It isn't just them. Rhodes struggled early and is only kind of now becoming more consistent. UK tried to hit him in the 3 hole all year long. Rarely moved him until much later in the year. Anu has been up and down. Then you have the weird thing where your best power hitter is hitting 2nd for reasons I don't understand.
As for the bottom...
Estep continues to play despite really struggling at the plate. Today UK could have Plastiak at third and Anu at DH, but instead we have Estep out there while he hits sub .200. I like Estep and I like his defense, but hard to justify him being out there as the offense struggles. Not to mention, UK messes with him every 2 seconds as well. One minute he's doing well at 9th and then we move him to 6th where he struggles and then now back to 9th finally today.
Hill comes in and out of the lineup more often than I change underwear, despite being the best outfielder and being a decent hitter. Not to mention the speed he gives you.
Ritter has done solid, but shouldn't be hitting in the 6 hole really.
Lewis came on strong lately, but he didn't play for a large portion of the year. Not sure how much of that was injury and how much was Mingione constantly messing with 2B.
Plastiak, as mentioned, sat out for like a month at one point. Played well and then right back to the bench. Church, along those lines, was hot and then cooled in SEC play, which limited Plastiak.
You also have the fact that UK has developed no one off the bench. Shelby, Grace, Rubalcaba, Liebert, Church... can't really rely on any of them to give you a high quality AB off the bench.
