I honestly think Narron doesn't think he's doing his job unless he's screwing with the lineup every single night. He is far too concerned with getting everyone playing time and keeping everyone happy. Here's some pretty odd facts about the Red's lineup as of their first 39 games of the season (helping to produce an impressive 15-24 record):

 

He has used 32 different lineups in the 39 games. 32 different lineups! That's ridiculous.

 

He has used the same lineup in back-to-back games only 4 times this season.

 

He has batted Phillips in the #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 spots.

 

He has batted Dunn in the #2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 spots.

 

He batted Encarnacion in the #4-7 spots and had him batting #4 only four games before he got sent to the minors.

 

He has batted Hamilton in the #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 spots.

 

He has batted Conine #4 in his last 11 starts, where he has amassed an impressive 8 hits in 41 AB's (.195 AVG), 2 DBL's, 0 HR's, and 7 RBI. Can't ask much more of a cleanup hitter than that.

 

No, you can't blame Narron for the miserable bullpen he's been handed, but he alone bears the responsbility for the needless and excessive lineup changes which has resulted in a tremendous amount of offensive inconsistency.

He also bears the responsibility for the way he has used the bullpen...

When you're getting thumped on a nightly basis you try different combinations to see what works. As for the bullpen, hold those MAJOR LEAGUE PITCHERS accountable.

 

Not saying he hasn't made some questionable moves but to blame the horrible start on him is laughable...

32 different combinations in 39 games shows he hasn't stuck with one line up long enough to see if it might work. It shows a penchant for micromanaging and not trusting your MAJOR LEAGUE HITTERS to produce. Yes, those pitchers need to be held accountable, but after reading the article last week about his usage pattern for the bullpen, I wonder if he has a clue about how to manage at this level.

He's gotta go and quick.

32 different combinations in 39 games shows he hasn't stuck with one line up long enough to see if it might work. It shows a penchant for micromanaging and not trusting your MAJOR LEAGUE HITTERS to produce. Yes, those pitchers need to be held accountable, but after reading the article last week about his usage pattern for the bullpen, I wonder if he has a clue about how to manage at this level.

 

At 15-24 what combination could possibly work?

 

He may overmanage when he sits Hamilton against lefties but it's tough to keep the same lineup day in and day out when your 3rd baseman doesn't do anything offensively AND defensively. Your SS had to go on leave. Your 'centerfielder' can't play everyday and produce and neither catcher plays too well offensively or defensively. Seems like a good reason to have an inconsistent lineup...

I'm not saying they would be WS contenders or even serious playoff contenders, but I think allowing players to have a certain measure of comfort in knowing what position they will be hitting in from night to night makes a difference.

 

Actually, I believe the team needs someone to get in their face and light a fire under them. As you said, they need to be held accountable for their play. But at the same time, they need some consistency.

I agree about having SOME consistency. The lack of consistency is probably part of the reason they are sitting at 15-24, with the other part being a worthless bullpen. The Reds are not exactly devoid of talent. While they are not the Yankees and probably not even a playoff calibre team (though playing in the NL Central gives anyone a chance), they are also not the '62 Mets either. Hatteberg at leadoff? Come on. Dunn hitting 6th? Hey, I hate the guy, but you are paying him $10M and he is one of your few HR threats. If nothing else, at least he has a decent OBP. I'd have Hamilton out there everyday and give him a fairly regular spot to hit out of. Yep, Encarnacion was a huge disapointment from day one. But Narron had him in the cleanup spot as recently as 4 days before being shipped to minors. Narron just overmanages, IMO. Get your starting 8 players and let them play together for awhile and see what they can accomplish. Maybe it'll be no better than 15-24. Maybe it'll even be worse. But it would be nice to find out.

http://www.maysville-online.com/articles/2007/05/15/sports/465caproni.txt

 

 

Here's a local columnist's take on the manager and his lineups. Note his projected lineup near the end of the article.

Narron seems to be the same type of manager that B. Boone was. You have to hire a consultant to see who is in the lineup. Granted, he doesn't have much to work with, but there has to be some consistency on his part. Changing the lineup on a daily basis is IMO not the answer to the Reds woes. Maybe a new manager is.

Managers get blamed, when players don't produce. Managers get credit, when teams win....part of the territory.

 

The Reds, has problems in the pitching department and currently, generating any offense. I like him trying to change, find combinations that work but players swing the bat, run, pitch and let's all be honest, the talent level on the Reds roster, is not good.

 

I said it last year, when acquiring all the middle relievers, it wasn't the answer and instead of blaming Narron totally, throw some at Krivsky and see if he's also to blame.

 

All must share, in the current woes and the Players....are at the top of my to blame list.

The Reds, has problems in the pitching department and currently, generating any offense. I like him trying to change, find combinations that work but players swing the bat, run, pitch and let's all be honest, the talent level on the Reds roster, is not good.

 

How would he know if any of his combinations work? He never gives them a chance to work because he's too busy changing them on a daily basis (literally) to make sure everyone gets their fair amount of playing time. 32 different lineups in 39 games (yes, I know some of it isn't his fault - Griffey's injuries, Gonzalez' bereavement absence, etc.) is just too much. Hatteberg was his leading hitter last year. How does he not deserve to be in the lineup everyday? I have no interest in seeing Conine bat again for the Reds. He's not a bad player, but he's 40, not an answer for the future, and certainly no better than Hatteberg. Narron is far too hung up on lefty-righty matchups - both from a hitting and pitching perspective - than is necessary. Sometimes the hardest part of being a manager is doing nothing and trusting your instincts - put your best lineup out there and let them play ball - knowing that if they fail, you'll no doubt be blamed. I'd like to see the Reds best lineup out there, in a regular batting spot, for 2 weeks to see what happens. Just try 2 weeks worth of not tinkering around. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But the status quo isn't working either.

You put a lineup out, that doesn't work for two week and as a Manager, you'll most likely not survive for two weeks....

 

If starting players aren't producing, that is what the bench is for, to move players and sit.

Assuming you have anyone on the bench that would be a better option - which, of course, the Reds don't. Castro, Keppinger, Hopper, Conine are not valid options. And I can only hope the Reds have figured out that Ross isn't the answer at catcher . They made an error in judgment by putting too much stock into his career year last year.

 

BTW, the Reds are 3-11 the past two weeks. Fair or not, the clock is ticking on Narron. Krivsky ain't gonna be fired and it's hard to make a wholesale roster turnover, especially when you've got a number of horribly overpriced players. So the only thing left to make the fans feel good is to dump the manager.

Narron seems to be the same type of manager that B. Boone was. You have to hire a consultant to see who is in the lineup. Granted, he doesn't have much to work with, but there has to be some consistency on his part. Changing the lineup on a daily basis is IMO not the answer to the Reds woes. Maybe a new manager is.

:thumb: I agree. Imo a manager cannot put a different lineup out there every night. If they do,they get what Narron has got...............a lousy baseball team that has no identity or consistency.