Quote:
Originally Posted by Edd Roush
On the contrary, I believe the data shows that Dusty does not push his starters to play 150 games. Bruce is the only one who hit that plateau and he barely did. Brandon Phillips was healthy all year and is much more established than Cozart and played only 145.
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Phillips was not healthy all year. He sat out three straight games in April because he was banged up and five straight games at the start of August. If not for that he starts 150+ for Dusty just like he did the previous three seasons. And Cozart would have started 150+ but he got a DL stint in September.
2011 - Votto, Phillips, Bruce and Stubbs got 150
2010 - Same 4, Gomes got 148
2009 - Only Phillips, Votto on DL
2008 - Only Votto, Phillips on DL, Encarnacion got 146, Dunn was on track for 150+ until he got traded
Basically, give Dusty a healthy every day player and he'll trot the guy out for 150+.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Edd Roush
I wouldn't mind Donald's bat off the bench. I just don't know how much opportunity he is going to have. I said 25 PH PAs during my last post, I really couldn't see more than 50. I just value the glove in the 10-25 starts the backup middle infielder is going to have over any amount of PAs. Just a point of personal preference.
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The shorter the bench, the more opportunity. Point is Donald offers some versatility. Extra inning game, tight game, blowout game - he's got his uses. That's in addition to spot starts (might even give him some OF starts vs. tough lefties). The top five bench players on the Reds got 150+ PA last season. No way I want that kind of work going to Izturis instead of Donald, absolutely no way.
[QUOTE=Edd Roush;2796281]I agree Izturis doesn't have much use on the bench./quote]
Which is why you stash him in the minors unless/until you need a guy to start regularly at SS.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Edd Roush
Fortunately, we have good starters and a few other decent pinch hitters so our backup middle infielder doesn't really need to be able to hit off the bench.
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Again, short bench, nowhere to hide. You need players. The only reason to keep Izturis on a short bench is as a defensive replacement and the Reds don't need that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Edd Roush
You have absolutely no speed related stats to back up your assertion that Donald is better on the basepaths than Izturis.
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Did you see Izturis play last year? He's getting ricketty, not to mention he could stand to drop 15-20 pounds. Also, during the past three seasons Donald has a +4 Rbaser while Izturis is a -5.