I really dislike a high strikeout/low OBP% approach to hitting, regardless of power. I don't think you can win a division with too many of those guys in your lineup at the same time. Good pitching will usually beat a team relying almost solely on the HR to score. I've fretted over it and complained about it, openly wishing for at least one (and preferably two) more low strikeout/high OBP% hitter(s) to stick in the lineup either before or immeditely after Votto. My worst fear on this matter was that the Reds organization was ok with this high risk/high reward approach. Then, this week my fear seemed to again be confirmed when (1) Stubbs reiterated that he didn't see a problem and didn't intend to make any adjustments; and (2) Phillips reiterated that when hitting 4th he changes his approach to hitting trying to generate more power, and doesn't worry about his average, just his RBI totals.
So, at that point I just gave up on the hitting. But, the thing is the Reds keep winning. So, now I have to consider that maybe I'm just wrong. I know the Reds have guys making the decisions who, as they say, have forgotten more baseball than I'll ever know. So, I've started thinking maybe the Reds built this team with their ballpark in mind. With the way the ball flies out of Great American Ballpark, maybe this approach makes sense. I still don't agree, but what do you think?