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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > February > 28 > Entry
Who’s 1, who’s 2?
While the weather for the Reds’ first two exhibition games was frightful - there was a suggestion to start a bonfire in the dugout with Adam Dunn’s big bats - manager Dusty Baker is taking a look-see at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in his batting order.
Call it a tryout, but mostly it is audition time.
On Wednesday in Clearwater against the Philadelphia Phillies, Baker had Ryan Freel leading off and Norris Hopper batting second.
On Tuesday at home against the Minnesota Twins, Baker had Hopper leading off and Freel batting second.
“In case I play both at the same time, I’m seeing who is better where in the order,” said Baker. “I want to see where they hit the best. If I want to hit-and-run, which one can handle that bat better. I have some thoughts, but … you know.”
Hopper wins on that point.
“If I want to double steal, which one is better on the lead and which one is better on the back side?” Baker added. “If I need to bunt, are they even, or is one better than the other (Hopper is a landslide winner in the bunting category)?
“I need to know which one is the smarter hitter - which one can take and which one is a better hitter with two strikes. I have a pretty good idea already, but I have to see.”
Baker said he sometimes sits in his office staring into space, pondering and pontificating over things of this nature, “And sometime I just sit here and nothing comes.”
But he knows it’ll all come to him as he observes exhibition games.
Now, again, it is your assignment. Do you ever play Hopper and Freel in the same game? If you do, where do you bat them? And, based on what Baker is looking for, which one has the advantage in all the categories?
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Comments
By Wendy
March 30, 2008 6:01 AM | Link to this
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March 30, 2008 6:00 AM | Link to this
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March 30, 2008 2:51 AM | Link to this
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By Bertie
March 30, 2008 2:51 AM | Link to this
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By JetsMetsGuy
March 6, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
It’s great having Dusty and Ozzie around - it prevents Willie from being the worst manager in the majors.
By Ted Lawson
February 29, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this
Hal: I know ths is not related but is Tom Hume out of baseball?
By weshouldhavehiredlarussa
February 28, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
Its Feb 28th and on Oct 1st let’s see if we should have hired LaRussa. By July the young pitchers with the Pole will totally out of whack, the veterans pitched to death and player begging to get out of Cincy.
By Swifty
February 28, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
If Freel and Hopper are in the starting lineup together alot, than we will be in trouble. Because Bruce is in the minors and Griffey is hurt. Please Dusty, Play the young guys.
By DJS
February 28, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
When a league-average offense for a team playing at GAB is about 4.8 runs a game, worrying about the ability of the #2 hitter to bunt the #1 hitter into scoring position is akin to making sure you have enough crossbow bolts before the Invasion of Normandy.
By Y-City Jim
February 28, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
I know what Hopper’s numbers were last year. I also know what his career numbers are and last year was a career year. His limited major league numbers (346 ABs) are almost 40 points over his minor league numbers. Plus he just doesn’t hit the ball very hard. He’s a nice bench player but he is not a starter for a quality ball club.
By Shawn in ATL
February 28, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
If you look at Freel’s ‘06 numbers and Hopper’s ‘07 numbers, it’s a wash. As many have written, they shouldn’t be in the game at the same time. After last year, I don’t understand why the two-spot is not Keppinger’s to lose??
By got milk
February 28, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
I think the only time Duaty might do that would be against a tough lefty, or if Dunn/Griffey was on the DL and the other needed a day off. Then I would bat Freel leadoff and Hopper second because I think Norris handles the bat better whenit comes to situational hitting.
By rudy
February 28, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
hey Y city, check Hopper’s numbers from a year ago, and make a note of his batting avg., obp, and # of infield/bunt hits. freel may not have any business at the top, Hopper should ONLY hit at the top, (hopefully with Keppinger batting 2nd).
By Y-City Jim
February 28, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
Freel and Hopper have no business being at the top of line-up. Dusty Baker needs to stop allowing the aspect of speed to cloud his judgement. You need on-base guys period in those two slots.
By berkeleybum
February 28, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
Are we to believe that he’s considering starting both, never mind just one, of these role-playing spare parts? Maybe he could find a starting job for Jerry Gil and declare Scott Hatteberg the everyday guy, too. I had a few Cubs fans laughing at me when they made this hire, and I’m starting to see why. Ryan Freel is the new Neifi Perez (and Joey Votto, perhaps the new Hee Sop Choi?). Poor Votto and Bruce. Let’s hope they even get a sniff at 400 ABs a apiece.
By berkeleybum
February 28, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
Are we to believe that he’s considering starting both, never mind just one, of these role-playing spare parts? Maybe he could find a starting job for Jerry Gil and declare Scott Hatteberg the everyday guy, too. I had a few Cubs fans laughing at me when they made this hire, and I’m starting to see why. Ryan Freel is the new Neifi Perez (and Joey Votto, perhaps the new Hee Sop Choi?). Poor Votto and Bruce. Let’s hope they even get a sniff at 400 ABs a apiece.
By Bundy
February 28, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
Norris certainly the better bunter, and most likely the better hitter. For that reason I’d bat Hopper 2nd; he could do more to move Freel into scoring position. Although, I dont like Freel on base and trying to steal him. Ive seen him make too many outs trying to steal second (apparently with no sign) last year. But the hit and run, or better yet, the bunt and run would be very interesting with those two back to back.
By redfuture
February 28, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
While I realize it would be ‘nice’ to have a true leadoff hitter, sometimes the cards you have are better than those you would like to have. Here are my projected stats for Hopper in the leadoff spot versus Votto in the same spot. Separately, I’ll give Bruces projected numbers that replace Hopper’s but in the 7th spot of the order. Hopper’ numbers in the leadoff spot: 190 hits, 20 doubles, 1 homerun, 20 steals in 25 attempts. Votto’s numbers which move from 7th spot to 1st spot: 185 hits, 35 doubles, 20 homeruns, 15 steals in 22 attempts. Bruce’s numbers which replace Hopper’s but bat in the 7th position: 180 hits, 35 doubles, 30 homeruns, 15 steals in 21 attempts