Part 6/9:
Analyzing historical data regarding plate appearances, there’s a significant disparity regarding how often leadoff hitters get on base compared to those batting in the fourth position. The cleanup hitter sees nearly half of their plate appearances with men on base, compared to only 35% for leadoff hitters. With this disparity, the argument strengthens that Otani’s talent might be underutilized by batting him leadoff.
Moreover, the Dodgers' decision to bat Otani leadoff results in roughly 50 additional plate appearances over the course of a season. While this is substantial in terms of opportunities, it raises the question: does the extra volume compensate for the relative lack of traffic on the bases? Such statistical challenges highlight the importance of flexibility in lineup decisions.