1. Jose Tabata, RF
2. Starling Marte, LF
3. Andrew McCutchen, CF
4. Garrett Jones, 1B
5. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
6. Neil Walker, 2B
7. Russell Martin, C
8. Clint Barmes, SS
9. A.J. Burnett, P
1. Tabata has the skills to be a good Major-League player. As he showed last year, he lacked some of the motivation and effort. If he gets it together, he should make the lineup. He is in the leadoff spot over Marte because Marte is known to be more of a free-swinging type of player, which is not ideal for leadoff.
2. Marte is speedy, and has some power, but isn't a true home run guy. Perfect for the 2-hole.
3. No brainer. McCutchen played every game last year in the 3-spot, putting up a .327 average. He got 195 hits, including 29 doubles and 31 home runs. Don't change a thing.
4. I have Jones batting cleanup not because he is a better power hitter than Alvarez, but because Alvarez has NEVER played well in the 4-spot. Most of his notorious slumps can be traced back to being put there.
5. Being in the 5-spot gives Alvarez a chance to clear the bases with his mighty power, but without some of the pressure of the cleanup spot.
6. Not much debate here. Walker is a solid hitter, but without very much power. Easily better than the two below him.
7. Martin is coming off of a poor season with the Yankees, but, hey, so was A.J. Burnett last year. The only reason I didn't put him in the 2-hole is because the bottom of the lineup needs more stability.
8. Not much thought here. The worst hitter in this group of eight, although he showed signs of life at the end of last year.
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