Platoons and Depth, Can it Work?

[Burger Beer]

If you can't assemble a new "great eight", is the "best mix-and-match 26" a good alternative? Can it work?

It appears to be a given that the 2019 Reds outfield will consist of platooning for at least two of the three spots every day. Additionally, the myriad talented outfielders on the roster will provide for lots of favorable pinch hitting or double switch opportunities for Winker/Ervin/Akiyama/Senzel/Akino/Castellanos...and Lorenzen. The depth, versatility and options in that group seems pretty impressive.

Castellanos is probably the only "everyday" outfielder though, right?

In the infield, Suarez, Votto and Moustakas are the everyday guys. (And Galvis. For now.)

Barnhart and Cassali already platoon.

So...Suarez, Moustakas, Castellanos and Votto are the 2019 Reds everyday players for 2019.

Seems highly unorthodox to have so few "regulars" and so many quality match-up/depth options. Are the Reds on to a new "market inefficiency"? Can this work?

[Bourgeois Zee]

It depends on what they do moving forward.

I suspect LF will be a platoon.

Catcher is a platoon.

But, IMO, that's it.

[Burger Beer]

It depends on what they do moving forward.

I suspect LF will be a platoon.

Catcher is a platoon.

But, IMO, that's it.

You don't think Shogo and Senzel will platoon in Center?

[Ohiohaybaler]

Votto should platoon at 1B. What did Votto hit vs. lefties last year?

[Bourgeois Zee]

You don't think Shogo and Senzel will platoon in Center?

Nope.

[MoneyInTheBank]

You don't think Shogo and Senzel will platoon in Center?

I guess it depends on what you mean by "platoon". Will they both play some CF? Yes. Will Senzel play against LHP and Shogo against RHP? No.

[1009 2012]

I expect Bell to do a lot of mixing and matching. Put a mainly RH hitting line-up out there against lefty starters then bring in the LH batters when righties come out of the pen. Take advantage of match-ups and get plenty of ABs for all 13 hitters.


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[cincinnati chili]

I read somewhere that Shogo hasn't missed a games in Japan for several years. I think platoons are vastly underutilized around baseball. So the answer to your question is that yes, they can work. But the primary platoon candidates is Barnhart. Winker, if Senzel gets moved to the infield.

[Kc61]

If you can't assemble a new "great eight", is the "best mix-and-match 26" a good alternative? Can it work?

It appears to be a given that the 2019 Reds outfield will consist of platooning for at least two of the three spots every day. Additionally, the myriad talented outfielders on the roster will provide for lots of favorable pinch hitting or double switch opportunities for Winker/Ervin/Akiyama/Senzel/Akino/Castellanos...and Lorenzen. The depth, versatility and options in that group seems pretty impressive.

Castellanos is probably the only "everyday" outfielder though, right?

In the infield, Suarez, Votto and Moustakas are the everyday guys. (And Galvis. For now.)

Barnhart and Cassali already platoon.

So...Suarez, Moustakas, Castellanos and Votto are the 2019 Reds everyday players for 2019.

Seems highly unorthodox to have so few "regulars" and so many quality match-up/depth options. Are the Reds on to a new "market inefficiency"? Can this work?

Not happening. Tons of reasons. Let’s go through a few.

1. With Castellanos the only everyday OFer, you are “platooning” five OFers to cover two OF positions. Lot of bench time for your OFers. Expect some unpleasant calls from the player agents.

2. Senzel as OF platoon against LHP plays 1/4 of the time. Think Reds want Senzel on the bench three of four games?

3. Senzel can always get at bats at second or third base. Think Reds are ready to sit Moose and Suarez?

4. OF platoon against lefties allows Cast, Senzel, Aquino and Ervin all to play in those games. But four OFers is really, really unorthodox.

Question - Why did the Reds sign Castellanos and Shogo if they intended to keep six OFers all requiring meaningful playing time with limited ability to move to infield? Answer - they didn’t.

[OhioRiverBarge]

Question - Why did the Reds sign Castellanos and Shogo if they intended to keep six OFers all requiring meaningful playing time with limited ability to move to infield? Answer - they didn’t.

Sub-question: did they really get a 32 year old to play CF for the next 3 years?

[Burger Beer]

Question - Why did the Reds sign Castellanos and Shogo if they intended to keep six OFers all requiring meaningful playing time with limited ability to move to infield? Answer - they didn’t.

Looking forward to seeing which shortstop we get in the trade.