Heisey nears return

[JohnU]

Let's hope the guy worked on his hitting a little bit. If he's right, he's a nice addition.
I'd guess Lutz would be sent down.


Chris Heisey collects two hits in rehab debut
-- CBSSports.com
Hitting second and playing designated hitter, Reds outfielder Chris Heisey went 2 for 4 and scored a run in his rehab debut with Triple-A Louisville Monday.

Heisey, who has been out since April 29, has dealt with multiple setbacks while attempting to recover from a strained right hamstring. He has hit .173/.195/.293 with two home runs and two stolen bases in 75 at-bats.

 

[bengaldoug]

At least he would give us another guy to swing a right handed bat....hopefully he swings it better than he did before going on the DL....

 

[Redsfan1507]

I've become a Robinson fan. He's faster, better defensively and gets on base more than Heisey. He's also a switch hitter- important because Heisey is a rare RH batter than can't hit LHP very well, making him useless as a platoon player. Paul has proved worthy of a spot, so IMO, that leaves Lutz in the lurch. Too bad, but it may just be the beginning of the OF contract conundrum when Ludwick gets back. It will be interesting to see how Walt and Dusty settle in on a roster capable of a successful playoff push...I wouldn't be surprised to see a late season trade including one of the redundant OF's.

 

[JohnU]

I like Heisey and Paul as alternate pinch hitters with some pop. Paul has earned the LF job, IMO.

D-Robinson is a nice guy to have for a lot of reasons and he can play center field.
So can Heisey. I don't think Paul can, however.

 

[bengaldoug]

I like Heisey and Paul as alternate pinch hitters with some pop. Paul has earned the LF job, IMO.

D-Robinson is a nice guy to have for a lot of reasons and he can play center field.
So can Heisey. I don't think Paul can, however.

I'm not yet sure Paul can play left field, much less center. He swings the bat ok, though. I agree with you that Paul and Heisey make a good pinch hitting combo. Heisey's best production his whole career has come as a pinch hitter, and Paul was dynamite in that role last year. Maybe Robinson should start for his defense and obp.

 

[Redsfan1507]

As long as he continues to make contact and get on base, I like Robinson as a leadoff hitter...Choo has some power, and if he has a weakness, it's hitting the breaking bal against lefty pitching...if Robibson is on base he at least gives the possibility of a steal, which would prompt more fastballs to Choo. I do not normally prescribe to the steal of 2b with a lefty hitter at the plate, because the lefty hitter has a better chance to pull a single through a 1b holding a runner on, than playing back at normal position with 1b open, and it gives the opposition to walk or pitch around your lefty hitter to setup a force at any base and keep a DP alive. That said, in order to be effective, Robinsin needs to draw a pickoff throw or two early in the count, and be ready for a fastball, or even a hit and run. You have the same scenario with Votto in the 3 hole. If done correctly, I like this a lot.


I like Cozart, as a SS that can hit an occasional HR or double as an unpressured bonus...but for whatever reason, Dusty wont let him steal, or bunt, and he strikes out too much to use in a hit and run. In short, he's a lousy 2 hitter. Regardless of who leads off, a near automatic unproductive out with Cozart in the 2 hole, eliminates any options that Choo or Phillips or other capable hitter provides. It's a failed strategy that simply limits the Reds offensive options, and plays into the oppositions preference to put the pressure on the Reds to advance runners by blunt force trauma, instead of with guile, speed and fundamental advantage.

It's why I think Robinson ( as long as he hits) is an answer to an offensive question the Reds haven't solved easily. They are last in steal attempts, and rarely bunt or hit and run. Makes them easier to defend, for sure.

 

[JohnU]

Marty B is quick and consistent in pointing out that the reason the Reds don't run is because they strike out too much. Well, yeah, only if you try to steal with 2 strikes on the hitter. Honestly, I don't think Reds baserunners spend ANY TIME at all learning how to steal second base. Not like Joe Morgan or Eric Davis couldn't teach them ....

If the Reds intend to run on the Parrots, Martin is not the guy to test. Go on McKenry, if he catches.
Doesn't matter. Stealing a base is more often a busted hit-run than a strategy.

 

[JohnU]

For sure, Robinson had better learn how to play that corner if he expects to help the team in left field.
Heisey is very good at playing that corner.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Heisey has had the position handed to him twice and list it because he couldn't hit a bull in the ass with a base fiddle. How many LF win a gold glove ? LF is best defended by a big bat. Besides, Robinson won the minor league Gold Glove. If he hits too, he's a winner in my book.

 

[JohnU]

Heisey has had the position handed to him twice and list it because he couldn't hit a bull in the ass with a base fiddle. How many LF win a gold glove ? LF is best defended by a big bat. Besides, Robinson won the minor league Gold Glove. If he hits too, he's a winner in my book.

I agree Heisey isn't going to play LF with any regularity. Robinson can take the job but he does need to play the wall better. That's a very tough wall to play. Ludwick plays it all right. Paul is just a hack. Lutz is a first baseman.

Would like to see Choo in LF and Robinson in CF.

Of course, the lineups were Xerox'ed in May.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Agreed, but ultimately, were going to get Choo in CF and Ludwick in LF soon enough. I predict Luddy is back before Labor Day, and is still trying to find his stroke much above the Mendoza line by the playoffs, which might cause the Reds to struggle to make. Cozart will be the 2 hitter again, BP will still be the cleanup hitter, and Ludwick will hit 6th or 7th pushing Frazier back to insignificance with the catcher. Possibly pessimistic, but what I expect to happen. If Ludwick can't be a real 4 hitter and BP goes back to a tablesetter spot, I hope Ludwick takes the whole year off. We might be better with what got us there this year than trying to reinvent this lineup around a guy that hasn't swung in 5 months.

 

[JohnU]

Something needs to be reinvented. There's no way this team makes it past the first round of a post-season series.

 

[Redsfan1507]

I'm not sure they can get there. It's impossible to win 93-94 games or whatever a wildcard has to win, and not win a series or two against plus .500 teams is it ? The league wins can't exceed the league losses right ? They don't play the Cubs, Brewers, Mets, Marlins, etc. enough to beat them that many games. I can't believe they're going to go play the Rangers, Giants, Braves, D backs, even Dodgers, Padres, Rockies and Mariners and come home on top.

Right now, the Reds can't find the plate with GPS, without a homer.

 

[BigDDude]

This just in -

Heisey is scheduled to return now on Tue, 6/25, putting an end to the 2 headed LF platoon monster that is Paul/Robinson.

 

[JohnU]

This just in -

Heisey is scheduled to return now on Tue, 6/25, putting an end to the 2 headed LF platoon monster that is Paul/Robinson.

I think Robby and Paul stay on the team. Lutz will be the odd man out.
It won't help this pathetic offense, however.

 

[Redsfan1507]

This just in -

Heisey is scheduled to return now on Tue, 6/25, putting an end to the 2 headed LF platoon monster that is Paul/Robinson.

Not exactly. You think Heisey is going to play every day ? He's the guy Dusty liked to play the least before he was on the DL. Back in Ludwick's Reds debut season, a season after Heisey hit over 20HR in a fraction of a seasons at bats, Dusty still only used Heisey in a "Bafoon Platoon" ( 2 like sided players splitting time) even though Ludwick struggled at the plate for 8-9 weeks. A season later, Heisey couldnt get .200 hitting CF strikeout specialist Drew Stubbs out of the lineup. Heisey may be a better pinch hitter and 4th or 5th OF, than a starting player anyway. He K's with the biggest whiffaholics, plays sometimes sketchy defense, and isn't the smartest baserunner. He's a righty hitter that struggles to hit lefty pitching, or anything that isn't a fastball. I predict a 3 way alternation in LF, until Ludwick comes back, and he plays every day until they start looking for their next reclamation everyday LF.

 

[JohnU]

I like Heisey's enthusiasm even if it is somewhat misguided at times.
I can't say he's less or more eager to win than anybody else on the Reds.
Actually, I sort of liked the guy in the leadoff role, compared of course to Stubbs.
The reason was, the teams attack the Reds with a first-pitch fastball. Heisey can get you a 1-0 lead on the first swing.
He's a decent bunter but a generally ordinary outfielder. He's better in LF. Plays the corner pretty well.