"Manager Ron Washington said that he is planning to have Ian Kinsler bat leadoff in 2011 and move Michael Young to sixth in the lineup so that he can be in a spot where he will have an opportunity to drive in more runs. Elvis Andrus will bat second, Young's former spot."

http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/foul_territory/2011/02/2011-rangers-to-have-ian-kinsler-bat-first-michael-young-sixth.html

Very interesting. We'll see how it works out. I'd love to see more power in the #2 hole, though.

YES!

As much as people might be focusing on how Kinsler's game will change, I'm very interested in how Elvis may change his approach at the plate.

In 2010, he had 28 more hits over the previous year (in 108 more plate appearances). Despite that increase he had 6 fewer HRs (zero in 2010), 5 fewer triples, 2 fewer doubles, and 9 more caught stealings (with almost identical steal totals). His walks increased from 40 to 64 but Joey has already written at length about his historically low ISO.

I don't have totals for "pitches seen" but it was obvious to anyone who watched the Rangers last year that Elvis was taking lots of pitches. It would be nice to see a slightly more aggressive approach at the plate, and a slightly more selective approach on the basepaths, from the 2-hole.

Like 2 months ago I said if it was up to me...I would have Andrus leadoff and Kinsler bat second with Young batting sixth. Since I think Young is too slow to be batting second and by having Andrus and Kinsler at the top of the lineup will disrupt pitcher more than Young would...and would all be beneficial to Hamilton, Beltre and Cruz.
Andrus, Kinsler (or vice versa), Hamilton, Cruz (I disagree with Washington that Cruz is not ready to be a clean up hitter), Beltre, Young, Moreland, Torrealba and Borbon.