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Post by The Duke on Jan 26, 2024 10:32:48 GMT -5
Here's what I think the opening day lineup should look like (barring injury) assuming the Nationals start LHP Mackenzie Gore
1. Elly De La Cruz, SS 2. Matt McClain, 2B 3. TJ Friedl, CF 4. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, DH 5. Noelvi Marte, 3B 6. Jeimer Candelario, 1B 7. Spencer Steer, LF 8. Tyler Stephenson, C 9. Will Benson, RF
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Post by scottscudder on Jan 28, 2024 0:47:28 GMT -5
This is fun to think about. The Reds have lots of lineup options.
Below is my thought on the Opening Day lineup vs. a LHP. No way this happens, due to one MAJOR exclusion.
1. TJ Friedl, CF 2. Matt McClain, SS 3. Spencer Steer, LF 4. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, DH 5. Noelvi Marte, 3B 6. Jeimer Candelario, 1B 7. Jonathan India, 2B 8. Tyler Stephenson, C 9. Stuart Fairchild, RF
Seems impossible to think EDLC starts on the bench on Opening Day, but given his performance against lefties, it feels like India might be a better option in the infield. The Reds would be giving up some defense with India though.
Steer has to move up in the lineup due to his success against LHP. I'd want him to get lots of ABs.
I struggled with Fairchild vs. Benson in RF. I want to give Benson some ABs against lefties, but Opening Day might not be the right time. I'd want to get Benson started off right. Wait until a RHP enters that game and then swap Benson into the lineup.
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Post by The Duke on Jan 28, 2024 12:47:34 GMT -5
Fairchild had reverse splits last year. Did worse against lefties than he did righties.
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Post by scottscudder on Jan 28, 2024 16:08:54 GMT -5
Fairchild had reverse splits last year. Did worse against lefties than he did righties. While true, Fairchild's OPS vs. lefties towered above Benson last year. And over his career, Fairchild's OPS does not have reverse splits. As mentioned above though, I did struggle with Fairchild over Benson. I really want to see Benson get some opportunities vs. lefties this season. I don't know that Benson can't hit lefties or if he just hasn't had enough chances. He has a higher ceiling than Fairchild, in my opinion, and I want to see him get more ABs against lefties.
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Post by schellis on Jan 29, 2024 12:23:16 GMT -5
Fairchild had reverse splits last year. Did worse against lefties than he did righties. While true, Fairchild's OPS vs. lefties towered above Benson last year. And over his career, Fairchild's OPS does not have reverse splits. As mentioned above though, I did struggle with Fairchild over Benson. I really want to see Benson get some opportunities vs. lefties this season. I don't know that Benson can't hit lefties or if he just hasn't had enough chances. He has a higher ceiling than Fairchild, in my opinion, and I want to see him get more ABs against lefties. I think Benson would improve with more opportunities against lefties, but I think it would be going from being a bad hitting pitcher to a little better then normal hitting one. His minor league splits are around a .200 point difference. I think Benson is sneaky good and could be a fringy 20/20 guy but he should have limited exposure to lefties.
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Post by The Duke on Jan 29, 2024 13:53:17 GMT -5
While true, Fairchild's OPS vs. lefties towered above Benson last year. And over his career, Fairchild's OPS does not have reverse splits. As mentioned above though, I did struggle with Fairchild over Benson. I really want to see Benson get some opportunities vs. lefties this season. I don't know that Benson can't hit lefties or if he just hasn't had enough chances. He has a higher ceiling than Fairchild, in my opinion, and I want to see him get more ABs against lefties. I think Benson would improve with more opportunities against lefties, but I think it would be going from being a bad hitting pitcher to a little better then normal hitting one. His minor league splits are around a .200 point difference. I think Benson is sneaky good and could be a fringy 20/20 guy but he should have limited exposure to lefties. We need a RH hitting OF to make a better half of a platoon than Fairchild. Could potentially be Blake Dunn, but he needs to prove that last year wasn't an aberration. Hurtubise seems more like a 5th OF/backup CF to me if he can break into the bigs given his lack of power.
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Post by curbinmann on Feb 3, 2024 3:29:59 GMT -5
I think Benson would improve with more opportunities against lefties, but I think it would be going from being a bad hitting pitcher to a little better then normal hitting one. His minor league splits are around a .200 point difference. I think Benson is sneaky good and could be a fringy 20/20 guy but he should have limited exposure to lefties. We need a RH hitting OF to make a better half of a platoon than Fairchild. Could potentially be Blake Dunn, but he needs to prove that last year wasn't an aberration. Hurtubise seems more like a 5th OF/backup CF to me if he can break into the bigs given his lack of power. Rece Hinds……..maybe.
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