We know BP stinks against RH pitching. His career numbers prove that. Why on earth would we want that hitting cleanup? It doesn't make any sense no matter how you spin it. Against lefties? Sure, put him 4th. I've got no problem with that because he destroys lefties. Against righties, he should be dropped down to 6th.
Shoot, against lefties I would bat Phillips second to maximize his PAs...
Im confused by your line of thinking. The reason I would break up Votto and Bruce is so a LOGGY doesn't neutralize them. Granted Votto has pretty even splits against R and L that doesn't mean a LOGGY won't be successful against him. There are reasons why every team has a LOGGY. Just because Votto has even splits it doesn't mean he won't struggle against a LOGGY. If you put Phillips in between those two a manager will have to make a decision upon when to bring in the LOGGY.
Phillips isn't the ideal 4 hitter for the Reds. Encarnacion probably is but I would want him to prove he can handle that roll before he is handed it.
After the 1st inning, every 3rd or 4th batter become a cleanup hitter.
Just to get some answers, what is a typical cleanup batter these days? When I was a kid, it was your power hitter. Nowadays, your power hitter bats 3rd to increase his chances of getting an extra AB.
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