All off-season the Reds faithful were bombarded by both management and the media with thoughts the team was going to sign a power-hitting right-handed batter to hit fourth in the line-up.
Well, the bomb was never dropped, no trades were made and now- one full month into the 2009 season- the team is searching as hard for a number four hitter in the line-up as hopefuls did gold during the California gold rush.
The significance of a number four hitter is this; they're labeled the clean-up hitter, a guy who can hit for power, drive in runs and maintain a decent batting average.
Unfortunately for the Reds, they feel a right-handed batter is needed to fit this role and the two they've tried- Brandon Phillips and Edwin Encarnacion- have been more like an infomercial- flashy, yet not productive.
If you watch the Reds you know the need for this position to be filled by a right-handed hitter is because Joey Votto is a statue in the number three spot and he hits left-handed. The team doesn't want to place two left-handed hitters back to back in the line-up because they feel if a team brings in a relief pitcher who is left handed, it could be two easy outs because generally lefties don't hit lefties well.
But here's my spin.
Joey Votto is a beast, a true Major League hitter. He picks his pitches and makes the pitcher throw him a pitch he wants to hit. His swing has no holes in it, so lefty or righty, for Votto it doesn't matter.
So my answer to the problem would be this; let Jay Bruce hit fourth.
Bruce, a second year player like Votto, has been the team's most productive run producer even after he started so slow. He is left handed but with Votto hitting the way he is, two lefties back to back should not matter. Plus, the protection Bruce would give Votto would help Votto produce more. If an opposing pitcher knows he has to face Bruce after Votto, he might try a little harder to get Votto out instead of pitching around him since he knows Bruce will be the next one he faces.
For now though I guess I'll just continue to feel bad for the grounds crew- they are the ones who have to get the imprints off that the Reds leave from standing on the bases so long.
*Note:It is Wed. evening at 7:41 p.m. and Jay Bruce is hitting fourth in tonight's game. Did managment visit Joe's Dugout? Doubtful...but once can wish.
1 comment:
Of course management read your blog! Surely your logic was overpowering. Even if they didn't actually *read* it, the magnitude of your suggestion was so powerful that it was transferred via telepathy to the entire team. It's likely that they all rallied around the roster and decreed that Joe's will be done.
Never sell yourself short! :)
Post a Comment