Package Votto with Castillo

[*bengalfan74*]

(07-16-2022, 11:29 PM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: Bell's faith in his first 4 in the lineup is confusing.

India is not a lead off hitter, he'd be better batting 2nd or 3rd. He's thicker and slower than he was last year. How can a team with little power in a HR friendly park have below average speed? 22nd in HR with 83 and 18th in stolen bases with 42.

Here's what I would do with the lineup against a lefty
Pham 
India 
Stephenson
Drury
Farmer
Solano mostly. If not Almora or Reynolds DH drop to hitting 9th
Votto
Senzel
Naquin


On Stephenson's day off or against a tough righty.

Pham
Naquin
India
Drury
Moustakas DH
Farmer
Senzel
Votto
Papierski or Garcia


Pham is 3rd on the team in On Base Percentage with .329 behind Drury and Farmer. Stephenson#1, Solano#2 and Alejo Lopez#6 are half of the top six in OBP but have missed too much time and do not qualify yet. I'm not counting Stuart Fairchild's 7 plate appearances.

I really like Lopez. His mid section often looks like Pete Rose's did after he swung when he went opposite field with the pitch. He leans in with his upper body, losing power but maintaining a level, consistent swing without reaching. 

Yep I do not get Bell's lineups at all. I suppose he uses the stat geek analytics.com website ? I dunno ? But like you say India has no business leading off with his .290 OB%. He has 6 walks in his 156 AB's. I'm not dogging the guy I like India he should be part of the Reda core to build on.
He's just not a lead off hitter.

And for the love of all things baseball why the hell do you have Votto batting cleanup ? He just now got his 30th RBI at the halfway point.

I just don't get Bell's lineup.