08-05-2023, 12:13 PM
(08-05-2023, 01:25 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: Here's the good news:
In the next 8 games (2 vs Washington, 3 vs Miami and 3 vs Pittsburgh), we're only going to face 2 lefties.
That means only 2 opportunities for Bell to put this goofy ass Fairchild/Senzel/Newman lineup out there that we have suffered through for the last 3 games (in which those 3 players have gone 7 for 34 with 2BB and 7K)
Also, EDLC is looking really good at the plate. He did not swing at a single pitch in the dirt today.
In his first at bat, he did strike out, but 2 were in the strikezone and the other was outside, but was up towards the middle of the strikezone. Threre were two balls down and in that he took.
In his second at bat, there were two balls down and in that he took, one up that he took and then he swung at a strike near the strikezone and then his the home run.
In his third at bat, he laid off a ball down and away, fouled off a strike and then flew out on a strike.
In his fourth at bat, he laid off a slider down and in, and then grounded out on a strke in the strikezone.
And then in his fifth at bat, he was intentionally walked because the Nationals knew Senzel would not win the game (and he didn't).
I know my posts occasionally border on obsessive when it comes to Elly, but I truly believe if he learned to lay off off speed pitches in the dirt, he'd be the best player on the team by a long shot and I think this game (as well as the last few games) is showing progress towards that goal.
Of course, now that I say this, he's probably going to strikeout 4 times tomorrow, swinging at every single pitch regardless of where it is in the zone haha.
It seems like CES is making good adjustments as well. He's not mashing homers, but he is getting on base a lot. I have to think that eventually the power that everyone talks about him having will follow suit in time.
Also, unrelated: I'm starting to miss having India in the lineup. He may not be the face of the team any longer, but he's still a hell of a lot better than Newman, Senzel, or Fairchild. It's getting tougher to ignore the fact that his absence coincides with the beginning of the decline.
It really boggles the mind to think that Reds fans (myself included) were worried about having enough spots in the everyday lineup to cram CES, Elly, and McLain in at the MLB level. I mean, shit, they apparently have enough room for all 3 of Fairchild, Senzel and Newman, so I'm not sure it was ever a problem.
Also think it's criminal for a healthy Benson to be on the bench. When he's not a the bottom of the lineup, the opposing pitcher gets the dead spots that the Reds don't normally give teams between the guys that can rake.
