Would you have had Leake bunt in the 3rd today?

[CySeymour]

Ned Yost of the Royals just has his baseball analytics team devise the best lineups for him to use, and that is what he is doing now. Of course, they don't have many great hitters, but I'm sure the best lineup would not put the lowest OBP and OPS in the two hole (Hosmer is batting 2nd). It is just silly that Cozart is batting 2nd, and frankly it is infuriating. I still can't get over it, especially in situations like last night with two men on, we could have a competent hitter up to bat in the two hole. But no.

*As a side note, I'm a big fan of Cozart, especially defensively. He's just not cutting it on offense. Has anyone asked Dusty why he continues to bat the guy who makes the most outs 2nd?

I think a writer asked Dusty one day this past week, and Dusty got pissed and said something snippy like "Maybe I should have you come down and run things." I understand it gets frustrating having people question your moves, but that's the life of a big league manager. Dusty needs thicker skin, and you'd think someone who has been managing as long as he has would have learned that.

[RedsManRick]

Do any managers hit their best hitter, one of the best hitters in baseball, in the 2 hole?

1) While this argument is fine if you're trying to protect Dusty from criticism, it does nothing to affect the actual logic.

2) I would be happy with any other Reds position player not named Zack Cozart batting 2nd.

3) Yes. A number of managers bat their best hitter 2nd. The Cardinals bat Carlos Beltran 2nd. The Yankees bat Cano 2nd. The Orioles bat Machado 2nd. The Jays bat Jose Bautista 2nd. The Twins bat Joey Mauer 2nd. The Braves bat Jason Heyward 2nd. The Nationals bat Jayson Werth 2nd. The Brewers bat Jean Segura 2nd.

While not all of those guys those guys have torn the cover off the ball this year, all are expected to be one of the 2 or 3 best hitters on the team, some obviously the best and a few among the best hitters in the game.

It is not at all uncommon for managers to bat their best, or at least one of their best hitters 2nd. It is relatively uncommon to bat their worst hitter 2nd. When faced with the choice of moving somebody to bat 2nd besides his #1 choice (Phillips), he went with the worst possible option. Forgive me for citing that as a problem.

[TOBTTReds]

Derrick Robinson batting 2nd tonight...Cozart 8th.

[Raisor]

ARod hit second for the Mariners.

[TOBTTReds]

ARod hit second for the Mariners.

Yeah, but that was only because he was a SS. I kid.