When you think of a leadoff hitter in your mind, what do you see? Do they look something like Ichiro or Billy Hamilton?
Last season Kevin Cash started using Austin Meadows as his primary leadoff hitter — an All-Star caliber hitter and frequent DH, batting in front of Tommy Pham second and saving his big guns like lefty Ji-Man Choi or righty Yandy Diaz for fourth in the order.
I loved this.
There were moments where Cash reverted to some formidable hitters who’d be lighter on their feet in the early going: Brandon Lowe got a spin in leadoff, later Eric Sogard and Joey Wendle, when they were on hot streaks, were at the top.