Dusty Baker "Laynce ... is swinging the bat better than anybody we got"

[mu4103]

The Fangraphs article was posted by zjr1717 , but I thought it was so crazy that it deserved its own post.

“Like Laynce,” said Baker. “He is swinging better than anybody we got, except maybe Joey Votto, so that’s why he’s playing (in left field in place of Jonny Gomes). And it gives me some options late in the game - pinch-hitting or better defense.”
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Am I missing something, Nix has 2 hits in August (3 starts) or 3 hits w/ 4 starts if you count today. What is Dusty talking about? Chris Heisey, Scott Rolen, Brandon Phillips ... not many starters are swinging the bat worse than Nix.

[GaiusBallstar]

Original Fangraphs Article

Yeah this deserves its own thread, it makes the upcoming roster moves that are imminent much more interesting...

[Reds]

Nice catch by Nix to start the game tonight, Gomes probably doesn't get that ball. Had a knock too.

[GaiusBallstar]

Nice catch by Nix to start the game tonight, Gomes probably doesn't get that ball. Had a knock too.

Laynce Nix WAR - .7

Johnny Gomes - .1

Last year:

Nix - 1.0

Gomes - 1.1

According to UZR Nix is a much better defender, this explains why WAR considers him as valuable, and this year apparently more valuable, than gomes.

But is he really a more valuable player?

[Reds]

Is Nix more valueable -- Nah, because Gomes took advantage of his opportunity in the 1st half, particularly with RISP, I believe. I prefer Gomes in most matchups, but I also dig what Dusty is doing riding his hot horse.

[bagz]

Dusty's decision to start Nix against the Cards turned out to be a good move with him making a nice catch and getting a hit. But to say that he's "swinging better than anybody we got" is a funny, absurd statement. I'd like to have some of that stuff he's smoking in his cigar.

[GIDP]

Nix when he is going well is good. The problem is he goes bad and goes really bad and ends up in the .220s with a .280 OBP.

[bgwilly31]

been saying this for awhile. Nix deserves a spot on this squad right now.

[GIDP]

Nix is a .700 OPS player for his career.

[Griffey012]

Nix is a .700 OPS player for his career.

Janish is a .625 OPS player for his career. Doesn't mean he isn't useful and doesn't have a place on the team. I agree with hanging onto Laynce for the time being, he's been swinging it well since the break, and had quite a few pinch hits of late. Plus, they wanted to stack lefties in the lineup for Carp and Wainwright. Hopefully he just doesn't stick around to much longer though, unless they decide to demote Stubbs.

[GIDP]

Janish is a .625 OPS player for his career. Doesn't mean he isn't useful and doesn't have a place on the team. I agree with hanging onto Laynce for the time being, he's been swinging it well since the break, and had quite a few pinch hits of late. Plus, they wanted to stack lefties in the lineup for Carp and Wainwright. Hopefully he just doesn't stick around to much longer though, unless they decide to demote Stubbs.

The problem is one is a SS and the other is a guy platooning most of his time and expected to be a LH power bat.

a .700 OPS outfield bat that isnt close to being better than any of the other Reds options doesnt have a place on the team. I stand behind those comments fully.