Inconsistent messages?

[I(heart)Freel]

Narron says they are going to pick their spots with Hamilton to give him the best chance for success. This while he's red-hot.

But with Ross... they are going to stick with him because (to paraphrase) you can't come out of a slump on the bench.

Anyone else think this is a little inconsistent?


TODAY'S ENQ NOTEBOOK

STICKING WITH ROSS: Reds manager Jerry Narron said he'll consider giving third catcher Chad Moeller a start some time this week, but David Ross is going to continue to get the bulk of the playing time.

"It's a possibility," Narron said. "We're trying to get David Ross on track. It's not going to happen for him sitting on the bench."

Ross is hitting .085. He struck out three times in three at-bats Sunday, giving him 12 in 24 at-bats.

The fact he caught a shutout lessened the blow of the bad day at the plate.

"I feel good about today," he said. "You don't say that often after taking the hat trick."

Ross is not the only Red struggling.

The Reds are hitting .226 as a team and are 10th in the National League in runs scored.

They're hitting .198 against left-handers.

"It's early," Narron said. "We need to swing the bats. It's as simple as that. We'll come out of it and start hitting.

"The weather hasn't been good - the whole bit. It's not easy to hit in 30-degree weather."

[Chip R]

Problem is, if you don't play Ross, who do you play? Javy's the Venus De Milo behind the plate and he can't hit lefties. If he plays against the brew Crew they're going to steal him blind. Moeller's a dud as a hitter but his defense is supposedly good.

[Driver62]

It's not easy to hit in 30 degree weather?
Are we the only team playing in cold weather? Sounds like a cop out to me.

[jimbo]

It's not easy to hit in 30 degree weather?
Are we the only team playing in cold weather? Sounds like a cop out to me.

No, and there are a lot of teams not scoring very many runs.

[dougdirt]

It's not easy to hit in 30 degree weather?
Are we the only team playing in cold weather? Sounds like a cop out to me.

No, but offense is down across baseball.

[jimbo]

Narron says they are going to pick their spots with Hamilton to give him the best chance for success. This while he's red-hot.

But with Ross... they are going to stick with him because (to paraphrase) you can't come out of a slump on the bench.

Anyone else think this is a little inconsistent?

Not in the least bit. You have one player who has major league seasons under his belt and a track record, the other player has been out of professional baseball for a couple of years and only a handful of major league at-bats. Two totally different situations.

[I(heart)Freel]

Not in the least bit. You have one player who has major league seasons under his belt and a track record, the other player has been out of professional baseball for a couple of years and only a handful of major league at-bats. Two totally different situations.

True... but one could argue that Ross' success is only SLIGHTLY more tenured than Hamilton's. It's not like prior to last year Ross was a hitting machine.

[jimbo]

True... but one could argue that Ross' success is only SLIGHTLY more tenured than Hamilton's. It's not like prior to last year Ross was a hitting machine.

Ross has spent time in the majors in 7 different seasons, has 695 at-bats, and pretty much spent last season as a starting catcher. Hamilton has a total of 17 major league at-bats and spent two years out of the game altogether. I would call that a huge difference. You're approach to these two players as a manager is going to be quite different.

[Natty Redlocks]

True... but one could argue that Ross' success is only SLIGHTLY more tenured than Hamilton's. It's not like prior to last year Ross was a hitting machine.

Ross won the starting job hands down last year. Hamilton will probably do the same this year, but he hasn't yet.

[PuffyPig]

True... but one could argue that Ross' success is only SLIGHTLY more tenured than Hamilton's. It's not like prior to last year Ross was a hitting machine.

True, but Ross spent a good part of 2006 hitting and hitting well.

Hamilton has had 2 good games.

[TeamBoone]

Anyone else think this is a little inconsistent?

No. Ross is a starter (?); Hamilton is not.

That said, I sure hope David Ross gets it going pretty soon.

[Redsland]

Narron does what he thinks is right. But that doesn't mean he does those things because of the reasons he cites.