Evolution of the Lead-off Hitter
The image of a prototypical lead-off hitter has changed dramatically over the last several years. When I first started watching baseball in the 50’s, most lead of hitters were players with high OBP’s and some speed. Of course, players in the 50’s were evaluated a lot differently than players are today. Pee Wee Reese was actually hit second more than he led off. As a leadoff man, Pee Wee hit…
The image of a prototypical lead-off hitter has changed dramatically over the last several years. When I first started watching baseball in the 50’s, most lead of hitters were players with high OBP’s and some speed. Of course, players in the 50’s were evaluated a lot differently than players are today. Pee Wee Reese was actually hit second more than he led off. As a leadoff man, Pee Wee hit .253 in 539 games. He had 4 homers leading off games. As a two-hole hitter, Pee Wee hit .271. On the 1952 team, Pee Wee was the leadoff hitter and Billy Cox batted 2nd.
Robinson hit 3rd, Campy 4th, then Pafko, Snider, Hodges and Furillo. Of course, that depended on whether the starter was a lefty or not. Snider hit 3rd, 5th or 6th, most of the year. The first year the Dodgers were in Los Angeles, they used numerous players as the leadoff man. Cimoli, Gilliam, all had shots at the first at bat of the game.
After he took over at SS in 1959, Maury Wills was the Dodgers leadoff hitter until he was traded after the 1966 season. Maury won the MVP award in 1962 when he broke Ty Cobbs MLB season stolen base record with 104. A ton of his success was due to having one of the best and most unselfish players hitting behind him, Jim Gilliam.
His type of hitter was at the time thought to be the best kind of leadoff man. LA had another when Brett Butler joined the team. Brett was a master at bunting his way on base and setting the table for the big hitters. Butler batted leadoff in over 1800 games. Butler hit .288 as a leadoff batter. He hit 8 homers. Butler also walked more than he struck out. And he could steal bases. He had 558 in his career. He played seven seasons in Los Angeles and hit .298 over those years.
Eric Young Sr. took over as the leadoff man after Butler Young had been drafted by the Dodgers but was plucked from the team in the expansion draft by the Rockies. The Rockies traded him back to LA in 1997. He played 2 seasons in LA and was then traded to the Cubs. Mark Grudzekanek took over for a couple of years after Young left.
From 1979-84, Rickey Henderson was pretty much a prototype leadoff hitter. He made contact, he had speed, and occasionally he hit the ball over the fence. He hit 24 homers for the Yankees in 1985. The first time he had reached that number. 7 of those were homers leading off games. Over his career, that number would be 81. Still the most ever by a leadoff hitter.
Right now, the idea seems to be to have a power bat leading off. Some teams still have contact bats at the top of the lineup, but two exceptions are the Dodgers and the Phillies. When the Dodgers traded for Mookie Betts in 2020, he automatically became the team’s leadoff hitter. Betts is a .286 hitter batting 1st. He has hit 52 homers leading off games between the Dodgers and his time with Boston. 32 of those have been as a Dodger.
The day after Mookie had his hand broken by a pitch on June 16th, 2024, Shohei Ohtani became the Dodgers primary leadoff batter. In 24, Shohei hit 6 homers to start off games. In his 90 games, he hit 35 of his 54 homers while batting in the one slot. Last year, he hit 12 homers leading off games. 51 of his 55 homers came while batting as the #1. This year Shohei has hit 6 homers leading off games. All 19 of his homers have come while batting first.
Two years ago, the Phillies were using Kyle Schwarber as their leadoff man. He hit 38 homers from that spot. The last two years, Schwarber has been hitting in the 2-hole, which seems to suit him better. He had 56 homers last year, to beat out Ohtani for the HR title by 1. This season, he has 30 bombs already.
Byron Buxton of the Twins is another example of a leadoff hitter with some pop. He has led off in 47 games and has 19 homers in those games. Ohtani looks to be the leadoff hitter for LA for the next several years. Unless the Dodgers find some other source that they feel could be better suited to lead off. That spot in the order has definitely evolved from what it once was.
El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego) 8 – OKC Comets 5
LHSP Charlie Barnes allowed a single to the first batter he faced, but then retired the next three batters. But the second…He got the first out, then the hit brigade. Double, 4 singles, BB, out, 2 singles, and he was done. He left down 6-0 with runners on 1st and 2nd when RHRP Keynan Middleton relieved him. 2 BB and a 7th run, charged to Barnes.
In the 3rd, Middleton got the first two outs and then issued a BB. 2 stolen bases and a double and El Paso had a 8-0 lead after three.
OKC finally woke up in the 6th. With one out, RF Zach Ehrhard drew a BB and scored on CF Alek Thomas’ double (6).
In the 8th inning, SS Noah Miller, C Chuckie Robinson, and Ehrhard each walked to open the inning. Miller was forced out at the plate on a ground ball. LF Ryan Ward walked to bring a run in. 1B James Tibbs III grounded out and Robinson scored. 2B Hyeseong Kim got the only hit of the inning, a 2-run double (4).
RHRP Jerming Rosario (2.0 innings), RHRP Jonathan Hernández (1.0 inning), RHRP Nick Frasso (1.0 inning), RHRP José Rodríguez (2.0 innings) combined to pitch 6.0 scoreless innings, on 1 hit, 4 BB, and 5 K.
Kim had 2 hits including a double (4), while Thomas’ double (6) was the only other hit for OKC.
Tulsa Drillers 4 – Springfield Cardinals 3
RHSP Christian Zazueta continues to pitch well at AA. He went 5.0 innings, allowing 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 BB, 8 K. In his three starts for Tulsa, Christian has pitched 14.0 innings, allowed 3 runs, 9 hits, just 1 BB, and 24 K. For the season, in 62.2 innings, Zazueta has 90 K and 13 BB. That is 6.92 K to BB. Pretty dominant.
Zazueta gave up 2 solo HR in this game.
Down 2-0, CF Kendall George tripled (2) and scored on a Mike Sirota ground out.
LHRP Wyatt Crowell is now the designated piggyback pitcher for Zazueta. This is his 3rd 4.0 inning relief outing as the piggyback for Zazueta. He allowed an unearned run on 1 hit, 1 BB, and 6K.
Tulsa tied it up in the 7th. With one out, 1B Chris Newell walked and C Frank Rodriguez was HBP. Both runners moved up on a ground out, and SS Jose Izarra brought both runners hope with a single.
Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 9th, Rodriguez led off with a single and moved to 2nd when LF Kole Myers walked. Izarra sacrificed bunted both runners up. George then walked it off with his 4th hit of the night.
- Kendall George – 4-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, triple (2)
- Mike Sirota – 0-2, 2 BB, 69 straight games that he has reached base safely
- Jake Gelof – 0-3, 1 BB – His streak has now reached 44 straight games
Great Lakes Loons 4 – Dayton Dragons (Reds) 2
LHSP Zach Root pitched a marvelous 6.0 scoreless innings. He allowed one hit (single), 2 BB, and 11 K. When does he get moved to AA.
GL broke the scoreless tie in the 5th. CF Eduardo Quintero opened with a BB and scored on a double (14) by 2B Logan Wagner. Wagner scored on SS Emil Morales’ double (8). Walks to 3B Chase Harlan and 1B Eduardo Guerrero loaded the bases. Morales scored on a SF from RF Samuel Munoz and a 3-0 lead.
In the 7th, LF Charles Davalan homered (10).
After pitching a scoreless 7th, LHRP returned to the mound in the 8th. He allowed a double and walk when he was lifted with one out by RHRP Davis Chastain. He threw a WP, moving the runners up and then gave up a 2 -run triple. Chastain would get the final 2 outs and pitch a scoreless 9th, although he had 2 runners on base before getting the final out.
- Charles Davalan – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (10)
- Emil Morales – 2-3, 1 BB. 1 run, 1 RBI, double (8)
- Samuel Munoz – 2-3, 1 RBI, SF
- Double – Logan Wagner (14)
Inland Empire 66ers (Seattle) 5 – Ontario Tower Buzzers 2
With 2 outs in the 1st inning, RHSP Brady Smith gave up a double, and scored on a ground ball throwing error. In the 3rd inning, Smith gave up a HR and a 2-0 lead.
In the 4th, 3B Mairo Martinus singled and stole 2nd. After two K, SS Joendry Vargas doubled (19) to score Martinus.
Smith had a good outing. He completed 5.2 innings allowing 2 runs (1 earned). He allowed 3 hits, no BB, and 7 K.
RHRP Luis Carias got the final out in the 6th and finished the game. In the 8th he gave up a solo HR. 2 unearned runs were scored off Carias in the 9th.
Ontario got a final run in the 9th. 1B Easton Shelton led off with a BB. Vargas was HBP. After an out, C Conner O’Neal singled to load the bases. Shelton scored on a groundout, for the final run.
- Mairo Martinus – 2-4, 1 run, triple (8)
- Joendry Vargas – 3-3, 1 RBI, 2 doubles (20)
DSL Cleveland Mendoza 10 – DSL LAD Mega 6 Suspended in the bottom of the 10th
DSL Cleveland Goryl 12 – DSL LAD Bautista – 8
- 2B Aaron Guzman – 3-4, 1 run, 2 RBI
- LF Willy Bergolla – 1-2, 1 BB, 1 run, 4 RBI, HR (1)
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Discussion (110)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Wednesday’s Dodger Affiliates’ Schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Aidan Foeller) vs. Dayton (Reynardo Cruz)
5:00 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Adam Serwinowski) vs. Springfield (Brandt Thompson)
5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (TBD) vs. El Paso (Jackson Wolf)
6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) vs. Inland Empire (Aiden Butler)
Watched High A game with Root dealing. Quintero is special. Just a smooth, complete ballplayer.
I remember Mays, Mantle, and Snider hitting 3rd.
Rojas late to realize the pitcher wasn’t covering 3rd on the bunt in 8th. Freeland hit Rojas’ glove but Rojas couldn’t catch it running to 3rd. Throw was near the knees so harder to catch. I would have preferred Rojas get the error.
Rockies using an opener tonight. Hughes has pitched in one game. First game after the All-Star break is at Yankee Stadium against the Bombers, who LA has owned since the 24 season.
Maybe it’s just me, but I want the best record period!!! I understand the rest. I understand the need to get everyone involved. I also understand that having the best record does mean something. Sure the Dodgers have won their clinching game away from dodger stadium, and that shows that they are the best team in baseball. But I don’t agree with losing games that are winnable. Now I’m not saying they lose on purpose, that’s ridiculous. But if they lose today, they are one nice Dalton Rushing play away from being swept at home by the Rockies! When you’re the best, fans expect you to play like it. David is right! They lose so we can have something to bitch about! Sorry guys, but I want them to win every single game! Not possible, but it’s a dream of mine . 162-0! Now that’s more like it!
Are we sure Freeland goes when Kike comes? Is it a possibility Call gets moved instead? Freeland is playing second base as well as anybody in baseball. kike allows them to make that move. Alex Call is probably not playing much in the playoffs. Kike will get that job if healthy. Not saying it should happen, but food for thought. Call doesn’t strike out as much as Freeland, but the power is practically the same. Never know.
We have to have some of these awful losses, or else there would be nothing to talk about. So stolen bases looked at a lot differently now. For example in 1966 Maury had 38 steals and 24 cs. That’s the same as 24 more strikeouts.
Freeland evidently reads LADT and was pissed after yesterday’s blog. Let’s keep talking badly about him. 😉
These guys are just on cruise control… who can blame them?
The Brewers and Dodgers are currently fighting for the BEST overall MLB record and home field advantage with every series in the October tournament including the World Series.The Brewers are 58-33 while the Dodgers are 60-33. The next closest is the Rays 53-36,the Braves 52-38 and the Phillies 51-41.
That 8th was difficult to watch. Who were those guys? A Little League inning. Against the worst team in the league.
In my opinion 1 for 12 WRISP lost the game.
Skenes beat the Braves. I wonder if he’s a possibility?
Checking the box I see Klein with an L and an H. How can you have both? Makes the Hold stat look kinda worthless.
Maybe Freeland can hit. But I need to see him do it against better pitchers. Rockies pitching sucks.
Watch out for the Padres. They are on a 1 game winning streak, now only 14 games behind.
I wonder how good the Rays might be if they land Skubal for the playoff run? That’s of course a “what if”, and we know how irritating those can be.
Anybody have an opinion on what happened to the US in the World Cup? Anybody care?
John Finestein wrote a book on golf a few years ago called “A Good Walk Spoiled”
Last night could be called “A Good Pitching Performance Spoiled “. Crappy defense, bad base running, Miggy, a .290 hitter, bunting and 1 for 10 RISP performance totally destroyed a fine outing by the Shark. Wrobo had some traffic but those Ks got him out of it. Right now we have three playoff starters who compare to any team in baseball.
Last night’s loss makes today’s game a little bit more difficult. It’s not a good look to lose a home series to the Rockies. So does Sasaki finally get back on track? These Rockies hit the ball! And the Dodgers haven’t exactly been pounding Rockies pitchers either. Leaving runners on base isn’t a new issue with the dodgers. We can bitch and moan all we want about Pages in the 2 spot, but just like Mookie, Doc will leave him there until HE decides he has seen enough. Funny how the game goes! Freeland has a 3 hit game, and the majority of the team can’t buy a hit against a guy who recently has had an era of around 100! Guess the Dodgers get everybody’s best shot. Devastating? No. Disappointing? Absolutely!
Can’t be mad at Miggy! After all, he’s one of the biggest reasons the Dodgers are defending world champions! Just a play he makes 999 times out of a thousand!
Rest day for some today. No Dalton? No Max? Maybe another? Really be nice to come back today and win the series. You really have to be impressed with the Rockies hitters and their approach at the plate. But they probably leave LA and go back to being the old Rockies and lose 10 in a row! That’s baseball I guess!
Disappointing game. 1-12 with RISP and an uncharacteristic error by Miggy allowed the Rockies to score 3 in the 8th and end up winning the game. Also disappointing were the at bats by Ohtani and Pages in the 0th. Two on, no outs with the tying run at second and neither of them did their job. Teo had a great at bat following Freeland’s third hit. But Ohtani popped out and Pages did the same. He needs to be moved out of the 2-hole. Hitting just .240 with little power since he moved there.