The most noticeable difference? Brandon Phillips batting seventh.
“Brandon is a guy that loves responsibility, and not just offensively but also defensively,” Price said in a pre-game press conference. “I think he realizes there will be a lot of opportunity to drive in runs in that seven hole, and he also understands and appreciates the need to be impactful offensively throughout the entirety of our lineup, as opposed to saying, ‘Hey we’re really good 1-4 and then we have a drop-off.”
“Any way you dice it, I don’t think we’ll be as vulnerable offensively with a healthy ball club when you have someone of Brandon’s caliber hitting seventh. And, I think the way Zack (Cozart) swung the bat in spring training, his approach is that we’ll be strong 1-8.”
Injuries took a toll on the lineups last year, as Cincinnati had its projected starters together for just 12 games. However, the Reds opened 2015 with their expected cast of starters in the field.
Phillips, who hit .200 with four runs and six RBIs in spring training, opened last season in the No. 2 spot and batted third in 69 games while Joey Votto was out with injury. Phillips batted outside the top five spots in just three games last year, but was never lower than sixth.
It wasn’t until the end of spring training he started batting seventh, and the decision to keep Billy Hamilton in the leadoff spot likely factored into where Phillips ended up. Hamilton struggled through most of spring training, going 8 for 44 (.182) at the plate in March before going 4 for 7 over his final three exhibition games.
“Billy finished strong in spring training after a slow start, but he really profiles as that guy you want at the top of the order, a guy that hopefully will get on base at a higher percentage – and I think he will mature as an offensive player,” Price said. “He is a guy that really creates a lot of things for us offensively, not just with his speed and a stolen base threat, etc., as much as he can get guys in our lineup better pitches to hit. He creates havoc when he’s on base.”
Hamilton went 1 for 4 with two runs Monday, but his one hit – a single up the middle — got the Reds’ offense going in the eighth inning. Votto, batting second, followed with a single to left field before No. 3 hitter Todd Frazier drove them in on a three-run homer to the upper deck seats in left field.
“I feel like I’m not a leader vocally, but I’m a leader once we step on the field, so that’s my job is to lead us on the field,” Hamilton said. “As our motto goes, ‘Billy you go, we go,’ and I take advantage of that, and I’ve got to roll with that. I like having that in my head.”
Price called Votto “another high on-base, extra-base hit type guy setting the table in the middle,” for Frazier, Devin Mesoraco, new left fielder Marlon Byrd and Jay Bruce, who followed in that order. Mesoraco and Bruce were the only Reds to reach base – both on walks – the first time through the order Monday, and Bruce recorded the team’s first home run of the season on a solo shot to right in the fourth inning.
Bruce, the only other lefty batter besides Votto, spent 99 of the 137 games he played last year in the No. 4 or 5 spots.
“We wanted to create enough separation between Joey and Jay, where it won’t make it easy to matchup the left-handed relief pitcher,” Price said. “There will be times when you see Jay move up to the four or five spot.
“We’ve got some flexibility in the order as far as having some movement based on who is pitching, but I’m very satisfied where we are. It will be fluid, … but I think this is the best way to get started.”
Frazier said he likes the pressure of batting third, but said the players don’t get consumed by where they are hitting.
“We all understand we’re trying to win,” Frazier said. “We can’t have what we had last year, so it really doesn’t matter where we’re hitting. We’re just trying to win a game and get back to the playoffs and do some damage.”
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