[Syd Thrift]

Here's an example of this phenomenon... I think. The fictional 1970 Mets are coming off of a really great season - some might say an "amazing" season - and went with the lineup below for this game. I don't show ratings so I can only go by stats; to be fair, I have the AI set to evaluate with stats only as well. Some notes on the players:

CF Curtis Hope is the regular leadoff man. He's got good pop for a center fielder and for a dude batting 1st but I appreciate the AI not moving him down to cleanup here. When it comes to the top 4-5 spots in the order I'd rather the AI just not touch those places.

C Jason Bushon normally bats a bit further down in the order. He's only average at avoiding Ks from the looks of it and while he has blazing speed for a catcher he's a 50/80 there so maybe not the best 2-hole hitter ever (note: when I say I don't have ratings on, I mean current/potentials; "other" ratings, which include speed and defense related ones, stay on). Probably he'd be my choice to fill in at cleanup, although he's not exactly a power hitter.

1B Joshua Waltenberry is the reigning MVP and the team's best hitter. No, he shouldn't be hitting 3rd. This is where I put him in the order. I'm using 1970 logic, not 2022 logic.

3B Nick Hawkinson is... an interesting choice for cleanup to say the least. He's a 41 year old guy who has hit about league-average (98 and 96 OPS+) the past 2 seasons. I only say this because the chances of him suddenly becoming a secret power hitter are very, very low. He hasn't topped double digits in HRs since 1964 (6 years ago) and really doesn't even get a lot of XBHs anymore. He's, um, a leader in the clubhouse, although I don't think the AI looks at that to make lineup decisions.

RF Edgar Arriaga is having a very bad year this year but he'd be a decent choice for cleanup, as he hit 27 HRs with 74 RBIs last season. He's also the regular #5 hitter so I'm not crying overly hard that the AI didn't move him out of his normal slot.

LF Mario Diaz is filling in for the regular LF, Jimmy Washington (.226, 6, 48). Washington is (for now) the team's cleanup hitter and he was a beast last season, hitting 29 HRs with 113 RBI. I've begun pulling him against some lefties but he sat out today entirely because he's tired. Diaz is a 37 year old guy who crushes right-handed pitching and is the team's primary pinch-hitter. I understand and appreciate the AI not slotting him into the cleanup spot either.

2B Bob Baldwin is a backup infielder, as is SS Robert Williams. Of course, David Camacho hits like a pitcher. None of these guys can or should hit cleanup.

***********

With all that said, my choices for the cleanup guy would probably go:

1. Jason Bushon
2. Edgar Arriaga
3. Mario Diaz
4. Nick Hawkinson

I think Bushon in particular is a clear choice over Hawkinson, to the degree that I could easily justify Hawkinson batting 2nd (he's still got some speed at his age and rarely strikes out so he can turn the hit and run like a pro) in that scenario. The rest of those guys, also sure to lesser degrees.

ETA: This is in the 7th inning where the Mets have scored 8 runs, so optimal or not this lineup is definitely getting the job done!