This has been address a few time last season. But why not say it for the 100th time. Avila hit so much better in the 8th spot it isn't even really debateable. For the upteem time. Batting #8 .309; Batting 7th.290, Batting 6th.278, Yea I'll put his 13 AB's for batting 5th .385. But as one can see the higher he bats in the order the lower his average goes. HIs comfort zone in in the #8 spot. It's not broke so don't mess with it!!!!!!!!!!
And alll thoe he does not have a full 3 seasons in his 3 year average go 8th .286, 7th .272, and 6th .261, and o yea he's got that 13 AB's last season for .385.
Listen he got one of the most demanding jobs in baseball and is still learning it and is still young, and besides there are batters that can bat 5th that do a good job. Leave the kid at 8th and take the rewards he gives you there and be happy he doing a good job there, as how many teams can say the same!!!!!!!?????
BTW Peralta had one of his best seasons hitting in the 6th and 7th spots last season as well some do bettter down in the order! And Young's best spot is batting 6th over the last 3 seasons. Raburn has a small sample batting 5th but has put up good numbers there, but really he does better batting 4th and then first! then 5th,8th,3rd,2nd,7th,6th and you guess it 9th. But then again you got to remember who else bats down in the order,How long can he stay on the DL?
Which goes to show you just how well Avila and Peralta did last season with the great hitters the Tigers had in the 9th spot. When one really looks/thinks about this for a moment Jackson really needs to improve in getting on base at the one spot, after it follows the 9 spot in the order after the first inning is over.
I've gotten off into right and left field with this postbut really IMO Avila would be better off batting 8th for a while and let Cabrera and Fielder carry the middle of the lineup with Young or Raburn at the 5 spot.
