A's Lineup: Should Seth Smith bat second?

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Oakland Athletics (37-39) lineup1. Coco Crisp (S) CF
2. Jemile Weeks (S) 2B
3. Josh Reddick (L) RF
4. Yoenis Cespedes (R) DH
5. Seth Smith (L) LF
6. Brandon Inge (R) 3B
7. Brandon Moss (L) 1B
8. Derek Norris (R) C
9. Cliff Pennington (S) SS
Instant AnalysisYoenis Cespedes plays his second consecutive game as the designated hitter after playing nine innings in center field on Tuesday. This is the standard lineup A's manager Bob Melvin likes to go with. At some point I wonder if Melvin will explore batting Seth Smith second and moving Jemile Weeks down. Weeks is hitting .216 in the two-spot of the A's lineup. He does have the highest walk rate (20) in the AL since June 15 though. Smith has a .380 on-base percentage, which ranks him ninth in the AL. Smith is also hitting .333 against left-handed pitchers since June 4. Smith, who bats lefty, was previously used as a platoon hitter. Top of the OrderCoco Crisp continued his torrid stretch at the plate, hitting a leadoff homer for the A's on Wednesday. It was his fifth career leadoff home run. He is now batting .333 (15 for 45) with eight runs, seven walks, and six stolen bases in 12 games atop the A's lineup. Heart of the OrderCespedes is hitting .583 (7-for-12) with one homer, two doubles, one triple, and four RBIs against the Rangers. He hit his ninth home run on Wednesday. He is tied for first in the AL in home runs by a rookie -- even though he has missed 31 games with injury. Brandon Inge is batting .444 (4-for-9), with a homer and two walks in his career against Rangers' starting pitcher Scott Feldman. That might be what he needs to get back on track. He is 6-for-41 with 15 strikeouts over his last 12 gamesBottom of the OrderCliff Pennington is 2-for-28 in his last nine games. He is currently hitless in his last 17 at-bats. Derek Norris is back in the lineup as his timeshare with Kurt Suzuki continues. Suzuki has actually had some success against Feldman, hitting .294 (5-for-17).Texas Rangers (47-29) lineup
1. Ian Kinsler (R) 2B
2. Elvis Andrus (R) SS
3. Josh Hamilton (L) LF
4. Adrian Beltre (R) 3B
5. Michael Young (R) 1B
6. Nelson Cruz (R) DH
7. David Murphy (L) RF
8. Yorvit Torrealba (R) C
9. Leonys Martin (L) CF

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