[QUOTE="LoweTek, post: 3307176, member
I got an email this morning from a parent asking me to move her kid up in the lineup because he's hitting better and it would help the team...Thoughts and comments as to whether you agree with my lineup approach and how you would respond to this parent?[/QUOTE]
Ah the days of the 12 player lineup. Brutal. I usually had the better hitters at the top of the lineup but can understand your approach. But, no matter what you say, kids (and parents) will use lineup spot as a proxy for hitter value.
Even with the approach you are using I think there is value in moving kids around in the lineup from time to time. You could swap the kid in question for the number six hitter, for example, for a couple of games and see how it goes.
That said, the tricky part is you don't want the parents to think they can get changes by complaining. I would probably respond to the parent and (very briefly) explain your lineup construction strategy but then say that actually, at this stage in the season you are planning to move things around anyway, so you will be trying kids (incuding theirs) at different spots over the next few games.