How to Create a Lineup Card

Among a baseball manager's most important jobs is determining the batting lineup for the upcoming game. Basic rules guide managers about what order the hitters will take. There are other considerations. According to Tony LaRussa, a world series winning manager, it is more important to customize your lineup based on your personnel than to follow a formula. At the major league level, managers concern themselves with who the opposing batter is, as well as who the potential relief pitchers are when making these decisions.

Things You'll Need

  • Pencil
  • Lineup card
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Instructions

    • 1

      Insert your best overall hitters in the first three spots. Of those three, the player who gets on base most often (determined by on-base percentage) should be number one. Of the two remaining players, the one who is a stronger bunter should bat second.

    • 2

      Put your best remaining power hitters in the fourth through sixth spots. These should be prime run-producing spots because the first three are getting on base consistently.

    • 3

      Play your three worst hitters here. One typical strategy is to play the best of the three at number nine, so the top of the order will be more likely to have runners on base when they come to bat.