Billy Hamilton has made one poor base stealing decision. Send him down.

 

Yep, it's beyond ridiculous. The kid makes one poor decision and we've got guys on here jumping all over him like he's the reason they suck.

 

Billy creates havoc on the base paths. That's evident every time he gets on. More times than not, that havoc results in a benefit for the Reds. You would think people would take the occasional mistake, but apparently not.

Thanks. Sometimes I don't think people understand simple stuff.

 

Yep. Like the absurdity of a rookie making one bad decision and being raked over the coals for it.

Rickey Henderson didn't have Ryan Ludwick and Todd Frazier behind him. Sometimes people struggle seeing the big picture.

 

 

No one can drive in runs when there's no one on base. If Hamilton gets thrown out often enough that he is essentially on base at a .265 clip his speed ceases to become an advantage. If you get guys on base and get them into scoring position any decent Major League hitter can drive in a bunch of runs...You need look no further than Brandon Phillips getting 100 RBIs last season. I don't think anyone has said that Hamilton needs to be sent down or even dropped from the leadoff spot. He just needs to be more selective as to when he runs to cut down on the caught stealings. A caught stealing is every bit as unproductive an out as a strikeout. When you have the type of speed where you can score from second on any single, from first on any double and on a fly out to an infielder you need to be on base. Hamilton has the type of speed where he can score from first on a ball hit into the gap in which the batter is held at first. He can score from second on a ground out if it is hit right. He doesn't always have to steal second to cause havoc on the basepaths. I'd rather see him steal 50 bases and get caught 5 times than steal 75 bases and get caught 25 times. The Reds offense, with as many strikeouts as they generate, cannot afford the additonal non-productive outs.

^Reds hitters have struck out the 19th most times of any team in baseball. K's are not the offenses problem.

No one can drive in runs when there's no one on base. If Hamilton gets thrown out often enough that he is essentially on base at a .265 clip his speed ceases to become an advantage. If you get guys on base and get them into scoring position any decent Major League hitter can drive in a bunch of runs...You need look no further than Brandon Phillips getting 100 RBIs last season. I don't think anyone has said that Hamilton needs to be sent down or even dropped from the leadoff spot. He just needs to be more selective as to when he runs to cut down on the caught stealings. A caught stealing is every bit as unproductive an out as a strikeout. When you have the type of speed where you can score from second on any single, from first on any double and on a fly out to an infielder you need to be on base. Hamilton has the type of speed where he can score from first on a ball hit into the gap in which the batter is held at first. He can score from second on a ground out if it is hit right. He doesn't always have to steal second to cause havoc on the basepaths. I'd rather see him steal 50 bases and get caught 5 times than steal 75 bases and get caught 25 times. The Reds offense, with as many strikeouts as they generate, cannot afford the additonal non-productive outs.

And he's made one out as a result of a bad decision. I understand your point, but please take into consideration the anemia of this offense. No one is moving him over, no one. His legs have a FAR better chance of getting him into scoring position than the guys behind him, and that's fact. And even with that speed, scoring position is still 180 feet away, not 270 regardless of what follows. Again, he made one poor decision, and one I doubt he makes again. With the makeup of this sorry lineup, frankly, I'm disappointed if he doesn't run.

^I'm the same way. Whenever he gets on base, I sit there baffled when he doesn't attempt to steal.

^Reds hitters have struck out the 19th most times of any team in baseball. K's are not the offenses problem.

 

They are still striking out almost 8 times a game. I didn't say that the strikeouts were the whole problem, just that they are non-productive outs. When your team on base percentage is an even .300 you cannot afford to have non-productive outs. Couple the almost 1 strikeout per inning with the 17 caught stealings and however many runners have been thrown out trying to advance (I know at one point they had already had 11 gunned out at home) and it does have an effect on your offense. Those kind of outs are not as big of a deal if you get on base at a higher clip or hit a ton of homers. They are when every baserunner is a big deal like it is with the Reds.

^Reds hitters have struck out the 19th most times of any team in baseball. K's are not the offenses problem.

 

They just had a 7 game stretch with 75 Ks and 7 walks. Um thats a problem

Yep. Like the absurdity of a rookie making one bad decision and being raked over the coals for it.

 

Nobody is raking him over the coals. It was dumb and I doubt it happens again.

Billy Hamilton has made one poor base stealing decision. Send him down.

 

It's dumb that you put words in people's mouths. I thought you were above that. You're apparently not.