Two questions:

Predict the lineup
Put what you WISH it would be
FYI Griffin is starting (RHP)

Will be:

2B Kinsler
SS Andrus
CF Hamilton
DH Beltre
LF Murphy
3B Young
RF Cruz
C Napoli
1B Moreland

I wish it were...

SS Andrus
DH Profar
CF Hamilton
3B Beltre
LF Murphy
C Napoli
1B Moreland
RF Cruz
2B Kinsler

I think it would good shake things up, but the team culture is not conditioned for this. The lineup needs a jolt and perhaps Profar could provide it. I like Kinlser's D but he is killing us at the leadoff spot. Let MY come off the bench if needed. Mix up R/L to hurt the BP if they need to get into it a bit. I wish I could bat Profar 9 but someone needs to have speed and a chance of working the count, hit & run, situationally hit in the 2 hole. Andrus is the only one that seems to do this, but I'd rather have his plate discipline in the leadoff spot and put Profar 2. I could also switch them.

I can wish...but it won't happen. I know MY won't sit...and he's been OK lately, but he still GIDP way too much and brings little power potential (despite a little recent surge, I'm unmoved). If we had a better option, I wouldn't mind Nellie sitting, too.

It's not about punishment, it's about mixing things up to create a spark. The current mix is a warm bowl of oatmeal.

We need MY in the lineup if we expect to win this game.

Wish:

Andrus 3B
Profar DH
Beltre 3B
Hamilton CF
Napoli C
Murphy LF
Cruz RF
Moreland 1B
Kinsler 2B

Young can PH in the 7th and Olt in the 8th
and for defense I want Gentry and Leonys both in the outfiield for the 8th and 9th with infield of Olt, Andrus, Profar and Moreland in the 9th.
The bullpen should go Ogando 7th, Uehara 8th and Nathan 9th

Will be:

Kinsler 2B
Andrus SS
Hamilton CF
Beltre DH
Cruz RF
Young 3B
Murphy LF
Napoli C
Moreland 1B

Wish:

Andrus SS
Kinsler 2B
Hamilton CF
Beltre DH
Murphy LF
Napoli C
Moreland 1B
Cruz RF
Young 3B

CJ...You like Kinsler's D? Aside from not being able to hit opposite filed and popping up to the infield his most consistent attribute is being a terrible 2nd baseman.

Why is the fake TxBall posting again?

Here is the lineup as posted on twitter: : 2B Kinsler, SS Andrus, CF Hamilton, DH Beltre, RF Cruz, 3B Young, LF Murphy, 1B Napoli, C Soto

So no Moreland.

No Mitch, but fortunately we have MY in the 6 spot.

Young at 3B instead of Beltre? That gives Oakland 1 more out over 9 innings. Hope it doesn't cost us a run or big inning. Not just talking errors, but Beltre takes away hits also.

1. Why in the world is Soto starting again? He is a cancer to this lineup.
2. Why isn't Napoli catching and Moreland playing 1st base, his natural position, which isn't Nap's natural position? We already have a liability at 3rd base with MY. Why not have the better defender at 1st. And Moreland had a nice rip as a PH last night. Soto is just terrible.

I just don't get this. A winner takes all and we are not fielding our best defensive lineup or best offensive lineup. Baffled once again.

hoomp - I should clarify.

I like Ian at 2B more than MY out there.

I do believe Profar will be a vastly superior 2B both defensively and offensively, I don't want to run him out there in a pressure situation with minimal experience at the position & in MLB. Olt has given us a taste already of how that can blow up. Ian isn't going to dazzle, but he probably won't do anything nuts.

Ian is probably near the bottom of any defensive metric among MLB 2B. His range isn't what it used to be and he is around 20 errors on top of that. Haven't looked closely at ZR/RF lately but I doubt it's anywhere close to MLB average.

Soto is in the real lineup and MY playing 3B again and Napoli playing 1B again. If they just don't hit the ball to 3B or 1B or make any throws that require a dig at 1st we should be fine. Plus, having Soto batting 9th will get us ready for the World Series because we'll get used to having an automatic out batting 9th. Can't wait for the game to start!

This lineup sucks.

Beltre must be in bad shape if there is any way he let Wash put together a roster without him starting at 3B - and if his shoulder is that bad, I wonder if he should be playing at all.

That said, I hope Josh Hamilton has the game of his life. If Cruz can hit a few doubles, MY won't be bale to hit into another doublle play. Thats the positive I take from it.

If Snyder is supposed to be the 1B of the future, I don't see why we never play the guy. At least play Moreland if you aren't going to play Snyder.

Um.....if Snyder is supposed to be the 1B of the future and he should be starting today then I'm jumping off the band wagon fast!

He has a higher OPS than Kinsler, Young, Elvis, and Darvish. Might as well see if we can play him; worst case scenario he improves his trade value and we can package him for Upton this offseason.