Team again gets strong production from 7-8-9
Traditionally, the final three hitters in a team’s batting order make up the least likely trio to generate offense. Derek Shelton’s lineup would beg to differ.
Connor Joe, Jared Triolo and Joey Bart, the club’s seven, eight and nine hitters, were the primary source of production Monday evening, driving in six of the Pirates’ seven runs in their 7-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers. And while Monday’s output was certainly one of its better showings, the Pirates bottom three hitters in the order have provided consistent offense throughout the club’s 9-2 start.
“There’s definitely a balance to that,” Shelton said. “I think as we’ve talked about, we want to get back to [Oneil] Cruz, [Bryan] Reynolds and [Ke’Bryan] Hayes as much as possible. Joey with a big at-bat today. We took advantage of the bag in the middle of the field but that ball was hit hard and even the runner at second and third, Triolo hit the ball right on the screws and Connor Joe continues to just have really good at-bats.”
Thirty-five of the Pirates 112 hits on the season (31.2%) have come from the seven, eight and nine spots. The bottom third has also had an equal part when it comes to scoring, tallying 21 of the club’s 66 total runs (31.8%).
“I didn’t even know that,” Triolo said when presented with the said stats. “That’s awesome. I mean, top to bottom, I think everyone is a really good hitter. Whoever’s day it is, it will help the team win.”
The figures are even more favorable for the bottom three spots when looking over the power numbers. Four of the Pirates’ 10 home runs on the year have come from that third, as have 25 of the team’s 64 RBIs (39%).
“I think the way Shelty constructs the lineup, it’s not really about where you’re hitting,” Joe said. “Whenever an opportunity presents itself our job as baseball players is to be ready to produce, whether you’re hitting first, third, seventh or ninth. That’s how a team works. Picking each other up, producing wherever you are and doing your job.”
To go along with to those aforementioned favorable figures, there is also an unattractive trend. Through 11 games, the Pirates bottom third has struck out 49 times and only drawn six walks. One could presume that could be a part of the club’s overall approach. With the knowledge of dangerous hitters waiting at the top, the bottom third is instructed to swing a bit more freely than it typically would.
But that is not the case. “That’s an interesting early trend,” Joe said. “I know [Andy] Haines really preaches no matter where we hit in the lineup — and I’m a guy who has hit first, third, fifth and seventh — he really doesn’t want us to stray from who we are as hitters, depending on where we are in the order. It’s Shelty’s job to construct the lineup based upon the opposing team and opposing pitcher, but as a hitting group we don’t want to change who we are.”
Nonetheless, despite the negatively lopsided walktostrikeout ratio, the Pirates continue to benefit from the big swings from the likes of Triolo, Edward Olivares, Michael A. Taylor and co.
As Shelton pointed out, the bottom third’s overall job is to set the table for the top three of the club’s top three offensive threats. So far, that has indeed been the case, and the lineup’s balance is both noted and appreciated throughout the clubhouse.
“It’s big for us,” Reynolds said. “Being able to roll the lineup over and keep everything moving forward. Getting guys on base, and giving us scoring opportunities. It’s all good.”