My team is a rare exception to this, and I thank God for that. Five of us have been together at least 10 years - my pitcher and I are right at 20 years together. Four more have been with us 5-10. The newest guy has been with us 3 years. No one has left to play for another team. All the past regulars who've left did so for non-softball reasons and haven't played since. We've had good years and bad. We share similar character and values, and that's what keeps us together.
There are a couple of guys I have to put high in the order to keep them happy, but the others really don't care where they hit. With the guys we have, I could pull the lineup out of a hat and it wouldn't matter. I tend to make a lineup based on how they hit - who can move the other guys ahead - and baserunning ability/smarts. At 67, I run well on a good day, but obviously I'm not as fast as I used to be, so I bat last. Our leadoff is often the fastest guy on the field, but he's smart and won't run me over. His brother is almost as fast, but tends to run himself into outs. No way would I bat ahead of him. Speed isn't the same as good baserunning ability.
There are a couple of guys I have to put high in the order to keep them happy, but the others really don't care where they hit. With the guys we have, I could pull the lineup out of a hat and it wouldn't matter. I tend to make a lineup based on how they hit - who can move the other guys ahead - and baserunning ability/smarts. At 67, I run well on a good day, but obviously I'm not as fast as I used to be, so I bat last. Our leadoff is often the fastest guy on the field, but he's smart and won't run me over. His brother is almost as fast, but tends to run himself into outs. No way would I bat ahead of him. Speed isn't the same as good baserunning ability.