If those are your guys, I would lean toward batting Wilson lead-off and let him run his fool head off.  Ashburn has enough speed to stay out of most double-plays in the two spot and won't clog the bases for Wilson.

I think that is an easy call.

Ashburn leadoff.

That will let him get on base by a BB and get driven in. If he makes an out an then Wilson gets on base he can steal and create havoc.
 
If Wilson bats leadoff, as my esteemed collegue suggests, then his stolen base is wasted when Ashburn gets walked. His speed will also keep the DP's down.

These are 2 guys who always beat me, so their advice is certainly better than mine. What is Wilson doing on your team? do you have to take him?

Ashburn, yeah.  Get the OBP up top.  Put another real hitter #2 and save the steals for later.  Put them in front of your less-powerful dudes and they help themselves get home.

Sorry, but I'm with Wonker, Micki, inasmuch that you're paying for Wilson's speed and SBs. I cannot conceive how his stolen bases would be "wasted" by hitting leadoff and Ashburn makes an out because, at worse, Wilson would be in scoring position with your best hitter (your number 3 hitter) coming up.  But with Asburn's OBP, you'll very often have them BOTH on base, with you three hitter coming up.

Most incarnations of Willie wilson aren't very good at lead-off.  He is better used as a #5 or #6 hitter were his high H/PA (high avg, lov obp) will drive in runs.  His stolen bases will be much more useful ahead of singles hitters in the bottom third of the line-up. 

That's what I meant to say.  Thanks.

speed with no walks should not bat leadoff.

You always bat walks ahead of hits.  Why would you ever bat a walk-guy immediately after a SB guy?  So the leadoff hitter singles, steals second, then the #2 hitter walks?  Kind of a waste of a SB.   Much better to walk, then single (1st/3rd), then steal second.

Ashburn leadoff, Wilson second... for the reasons outlined above.

Can't say I understand the logic of batting Ashburn lead off, seems to me you want your lead off guy in scoring position ASAP. No guarantee Ashburn is going to walk, if he does great, table is set for #3. No such thing as a "wasted" SB IMO.

OBP guy (Ashburn) then AVE/doubles guy (Wilson).  Wilson will get his share of SB's regardless.

Posted by napolean on 5/25/2011 4:14:00 PM (view original):
Can't say I understand the logic of batting Ashburn lead off, seems to me you want your lead off guy in scoring position ASAP. No guarantee Ashburn is going to walk, if he does great, table is set for #3. No such thing as a "wasted" SB IMO.

Exactly my point Napolean, because a stolen base ALWAYS puts a runner in scoring position.  While I think there are plausible reasons for  hitting either of them leadoff, I generally prefer stolen bases at leadoff (provided he gets on with reasonable frequency) and on base guys like Ashburn, McGraw, etc., hitting second to set the table for my slugging guys.