{"id":82170,"date":"2019-02-25T21:36:28","date_gmt":"2019-02-25T21:36:28","guid":{"rendered":"\/rcntv\/?p=82170"},"modified":"2023-02-17T21:36:46","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T21:36:46","slug":"lineup-projections-bearman-farewell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/lineup-projections-bearman-farewell\/","title":{"rendered":"Lineup Projections & Bearman Farewell"},"content":{"rendered":"

The views expressed in this blog are<\/em> those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

As someone who equally loves basketball and baseball (but DESPISES the cold weather), I find myself around this time of winter starting to check out the MLB Spring Training reports from Florida and Arizona.<\/p>\n

While I must admit a tiny dose of jealousy when I see reporters filing their video stories while wearing short-sleeves and sporting sunglasses, my thoughts begin to stray towards the season yet to come.\u00a0 And, like any true baseball fan who thinks it would be \u201ceasy\u201d to run a professional baseball team, I think about a potential lineup that I would trot out on Opening Day if I ran the show.<\/p>\n

So, while thinking warm thoughts\u2026here\u2019s my lineup (version 1.0) for both the Phillies<\/a> and Nationals<\/a> as we stand here today on February 25th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NATIONALS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trea Turner\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Shortstop<\/p>\n

Adam Eaton\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Right Field<\/p>\n

Anthony Rendon\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3rd<\/sup> Base<\/p>\n

Juan Soto\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left Field<\/p>\n

Ryan Zimmerman\u00a0 1st<\/sup> Base<\/p>\n

Brian Dozier\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2nd<\/sup> Base<\/p>\n

Yan Gomes\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Catcher<\/p>\n

(Pitcher spot)<\/p>\n

Victor Robles\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Center Field<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ANALYSIS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although Eaton was originally brought in to be the team\u2019s lead-off hitter, I think Turner can do too many good things at the top of the lineup to not have him bat first.<\/p>\n

Plus, you have a nice right\/left alternation through the first five spots in your order.\u00a0 Thanks to a strong second half by Zimmerman and the addition of Dozier to solidify second base, you have a strong protection behind the Soto, to help him out in case of a sophomore slump.<\/p>\n

Finally, although I\u2019m not a huge fan of batting the pitcher in the eighth spot, I would consider moving Robles down to the \u201csecond leadoff position.\u201d\u00a0 However, if you would do that, I might be inclined to move Eaton back to first in this order to avoid having Robles and Turner go back-to-back.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PHILLIES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jean Segura\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Shortstop<\/p>\n

JT Realmuto\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Catcher<\/p>\n

Bryce Harper\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Right Field<\/p>\n

Rhys Hoskins\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1st<\/sup> Base<\/p>\n

Andrew McCutcheon\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left Field<\/p>\n

Odubel Herrera\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Center Field<\/p>\n

Mikael Franco*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3rd<\/sup> Base<\/p>\n

(Pitcher spot)<\/p>\n

Cesar Hernandez\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2nd<\/sup> Base<\/p>\n

*(or Scott Kingery, if he wins the open competition in spring training)<\/p>\n


\nANALYSIS<\/strong><\/p>\n

First of all\u2026regarding the whole Manny Machado vs. Bryce Harper debate, the Phillies have WAY too much money available to not sign Bryce Harper, and I think the whole \u201cmystery team\u201d is another grand Scott Boras-created hoax, so I\u2019m going to go ahead and say he signs with Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

Secondly, I again have to break my own rule of batting the pitcher in the eight spot, but with good reasoning.\u00a0 With a lineup this solid, you simply can\u2019t afford to have someone of McCutcheon\u2019s talent hitting any lower than sixth on this team\u2014not unless he has a dreadful spring.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Hernandez still hasn\u2019t convinced me he is a pure leadoff hitter (yes, I know he was \u201csecretly\u201d hurt through the second half of last season), but in this lineup he can be a great piece to get on base at the bottom of the order and set up Segura (ideally a number-two hitter anyway), Realmuto (another good contact hitter) and Harper.<\/p>\n

Also, remember how well Franco seemed to hit while batting eighth in front of the pitcher last year?\u00a0 It may have been an anomaly, but with this lineup, we\u2019d see if there was something to it.<\/p>\n

Finally, while I am a huge Roman Quinn fan, I\u2019ll take an optimistic view of Herrera\u2019s intense off-season workouts and say he reclaims his form as an everyday center fielder and solid middle-of-the-lineup persona at the plate.\u00a0 If Quinn stays healthy and has a solid spring (and they do in fact sign Harper), I\u2019d have Quinn bat just ahead of the pitcher\u2019s spot (to maybe steal a base ahead of a sacrifice bunt every now and then) and Hernandez to form a \u201cdouble-leadoff\u201d position ahead of the power bats.<\/p>\n

Keep thinking warm thoughts and, in a few short weeks, it\u2019ll be time to talk more baseball on our \u201cSportsTalk\u201d show and here on our blog!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Before I sign off today, I did want to express my deepest condolences to the extended family of a friend and former colleague, Kevin \u201cBearman\u201d Schutts<\/a> — one half of WZZO\u2019s<\/a> legendary morning team.<\/p>\n

When I first started in the communications business, one of my roles was as a fill-in traffic reporter at WAEB\/WZZO.\u00a0 While some of the bigger on-air personalities looked down on part-time\/non-big-named employees, both Schutts and his partner, Keith Moyer, treated me like one of the gang right away and never looked down at me (or anyone else on the staff) like many media personalities frequently do.<\/p>\n

Years later after I worked in Philadelphia and New York and had a chance to come back to the Valley and be part of a media event with them, they treated me exactly the same as they had when I first knew them\u2014with no extra airs and just like a regular person\u2026again, something that doesn\u2019t always occur in this industry.<\/p>\n

Some of the bigger names in broadcasting typically give people a once-over and decide if that particular person can help their career, enhance their life in some way, or be a threat to their job.\u00a0 If it\u2019s one of the first two categories, they\u2019ll act like the most gregarious individual you\u2019ve ever met\u2026and if it\u2019s the latter, well, heaven help you.<\/p>\n

Whether or not you liked the playful shenanigans of the \u201cBearman and Keith\u201d show over the decades, even a critic would have to say their longevity and creativity in a business which frequently changes trends (and subsequently, people) on a dime, was second to none in the Lehigh Valley.\u00a0 I would also argue that in the area\u2019s rich broadcasting history, they will go down as one of the greatest announcing duos on a short list of some incredibly talented broadcasters to come out of and\/or serve this area.<\/p>\n

And yet, the thing I remember most of this pair is simply the kindness they showed to all people.<\/p>\n

I have always carried with me the respect they showed their co-workers and audience members alike.\u00a0 It is something I have tried to emulate in my own career\u2014something that may not be that important in moving up the \u201cfood chain,\u201d but one of the most important lessons of life that they probably don\u2019t even know they taught me as a young, fill-in radio guy.<\/p>\n

RIP Bearman\u2026you will be missed, in more ways than you can ever know.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.\u00a0 As someone who equally loves basketball and baseball (but DESPISES the cold weather), I find myself around this time of winter starting to check…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"Yoast SEO Relevanssi index exclude","inline_featured_image":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-82170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-sportstalk-shop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLineup Projections & Bearman Farewell - 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