by Coffeeholic » Wed Dec 07, 2005 4:56 pm
Kotsay is ideal in the #2 spot vs. LHP (36.2 Hits, 50.2 OB, 42.6 TB's and only 6 DP's, decent speed but no * rating).
Roberts would be better suited than Kotsay in the #2 hole vs RHP, although I personally prefer some one with a higher OBP than his (only 40 chances). This is where Carroll's value lies (50.8 chances). In fact with Carroll's * rating, you could bat him #1 and move Ichiro down to #2 (Ichiro has less OB chances vs RHP than Carroll, but better hit chances and total bases so he can drive Carroll around the bases).
Whether or not Carrol's 3 rating vs. Robert's 2 rating on defense is worth the trade off in OBP is another matter however. The clincher for me is that I usually like to limit the number of switch hitters in my line-up, and there are so many better switch hitters than Roberts that I've yet to use him in '05.