The most important job a general manager has is to provide the field manager with enough pieces in order to make up the daily line up card.
Everyone agrees that the lead off hitter is a key element to start the offense. However, the lead off hitter probably only leads off an inning once or twice a game. However, the desired skill set (high OBP, ability to coax walks and good base running) can be applied to any situation throughout the game.
The number two hitter has to be a player who can control his bat and swing consistently to meet the situation. Bat control is the key to executing a hit and run, or punching the ball to the opposite field to advance a runner into scoring position. He should have enough speed to avoid the double play grounder.
The #3 batter is traditionally the team's best overall hitter. The player needs to have good plate discipline to maintain a high average, get into favorable counts, and ability to drive the ball for extra bases.
The clean up hitter has traditionally been the team's best HR hitter. This #4 hitter is supposed to put pressure on the opponent's pitcher so he must throw strikes to the #3 hitter. This protection element, whether true or psychological, is an important part of making an opponent lose focus.
After the clean up hitter, there is less emphasis on skills sets. Some managers and teams just fill out the rest of their lineups with the best remaining hitters six through eight. However, some managers try to think ahead to create a secondary line up within the line up card, by having the #6 the team's second best lead off hitter. By having a second lead off man in the line up, it should lead to more base runners throughout the entire game. The reason to have more base runners is to have more chances to score runs. If the #6 hitter gets on and steals a base, it gives the #7 and #8 hitters better chance to score the runner. If the first lead off man fails, it is possible that the #6 hitter may lead off the second inning. Or if the team goes out 1-2-3, then the #6 hitter could come up in the second with a chance to extend the inning by getting on base or moving a runner along by walking or speed.
The #7 hole is reserved for the best batter left of the two starters. Usually, this batter has something he does well. If he does, then that should be his focus. If the player has low average, but can connect the long ball, he should be let loose to do that. If he is a pure singles hitter, let him spray his dying ducks all over the field. This slot probably has the less pressure on him to perform.
The #8 hitter is the last field starter in the line up. Typically, it is a middle infielder with low average, no power, no RBI production, but has a good glove defensively. Many consider him an automatic out, like the next slot, the pitcher. His job is to stay alive as best as possible; make the opponent pitcher throw more pitches (because pitch counts are a weapon) even with two outs. For many managers believe that it is better to have the last out of the inning be the #9 pitcher than the #8 hitter.
This traditional line up has one theme that many teams have forgotten about in the age of video game statistics: balance. A team with a variety of hitters, with different strengths and weaknesses, can be molded into an effective run producing line up.
