Senzel was out a good hunk last year. You can basically run a lineup out of all RH that can either get on base fairly well or hurt you with the long ball.Originally Posted by Kc61
C Garcia
1b Stephenson
2b India
3b Solano
SS Farmer
LF Pham
CF Senzel
RF Aquino
DH Drury
You can likely pull one of Garcia or Drury because Votto can start against anyone. I won’t be too sad if Aquino is the 8 or 9 hitter and can plant a mistake 500 feet away.
HokieRed (04-04-2022)
I really like this lineup if it can stay relatively healthy, which feels like a huge ask. The DH spot should help, but too bad you only get one. I'm skeptical Votto can reproduce what he did last year, but hes looked phenomenal all spring so who knows. Moose/Senzel cant really be any worse than a year ago. Stephenson should be a big improvement with the bat over Barnhardt, and you have some interesting wild cards with Fraley & Barrero.
Only concerning piece with this lineup is if you lose a Votto, India, etc for an extended period things get really tough.
Old school 1983 (04-04-2022)
It's not good and I'd be looking to upgrade Aquino ASAP. But to carry over a conversation from another thread, that's still a much better line than what we can expect from Naquin/Fraley/Schrock vLHP IMO...
Ron Madden (04-04-2022)
Charlie Goldsmith, Cincinnati EnquirerSwing change for Reds' Aristides Aquino
Since Reds outfielder Aristides Aquino broke onto the scene in 2019, he was known for his wide open batting stance and his big leg kick. While he won NL Player of the Month in August 2019 and hit 14 home runs, he hasn’t been a consistent hitter since then.
So entering a pivotal 2022 season, Aquino changed his swing.
“He made an obvious adjustment to his stance and his approach at the plate,” Bell said. “It seems to give him a chance to be more consistent. He’s in the action a little bit more. I think for when he’s not playing every day, that approach will let him be more consistent. With his past approach, the timing had to be right on.”
The Reds prepared Aquino for a bench role all spring by subbing him into the game in the middle innings. Aquino will be the only right-handed hitting outfielder on the Reds bench, so he’ll likely take most of his at-bats when left-handed pitchers are in the game.
Since he won’t receive everyday playing time, Aquino’s new swing is less timing based and is more balanced. It took time for Aquino to find results with the new swing, and he hit .125 in his first 16 spring training at-bats. Then in starts on Friday and Sunday, Aquino was 4-for-10 at the plate with a double, a home run and six RBI.
“I worked hard to do anything I can to do my best, enjoy my moment and be ready to help the team,” Aquino said. “I’ve been taking better at-bats, and I’m comfortable with what I’m doing. If I keep working hard, I’ll do my best and help the team.”
As a 5th outfielder, I don’t think he’s hateful. When he plays, he’ll be better than the trio you mentioned, plus he can slide into any OF position needed. Again, if the biggest problem that can be pointed out is the 5th OF, the lineup must be pretty solid.
It's true, fifth outfielders as a rule are never a major issue because they play sparingly. However, it shouldn't be difficult to find a corner OF (I don't care that he can play CF since he stands on the same side of the plate as Senzel) who can OPS over .800 against LHP, especially one who also makes more consistent contact...
Tom Servo (04-04-2022)
Man, some people think this game is easy
No idea who this is in response to, but Aquino is a 28 year-old who has already passed thru waivers once in his career and I suspect would have a decent chance of doing so again.
The prototypical player I'm thinking of the Reds targeting is Jonny Gomes, who they once added on a league minimum salary and subsequently non-tendered...
Aquino career split vs. LHP: .792
Whenever we. look at Aquino’s career numbers, we need to remember that incredible hot streak when he first came up.
Those numbers count, sure. But they aren’t necessarily an indication of the present or the future.
*BaseClogger* (04-04-2022)
Well I do. Senzel has been injury prone. There are no other RH OF capable of manning center. It’d come in handy. I don’t think 2019 Aquino is what he is, but I think he’s a tick better than last year too.
If, as you say, Aquino is the “8 or 9 hitter” against lefties it speaks volumes.
When you hire a RHH to smash lefties, it’s not a great result if he’s a bottom of the order bat.
The idea is to get a specialist who feasts on LHP.
Last edited by Kc61; 04-04-2022 at 08:37 PM.
Mark Sheldon, reds.com
Nick Senzel and Jake Fraley can put the ball in play and be aggressive on the bases. Cincinnati was last in the Majors in steals in 2021 but manager David Bell is encouraging this group to be ready to run.
“That’s all we talk about, being aggressive on the bases,” Bell said. “We don’t want baserunners to be afraid to make mistakes with stealing bases or first to third or second to home. With our team speed not being one of our greatest strengths, we have to be great with our leads, knowing the opposition, secondary leads. Being able to do things that gain an extra step to take the extra base. Stealing bases is something a lot of guys can do.
“There’s no reason India can’t be a successful basestealer. He doesn’t have to steal 50. If he can have a high percentage, that adds a lot to our team, especially with where he hits in our lineup.”
There is still some thump in the 2022 lineup, however. Joey Votto is coming off a resurgent 36-homer, 99-RBI season. Reigning NL Rookie of the Year Award winner Jonathan India hit 21 homers last season and will be a catalyst from the leadoff spot. Tyler Stephenson, who flexed some power and had several clutch hits as a part-time catcher, is moving up to a regular role this season. The Reds sorely need Mike Moustakas to regain his form after two injury-filled seasons. If Moustakas can approach anything like the 35-homer season he had for the Brewers in 2019, Cincinnati will be in much better shape.
I am just mystified with the expectations for Senzel. If he had been a fifth round pic would anyone even care? I can’t remember but has he even had one healthy season since he has been in the organization? What was his health like in college? I remember back about 2017 and everyone here was sky high on him. It was like just wait until he gets to the Biggs and all of the Red’s problems are solved. He will be an all star. In the short stints he has been healthy he looks like a good batter but I just don’t see the greatness. What am I missing?
bm1475 (04-05-2022)
I know it's spring training but Senzel is hitting .344 and .948 OPS.
I'm curious to see what he will do if he's able to stay on the field this season.
HokieRed (04-05-2022)
Posting Permissions
|
Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please. |
Reply With Quote