Will Reyes Change Top Of The Lineup Order

Apr 28, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) is congratulated by first baseman Adam Lind (26) second baseman Kelly Johnson (2) and right fielder Jose Bautista (19) after hitting a grand slam home run in the 8th inning against the Seattle Mariners at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays beat the Mariners 7-0. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY SportsWhen Jose Reyes got injured the Toronto Blue Jays tried many different players in the leadoff spot from Bonifacio to Rajai Davis to Kawasaki to Lawrie.

None of them got on base enough to keep the role.

So Gibby decided that instead of trying to find a Reyes replacement he would move everyone up a spot in the lineup.

He moved Melky from 2nd to leadoff, Bautista from 3rd to 2nd, Edwin from 4th to 3rd and so on and so on.

At first everyone assumed that when Reyes got back everyone would just go back down a spot. But not so fast!

It’s a given that Reyes will leadoff but Gibby said he might go back to the original lineup or he might keep Bautista and Edwin in the 2 and 3 spots. That would keep Lind in the 4 spot and put Melky all the way down to 5th. Or maybe even 6th because don’t look now but Rasmus is hitting well this season.

Melky hasn’t been the same player as he was last season this April and June so it wouldn’t be the worst idea to have him hit lower to take some pressure off him and to keep him and his sore hamstrings off his feet more because he wouldn’t get as many at bats.

But of course the Jays wouldn’t go with a top heavy lineup just for the sake of Melky.

As far as I’m concerned Bautista hitting 2nd is perfect because and I can’t stress this enough, Bautista and Reyes first names are both Jose so Blue Jays fans can get the longest “JOSE, JOSE, JOSE, JOSE!” chant going EVER in the history of the world.

But seriously it would guarantee Bautista and Encarnacion hit in the 1st inning. It would also be hard as hell for starting pitchers in the 1st inning to have to get through Reyes, Bautista and Encarnacion.

Then it doesn’t get any easier with having to face Adam Lind in the 4 spot.

The funny thing is it would probably make a lot of sense to put Melky back in the 2 spot if Lind wasn’t putting up Miguel Cabrera type numbers so far this season but he is. It doesn’t make much sense to give Lind less at bats in the 5 hole in favor of keeping a struggling Melky in the 2 spot.

Giving your 4 current best hitters the opportunity to get the most at bats makes sense.

Although you could always change it depending on how certain players are hitting at the time. Which is a nice way of saying Lind could start sucking again at the same time as Melky starts hitting again.

Or a possibly progressing Rasmus, Lawrie or a possible trade deadline acquisition could change everything. But I’m probably getting way to ahead of myself.

The Jays could go back to their original lineup when Reyes got hurt and still have a dangerous lineup.

Whatever the Jays decide to do having their lead-off hitter back will be fantastic and the lineup will be lengthened.