February 11, 201214 yr I expect to see BP leading off with Cozart or Ludwick hitting #2 I agree with you on this one. I see Ludwick having something of a bounceback season. He hits well in GABP and if he can even show flashes of his 2008 season can be the key to keeping Phillips in the leadoff spot and helping the Red's offense. Heisey should only bat versus lefties and be the defensive sub late innings but he can plug right into the 2 hole. The only concern I have is being a little lefty heavy offensively with Ludwick, Votto, Bruce and Francisco, (when Rolen breaks down), in the lineup at the same time. Rolen will need to rest more than ever but to be consistent he probably needs to play regularly. If the toothpick can mix and match without tearing the order up every 3 or 4 days I see a strong offensive year from this lineup. Just hoping the coaches can cut down on Stubbs Ks one way or another. That should be one of the hitting coaches main objectives for spring training.
February 11, 201214 yr Author ^He said he is in the best shape of career but I know I've heard that before.
February 11, 201214 yr I agree with you on this one. I see Ludwick having something of a bounceback season. He hits well in GABP and if he can even show flashes of his 2008 season can be the key to keeping Phillips in the leadoff spot and helping the Red's offense. Heisey should only bat versus lefties and be the defensive sub late innings but he can plug right into the 2 hole. The only concern I have is being a little lefty heavy offensively with Ludwick, Votto, Bruce and Francisco, (when Rolen breaks down), in the lineup at the same time. Rolen will need to rest more than ever but to be consistent he probably needs to play regularly. If the toothpick can mix and match without tearing the order up every 3 or 4 days I see a strong offensive year from this lineup. Just hoping the coaches can cut down on Stubbs Ks one way or another. That should be one of the hitting coaches main objectives for spring training. :confused: Ludwick bats right handed. and Heisey hits RHP better than he hits LHP.
February 11, 201214 yr :confused: Ludwick bats right handed. and Heisey hits RHP better than he hits LHP. Don't know what I was thinking. Maybe I had Russell Branyan on the brain as I was reading an article that mentioned him in it.
February 11, 201214 yr Don't know what I was thinking. Maybe I had Russell Branyan on the brain as I was reading an article that mentioned him in it. He does throw LH.
February 12, 201214 yr He does throw LH. I remembered that he threw lefty because he played right field for the Cards right in front of my season tickets.
February 12, 201214 yr I have seen several projections that have Stubbs getting a significant number of starts in the lead off position over the course of the 2012 season. Hitting Phillips a bit deeper in the line up may be too attractive of a proposition to pass up in what may be his last year on the team. Which projections? Phillips will lead off. He said he's coming into spring training with that mentality, too.
February 15, 201214 yr Author http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2012/02/15/would-bunting-more-really-help-drew-stubbs/ Last season, a caller into the local sports talk show was adamant: “Why isn’t Drew Stubbs bunting more? He’s wasting his speed swinging for home runs and all it does is lead to strikeouts!!” It’s a refrain heard frequently from fans in regards to the Reds center fielder. Frustrated by his strikeouts and intrigued by his speed – after all, he may be one of the ten fastest players in the game right now – many fans are looking for anything to get Stubbs to put the ball in play more. For many fans, strikeouts are a disaster, a waste of an at bat. And when that player has the speed of a gazelle, failing to put the ball in play is an even bigger problem. Peter Bourjos is probably the game’s best bunter today. Juan Pierre has been the most prolific bunter in the last twenty seasons. Carlos Gomez is an interesting comparison for Stubbs for a few reasons that will be addressed later. Joey Gaithright is an example of poor bunting strategy. If Drew Stubbs can bunt like Peter Bourjos, adding bunting to his repertoire would be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, expecting someone to go from being an occasional bunter to being the best bunter in the game is not a fair thing to ask of a player. However, even if Stubbs could bunt as successfully as Bourjos, the difference is only eight additional times on base by Stubbs a year, or the equivalent of about five additional runs for the Reds. He provided some stats in the article as well. Thoughts?
February 15, 201214 yr http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2012/02/15/would-bunting-more-really-help-drew-stubbs/ Last season, a caller into the local sports talk show was adamant: “Why isn’t Drew Stubbs bunting more? He’s wasting his speed swinging for home runs and all it does is lead to strikeouts!!” It’s a refrain heard frequently from fans in regards to the Reds center fielder. Frustrated by his strikeouts and intrigued by his speed – after all, he may be one of the ten fastest players in the game right now – many fans are looking for anything to get Stubbs to put the ball in play more. For many fans, strikeouts are a disaster, a waste of an at bat. And when that player has the speed of a gazelle, failing to put the ball in play is an even bigger problem. Peter Bourjos is probably the game’s best bunter today. Juan Pierre has been the most prolific bunter in the last twenty seasons. Carlos Gomez is an interesting comparison for Stubbs for a few reasons that will be addressed later. Joey Gaithright is an example of poor bunting strategy. If Drew Stubbs can bunt like Peter Bourjos, adding bunting to his repertoire would be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, expecting someone to go from being an occasional bunter to being the best bunter in the game is not a fair thing to ask of a player. However, even if Stubbs could bunt as successfully as Bourjos, the difference is only eight additional times on base by Stubbs a year, or the equivalent of about five additional runs for the Reds. He provided some stats in the article as well. Thoughts? That is just 8 additional hits by bunting. If he cuts down on his strikeouts I'd wager that he'd get twice that in infield singles. His modest power is certainly not worth the 200+ strikeouts. It would be different if he were hitting 35 homers and struck out 200 times but he hit 15 homers last season. If you add 20-25 hits to his totals that would have put his batting average in the .280 range. That would put his OBP in the .350-.360 range which would allow him to hit leadoff and use Phillips in the 2 hole or in more of an RBI spot.
February 15, 201214 yr I'd much rather Stubbs shorten his swing or make some type of adjustment(s) that allow him to put the ball in play more often.
February 16, 201214 yr That is just 8 additional hits by bunting. If he cuts down on his strikeouts I'd wager that he'd get twice that in infield singles. His modest power is certainly not worth the 200+ strikeouts. It would be different if he were hitting 35 homers and struck out 200 times but he hit 15 homers last season. If you add 20-25 hits to his totals that would have put his batting average in the .280 range. That would put his OBP in the .350-.360 range which would allow him to hit leadoff and use Phillips in the 2 hole or in more of an RBI spot. Just the threat of Stubbs bunting would open up the infield for him to get additional hits threw the drawn in defenses. He should be be at least faking the bunt at least once a game with his speed imo .
February 16, 201214 yr ^^^^Agree 100% with this. Anytime he is taking and the count isn't 3-0 he should show bunt. Brings the corners in and opens up more holes in the infield.
February 20, 201214 yr Cueto was named opening day starter. No surprise. Hope it's not like when he named Volquez opening day starter before spring training even started.
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