Trust me Dusty Baker is not bowing to the clamoring crowd that has chronically complained about his lineups. He has picked a spot to rest Drew Stubbs. Tonight against Jake Westbrook and the St. Louis Cardinals.
In spite of the Bill James gurus in the cyber neighborhood of today's baseball critics, the Reds are 30-20 with Stubbs in centerfield and batting second. They are also 5-3 when Stubbs hits leadoff and are only 2-5 with Stubbs in the seventh slot. So much for the know-it-alls that depend on OBP, WAR, RISP and all the other hokey crappola that buttress the statistical delusions that so many are under. Yet of all the statistics they spout, for some odd reason they ignore the most important, wins and losses.
To complete this soapbox tirade against the new age, couch potato managers, the Reds are 5-8 with Heisey batting second. The Reds are a pedestrian 9-9 when Heisey plays centerfield.
And try this one on for size, no matter how well Joey Votto does tonight, he will be out of the lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks tomorrow.
"I don't think his knee is bothering him so much at the plate. It is affecting his baserunning some. I see more fatigue which happens this time of year," Baker told reporters before the game.
Cincinnati Sports News and Commentary
About Me
- Gary Schatz
- I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992. I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble. I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.
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