Is this what caused the offensive slump?

[westofyou]

Most platooning involves sitting LH's

This year in MLB 43 LH batters have over 100 PA's vs LH, 146 have over 100 PA's vs RH's

Forty three appeared on both lists

last			Split	PA	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB
Arraez			vs RHP	336	0.303	0.366	0.390	0.756	117
Arraez			vs LHP	104	0.222	0.317	0.289	0.606	26
Benintendi		vs RHP	351	0.265	0.314	0.433	0.747	139
Benintendi		vs LHP	148	0.302	0.331	0.453	0.784	63
Blackmon		vs RHP	390	0.257	0.326	0.426	0.751	149
Blackmon		vs LHP	153	0.288	0.386	0.386	0.772	51
Brantley		vs RHP	318	0.366	0.421	0.507	0.928	147
Brantley		vs LHP	175	0.226	0.269	0.323	0.592	53
Chisholm		vs RHP	329	0.251	0.311	0.438	0.749	131
Chisholm		vs LHP	132	0.254	0.298	0.426	0.724	52
Conforto		vs RHP	311	0.239	0.347	0.436	0.783	115
Conforto		vs LHP	134	0.188	0.321	0.205	0.526	23
Crawford		vs RHP	362	0.319	0.398	0.562	0.959	178
Crawford		vs LHP	140	0.248	0.307	0.416	0.723	52
J Crawford		vs RHP	387	0.265	0.339	0.369	0.708	127
J Crawford		vs LHP	248	0.276	0.328	0.382	0.710	87
Cronenworth		vs RHP	417	0.267	0.347	0.473	0.820	172
Cronenworth		vs LHP	180	0.272	0.337	0.432	0.769	70
Devers			vs RHP	387	0.271	0.351	0.597	0.949	203
Devers			vs LHP	233	0.278	0.348	0.416	0.764	87
Frazier			vs RHP	427	0.316	0.377	0.399	0.776	154
Frazier			vs LHP	172	0.284	0.355	0.426	0.781	66
Freeman			vs RHP	465	0.315	0.413	0.537	0.949	213
Freeman			vs LHP	182	0.268	0.335	0.445	0.780	73
Gallo			vs RHP	372	0.199	0.360	0.493	0.853	146
Gallo			vs LHP	208	0.209	0.346	0.448	0.794	77
Gardner			vs RHP	320	0.212	0.322	0.372	0.694	100
Gardner			vs LHP	103	0.241	0.347	0.301	0.648	25
Grisham			vs RHP	356	0.226	0.303	0.387	0.690	123
Grisham			vs LHP	124	0.265	0.387	0.441	0.828	45
Herrera			vs RHP	315	0.254	0.308	0.429	0.737	123
Herrera			vs LHP	139	0.256	0.314	0.384	0.698	48
Hosmer			vs RHP	381	0.269	0.352	0.391	0.742	132
Hosmer			vs LHP	145	0.257	0.292	0.382	0.674	52
Kelenic			vs RHP	213	0.193	0.286	0.417	0.704	78
Kelenic			vs LHP	120	0.150	0.200	0.239	0.439	27
Kiermaier		vs RHP	250	0.252	0.320	0.401	0.721	89
Kiermaier		vs LHP	113	0.248	0.301	0.305	0.606	32
Lopez			vs RHP	393	0.304	0.374	0.376	0.750	130
Lopez			vs LHP	131	0.304	0.354	0.391	0.746	45
Lowe			vs RHP	399	0.255	0.366	0.549	0.915	185
Lowe			vs LHP	179	0.196	0.263	0.374	0.637	61
N Lowe			vs RHP	400	0.260	0.360	0.421	0.781	144
N Lowe			vs LHP	196	0.264	0.347	0.374	0.721	65
McMahon			vs RHP	389	0.266	0.345	0.494	0.839	169
McMahon			vs LHP	162	0.231	0.315	0.357	0.671	51
Meadows			vs RHP	383	0.252	0.337	0.536	0.873	179
Meadows			vs LHP	180	0.190	0.267	0.266	0.533	42
Mullins			vs RHP	397	0.313	0.381	0.574	0.955	202
Mullins			vs LHP	237	0.285	0.348	0.467	0.815	100
Odor			vs RHP	243	0.197	0.277	0.367	0.644	80
Odor			vs LHP	108	0.223	0.324	0.436	0.760	41
Ohtani			vs RHP	387	0.259	0.377	0.580	0.958	188
Ohtani			vs LHP	202	0.253	0.322	0.615	0.937	112
Olson			vs RHP	383	0.275	0.384	0.505	0.889	158
Olson			vs LHP	241	0.274	0.353	0.613	0.966	130
Pederson		vs RHP	351	0.222	0.291	0.413	0.703	130
Pederson		vs LHP	111	0.258	0.342	0.371	0.713	36
Polanco			vs RHP	276	0.222	0.301	0.412	0.712	100
Polanco			vs LHP	106	0.172	0.236	0.204	0.440	19
Rizzo			vs RHP	381	0.217	0.326	0.412	0.737	133
Rizzo			vs LHP	156	0.329	0.404	0.504	0.907	69
Rojas			vs RHP	375	0.263	0.341	0.417	0.757	138
Rojas			vs LHP	142	0.280	0.357	0.432	0.789	54
Rosario			vs RHP	254	0.264	0.319	0.485	0.804	112
Rosario			vs LHP	117	0.264	0.287	0.364	0.651	40
Schwarber		vs RHP	301	0.257	0.352	0.605	0.958	158
Schwarber		vs LHP	134	0.270	0.388	0.387	0.776	43
Seager			vs RHP	250	0.269	0.384	0.414	0.798	86
Seager			vs LHP	110	0.307	0.355	0.535	0.889	54
Seager			vs RHP	411	0.211	0.304	0.453	0.757	163
Seager			vs LHP	214	0.216	0.262	0.432	0.694	86
Smith			vs RHP	343	0.216	0.280	0.339	0.619	105
Smith			vs LHP	138	0.315	0.370	0.419	0.789	52
Smith			vs RHP	373	0.275	0.330	0.446	0.776	154
Smith			vs LHP	148	0.233	0.304	0.293	0.597	39
Verdugo			vs RHP	382	0.326	0.401	0.512	0.913	171
Verdugo			vs LHP	192	0.222	0.266	0.283	0.549	51
Votto			vs RHP	345	0.294	0.406	0.640	1.046	183
Votto			vs LHP	158	0.219	0.317	0.402	0.718	55
Walsh			vs RHP	363	0.317	0.391	0.568	0.960	183
Walsh			vs LHP	173	0.170	0.208	0.358	0.566	59
Wendle			vs RHP	352	0.291	0.338	0.463	0.801	151
Wendle			vs LHP	122	0.211	0.287	0.339	0.626	37
Winker			vs RHP	367	0.346	0.428	0.642	1.070	206
Winker			vs LHP	118	0.177	0.288	0.284	0.572	29
Wong			vs RHP	323	0.263	0.334	0.443	0.777	128
Wong			vs LHP	133	0.304	0.338	0.472	0.810	59
Yaz			vs RHP	374	0.237	0.322	0.514	0.835	169
Yaz			vs LHP	122	0.176	0.262	0.269	0.531	29
Yelich			vs RHP	328	0.266	0.381	0.386	0.767	106
Yelich			vs LHP	110	0.192	0.291	0.319	0.610	30

[mth123]

Most platooning involves sitting LH's

This year in MLB 43 LH batters have over 100 PA's vs LH, 146 have over 100 PA's vs RH's

Forty three appeared on both lists

last			Split	PA	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB
Arraez			vs RHP	336	0.303	0.366	0.390	0.756	117
Arraez			vs LHP	104	0.222	0.317	0.289	0.606	26
Benintendi		vs RHP	351	0.265	0.314	0.433	0.747	139
Benintendi		vs LHP	148	0.302	0.331	0.453	0.784	63
Blackmon		vs RHP	390	0.257	0.326	0.426	0.751	149
Blackmon		vs LHP	153	0.288	0.386	0.386	0.772	51
Brantley		vs RHP	318	0.366	0.421	0.507	0.928	147
Brantley		vs LHP	175	0.226	0.269	0.323	0.592	53
Chisholm		vs RHP	329	0.251	0.311	0.438	0.749	131
Chisholm		vs LHP	132	0.254	0.298	0.426	0.724	52
Conforto		vs RHP	311	0.239	0.347	0.436	0.783	115
Conforto		vs LHP	134	0.188	0.321	0.205	0.526	23
Crawford		vs RHP	362	0.319	0.398	0.562	0.959	178
Crawford		vs LHP	140	0.248	0.307	0.416	0.723	52
J Crawford		vs RHP	387	0.265	0.339	0.369	0.708	127
J Crawford		vs LHP	248	0.276	0.328	0.382	0.710	87
Cronenworth		vs RHP	417	0.267	0.347	0.473	0.820	172
Cronenworth		vs LHP	180	0.272	0.337	0.432	0.769	70
Devers			vs RHP	387	0.271	0.351	0.597	0.949	203
Devers			vs LHP	233	0.278	0.348	0.416	0.764	87
Frazier			vs RHP	427	0.316	0.377	0.399	0.776	154
Frazier			vs LHP	172	0.284	0.355	0.426	0.781	66
Freeman			vs RHP	465	0.315	0.413	0.537	0.949	213
Freeman			vs LHP	182	0.268	0.335	0.445	0.780	73
Gallo			vs RHP	372	0.199	0.360	0.493	0.853	146
Gallo			vs LHP	208	0.209	0.346	0.448	0.794	77
Gardner			vs RHP	320	0.212	0.322	0.372	0.694	100
Gardner			vs LHP	103	0.241	0.347	0.301	0.648	25
Grisham			vs RHP	356	0.226	0.303	0.387	0.690	123
Grisham			vs LHP	124	0.265	0.387	0.441	0.828	45
Herrera			vs RHP	315	0.254	0.308	0.429	0.737	123
Herrera			vs LHP	139	0.256	0.314	0.384	0.698	48
Hosmer			vs RHP	381	0.269	0.352	0.391	0.742	132
Hosmer			vs LHP	145	0.257	0.292	0.382	0.674	52
Kelenic			vs RHP	213	0.193	0.286	0.417	0.704	78
Kelenic			vs LHP	120	0.150	0.200	0.239	0.439	27
Kiermaier		vs RHP	250	0.252	0.320	0.401	0.721	89
Kiermaier		vs LHP	113	0.248	0.301	0.305	0.606	32
Lopez			vs RHP	393	0.304	0.374	0.376	0.750	130
Lopez			vs LHP	131	0.304	0.354	0.391	0.746	45
Lowe			vs RHP	399	0.255	0.366	0.549	0.915	185
Lowe			vs LHP	179	0.196	0.263	0.374	0.637	61
N Lowe			vs RHP	400	0.260	0.360	0.421	0.781	144
N Lowe			vs LHP	196	0.264	0.347	0.374	0.721	65
McMahon			vs RHP	389	0.266	0.345	0.494	0.839	169
McMahon			vs LHP	162	0.231	0.315	0.357	0.671	51
Meadows			vs RHP	383	0.252	0.337	0.536	0.873	179
Meadows			vs LHP	180	0.190	0.267	0.266	0.533	42
Mullins			vs RHP	397	0.313	0.381	0.574	0.955	202
Mullins			vs LHP	237	0.285	0.348	0.467	0.815	100
Odor			vs RHP	243	0.197	0.277	0.367	0.644	80
Odor			vs LHP	108	0.223	0.324	0.436	0.760	41
Ohtani			vs RHP	387	0.259	0.377	0.580	0.958	188
Ohtani			vs LHP	202	0.253	0.322	0.615	0.937	112
Olson			vs RHP	383	0.275	0.384	0.505	0.889	158
Olson			vs LHP	241	0.274	0.353	0.613	0.966	130
Pederson		vs RHP	351	0.222	0.291	0.413	0.703	130
Pederson		vs LHP	111	0.258	0.342	0.371	0.713	36
Polanco			vs RHP	276	0.222	0.301	0.412	0.712	100
Polanco			vs LHP	106	0.172	0.236	0.204	0.440	19
Rizzo			vs RHP	381	0.217	0.326	0.412	0.737	133
Rizzo			vs LHP	156	0.329	0.404	0.504	0.907	69
Rojas			vs RHP	375	0.263	0.341	0.417	0.757	138
Rojas			vs LHP	142	0.280	0.357	0.432	0.789	54
Rosario			vs RHP	254	0.264	0.319	0.485	0.804	112
Rosario			vs LHP	117	0.264	0.287	0.364	0.651	40
Schwarber		vs RHP	301	0.257	0.352	0.605	0.958	158
Schwarber		vs LHP	134	0.270	0.388	0.387	0.776	43
Seager			vs RHP	250	0.269	0.384	0.414	0.798	86
Seager			vs LHP	110	0.307	0.355	0.535	0.889	54
Seager			vs RHP	411	0.211	0.304	0.453	0.757	163
Seager			vs LHP	214	0.216	0.262	0.432	0.694	86
Smith			vs RHP	343	0.216	0.280	0.339	0.619	105
Smith			vs LHP	138	0.315	0.370	0.419	0.789	52
Smith			vs RHP	373	0.275	0.330	0.446	0.776	154
Smith			vs LHP	148	0.233	0.304	0.293	0.597	39
Verdugo			vs RHP	382	0.326	0.401	0.512	0.913	171
Verdugo			vs LHP	192	0.222	0.266	0.283	0.549	51
Votto			vs RHP	345	0.294	0.406	0.640	1.046	183
Votto			vs LHP	158	0.219	0.317	0.402	0.718	55
Walsh			vs RHP	363	0.317	0.391	0.568	0.960	183
Walsh			vs LHP	173	0.170	0.208	0.358	0.566	59
Wendle			vs RHP	352	0.291	0.338	0.463	0.801	151
Wendle			vs LHP	122	0.211	0.287	0.339	0.626	37
Winker			vs RHP	367	0.346	0.428	0.642	1.070	206
Winker			vs LHP	118	0.177	0.288	0.284	0.572	29
Wong			vs RHP	323	0.263	0.334	0.443	0.777	128
Wong			vs LHP	133	0.304	0.338	0.472	0.810	59
Yaz			vs RHP	374	0.237	0.322	0.514	0.835	169
Yaz			vs LHP	122	0.176	0.262	0.269	0.531	29
Yelich			vs RHP	328	0.266	0.381	0.386	0.767	106
Yelich			vs LHP	110	0.192	0.291	0.319	0.610	30

Yeah and the reason its looks bad when Bell does it is because his RH bats haven't hit lefties all that well either. Suarez, Aquino, Barrero are all bad against LHP these days. Farmer is pretty good against LHP, but he's been playing every day. Stephenson was good until the last month. Cabrera was decent on the season but has done nothing since the Reds picked him up. So the Reds sit the lefty bats against the lefty pitching and the RH bats fail. I don't blame Bell for that. Its on the players for failing and the front office for not having better options available. Senzel is decent (not great) against LHP on those days where there is a total eclipse of the sun and he actually is in the line-up.

If Bell left the lefty bats in there to flail away, the same posters would be complaining that he didn't pinch hit. No Manager can make a turd taste any better. This seesm to be a primary complaint against Bell and I find no fault in what he's trying to do. The team needs better players or the players they have need to play better. Neither of those things is on the Manager.

[M2]

All the baseball gurus here say this is the way to go. Only simpletons stuck in the past think otherwise.

Apparently having paid the smallest amount of attention to baseball over the past 100+ years and recognizing platoon advantage is a real thing makes you a guru.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

Maybe the stats don't back that up, but the tv crew -- as well as practically any athlete in any major sport would tell you -- has said a number of times this season that constantly coming off the bench or hitting in different roles DOES affect your timing and approach. And three reasons that I can think of that Bell does this is David is obsessed with alternating R / L in the starting lineup, he's obsessed with the R / L matchup late in games, and every kid deserves a medal. The first reason leaves me to believe he'd flip a coin 500 times and record the number of heads and tails, if he ever had a switch hitter to put in the starting lineup.

Bell would platoon Joe Morgan and Raphael Landestoy.

[westofyou]

Bell would platoon Joe Morgan and Raphael Landestoy.

In 1982 Giants manager Frank Robinson sometimes platooned Morgan with Duane Kuiper

[M2]

In 1982 Giants manager Frank Robinson sometimes platooned Morgan with Duane Kuiper

...upon receiving advice from a young David Bell.

[westofyou]

...upon receiving advice from a young David Bell.

Attachment 17736

[JFLegal]

i think it's mostly because winker is the most brittle player this side of senzel.

winker was having an MVP-type season until he got hurt.

[standerson]

Regression to their mean..

Yep

[Falls City Beer]

Yep

Quite a few guys hitting way over their historical numbers.

[Kc61]

Reds just weren’t very good against LHP this season.

Against RHP late season, injuries hurt them badly, Winker, Naquin, Moose (injured, then didn’t get going).

That covers just about every game down the stretch, seems to me.

[HokieRed]

Lack of depth in the roster. Way too much expenditure going to sub-replacement players. An 162 game season exposes these realities. Sometimes it's earlier, sometimes later. This year it was later.