3 Reasons Why Chip Hale Has Been Good for the Arizona Diamondbacks

Apr 3, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of the Arizona Diamondbacks lineup card in the dugout prior to the game against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2-The lineup remains the same

One thing that Kirk Gibson did that drove me (and many fans) crazy was the ever-changing batting order. Ender Inciarte could be hitting leadoff one day, batting eighth the next. Chris Owings would be in the #2 hole on Tuesday and in the #7 7 slot on Thursday. Outside of Paul Goldschmidt hitting third every game, the order would change, with no rhyme or reason. It sometimes reminded me of how I would set a lineup for my Little Leaguers: everyone pick a number from a hat.

Hale has brought some stability. On the days Inciarte plays, he leads off. A.J. Pollock is consistently in the second slot. You will see Owings usually hit sixth. The catchers are usually found in the eighth spot. Yasmany Tomas is the cleanup man. Whether or not the stability of the lineup has resulted in the D’backs leading the National League in runs scored is debatable. However, it must be easier on the players to know where they are going to hit in the order.