Lorenzen double dipping

[*bengalfan74*]

https://www.mlb.com/reds/news/michael-lorenzen-two-way-increase-2020

This can be a big advantage Reds as long as he can contribute from the Bull pen.

[Forever Spinning Vinyl]

I'm not really buying into any of it. I don't want to find playing time for a career .235 hitter that hit .208 last year. Having outfielders hit like that (Schebler, Kemp, Winker, Puig, Peraza) put us way back early on last year and it was recovery mode for the rest of the season. I'd put him out there for some late inning defense if our OF still sucks defensively, but I'd rather see the guys fighting for a spot get those ABs unless it's in extra innings and they are out of position players.

Now all of you get off my lawn.

[grampahol]

Perhaps Lorenzen would be better suited to find an acting role in the next marvel movie once he grows a new chin.. 

[fredtoast]

I love that Lorenzen's versatility gives us options as a pinch runner, OF defensive specialist, and pinch hitter.  His good bat also allows him to stay in the game multiple innings as a reliever instead of having to be pulled for a pinch hitter. But I don't see him being considered as taking an OF spot on our roster or even as one of our top pinch hitters.

[*bengalfan74*]

(01-05-2020, 02:55 AM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: I'm not really buying into any of it. I don't want to find playing time for a career .235 hitter that hit .208 last year. Having outfielders hit like that (Schebler, Kemp,  Winker, Puig, Peraza) put us way back early on last year and it was recovery mode for the rest of the season. I'd put him out there for some late inning defense if our OF still sucks defensively, but I'd rather see the guys fighting for a spot get those ABs unless it's in extra innings and they are out of position players.

Now all of you get off my lawn.

I agree for the most part. Our bullpen faded bad down the stretch last season and we need all the help we can get from it. I'm not sure I'd keep him in his Swiss Army knife role if his pitching is struggling ?

(01-05-2020, 02:08 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I love that Lorenzen's versatility gives us options as a pinch runner, OF defensive specialist, and pinch hitter.  His good bat also allows him to stay in the game multiple innings as a reliever instead of having to be pulled for a pinch hitter. But I don't see him being considered as taking an OF spot on our roster or even as one of our top pinch hitters.

Agree he can give you that one extra option most other teams won't have. But I think you have to be very careful if he's gonna hold down a bullpen spot. Running him out there all the time in the OF I'd guess will hurt his relief pitching.

[Yojimbo]

Just below that story you see they signed Davidson to a minor league deal. He wants to be a two way player too. If he makes the roster out of spring training, having him and Lorezen available to bat, field and hit off the bench, would give Bell a ton of flexibility.

[Forever Spinning Vinyl]

(01-05-2020, 08:51 PM)Yojimbo Wrote: Just below that story you see they signed Davidson to a minor league deal. He wants to be a two way player too. If he makes the roster out of spring training, having him and Lorezen available to bat, field and hit off the bench, would give Bell a ton of flexibility.

I was liking everything you said until the very end. Then I was reminded that we have David "use my entire roster every game" Bell. He keeps his bench players prepared at the expense of his regulars. This is a problem when you hire a utility man as a manager.

BUT

New season, hopefully he's the type that learns from his mistakes.

[grampahol]

(01-05-2020, 08:51 PM)Yojimbo Wrote: Just below that story you see they signed Davidson to a minor league deal. He wants to be a two way player too. If he makes the roster out of spring training, having him and Lorezen available to bat, field and hit off the bench, would give Bell a ton of flexibility.

Davidson's a 3rd baseman.. They can be two way players, but generally speaking when position players are sent in to pitch the game is already over for the most part.. You can probably count on less than a finger the number of times a position player pitches in a close game when the team is even anywhere near sniffing being in contention. 

[Yojimbo]

(01-06-2020, 01:54 AM)grampahol Wrote: Davidson's a 3rd baseman.. They can be two way players, but generally speaking when position players are sent in to pitch the game is already over for the most part.. You can probably count on less than a finger the number of times a position player pitches in a close game when the team is even anywhere near sniffing being in contention. 

He has played 1B as well, so a relief pitcher that can play 3rd or 1st and has power to all fields. That's a guy I want on the backend of my bench. When Suarez or Votto need a day off or we go into extra innings, that's where a guy like Davidson is most valuable.