastic base-stealer in terms of both quantity and effectiveness, and he has a propensity for an extra base hit. That hybrid nature to his game makes him a candidate to hit at literally any spot in the lineup, something that can be said for few others. It seems only logical to assume him capable of being the third place hitter this team is searching for, but Hanley’s success as a leadoff hitter, and his ability to parlay the unique protection afforded by the leadoff spot into a franchise record 8 leadoff homeruns in 2007, screams that it is best for the Marlins to leave well enough alone. How the lineup shakes out behind Ramirez is anybody’s guess, and perhaps struggles necessitate that he move into the middle of the lineup, but for at least the start of the season, the Marlins are making the right call in leaving their franchise player at the top of the lineup.