kjhanson
07-21-2004, 08:34 AM
If the last two games are any indication, there is no way Jose Valentin should be in the 2-spot, even against right-handers. Willie Harris reached base 7 times in the last two games and scored 2 runs. Here are those seven situations followed by Jose's at-bats:
Monday:
Willie walks. 1st and 2nd 1 out. Valentin strikes out
Willie walks. Bases loaded 1 out. Valentin grounds out to third
Willie singles. Man on 1st none out. Valentin pops out to first
Willie walks. 1st and 2nd 2 out. Valentin strikes out
Willie doubles. 2nd and 3rd 2 out. Valentin singles
Tuesday:
Willie walks. Man on 1st none out. Valentin strikes out
Willie singles. Man on 1st 1 out. Valentin strikes out
So in seven situations Jose has an opportunity to make something happen, he only has one productive at-bat. In every other at-bat (except for the bases loaded groundout) he failed to even advance Willie to the next base. He only put the ball in play three times and none were drives to the outfield that someone could tag up on. Sure, he homered last nite, but we also need situational hitting with men on base. His ability to bunt in the two-spot is great, but Aaron is more successful in advancing runners. Hopefully this was only a two-day experiment against the righthanders we faced (Although righties were hitting .308 off Benoit and .377 off Wasdin). Otherwise, we're gonna have to string together base hits to score our leadoff man, which we can't count on.
Monday:
Willie walks. 1st and 2nd 1 out. Valentin strikes out
Willie walks. Bases loaded 1 out. Valentin grounds out to third
Willie singles. Man on 1st none out. Valentin pops out to first
Willie walks. 1st and 2nd 2 out. Valentin strikes out
Willie doubles. 2nd and 3rd 2 out. Valentin singles
Tuesday:
Willie walks. Man on 1st none out. Valentin strikes out
Willie singles. Man on 1st 1 out. Valentin strikes out
So in seven situations Jose has an opportunity to make something happen, he only has one productive at-bat. In every other at-bat (except for the bases loaded groundout) he failed to even advance Willie to the next base. He only put the ball in play three times and none were drives to the outfield that someone could tag up on. Sure, he homered last nite, but we also need situational hitting with men on base. His ability to bunt in the two-spot is great, but Aaron is more successful in advancing runners. Hopefully this was only a two-day experiment against the righthanders we faced (Although righties were hitting .308 off Benoit and .377 off Wasdin). Otherwise, we're gonna have to string together base hits to score our leadoff man, which we can't count on.