R.B.I. Baseball: Batting line up analysis
The power rating for each batter is a very useful tool. This data will help you determine which batters are safer to challenge while you pitch, and which batters should be avoided in crucial situations. This will also help you detecide which bench players are the most valuable pinch hitters. Keep in mind that each bench player gains a 64 point power bonus during his 1st at bat. By knowing all the power ratings you are able to make some educated managerial decisions.
Do you sub in a bench player early, or save his powerful bat for a chance at some late inning heroics? Do you intentionally walk a powerful batter to face a weaker hitter, or will you take your chances at getting him out? Each game you will face many critical decisions.
PWR=power
SP=speed
CT=contact * Contact rating is the amount of power points lost when a batter does not make solid contact with the pitch. Off the end of the bat, or too close to the hands for example. As long as your batter makes solid contact with the middle of the bat, he doesnt lose power points.
Each pitcher has the same batter rating - 640 power, 120 speed, & 64 contact
Do you sub in a bench player early, or save his powerful bat for a chance at some late inning heroics? Do you intentionally walk a powerful batter to face a weaker hitter, or will you take your chances at getting him out? Each game you will face many critical decisions.
PWR=power
SP=speed
CT=contact * Contact rating is the amount of power points lost when a batter does not make solid contact with the pitch. Off the end of the bat, or too close to the hands for example. As long as your batter makes solid contact with the middle of the bat, he doesnt lose power points.
Each pitcher has the same batter rating - 640 power, 120 speed, & 64 contact
Boston
The original line-up doesn’t look too daunting, but Boston's subs are all about power. Get the big bats up to the plate as often as possible. Armas and Burks make a strong combo replacing Barrett and Buckner. Burks speed is best utilized batting 2nd. He's far less susceptible to the double play than Armas, and is well suited for this spot. Boggs is the only lefty worth noting. After working around the top 3, you will find the middle of the order is even more imposing.
Jim Rice, Don Baylor, and Dwight Evans are hard to navigate through as each batter possesses a homerun threat. Rich Gedman batting 7th even offers decent protection and prevents Evans from getting pitched around. To make the line-up more difficult, Henderson subs in for Owen in the 8th spot. This places a solid bat late in the order, and doesn't allow for the pitcher to coast through any part of the line-up.
Overview: The sheer power Boston has is staggering. Some slight them based on the lack of lefty bats, but once the subs are in place this is truly a murderers row from top to bottom. A dangerous line-up like this goes a long way to raising pitch counts as the opponent has to be exceedingly careful of almost every batter.
Jim Rice, Don Baylor, and Dwight Evans are hard to navigate through as each batter possesses a homerun threat. Rich Gedman batting 7th even offers decent protection and prevents Evans from getting pitched around. To make the line-up more difficult, Henderson subs in for Owen in the 8th spot. This places a solid bat late in the order, and doesn't allow for the pitcher to coast through any part of the line-up.
Overview: The sheer power Boston has is staggering. Some slight them based on the lack of lefty bats, but once the subs are in place this is truly a murderers row from top to bottom. A dangerous line-up like this goes a long way to raising pitch counts as the opponent has to be exceedingly careful of almost every batter.
California
is the most interesting team to analyze from a subbing perspective. Gary Pettis is easily one of the most controversial RBI players. He’s got a weak bat, but he’s a lefty with good speed. This alone causes many to let him get an at-bat or 2.
The heart of the order is fairly solid with DeCinces, Joyner, Jackson, and Downing. Only Jackson possesses elite power, but it’s still a formidable run of bats. From there the sub situations take center stage.
Ruppert Jones slugging ability can’t be denied. He’s a solid sub for Pettis or Grich. If you must have a lefty dominated line-up, he could replace Downing, but the power increase wouldn’t be that noticeable. Hendrick is a great fit in the 8 spot for Boone. This still leaves Wilfong on the bench. He can be utilized on a couple ways. Either at lead-off, or for his lefty bat in the bottom part of the order depending on how you’ve subbed the other players. Wilfong is a slight power downgrade from Boone, but a switch some will still make for the lefty bat.
Late in the game Burleson offers some pop with the PH bonus, but doesn’t really upgrade over anyone other than Boone/Wilfong and the pitcher. California
Overview: California with subs and it's righty/lefty mix is really a solid line-up. It lacks elite power, but has no weak areas for a pitcher to exploit.
The heart of the order is fairly solid with DeCinces, Joyner, Jackson, and Downing. Only Jackson possesses elite power, but it’s still a formidable run of bats. From there the sub situations take center stage.
Ruppert Jones slugging ability can’t be denied. He’s a solid sub for Pettis or Grich. If you must have a lefty dominated line-up, he could replace Downing, but the power increase wouldn’t be that noticeable. Hendrick is a great fit in the 8 spot for Boone. This still leaves Wilfong on the bench. He can be utilized on a couple ways. Either at lead-off, or for his lefty bat in the bottom part of the order depending on how you’ve subbed the other players. Wilfong is a slight power downgrade from Boone, but a switch some will still make for the lefty bat.
Late in the game Burleson offers some pop with the PH bonus, but doesn’t really upgrade over anyone other than Boone/Wilfong and the pitcher. California
Overview: California with subs and it's righty/lefty mix is really a solid line-up. It lacks elite power, but has no weak areas for a pitcher to exploit.
Detroit
Detroit features a fairly potent offense. Its also very favorable if you like left handed batters. Trammel and Gibson gives you good speed to leadoff with. Evans batting 3rd is on the most feared hitters in the game.
After that Detroit has a consistent amount of power, but doesn’t rival the power of Boston or National League. Guys like Lemon and Brookens are what you could consider dangerous, and there really isn’t a weak link in the bunch. Subbing in Madlock for Herndon in the 5 spot is necessary.
The main strength of the offense is the bench and how it can be utilized with late inning subs. When you add in the pinch hit power bonus, the 3 remaining bench players become very valuable in a late game situation. Pat Sheridan for instance can easily upgrade power over 5 batters in the line-up. Heath can sub in for 4 starters and Bergman for 2. This gives Detroit solid options late in the game if a homerun is needed.
Overview: Detroit isn't the best team,but this line up is very strong and will provide plenty of fireworks in most games.
After that Detroit has a consistent amount of power, but doesn’t rival the power of Boston or National League. Guys like Lemon and Brookens are what you could consider dangerous, and there really isn’t a weak link in the bunch. Subbing in Madlock for Herndon in the 5 spot is necessary.
The main strength of the offense is the bench and how it can be utilized with late inning subs. When you add in the pinch hit power bonus, the 3 remaining bench players become very valuable in a late game situation. Pat Sheridan for instance can easily upgrade power over 5 batters in the line-up. Heath can sub in for 4 starters and Bergman for 2. This gives Detroit solid options late in the game if a homerun is needed.
Overview: Detroit isn't the best team,but this line up is very strong and will provide plenty of fireworks in most games.
Houston
Not much to address with Houston, considering they have the most power deficient line-up in the game.
Houston does have speed on par with the Cardinals though. Hatcher and Cruz are mainstays, and its imperative to sub in Lopes 3rd. You need to try and string a couple hits together to score a run at the top with that speed. Glen Davis is pretty much a non-factor as a clean up hitter. Bass in the 5th spot is a lefty bat with speed.
Phil Garner is a good option to sub for Doran. He's got a little speed and more power. Reynolds stays in and Ashby is typically subbed for Terry Puhl.
When it comes to late subs, Dickie Thon and the pinch hit bonus works for everyone but Davis.
Overview: There's no power here. Wear the opponents pitchers down and try to take some chances on the basepaths.
Houston does have speed on par with the Cardinals though. Hatcher and Cruz are mainstays, and its imperative to sub in Lopes 3rd. You need to try and string a couple hits together to score a run at the top with that speed. Glen Davis is pretty much a non-factor as a clean up hitter. Bass in the 5th spot is a lefty bat with speed.
Phil Garner is a good option to sub for Doran. He's got a little speed and more power. Reynolds stays in and Ashby is typically subbed for Terry Puhl.
When it comes to late subs, Dickie Thon and the pinch hit bonus works for everyone but Davis.
Overview: There's no power here. Wear the opponents pitchers down and try to take some chances on the basepaths.
Minnesota
The Twins have an undervalued line-up. Gladden has good speed at leadoff. Gary Gaetti has serious power and the duo of Kent Hrbek and Tom Brunansky gives Minnesota a nice set of bats in heart of the order.
Tim Laudner is a heavy hitter as well batting 7th. The power of Minnesota isn't great but its spread out nicely. Walking Laudner to get to Lombardozzi and the pitcher is not a bad idea.
The Twins bench is fairly unspectacular, but Randy Bush is a decent bat with the PH power bonus.
Overview: There's some power here, and a few late substitutions can make this a decent line-up.
Tim Laudner is a heavy hitter as well batting 7th. The power of Minnesota isn't great but its spread out nicely. Walking Laudner to get to Lombardozzi and the pitcher is not a bad idea.
The Twins bench is fairly unspectacular, but Randy Bush is a decent bat with the PH power bonus.
Overview: There's some power here, and a few late substitutions can make this a decent line-up.
New York
When looking over NY’s line-up, it’s apparent you’ll need to overcome a power outage to have success. The key to that success rides on the performance of a couple diminutive batters. Dykstra and Wilson need to provide the spark by reaching base and manufacture runs, because you can’t rely on the long ball to put runs across the plate.
Hernandez, Carter, and Strawberry combine to create a decent power trio but one that isn’t revered as a fearsome group. One glaring issue for NY is Strawberry batting 5th. That hurts his chances to see the plate with Dykstra or Wilson on more often than not.
Providing protection for Strawberry is essential and Wally Backman gets pulled in favor of Howard Johnson. Johnson doesn’t have a big bat, but with a 102 power point advantage its a huge gain. Santana needs to be replaced by either Heep or Teufel. Knight could be replaced for a nominal power gain, but saving a batter for a late PH situation is seemingly more important.
Lee Mazilli rounds out the bench. He brings a lefty bat to the plate and with the power bonus can sub in for every player not named Hernandez, Carter, or Strawberry.
Overview: On rare occasions, baseballs are leaving the stadium and NY is racking up runs. Unfortunately most of the time you’ll need to string together a couple hits or manufacture a run by bunting a runner over.
Hernandez, Carter, and Strawberry combine to create a decent power trio but one that isn’t revered as a fearsome group. One glaring issue for NY is Strawberry batting 5th. That hurts his chances to see the plate with Dykstra or Wilson on more often than not.
Providing protection for Strawberry is essential and Wally Backman gets pulled in favor of Howard Johnson. Johnson doesn’t have a big bat, but with a 102 power point advantage its a huge gain. Santana needs to be replaced by either Heep or Teufel. Knight could be replaced for a nominal power gain, but saving a batter for a late PH situation is seemingly more important.
Lee Mazilli rounds out the bench. He brings a lefty bat to the plate and with the power bonus can sub in for every player not named Hernandez, Carter, or Strawberry.
Overview: On rare occasions, baseballs are leaving the stadium and NY is racking up runs. Unfortunately most of the time you’ll need to string together a couple hits or manufacture a run by bunting a runner over.
San Francisco
St. Louis
Much like Houston, the Cardinals have very little on the power side. Vince Coleman, and Ozzie Smith need to get on for this offense to produce. Herr needs to get subbed for Lindeman. Lindeman provides some power and forces the opponent to pitch to him with Jack Clark up next.
A smart player will walk Jack Clark EVERY time he comes to the plate. EVERY time, unless it will walk in the winning run. McGee follows up with good speed. Curt Ford is a good guy to sub. John Morris gives you more power and nearly the same speed.
When it comes to late game subs, its pretty much a free for all. Lake and Oquendo will increase power for all but Clark and Lindeman.
Overview: Try to take the extra base on hits with the speed, and look to bunt runners over. Expect Jack Clark to get walked a lot.
A smart player will walk Jack Clark EVERY time he comes to the plate. EVERY time, unless it will walk in the winning run. McGee follows up with good speed. Curt Ford is a good guy to sub. John Morris gives you more power and nearly the same speed.
When it comes to late game subs, its pretty much a free for all. Lake and Oquendo will increase power for all but Clark and Lindeman.
Overview: Try to take the extra base on hits with the speed, and look to bunt runners over. Expect Jack Clark to get walked a lot.
American League
When you sub McGwire for Randolph into the lead-off spot, the American League has the most fearsome 1-4 in the game. Mattingly is a solid lefty, and the Bell/Canseco combo offers elite power back to back. Ripken has decent power from the 5 spot so he's best suited to leave in over Randolph. Unfortunately for the rest, the bottom of the order leaves a lot to be desired. Brett is a mainstay at the 7th spot. After that Schroeder is an easy targets to sub-out.
The bench options after McGwire are unspectacular, but offer good speed with Molitor and Franco. There's a couple different ways to utilize the A.L. bench. If you like lefty bats, Baines plays the duration until a PH power bonus sub is necessary late. Another route to take has you sub out the 8 spot 3 times through to get maximum power from that position. Ideally you can save Franco for a late situation to utilize his PH bonus power and good speed in the 7th or 8th spot.
Overview: The split personality the batting line-up has from the wealth of power to the dearth of it in the bottom half makes for a tumultuous ride. Its lack of consistent power throughout makes it difficult to score when the big bats are struggling. On the flip side, when the bottom half is hitting well, this line-up is very difficult to deal with.
The bench options after McGwire are unspectacular, but offer good speed with Molitor and Franco. There's a couple different ways to utilize the A.L. bench. If you like lefty bats, Baines plays the duration until a PH power bonus sub is necessary late. Another route to take has you sub out the 8 spot 3 times through to get maximum power from that position. Ideally you can save Franco for a late situation to utilize his PH bonus power and good speed in the 7th or 8th spot.
Overview: The split personality the batting line-up has from the wealth of power to the dearth of it in the bottom half makes for a tumultuous ride. Its lack of consistent power throughout makes it difficult to score when the big bats are struggling. On the flip side, when the bottom half is hitting well, this line-up is very difficult to deal with.
National League
