Add new comment

And that's not why Sandy had the line-up the way he did.
There's no way that Olivo #4 would help Ichiro and there's no way that Ichiro would help Olivo. Olivo swings too much to make use of Ichiro's running game, and Olivo #4 means Ichiro's getting IBB'd every time there are two outs and runners on. Those styles do not mesh at all.
You need a guy who can hit for XB power and also control the bat enough and take enough pitches to use Ichiro's speed AND drive in the multiple rtunners that could be on base when Ichiro does get pitched around, thereby forcing them not to pitch around him too much. That guy is either Carp, Montero or Smoak. Period.
I agree...it's good to consider alternatives to conventional wisdom...but Sandy appeared to be saying "well we need a right handed power hitter #4 and Montero isn't ready for that job yet...so...guess it's Olivo"...not "Olivo helps the other guys in X/Y/Z ways" - L/R/L alternation matters far less than people seem to think.