Blue Jays weighing crucial decision regarding Vladimir Guerrero Jr
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There's both risk and reward in batting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. third rather than second, and both were highlighted for the Toronto Blue Jays during their series-opening win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Pushing the star first baseman down a spot in the lineup, with Addison Barger moving between him and leadoff man Bo Bichette, paid off when he produced a 3-for-4 night that included his first home run since May 29. - Davidi
Guerrero's numbers are much better when batting third in the lineup. He has a .300 average and .377 OBP compared to a .265 average and .345 OBP when batting second.
Guerrero's career numbers in the three-hole are now .300/.377/.538 in 2,188 plate appearances, compared to .265/.345/.429 in 1,075 plate appearances while hitting second, a sample size big enough that it can't simply be ignored. - Davidi
The potential downside of having him at three rather than two, however, nearly emerged in the ninth when Guerrero, due up fourth in the inning, could have been left in the on-deck circle had Shelby Miller protected a 4-3 lead with a three-up, three-down inning.
Bichette and Barger ensured he'd have no bad dreams by hitting back-to-back solo shots for a stirring 5-4 walk-off win Tuesday, although the Blue Jays are again left to wrestle with where best to deploy Guerrero.
«There's something to it, probably,» Schneider said of the 141-point OPS difference between lineup spots. «There's something to be said about guys being comfortable, and everything kind of has to work out for you to feel comfortable doing it. You look up in the eighth inning and Vlad's four hitters away with Will (Robertson in the eighth spot) up. The trust in Barg right now is pretty damn high against righties. So, you want guys to be comfortable, and today it worked out for both parties, both Vlad and Addy.» - John Schnieder
Guerrero has long said he prefers batting third to second, giving him an extra batter to gauge the starter, which on Tuesday was Brandon Pfaadt, before stepping in. His first time up, he followed up a Barger double with a run-scoring double of his own, crushed a 448-foot solo shot in the third and then, against reliever Ryan Thompson, added an RBI single in the seventh. - Davidi
Combine that with the Blue Jays being able to go righty, lefty, righty atop the lineup and suddenly the idea of running with Guerrero at three seems like a slam dunk.
What lineup spot do you think the Blue Jays should bat Vladimir Guerrero Jr in?
Tell us what you think in the poll below
Source: Sportsnet
Blue Jays weigh risk-reward of batting Guerrero third vs. second
Blue Jays weigh risk-reward of batting Guerrero third vs. second
| POLL | ||
JUIN 18 | 168 ANSWERS Blue Jays weighing crucial decision regarding Vladimir Guerrero Jr What lineup spot do you think the Blue Jays should bat Vladimir Guerrero Jr in? | ||
| Second | 18 | 10.7 % |
| Third | 131 | 78 % |
| Clean up | 19 | 11.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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