Remember way back when during the off-season when we thought the Reds were going to be screwed in left field? I recall saying at one point that the Reds were too weak offensively in left and that would ultimately be their downfall. Well, Jonny Gomes and Laynce Nix would kindly like to ask me and everyone else to shove it.
Since the start of May, the duo, along with a few plate appearances by Chris Heisey, have given the Reds the second most productive offense out of the left field position in the majors. The three have combined to bat .340/.382/.650 while playing left during the month of May, posting a .436 wOBA that trails only the Cubs at .456. They are first or second in position rankings for the month in hits, doubles, home runs, and RBI.
Gomes in particular has been incredible this month, hitting .414/.463/.690 with a .488 wOBA in 67 plate appearances as a left fielder in May. His outstanding month has helped bump production from the Reds left fielders up to 5th best in the NL for the season. Not bad considering what desperate straights it appeared to be in just days before spring training started.
It wouldn't be fair to make this all about the left fielders though. Here are the batting lines for each of the Reds' defensive position for May and their positional wOBA rank in the NL during the month.
Pos | AVG | OBP | SLG | wOBA | Rank |
P | .222 | .236 | .315 | .244 | 1st |
C | .286 | .381 | .385 | .339 | 6th |
1B | .364 | .429 | .626 | .453 | 2nd |
2B | .270 | .336 | .490 | .364 | 4th |
3B | .287 | .34 | .532 | .375 | 2nd |
SS | .301 | .362 | .379 | .339 | 5th |
LF | .340 | .382 | .650 | .436 | 2nd |
CF | .277 | .352 | .511 | .372 | 4th |
RF | .270 | .393 | .382 | .354 | 7th |
There's a whole lotta hittin' going on around here!