Today's lineup

That's our best lineup.

Rockies will be a tough match-up, because nothing can match the emotions they are experiencing as a team.

There are eight guys who have a higher OBP than #2 hitter Guzman: IRod, Willingham, Maxwell, Dunn, A. Gonzalez, Morgan, Harris and Desmond.

Why does Guzman continue to bat 2nd?

I agree. I would bat Desmond 2nd so he sees better pitches, and put Guzman 8th for a little while.

Riggs knows that Gurry is a baby and will shut down in the #8 spot.

This is our best line-up in you swap Kennedy for Guzzy, with Desmond #2 and Kennedy #8

Riggs knows that Guzzy is a baby and will shut down in the #8 spot.

This is our best line-up if you swap Kennedy for Guzzy, with Desmond #2 and Kennedy #8

Yeah, I can't figure out why Desmond is not batting second. His batting stats are decent, and that's with all the sac bunts/fly. Has more patience than Guzman. Faster too.

On the other hand, only Nyger Morgan can run himself out of a double play... our number seven hitter can't. That is (one) disadvantage of batting Guzman eighth.

Let's keep Guzman performing at his best. The team is playing above expectations, and perhaps Guzman can be traded later.

+1/2St.

Guzman's career stats in the lineup tend to support this one.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=guzmacr01&year=Career&t=b#lineu

Guzzie is playing because Rox are pitching a lefty. Rigs has been doing an excellent job of rotating the three MIs. "Best lineup" changes from day to day, as Rigs knows.

CapPeterson1, how do you possibly have more faith in Jim Riggleman's baseball opinion(s) than the opinions of the posters on this blog?

"CapPeterson1, how do you possibly have more faith in Jim Riggleman's baseball opinion(s) than the opinions of the posters on this blog?"

What a fool!

so is that no-hit dude going against the Nats tomorrow night?

@hohandy1 -

Nope. Ubaldo the Great pitches Thursday afternoon against King Livo. That one might be over before rush hour ends.

@sec506,

If we use this logic promulgated by your stats then Guzman should be batting 1st. That is where he does the best. His next best position in the lineup appears to be batting sixth, not batting second.

So, it seems that it would be better to bat Desmond second, Desmond sixth and IRod seventh. Maxwell and his Mendoza line 8th.

i think this is my favorite line-up...I hate to see Super Willie sitting, but I think Maxwell deserves a shot to show what he can do. There is not an easy out in this line-up.

"So, it seems that it would be better to bat Desmond second, Desmond sixth and IRod seventh. Maxwell and his Mendoza line 8th."

Correction:

So, it seems that it would be better to bat Desmond second, Guzman sixth and IRod seventh. Maxwell and his Mendoza line 8th.

I hope this will be Maxwell's last chance. They need to move on at some point.

"If we use this logic promulgated by your stats then Guzman should be batting 1st. That is where he does the best. His next best position in the lineup appears to be batting sixth, not batting second."

Ah, be careful, Guzzie only has a handful of at bats 6th, it's not really generalizable. First would be where we should put Guzman, except we still have a much faster man in Morgan, which is what you want in the leadoff man.

Okay, so then Guzman at 2nd or 8. Well he hits a heck of a lot better at 2nd, and he's a slap hitter, yielding a situation where a speedy guy in front would prove real handy. So you bat him 2.

Or that's what the logic of the stats seems to suggest to me.

"There is not an easy out in this line-up." What about Maxwell?

Lineup, schmineup - The question in my mind is can Olsen go six innings tonight?

Sure...Maxwell's BA is crap, but his OBP is over .400 (not to mention that we're talking about 12 PA's and 7 AB's so far this year...he's 1-for-7)...that's why i specified that he needs a shot.

Agree with BinM, that is the real question tonight.

That and Adam, I think Erik Arenson is on the same staff as Steven Strasburg I don't think he is in Hagerstown.

Willy Harris has been on a roll lately. I feel like he should be starting in right tonight.

periculum...

Why the hate towards Maxwell...he's never really had a shot to begin with. He only has 122 AB's career...and only once (last year) did he get more that 27...I don't see how you're all set with a guy that has yet to get his shot.

I'm also a Syracuse Chiefs fan. Imagine you're a Potomac Nationals fan and a player dogged it because he was "sent down" to work on some things. Last year he wasn't all that great in Syracuse. He really didn't "wake up" until he sensed he might get an August call up. Followed with a really horrendous ST. He is way too old now to be considered a prospect. IMHO he behaved worst than Dukes at least relative to Syracuse. And Dukes was having a better ST.

So, you don't send someone like Maxwell back down for more seasoning. This should be Maxwell's last chance.

Dang...

...I'm not ready to give up on the guy yet. He's a plus defender and if he can get his bat to come around to what is expected he'll be a great addition to the future. 122 AB's just isn't enough to judge a career.

Would the majority of you stop ragging on Guzman, what? still po'd about the 8 million? get over it Jimbo did that, the guy hits and like i said the other day he's been more than adequate at 2nd bs. and he's hitting better than Kennedy and Desmond so far, so there.The team needless to say could use another strong outing from Olsen and while we're at it what about Adam Dunn? he of the Mendoza line stats i don't read any negative post about his lack of production.

Yeah! What dargregmag said!