Dusty plans to stick with Cozart in the No. 2 spot

[OnBaseMachine]

Excellent news. That .261 OBP sandwiched between our two best hitters sure is working out. Walt did a great job of Dusty proofing the CF/lead off spot but Dusty has still found a way to stick his worst hitter in the No. 2 spot.

But Reds manager Dusty Baker has no plans on dropping Cozart in the order.

“I already had him down in the order,” Baker said. “I had down in the seventh hole probably half the time.”

Actually, Thursday was the 63rd time Cozart hit second. He’s hit seventh 17 times, eighth twice and ninth once.

Cozart has been better in the two spot (.253/.280/.370) than the seven spot (.150/.179/.333)

“You’ve got to learn some kind of way,” Baker said. “Someday, he’s going to be an excellent second hitter. We’re teaching guys how to hit at the big league level. There’s a difference between swinging and hitting.”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/201...the-no-2-spot/

[NebraskaRed]

I'm not a fan of Cozart hitting second, but it's clearly going to be the case going forward. It'll be interesting when/if Ludwick comes back to see if Cozart stays there or not.

[dougdirt]

I am going to go put my head in a doorway and slam the door shut. Be back in a minute.

[cumberlandreds]

Send Cozart to Louisville if he needs teaching. Find someone who is ready to hit at the big league level. As long as Cozart or anyone else with an OBP of .260 is batting 2nd this offense is going to struggle. That should be elementary.

[Kingspoint]

Can't believe nobody has touched, "there's a difference between swinging and hitting".

[dougdirt]

Can't believe nobody has touched, "there's a difference between swinging and hitting".

I will.

Dusty actually said something right in that article. That might have been the only thing he said that was right.

[edabbs44]

On the plus side, a better bat won't be asked to sacrifice an out to move Choo over in order to draw the IBB for Votto.

[NebraskaRed]

I will.

Dusty actually said something right in that article. That might have been the only thing he said that was right.

He also said "Every year is different" which is true. We don't magically repeat years.

And "You can't hit everyone down in the order" which is a numeric fact.

[RedsManRick]

Someday Cozart might be a good #2 hitter. But we're trying to win a championship today. Yes, you can't bat everybody down in the order. But you know who should bat down in the order? YOUR WORST HITTER.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is what a player's manager sounds like: Interests of individual player's career > Interests of the club.

Batting 7th or 8th would not prevent Cozart from learning how to be a good hitter. The fact that he's willing to sacrifice the team's ability to score runs because he thinks it creates a marginally better learning opportunity is crazy. And when you think about Dusty's usual stuff around having to prove your self and make the most of your opportunities, this is all the more frustrating.

Someday I hope we have a manager who doesn't think spots in the batting order are special positions that players have to learn.

[reds44]

People are reading way too much into this. Yes, him batting 2nd is bad enough in itself, but don't read too much into the actual quotes.

He has pinch hit for Cozart in big spots late in games. He said "he already tried him lower in the order" and "you can't hit everyone low in the order."

If he's going to bat him 2nd, of course he is going to talk him up and try to give him confidence.

[dougdirt]

People are reading way too much into this. Yes, him batting 2nd is bad enough in itself, but don't read too much into the actual quotes.

He has pinch hit for Cozart in big spots late in games. He said "he already tried him lower in the order" and "you can't hit everyone low in the order."

If he's going to bat him 2nd, of course he is going to talk him up and try to give him confidence.

Zack Cozart doesn't need confidence. That isn't why he can't hit. He can't hit because he can't hit. The guy turns 28 years old in a month. He isn't going to figure something out. There won't be an "aha!" moment. He has never really hit, scouts never expected him to hit.

[DocRed]

LOL, good to know we are paying to support MLB Instructional school.

[tomnuetten]

yeah and some other news, water is wet...

did anyone suspected something different?! the problem is that even if he wants to put another guy in the #2 hole there is nobody that would fit

and he´s not going to hit votto #2
and he won´t put phillips in 2nd => there is not much he can choose

[westofyou]

Awesome a thread on Cozart batting number two!!

[dubc47834]

Someday Cozart might be a good #2 hitter. But we're trying to win a championship today. Yes, you can't bat everybody down in the order. But you know who should bat down in the order? YOUR WORST HITTER.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is what a player's manager sounds like: Interests of individual player's career > Interests of the club.

Batting 7th or 8th would not prevent Cozart from learning how to be a good hitter. The fact that he's willing to sacrifice the team's ability to score runs because he thinks it creates a marginally better learning opportunity is crazy. And when you think about Dusty's usual stuff around having to prove your self and make the most of your opportunities, this is all the more frustrating.

Someday I hope we have a manager who doesn't think spots in the batting order are special positions that players have to learn.

Really dude, it took you hearing Dusty say this to finally realize that Cozart was gonna stay in the 2 hole? It doesn't matter whether you like Dusty or not, everyone knows Cozart is probably gonna bat second! I don't think any of these comments should come as a surprise.