The Leadoff Situation

First up to bat on this blog will be the first up to bat at the plate this season...the leadoff situation the Reds face in 2011.

Reds fans this year, like many previous years, are upset that the Reds did not go out and get a prototypical leadoff guy. Rumors swirled this off season as 'news sources' claimed to have inside information on a possible trade for Mets shortstop Jose Reyes. It almost made since that the Reds would want to grab a guy of his caliber, and with the position in question (I'll talk about Paul Janish later this week)to many it was a done deal. Of course a couple days later we found out that Jockety and co. had not even picked up a phone to talk to the Mets. Weepers ran rampant.

But I was not one of them. In fact, I was happy. The Reds would have had to given up too much for an aging player, and it just was not in the cards. I believe that the Reds have baked their cake, and now will eat it too with the young talent, who has experience in the majors.

Yes, I am talking about Drew Stubbs. One of the fastest players on the team and maybe the league, who has power and desire. I believe the Reds have an answer to their lead off problem. The only issue is his maturity at the plate and striking out.

Obviously a performance like last year won't cut it. I can not, and will not, argue that last year would have been a good year to see number 6 in the one spot. 168 strike outs (finished 7th in the league) can not be overlooked, and I am not asking you to do that. What I am going to ask you though is to keep an open mind.

Stubbs swiped 30 bases only hitting .255 last year. Which is pretty astonishing when you think about it. In his 514 at bats, only 21% percent of the time did he record an out because of a ground ball, mostly because he beats those out. In fact, he had more strikeouts then ground outs, the only position player on the team that can say that. Which is why I think Stubbs is so dangerous.

If the centerfielder can make contact with that ball he usually gets on base, which is exactly what you want out of a lead off hitter. Because of that, I hope that with the experience of last year and the natural growth that Stubbs will undergo I feel that he will be a great lead off hitter for the Reds... at least until this Dave Sapplet guy comes to flourish.