best leadoff hitter

[fknmclane]

I'm sure we've been through this before, but I feel like revisiting the discussion.

Who's your favorite/best leadoff hitter?

I was playing with Davy Lopes in place of Cork Hatcher tonight and he's never failed to impresss me.  Super quick, decent power.  His only drawback is that he's a rightie.

Lopes is one of my favorites but Rock Raines has to be the best leadoff hitter in the game (yes, we play with All-Stars.)  Great power, extremely fast, and a leftie.  If he gets on base, it's almost a guaranteed run.

So what do all you fuckers think?

[Gantry]

Depends what you mean by "leadoff" - a real #1 hitter or someone you sub in?  If it's a true #1 hitter, then Raines with All-Stars and Trammel without...

[fknmclane]

Depends what you mean by "leadoff" - a real #1 hitter or someone you sub in?  If it's a true #1 hitter, then Raines with All-Stars and Trammel without...

Yeah, I should have clarified.

As long as the dude is hitting in the 1 spot, then he's eligible to be talked about.  This definitely brings Tim Burks into the discussion, but Rock is still my main man.

[Gantry]

Then the choice is easy, Rob Wilfong...

[fknmclane]

Then the choice is easy, Rob Wilfong...

I was waiting for that.  Although I'm extremely surprise you didn't pick Mr Bush or the dee nee legend himself, Splman.

[dvldog]

I hit better with right-handed hitters, so BURKS.

[Gantry]

Forgot about Spilman, I'll call it a tie...  Though I'd likely take Raines over both

[dvldog]

I use McGwire in the lead-off spot for the AL... strange.

[fknmclane]

I use McGwire in the lead-off spot for the AL... strange.

I've started doing this lately.  Franco and Molitor don't exactly strike fear into the pitcher.  It makes the top of the AL lineup very much all or nothing but it's far more interesting.

[BeefMaster]

I vote for Raines, if we consider all-stars.  If not, I have to go with Coleman - I love that blazing speed.

[Baines]

It's hard to go against Raines or Trammell here since most of the other leadoff hitters suck ass.  Burks and Spilman are definitely quality subs.

I've also started bringing McGwire in to lead off for the AL.  In straight pitch you might as well throw out strategy and get the most powerful hitter as many AB's as possible.

[fknmclane]

It's become a pretty easy decision for me now.  Big Mac always leads off for AL.  Puts your opponent on his toes immediately instead of throwing a few down the pipe to shitballs 1 and 2, Molitor or Franco.

[SmokedUBad13]

Alan Trammell all the way baby.

Beales

[capt_taco]

I've got to say Burks over all of them.. It never ceases to amaze me just how much he MASHES the ball, plus he has speed that can compete with just about anyone.

Without subs, I'd say Trammel, just because of his power. When you make it past your pitcher and have 2 outs and a couple runners on, you want someone that can blast one off the screen consistently; the hell with speed.

Anyway, I'd also say the subs have the advantage on this one, since if you use one of them, you automatically get that +64 power boost the first at-bat.

[Jawls]

i hit first pitch bombs with Trammel every single game i play......seriously.



every single game.

[Felonious Gunk]

I use McGwire in the lead-off spot for the AL... strange.

I've started doing this lately.  Franco and Molitor don't exactly strike fear into the pitcher.  It makes the top of the AL lineup very much all or nothing but it's far more interesting.

Hey, McGwire works for me, too.  He's the one who inspired me to post about the SHD.  

[fknmclane]

SHD?  Need a refresher on that one.

[Felonious Gunk]

SHD?  Need a refresher on that one.

Allright, then...
*grabs his professor glasses*
SHD (or SBD): Silently Hit Dinger (or Silent, but Deadly).  This is the phenomonon where you hit a home run on the first pitch of the first at-bat.  It alludes to the fact that the music is not playing.
*realizes the glasses hurts his eyes and throws them off*
Good enough for ya?

[fknmclane]

Absotutely.  I love those homers.  That's when you know you really killed it..  Nothing but the connection and the scream of the crowd.  SHD, I like that.

[dvldog]

What a crucial observation, and McGwire has the best shot of doing this of any lead-off hitter.  Mainly because of the PH boost.