Projected Lineups as of today

[Spike]

Against Righties:

Hamilton
Phillips
Dunn
Griffey
Encarnacion
Votto
Valentin
Gonzalez

Against Lefties:

Hopper
Keppinger
Griffey/Hamilton/Dunn
Phillips
Dunn/Hamiton/Griffey
Encarancion
Ross
Gonzalez

Not too shabby! A bunch of hitters at every point!

[mlbfan30]

I like Votto #2. He's a good OBP guy with decent speed. He also would (maybe) see more fastballs since he's in front of Dunn
The problem is 4 lefties in a row. So then I would move EE 4th instead of BP since his OBP is better. Griffey is 5th, which is still a good spot for him. (From memory) he hit very well couple years ago (2005?) batting 5th. BP goes 6th and his all or nothing approach would be acceptable there.


Against Righties:

Hamilton
Votto
Dunn
Encarnacion
Griffey
Phillips
Ross/Valentin
Gonzalez

[*BaseClogger*]

can't put Phillips #2... no OBP

I also believe that Ross will see more starts against RHP than Valentin...

RH:
Hamilton
EE
Dunn
Griffey
Phillips
Votto
Gonzalez
Ross

LH:
Hopper
Keppinger
Dunn
Griffey
Phillips
EE
Gonzalez
Ross

[mlbfan30]

Do you really want Hopper and his BA alone determining how often he reaches base. I would like to see both Hamilton and Votto seeing more time against lefties than they probably will have. You can't force them to be career platoon guys. I'd argue that the more you replace them for lefties, the worse they become at hitting lefties since they don't get enough PA. I'd only use Hopper/Kepp to give rest when needed, but not have both in the lineup in the same day.
The reason BP and EE flip is basically because BP is a better hitter against LHP, while EE stays close to the same.
If I had to put Hopper here, I would just bat him 7th or 8th

Against Lefties: (1 possibility)

Hamilton
Keppinger/Votto
Dunn
Phillips
Griffey
Encarnacion
Ross
Gonzalez

[Stephenk29]

I just hate seeing Hamilton in the lead off spot. He just seems to be more valuable in RBI opportunities.

[Blue]

I agree. I'd have Keppinger play SS and lead off. After that, everyone can pretty much hit until the 8 and 9 spots. Really wish we had a catcher who could hit.

[Degenerate39]

Here's my lineup against Righties and Lefties

1. CF- Hamilton
2. 3rd- Encarnacion
3. LF- Dunn
4. 2nd- Phillips
5. RF- Griffey
6. 1st- Votto
7. SS- Gonzo
8. C- Ross/Javy
9. Pitcher

[CRedsLarkin11]

I really don't think these lineups are bad at all, there are a lot of options and hopefully the defense will stay somewhat consistent. It's the pitching that has me worried. :help:

[HokieRed]

#2 is tough to hit; I wouldn't put Votto there to start, maybe later in season.

[EddieMilner]

#2 is tough to hit; I wouldn't put Votto there to start, maybe later in season.


To me, it seems that Hamilton is the perfect #2 hitter on this club. All these lineups scream that the Reds need a true lead off hitter.

[mlbfan30]

No teams needs a "true" leadoff hitter. Juan Pierre is a "true" leadoff hitter and he sucks. All the Reds need is a good OBP guy with some speed and some power. Hamilton showed he can handle it last year and can again this year. So what if he doesn't get as many RBIs opps. This is his stat line from the leadoff spot
.336 .405 .617 -0.341 BABIP-
This is Keppinger, but he has good numbers from the 2nd spot.
.143 .217 .286 -.105 BABIP-[23PA] ----------- .323 .378 .444 -0.325 BABIP-
This is Hopper
.343 .395 .404 -0.380 BABIP-(not as bad as i thought it would be, but do you really think he's a .340 hitter. Put him down to a .300 hitter and his line looks more like .300/.350/.350)

[mroby85]

To me, it seems that Hamilton is the perfect #2 hitter on this club. All these lineups scream that the Reds need a true lead off hitter.

I agree with you milner, it's just tough to find a way for that to work. playing hopper is the solution in my opinion, but who do you bench to play him? you really can't.

[Javy Pornstache]

Here's my lineup against Righties and Lefties

1. CF- Hamilton
2. 3rd- Encarnacion
3. LF- Dunn
4. 2nd- Phillips
5. RF- Griffey
6. 1st- Votto
7. SS- Gonzo
8. C- Ross/Javy
9. Pitcher

Correct. I wouldn't platoon Hamilton or Votto either.

[*BaseClogger*]

Here's my lineup against Righties and Lefties

1. CF- Hamilton
2. 3rd- Encarnacion
3. LF- Dunn
4. 2nd- Phillips
5. RF- Griffey
6. 1st- Votto
7. SS- Gonzo
8. C- Ross/Javy
9. Pitcher

We pretty much agree. You should consider moving Griffey ahead of Phillips because of the better Onbase PCT...

[*BaseClogger*]

#2 is tough to hit; I wouldn't put Votto there to start, maybe later in season.

why is #2 tough to hit? What makes it different?

[*BaseClogger*]

No teams needs a "true" leadoff hitter. Juan Pierre is a "true" leadoff hitter and he sucks. All the Reds need is a good OBP guy with some speed and some power. Hamilton showed he can handle it last year and can again this year. So what if he doesn't get as many RBIs opps. This is his stat line from the leadoff spot
.336 .405 .617 -0.341 BABIP-
This is Keppinger, but he has good numbers from the 2nd spot.
.143 .217 .286 -.105 BABIP-[23PA] ----------- .323 .378 .444 -0.325 BABIP-
This is Hopper
.343 .395 .404 -0.380 BABIP-(not as bad as i thought it would be, but do you really think he's a .340 hitter. Put him down to a .300 hitter and his line looks more like .300/.350/.350)

I think Hopper and his .350 OBP would be okay against lefties. I think you can also count on Keppinger to give you a .375 OBP #2 against lefties. That is pretty good considering the power we would have following them...

[EddieMilner]

No teams needs a "true" leadoff hitter. Juan Pierre is a "true" leadoff hitter and he sucks. All the Reds need is a good OBP guy with some speed and some power. Hamilton showed he can handle it last year and can again this year. So what if he doesn't get as many RBIs opps.

I don't consider Juan Pierre a true leadoff hitter. I want someone with a high OBP and good speed (which Hamilton has, but coupled with his power it makes him a great candidate for the 2 spot). That would set the bases up for Hamilton, and with his speed and power he will rake. My worries are that by having him bat 1st, the guys before him (end of the lineup) are, more times than not, going to leave the bases empty for him. I'd rather see his skill set used to get some runs across the plate.

[*BaseClogger*]

I don't consider Juan Pierre a true leadoff hitter. I want someone with a high OBP and good speed (which Hamilton has, but coupled with his power it makes him a great candidate for the 2 spot). That would set the bases up for Hamilton, and with his speed and power he will rake. My worries are that by having him bat 1st, the guys before him (end of the lineup) are, more times than not, going to leave the bases empty for him. I'd rather see his skill set used to get some runs across the plate.

Ideally, if he lives up to the numbers he put up last year, he would hit in the #3 spot...

[TN Red Fan]

I don't understand why Hopper doesn't get any respect. It's not like he came out of nowhere. He hit .310 and .340 in his two minor league seasons leading up to last years .330 in Cincinnati. His OBPs were around .380. He has zero power but what does that matter for a leadoff hitter?

His only problem was that he was too old to be considered a prospect. But if a guy was 23 and put up those #s, we'd be all over him. I think it just takes some guys a little longer to put it all together. You don't bank on old prospects, because by 26-27 it's unlikely they're going to turn the corner. But when you stumble across one that does, then I think you have to count them as legit.

I like Hopper and I think the fact that he bats leadoff and is a natural CF (which we need), combined with the fact that Hamilton is a left-handed power hitter and a natural RF (which we don't need) makes him a fine candidate for the CF job next year.

I also don't hear anybody doubting Hamilton's production from last year. But Hamilton is in exactly the same situation, except that he has the relapse risk added on. Hamilton is an old prospect, just like Hopper, who did most of his damage in a platoon situation. Only Hamilton only hit .222 against lefties while Hopper hit .299 against righties.

But Hamilton has name recognition. Problem is he's a bad fit here because we have Griffey now and Bruce on the way. Plus, we still need pitching.