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Slow Down Ned, Let's Pick The Ideal Royals Lineup

Royals manager Ned Yost loves to tinker with his batting order day to day, let's help him pick one to try for a day

By Matthew Hays
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 27: Jeff Francoeur #21 of the Kansas City Royals waits for the pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 27, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 27: Jeff Francoeur #21 of the Kansas City Royals waits for the pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 27, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Getty Images

If there is one thing Royals manager Ned Yost has believed in thus far, it's rolling the dice with his lineup. Of course the exception to the rule tends to to be batting Jeff Francoeur fifth in the lineup each and every day.

In all seven different players have hit leadoff, 10 have batted second, and 11 have batted seventh...through the first 45 games.

If you scan twitter near game time or during a game, you will most likely find tweeters complaining about the lack of stability in the Royals lineup. I have looked over the roster and how all the players are performing in different spots in the lineup and decided to come up with what I believe should be the best roster with the hand we are dealt at the moment.

1) Mitch Maier (.250/.250/.250 in 1 game)

2) Alex Gordon (.343/.425/.557 in 18 games)

3) Mike Moustakas (.250/.250/.250 in 1 game)

4) Billy Butler (.328/.397/.525 in 16 games)

5) Jeff Francoeur (.276/.319/.437 in 44 games)

6) Johnny Giavotella (.667/.750/.667 in 1 game)

7) Eric Hosmer (.429/.500/.571 in 2 games)

8) Alcides Escobar (.464/.500/.607 in 8 games)

9) Humberto Quintero (.268/.268/.463 in 11 games)

Now I realize after making that lineup, it isn't balanced between right-handed bats and lefties, but just going by production in small sample sizes it allows for the most production just by going off numbers at the particular spots in the lineups.

I really like Gordon in the leadoff spot but through 18 games, he clearly exceeds in the two spot. Also I'd think long and hard about exchanging Giavotella and Hosmer in the lineup, but Hosmer would soon move back up in the lineup once he starts to continually produce.

So in the end what do the Royals have to lose by rolling out this lineup? Nothing that they haven't lost already and it'd be an interesting one to look at for a day.

Now let's see the Royals go out and close the gap on the Cleveland Indians. Happy Memorial Day everyone.