I understand the need for consistency and players understanding their roles. However, this does not mean you can’t make adjustments. The team is now more than 25% of the way through the schedule … the team is clearly in a funk. I think it is time for the manager to make some adjustments to the batting order, if not line up.
The most important area of focus on offense should be to improve contact rates and cut down on strike outs. This team struggles to advance base runners at times. This issue coupled with a few base running gaffes have cost the team a few victories to this point.
Line up adjustments:
– Carp must be moved down … you cannot have a lead off hitter with such a low OBP … he stays lower in the order until he warms up
– Goldschmidt needs to be moved down a slot with two of the higher OBP guys hitting in front of him. My instinct is that his production will improve when hitting with runners on base
– The idea of platooning Carp/Gryko and/or Wong/Muñoz has some appeal to me. It helps with righty/lefty match ups and holds the potential to improve offensive output. I recognize that Muñoz is no Wong defensively, but I am thinking the improved offense will offset defensive shortfalls.
Pitching is another discussion point.