OnBaseMachine
04-26-2006, 02:17 PM
Notes: Encarnacion producing in clutch
Young third baseman showing patience, leading Reds in RBIs
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
WASHINGTON -- It's a basic tenet for hitting in run-producing situations -- concentrate and wait for a good pitch.
As simple as it sounds, younger hitters don't always grasp that fundamental right away.
Not so for 23-year-old Reds third baseman Edwin Encarnacion.
"The only thing I do different [with runners on base] is I try to be more patient at the plate and be aggressive with pitches in the strike zone," said Encarnacion on Wednesday morning. He took the team RBI lead by driving in four runs during Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Nationals.
In his first full season, Encarnacion entered Wednesday's game batting .279 with three homers and 22 RBIs. Another positive were his 11 walks and .388 on-base percentage.
"This many RBIs in April for a young guy is a little bit surprising," Reds manager Jerry Narron said.
More remarkable was that Encarnacion had just one RBI and a .211 average through the season's first week after coming off a sensational Spring Training. He hasn't been hitless in multiple games yet, and he's had at least three RBIs in a game five times.
"I know that first 10 days of Spring Training, we saw a pretty good player," Narron said. "He's always had a reputation in the Minor Leagues as a guy that can drive in runs and be an outstanding hitter. There's no reason why he shouldn't he do it at the Major League level."
Working battery: As has been the case in Bronson Arroyo's three previous starts, third catcher David Ross was starting behind the plate on Wednesday afternoon.
"Three catchers in a three-game series," Narron said. Jason LaRue caught Tuesday and Javier Valentin started Monday.
Arroyo and Ross have formed a solid battery since both were acquired during Spring Training. Narron had no explanation for why they worked well together.
"I don't know. He caught [Arroyo] the first day in Fort Myers," Narron said. "He had a really good day. We're just sticking with it."
With LaRue still being eased back after recovering from knee surgery, it's likely Ross will keep catching for Arroyo. Valentin will likely handle rookie Elizardo Ramirez's starts, like he did Monday.
"That sounds like a good plan," Narron said. "It's not going to be easy to find regular playing time for any of the three. I'll try my best to make it work and keep everybody sharp."
First fan: The Reds' fast start this season no doubt has fans feeling optimistic, none probably more the club's most avid fan. Chief executive officer Bob Castellini attended Tuesday night's 6-5 win. Castellini and ownership partner Tom Williams also visited with Narron and the players after the game.
"I'm a fan. I'm just excited. It's fun, it's upbeat," said Castellini, who returned to Cincinnati after the game. "These kids don't think they can lose. That's the attitude you have to take."
Since taking over the team in January, Castellini's enthusiasm has immediately filtered down to the clubhouse, something that Narron has always appreciated.
"It's huge in professional sports to have strong leadership from the top," Narron said. "The players want to know ownership cares and that ownership is going to do whatever it can to help the club win. I think all of our guys know that."
Coming up: After an off-day Thursday, the Reds return to Great American Ball Park on Friday to open a three-game series against the Astros. Left-hander Brandon Claussen will face Reds killer Roy Oswalt, who is 15-0 with a 2.41 ERA in 19 career games vs. Cincinnati. He has the record for most career victories against a single team without a loss.
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060426&content_id=1419434&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin
Young third baseman showing patience, leading Reds in RBIs
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
WASHINGTON -- It's a basic tenet for hitting in run-producing situations -- concentrate and wait for a good pitch.
As simple as it sounds, younger hitters don't always grasp that fundamental right away.
Not so for 23-year-old Reds third baseman Edwin Encarnacion.
"The only thing I do different [with runners on base] is I try to be more patient at the plate and be aggressive with pitches in the strike zone," said Encarnacion on Wednesday morning. He took the team RBI lead by driving in four runs during Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Nationals.
In his first full season, Encarnacion entered Wednesday's game batting .279 with three homers and 22 RBIs. Another positive were his 11 walks and .388 on-base percentage.
"This many RBIs in April for a young guy is a little bit surprising," Reds manager Jerry Narron said.
More remarkable was that Encarnacion had just one RBI and a .211 average through the season's first week after coming off a sensational Spring Training. He hasn't been hitless in multiple games yet, and he's had at least three RBIs in a game five times.
"I know that first 10 days of Spring Training, we saw a pretty good player," Narron said. "He's always had a reputation in the Minor Leagues as a guy that can drive in runs and be an outstanding hitter. There's no reason why he shouldn't he do it at the Major League level."
Working battery: As has been the case in Bronson Arroyo's three previous starts, third catcher David Ross was starting behind the plate on Wednesday afternoon.
"Three catchers in a three-game series," Narron said. Jason LaRue caught Tuesday and Javier Valentin started Monday.
Arroyo and Ross have formed a solid battery since both were acquired during Spring Training. Narron had no explanation for why they worked well together.
"I don't know. He caught [Arroyo] the first day in Fort Myers," Narron said. "He had a really good day. We're just sticking with it."
With LaRue still being eased back after recovering from knee surgery, it's likely Ross will keep catching for Arroyo. Valentin will likely handle rookie Elizardo Ramirez's starts, like he did Monday.
"That sounds like a good plan," Narron said. "It's not going to be easy to find regular playing time for any of the three. I'll try my best to make it work and keep everybody sharp."
First fan: The Reds' fast start this season no doubt has fans feeling optimistic, none probably more the club's most avid fan. Chief executive officer Bob Castellini attended Tuesday night's 6-5 win. Castellini and ownership partner Tom Williams also visited with Narron and the players after the game.
"I'm a fan. I'm just excited. It's fun, it's upbeat," said Castellini, who returned to Cincinnati after the game. "These kids don't think they can lose. That's the attitude you have to take."
Since taking over the team in January, Castellini's enthusiasm has immediately filtered down to the clubhouse, something that Narron has always appreciated.
"It's huge in professional sports to have strong leadership from the top," Narron said. "The players want to know ownership cares and that ownership is going to do whatever it can to help the club win. I think all of our guys know that."
Coming up: After an off-day Thursday, the Reds return to Great American Ball Park on Friday to open a three-game series against the Astros. Left-hander Brandon Claussen will face Reds killer Roy Oswalt, who is 15-0 with a 2.41 ERA in 19 career games vs. Cincinnati. He has the record for most career victories against a single team without a loss.
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060426&content_id=1419434&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin