Remove Bonds From Clean-up Spot

YOU tell him to move.  I'll stand back here.

You want the league leader in OBP hitting 6 or 7?  I agree he's not hitting like the old Barry, but  think he belongs higher in the order.

I'll take Bonds, thanks.

I don't disagree on principle to what you're saying, but it's such a loaded problem moving Bonds lower in the lineup.

First, there's the fan thing. Who wants to go to a game and see Barry Bonds batting 7th? Even understanding the statistical and logical reasons for it, the idea disgusts me.

The next few points are relatively unsubstantiable, but 1) Alou's value is highest in the spots surrounding the cleanup spot. He's the perfect guy to have batting around your cleanup guy, and I especially like him batting third. Then, Feliz has a problem where he's only capable of performing when he's comfortable, and even that is tempered by the occassional ice cold streak. When he had to play left field last year he stunk. When he's had to play higher in the order I haven't been impressed. His comfort zone is batting 6 or 7, and that's where he'll give us the most. Durham is a viable option to bat fourth, especially if he's hot, but he's another guy who is just plain hitting better when he's batting fifth or sixth. But then, even if you bat him fourth, the lowest you can throw Bonds is five (because Feliz, Alfonzo, and first baseman guy have to be behind him), and how much of a difference is that going to make from having him fourth?

We have a bit of a muddled lineup situation. Nobody on this team really is capable of filling the four hole, so as long as nobody can I say give the fans Barry batting cleanup!

I think Bonds has belonged in the No. 2 spot for a long, long time.  Some people say leadoff, but I don't want him batting after the catcher and pitcher every time -- you'd like someone on base for him.

Even now, he's enough of an OBP threat that I'd prefer him hitting 2nd more than 7th.  

But I think Natto had the only response that works in real life.

Bonds has posted a .941 OPS this season.  He has been our best hitter by far.  Seriously, it is not even that close.  Imagine Bonds as the sun and the next best Giant as a tiny piece of cosmic dust somewhere in the asteroid.  (hyperbole: Moises Alou has been very good in limited playing time and Durham has been unbelievable)  

Also Barry Bonds has been more valuable than his raw numbers indicate. He has been the most clutch Giant this season in terms of contributing wins over what a player with his stats should.

RBI's might be the least valuable statistic in baseball.  They do not take into account opportunity to accrue RBI's at all.  For proof, just look at how many RBI's Clint Barmes has accumulated.  

The Giants have a huge number of problems.  Unless you measure from a public relations perspective, Barry Bonds is not one of tghem.

You guys actually believe he should bat fourth and that should be end of question?

How many of you guys want to see him return next season?  It is time to move on.  The roster needs a rehaul and he along with his 18m, recliner and entourage adios

Off seasons needs should consist of YOUNGER ballplayers, team speed and defense.  I believe the pitching is there.  

Magowan will NOT sign Bonds next season.

THIS season is the all eggs in basket, last bullet in the gun season

Most if not all FA will not be re-signed

Sabean will sign and trade this winter

Pitching is everything   defense and team speed is right behind

New skipper next season    someone youthful

Well, here's where Victor Frankenstein reveals himself to be the clueless idiot he is...and he doesn't give a damn.
Actually I do, but that was fun to type...
  I'm admittedly naive about much of the strategy of baseball, and I guess this is a glaring example.
  You talk of certain players batting better in certain spots in the lineup- higher, lower, etc., but don't the variables of the game, i.e. offensive/defensive skill/ability as well as plain ol' fortune/misfortune often shake up the results?
  I understand the leadoff hitter should be on base often...but shouldn't EVERY hitter, ideally? When 1/2/3 go 1-2-3 then Barry becomes leadoff next inning, and the #7 hitter is magically transformed into the #4, etc...so how does it really matter what  slot a particular batter is pencilled in at?  Or does this matter more to the particular batter?
  Howtheyscored says no one wants to see Barry batting seventh....screw this paradigmatic(?) thinking, I'm happy seeing him bat.Anywhere. And, IDEALLY, he should hit the ball no matter whether he bats fourth, second, eighth...whatever. And, again IDEALLY, there should be baserunners ahead of him wherever - whenever he bats. So if we're tooling with respect to OPB ahead of Barry....maybe we need some better batting instruction so as to have a more balanced lineup.
  Shred me now.Gently, gently...

Barry doesn't have enough RBIs?

Looking at his situational stats, he's hitting .382/.663/.709 with runners in scoring position. He has only 55 at bats in that situation and has driven in 32 runs. That's a pretty amazing ratio. I don't know how anyone could expect him to do any better... With RISP and 2 outs he has 15 RBI in 25 at bats.

Maybe he should be batting 2nd or 3rd instead of cleanup (though lineup construction really doesn't make that much of a difference in runs scored), but the reason he doesn't have as many RBI as you would like isn't because he's not producing or because he's not being "clutch". It's just because he hasn't had any opportunities. In the opportunities he has had, he certainly seems to have made the most of them.