--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The leadoff-hitter thing, I think, it's…" description: "\"The leadoff-hitter thing, I think, it's always nice to have an established leadoff hitter and to have someone who can really get on base and set the to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/theo-epstein-7214_always_the-leadoff-hitter-thing-i-think-it-s-al_2480277.jpg" --- # The leadoff-hitter thing, I think, it's always nice to… ![“The leadoff-hitter thing, I think, it's always nice to have an established leadoff hitter and to have someone who can really get on base and set the tone.” quote by Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/theo-epstein-7214_always_the-leadoff-hitter-thing-i-think-it-s-al_2480277.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/theo-epstein-7214_always_the-leadoff-hitter-thing-i-think-it-s-al_2480277.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/theo-epstein-7214_always_the-leadoff-hitter-thing-i-think-it-s-al_2480277.jpg) > “The leadoff-hitter thing, I think, it's always nice to have an established leadoff hitter and to have someone who can really get on base and set the tone.” [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An effective leadoff hitter sets the game's tone by consistently reaching base and creating scoring opportunities. **In simple terms:** Leadoff hitters shape the game's early momentum. Key Takeaway Prioritize on‑base skills in leadoff role. Themes sports strategy leadership performance team dynamics Mood analytical strategic Type sports coaching When to use this quote - Drafting - training - game planning - fan engagement Key Concepts Baseball analytics role specialization team building Questions to Reflect On - How to balance leadoff duties with overall lineup? - What metrics best evaluate leadoff impact? A Different Perspective Overreliance on a single player can backfire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone/) ## Related quotes > [I wish I was just a left-handed hitter. 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I know people say the way I go is how the Mets go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-reyes/i-m-the-leadoff-hitter-it-s-my-job-to-lead-this-team-i-know-people/) [Jose Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-reyes/) > [I want to be the best leadoff hitter of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-damon/i-want-to-be-the-best-leadoff-hitter-of-our-time/) [Johnny Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-damon/) > [What makes a good leadoff hitter? Deion Sanders had speed, but he wasn't the ideal leadoff hitter. What was his on-base percentage? The criteria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mckeon/what-makes-a-good-leadoff-hitter-deion-sanders-had-speed-but-he-wasn/) Jack McKeon > [A successful pitcher keeps the leadoff hitter from reaching first base and puts the first pitch over for a strike - the two most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/a-successful-pitcher-keeps-the-leadoff-hitter-from-reaching-first/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [You reach a point where you're trying to survive. You're just trying to put the ball in play. You're not yourself. You're searching for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/you-reach-a-point-where-you-re-trying-to-survive-you-re-just-trying/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [You never want to lose a strength, but I've also got to try and be a complete hitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/you-never-want-to-lose-a-strength-but-i-ve-also-got-to-try-and-be-a/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [Some coaches believed they could judge a player's performance simply by watching it. In this they were deeply mistaken. The naked eye was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/some-coaches-believed-they-could-judge-a-player-s-performance-simply/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [When you hit a player in the head, you're more apt to get some fisticuffs or, you know, bring both teams out on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-jackson/when-you-hit-a-player-in-the-head-you-re-more-apt-to-get-some/) [Reggie Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-jackson/) > [I'm just a singles hitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-ramirez/i-m-just-a-singles-hitter/) [Manny Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-ramirez/) > [I'd probably be the most unintimidating three-hole hitter in the league at 150 pounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trea-turner/i-d-probably-be-the-most-unintimidating-three-hole-hitter-in-the/) [Trea Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trea-turner/) > [Drew McFedries was the hardest hitter I've ever been around. A big, strong, athletic guy with power. He didn't have to hit you with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-lawler/drew-mcfedries-was-the-hardest-hitter-i-ve-ever-been-around-a-big/) [Robbie Lawler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-lawler/) > [Playing shortstop is 75 to 80 percent anticipation, knowing the hitter and the pitch being thrown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-boudreau/playing-shortstop-is-75-to-80-percent-anticipation-knowing-the-hitter/) [Lou Boudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-boudreau/) ## More by Theo Epstein > [I still wake up thinking about draft choices we should have made that would have impacted the franchise for a long time, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-still-wake-up-thinking-about-draft-choices-we-should-have-made-that/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [I used to follow people home. I just like being anonymous so much that I would follow people home because they didn't know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-used-to-follow-people-home-i-just-like-being-anonymous-so-much-that/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [When we build that foundation for sustained success, and it ultimately results in a World Series, it's going to be more than just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/when-we-build-that-foundation-for-sustained-success-and-it-ultimately/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [If you're trying to avoid one move that you don't think is going to work out, don't then settle for a different move that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/if-you-re-trying-to-avoid-one-move-that-you-don-t-think-is-going-to/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [You're not always going to get the outcomes you feel like your talent deserves, that you feel like the big picture deserves. 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But I also believe we should be mindful of how other people feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-believe-in-the-first-amendment-but-i-also-believe-we-should-be/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [Scouting and player development is the key to year-in and year-out success, not the occasional lucky hit. There are no definitive answers in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/scouting-and-player-development-is-the-key-to-year-in-and-year-out/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [You have years where most things go your way, and you have years where more things than usual seem like a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/you-have-years-where-most-things-go-your-way-and-you-have-years-where/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [The only time I think about my contract is when I'm asked about it by the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/the-only-time-i-think-about-my-contract-is-when-i-m-asked-about-it-by/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [There has to be active, hands-on management in concert with the manager to lead the organization and make sure that the standards that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/there-has-to-be-active-hands-on-management-in-concert-with-the/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) [Explore all 93 Theo Epstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. 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He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The leadoff-hitter thing, I think, it's always nice to have an established leadoff hitter and to have someone who can really get on base and set the tone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Theo Epstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/the-leadoff-hitter-thing-i-think-it-s-always-nice-to-have-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/the-leadoff-hitter-thing-i-think-it-s-always-nice-to-have-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/theo-epstein-7214_always_the-leadoff-hitter-thing-i-think-it-s-al_2480277.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/theo-epstein-7214_always_the-leadoff-hitter-thing-i-think-it-s-al_2480277.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/theo-epstein-7214_always_the-leadoff-hitter-thing-i-think-it-s-al_2480277.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The leadoff-hitter thing, I think, it's always nice to have an established leadoff hitter and to have…” — Theo Epstein", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Theo Epstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The leadoff-hitter thing, I think, it's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/the-leadoff-hitter-thing-i-think-it-s-always-nice-to-have-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/the-leadoff-hitter-thing-i-think-it-s-always-nice-to-have-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```