http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/01/ranger-manager-ron-washington-reveals-new-addition-lance-berkmans-slot-in-lineup.html/

Ron Washington says Berkman will replace Josh Hamilton's spot in the lineup, which is good, but expects the top five spots in the lineup to remain the same, unfortunately.

Based on this article, this will likely be the regular lineup in 2013:

Kinsler 2B
Andrus SS
Berkman DH
Beltre 3B
Cruz RF
Murphy LF
Pierzynski C
Moreland 1B
Martin CF

Good grief. Yeah, let's put all our left-handed hitters at the bottom of the lineup, minimizing their damage against RHP, and make it a lot easier for opposing left-handed relievers.

Depending on how Murphy performs in the spring, there's an outside chance (in my mind) Elvis leads off, Murphy is #2, and kinsler slides to 6

When you have only 4 right handed batters in the lineup, and three are or have been top of the orders, there is not much choice beyond platooning, but does emphasize the need for a right handed bat, and if it is not Olt and Profar [who is better from the left], then you take unfortunately a long look at Bourn or Morse.

Elvis should be batting 5th or so. Murphy would be a great #2. I hope our idiot manager doesn't stack all the lefties on top of each other.

And we were concerned concerned about being right side heavy.

That's pretty close to how I'd do it:

Andrus SS (R)
Murphy LF (L)
Beltre 3B (R)
Berkman DH (S)
Cruz RF (R)
Moreland 1B (L)
Kinsler 2B (R)
Pierzynski C (L)
Martin CF (L)

^ Responding to Henchmen

There's an easy way to do that because Cruz's favorite spot to hit in the line up by his own admission is 6th so put AJP 5, Cruz 6 and Murphy 7. Wash also has put Moreland in the 9 hole before, but I wouldn't be too worried about lefty, lefty in the 7 and 8 holes. Besides you know every other day it's a different line up anyhow.

What is there to suggest Martin starts in CF anyway?

His contract, and AAA performance last year.

And Gentry played better at the ML level. I'd think that's more important than AAA numbers and a few million bucks.

That's an apples-to-oranges comparison because Martin didn't receive anywhere near the number of at-bats Gentry did. It's time to see what Leonys can do with actual consistent playing time.

My point was that the OP was complaining about all the lefties in the lineup instead of noting that the 9-hole would likely be a platoon.

Slugger, I'm not saying you don't play him, but to pen him in as the starter and them complain about having all the lefties at the bottom of the order just seems silly when you have Gentry as a very good option.

And Craig didn't exactly get consistent playing time in the second half (inexplicably) either. Both guys need a lot of starts next year, but I'd bet Martin gets starts in The other OF spots as well.

1. Kinsler - 2B
2. Andrus - SS
3. Berkman - DH
4. Beltre - 3B
5. Cruz - RF
6. Murphy - LF
7. Pierzynski - C
8. Moreland - 1B
9. Martin - CF

They have an expectation of Martin that's higher than Gentry, and he is going to be given the job of an everyday outfielder. I don't do this, but I will guarantee, barring injury, Martin starts at least 135-145 games. They invested a lot in him, and he hasn't shown that he's not going to give them what they paid for. Gentry is a nice bench player that I know everyone loves in Arlington, but he's no better than say Scott Podsednik was with the White Sox. Martin may not play everyday in CF, but he's not going to be the one in a platoon. That will still probably be Murphy.

Agreed about Martin. And Eric, you realize you just posted Wash's proposed lineup, right, with four lefties in a row?

I would much rather see:
Andrus
Murphy
Beltre
Berkman
Cruz
Kinsler
Pierzynski/Moreland
Moreland/Soto
Martin/Gentry

Much more lefty/righty balance possessing power book-ended with speed; Kinsler in the 6 hole to setup the side. I expect Solarte and Beltre to lock up the utility roles with Olt and Profar playing everyday in AAA waiting for a trade or injury to get to The Show. With an apparent Perez/Ross/Grimm showdown taking place for the final rotation spot during ST, the only remaining question mark surrounding this team is the structure and personnel of its bullpen behind Nathan as the closer...a weakness that looks to be irrefutably bolstered as the season progresses.

With all of these chips in our pocket and a relatively conservative free agency, the reasonable Rangers fan has much to look forward to this calendar year, speaking of both our play as well as our flexibility in both the trade and free agency market.

Lineup balance is overrated. 3/4 of the time hitters are facing right-handed pitching. The other 1/4 of the time you platoon.

It's kind of like the fallacy that if you go righty/lefty/righty/lefty in the rotation it somehow creates "balance."

Bottom line, you play your 9-best hitters, contingent on the pitcher. You pitch your best starting pitchers as often as possible. You do whatever it takes to generate more wins.

Granted a lineup shouldn't be constructed based upon the side of the plate the batter swings from, but to consistently roll out the OP's suggested order would be offensively detrimental in later innings when managers can pick and chose relievers.
That being said you want your best hitters to make an appearance in the first inning and with Hamilton's departure, I think there would be few on this board who would argue that Elvis, Murphy, and Beltre were far and away our most consistently productive batters.
If you have a better lineup...

It's a mistake to assume Elvis/Murphy/Beltre as the team's three best hitters. You'd be dealing with a heavy case of recency bias, ignoring Kinsler/Berkman/Cruz. I say it all the time: Your top-4 hitters should bat 1-4.

I say vs. righties that's Kinsler/Murphy/Berkman/Beltre; vs. lefties it's Kinsler/Cruz/Berkman/Beltre.

Don't be fooled by Elvis's batting average. He's not as productive offensively as any of the five players above.

But who will bunt Kinsler over in the 3rd!?

But seriously... I like that Wash will bat Berkman 3rd, with Beltre at cleanup. The reasoning is pretty simple:

Berkman will walk, a ton. It's one of his biggest assets. If you bat him 4th, you've basically made Cruz your cleanup hitter. Personally, I'm not a fan of that, as Cruz is WAY too streaky for that.

Re: Martin/Gentry...

I'm fully aware of Martin (contract, AAA numbers, etc.), and I think he should play a lot next year. I also think Gentry played well enough last year to warrant a lot of starts as well. Combine that with the fact that Murphy and Cruz are FAs after next season, and I'd argue we need to find out if both Gentry and Martin can be everyday players at the big-league level. A lot of you assume Gentry can't (and that may ultimately be the case), but his play on the field warrants a longer look and increased playing time.

I don't see the harm in dividing the outfield time roughly equally among our four outfielders to start the season.