The Reds and aversion to 200-hit seasons
by ken on Aug 23, 2009 8:40 AM EDT
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I thought we might need something to break the dramatic tension before the finale of the Pittsburgh series. So without cheating - can you name the last Reds player to have at least 200 hits in a season?
As you probably inferred from the fact that I posted a FanPost asking this question, it's been some time. 31 (soon to be 32) years, with Pete Rose's 204 hits in '77 being the most recent. This is the longest drought in the majors by a long shot according to a recent THT post.
I definitely care less about the baseball card stats than I used to, but I can't completely rid myself of admiration for these kinds of landmarks. A 200-hit season requires superb contact skills, durability, and ideally, speed. Hitting towards the top of the order and eschewing walks also helps.
Pete mostly fits these traits. In '78 he fell two short of 200 (between 1974 and 1982, this was the only non-strike season when he played less than 162 games; he played 159). He topped 200 for his final time in 1979, but that was his first season with Philadelphia. Otherwise, Dave Parker (198) and Sean Casey (197) have come close. I'm a little surprised Larkin never got closer than 185, but it's a hard mark to reach if you don't play a full season.
I would bet that someone on the current team will get 200 in one of the next four seasons. Joey Votto, if he stays healthy for a full year, has a decent chance because he is good at hitting baseballs. Jay Bruce has shown problems with making contact but I think he'll rebound and turn into a very nice all-around hitter. Brandon Phillips has already reached 187 (in 2007), and with a little babip luck (despite his speed, his highest as a Red is only .304) I think he has a shot over the next couple of years. Drew Stubbs has speed and youth on his side.
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i'd say Adam Rosales is due for a reverse sophomore jinx
but i dont think he’s gonna get 600 at bats next season with Rolen blocking his path. i think Janish will prove to be Rick Auerbach and the big brass just might anoint AR as the starting SS next season.
"Plain and simple, I wake up in the morning and piss excellence"
I don't see that
Rosales is not a SS, and I think the Reds know it. He’s only gotten one game at SS in his major league career.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
If Rosales is the starter at short next year
I will go “Randy Quaid from Major League 2” on the Reds.
29 more losses to 100. Being a Reds fan should be justification for medical marijuana.
by RedsMasochist on Aug 23, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
None of the players in the poll have a ghost of a chance at 200 hits as long as Dusty is in charge.
You almost have to bat 1 or 2 to get enough PAs. Votto may hit .300 but he’s going to have to stop hitting HRs and concentrate on defensively batting to get to 200 so he’s out
Jay will have to stop trying to hit HRs and stop striking out and get hisself into the 1 or spot and that ain’t gonna happen – scratch him
Brandon would have to comepletely change his offensive game and move to lead off and that ain’t gonna happen.
Stumps is just too much of an unknown.
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin
Lineup slot matters, but durability counts just as much
Parker and Casey came close without hitting above the 3 slot. Votto can definitely make a run for it, if he stays in the lineup.
I don't think he'll stay in the lineup
Seems like he’s kinda fragile. If I were Dusty, I’d give him regular time off.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
I don't know
he played 151 games last year, and he wasn’t the everyday starter until the middle of April.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on Aug 23, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
but look at this year
The ailments that kept him out of the lineup this year tend to be recurring.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Well, yeah, he's always going to be dealing with the psychological stuff
but I don’t think that makes him fragile. He missed one day with a migraine and a few days with an ear infection. I wouldn’t consider those major threats to his health.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
I didn't say they were major threats to his health
But even for normal people – a lot of work days are lost to migraine, depression, and anxiety disorders.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Votto's not a normal person
…and not in a fanboy sort of way (entirely) but in a “athletes can do amazing things” sort of way
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
I know
But look at Khalil Green and Dontrelle Willis. They both suffered relapses and ended up going back on the DL with their anxiety disorders. I don’t think being an amazing athlete is really a help with this particular ailment.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
I was talking migraines and ear infection...
I agree, anxiety is different. But the sort of stuff that makes me go “gee, I’m not feeling well today” doesn’t stop a pro athlete, I think.
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
by Cy Schourek on Aug 23, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions
the ear infection I'm not concerned about
That’s usually a one-off, and not recurring (unless you’re a toddler ;-)
Migraine…that could be a fluke, too. It’s usually a recurring problem, but it’s not necessarily frequent. And it could have been a reaction to medication or something. However, if it is a recurring problem, I don’t think he can play through it. Not if it makes him blind in one eye.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
I'd say the next Red to get 200 hits will be Rafael Furcal
"Plain and simple, I wake up in the morning and piss excellence"
Votto...
….if his noggin’ stays on, or if Dusty Baker is finally exiled to the Cubs (what a great re-hire that would be [removing sarcasm hat]).
Darren Baker
First time I shot her, shot her in the side.
Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died...
If anyone it'll be Votto, but I doubt he'll do it either
He walks too much, and isn’t quite fast enough to beat out most groundballs.
Stubbs and Bruce still K way too much.
Phillips is intriguing, but I don’t think his BABIP issues are a fluke, that’s just where they’ll always be. It’s more likely his increased plate patience this year is a fluke and he’ll go back to swinging at every breaking ball that comes his way.
Baseball must be a great game to survive the fools who run it.— Bill Terry
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