I think we have to see which Rollins shows up this year before we shake up the lineup. If he pulls another “Im not hitting until the second half” routine, then yeah drop him.

If not, things get tricky. I really like the top 3 of that lineup the way you have it, so maybe use Jimmy to break up Utley and Howard. But then you have Howard batting 5th…

Maybe Werth behind Utley, slide everyone else down, and then slot Jimmy where Jayson was. But then you still have Howard 5th.

Sooooooo many possibilities!

Victorino’s career OBP: .347
Rollins’ career OBP: .329

For all his various attributes as a ballplayer (many of them admirable), Jimmy Rollins is an out machine and should not be batting leadoff if a viable alternative exists. Batting lower in the order would allow the team to exploit his obvious gifts (XBHs) and minimize his weaknesses. Having a slug like Ibanez on base in front of him might cut down his SBs but who cares? If you have two runners on base, regardless of the situation, you’re doing OK.

Danny Ozark, on a Tuesday without much better to do, might move Chooch up to leadoff.

Being more a Weaver disciple myself, if I were Manuel I’d really play matchups with this wonderful offense. The WIP set and maybe players/announcers will counter-whine about “continuity,” “guys knowing their roles,” etc. I counter-argue that if the manager’s approach is consistent, the players will be able to figure without much guesswork where they’re going to bat in the course of the week. I wouldn’t go too nutty a la Ozark with too many lineup variations, but like a pitcher with his repertoire of pitches, I could see sketching out four basic variations of the lineup:

1- vs. RHP who is tough on righties
     a. (possible sub variant: with high K rate)
2. vs. garden-variety RHP
3 – vs. LHP who is tough on lefties
     a. with good control / low walk rate
     b. who may be hard to hit, but with normal or above normal walk rate
4. vs. garden-variety LHP

I group the sub-variants of 1 and 3 because they may look essentially the same, but for someone off the bench, like Mayberry, Dobbs, or Schneider.

In general, I think Manuel already does this pretty well. I bet he wanted to do it more last year but for injuries to Dobbs and long periods of suckitude from Stairs and Dobbs, and with outfielders who were pretty damn good all season long, Ibanez’s 2nd half being the exception. My hunch is he might want to get a bit more experimental this year because his core is used to him and getting older, and (touch wood) his bench looks a bit better and/or has some versatility with a guy like Polanco.

Whether or not he should is a nice discussion, the more important question is going to be what is Charlie going to do. Charlie likes the players, Charlie got to the world series two years straight and Jimmy Rollins is his lead off hitter.

I remember last season he did it for one or two games, but in Charlies mind, Jimmy Rollins is a lead off hitter and I doubt anything like a poor OBP is going to change his mind