The difference between the absolute worst lineup possible and the best lineup possible is less than a run per game. I believe Bill has admitted the limitations in this type of thinking though, because some guys, for whatever reason, don't hit as well in certain situations. It shouldn't make a difference, but you can't measure the psychological difference between hitting 1st and 4th. Here's a fun tool to play around with. link I'll just do the Brewers, I'm using the most up to date stats, and going on the lineup similar to the one used in the Brewers-Phillies series a few weeks ago Hart Hardy Braun Fielder Hall Jenkins Ponch Weeks Pitcher spot (.125/.200/.200) is the number I used for the pitcher's spot. That lineup, in that order, would average 5.17 R/G The ideal lineup, based on the numbers, would be Weeks Braun Hart Fielder Jenkins Ponch Hall Hardy Pitcher That lineup would average 5.30 R/G The difference between the logical lineup above and the best lineup is .13 R/G. .13x162 games = 21 runs, or roughly 2 wins. Now, based on the numbers put in, this is the worst lineup that Yost could put out there Ponch Starting Pitcher Hall Hardy Weeks Jenkins Fielder Hart Braun That lineup would average 4.77 R/G. So, take the 5.17 and subtract 4.77 and you have .40x162 games = 65 runs, or roughly 6.5 wins. Finally, take the best possible output, 5.30 and subtract the worst, 4.77, and you get .53x162 games = 85.9 runs, or roughly 8.5 wins. So, to summarize it simply, the difference between the absolute worst lineup possible and the best lineup possible is about 9 wins. No manager is ever going to bat his pitcher 2nd, not even Tony LaRussa. The reality is that the deviation from the statistical best lineup to the average major league lineup is probably 2-3 wins. Most managers get it into their heads that player X is a leadoff hitter, or player Y is a cleanup hitter and they keep them in those spots. Yost apparently just likes juggling things around. My general feeling is, you want a logical lineup, but you want to try and put your biggest out producers in the bottom of the lineup because they will get the fewest chances to make outs.