Cincinnati's Sub-Par Left Field Production has Baseball Analysts Making Assumptions/Predictions for the Reds
By Ryan Bramwell
The Reds have played 74 games thus far in the 2013 season. 73.5 of those games have been played without the presence of the team's biggest free-agent signing from 2012 and slated Opening Day starter for 2013. Ryan Ludwick was injured in game one of the 2013 baseball season when the Reds hosted the highly touted Angels in MLB's first ever Opening Day Interleague game. Ludwick was hurt when he slid in head-first at third base and dislocated his shoulder. Further inspection showed that he had tore his labrum which would sideline him for quite awhile. In fact, at the time of the diagnosis, it was stated that Ryan would not be able to return until around the All-Star break in mid-July. Of course, like most other unforeseeable situations in sports, that timetable has been adjusted and recalculated several times. Most recently, the news on Ludwick was that he was ahead of schedule and began throwing a baseball on the field just a couple days ago. Don't get ahead of yourselves however, as it will still be mid-August before he is even potentially ready for big league action. Dusty Baker was in a pinch, but luckily the Reds carry a fourth-outfielder, Chris Heisey, who has compiled a solid amount of playing time over the past two seasons with Cincinnati and was ready for the opportunity to be their starter out in Left. Yet, as fate would have it, Heisey would go down just a few weeks later with a hamstring injury which still has him sidelined. Currently, he is in the process of making rehab starts and hopes to return as early as next week against the Athletics. With all this in mind, let us take a deeper look into this debacle as it pertains to the Reds and their current state going into July and the upcoming trade deadline.
What the Reds are missing without Ryan Ludwick (out since April 1)
- .275 Batting Average, 26 Home Runs, 80 Runs Batted In
- .346 On Base Percentage
- .531 Slugging Percentage
- .877 On Base + Slugging Percentage
- 28 Doubles
- .265 Batting Average, 7 Home Runs, 31 Runs Batted In
- .315 On Base Percentage
- 16 Doubles, 5 Triples
- Plus Defender in LF, Average Defender in CF
- Solid Bench Bat: .274 vs. LHP w/ .827 OPS; .262 vs. RHP
- Xavier Paul - 28 years old, LH batter
- .257 Batting Average, 5 Home Runs, 24 Runs Batted In
- .348 On Base Percentage
- Stellar Bench Bat against RHP: .269, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 9 2B, 27/17 K/BB, .812 OPS
- Average/Just above average defender
- Derrick Robinson - 25 years old - Switch hitting batter
- .289 Batting Average, 0 Home Runs, 5 Runs Batted In
- .373 On Base Percentage
- Skilled bunter with exceptional speed
- Plus defender with excellent range
- Much better batter from right side against LHP: .321/.415 w/ .826 OPS , 11/9 K/BB
What would Alex Rios bring to the table?
- Bio:
- 32 years old, 9 years pro
- 6'5" 210 pounds
- Primary position is RF; Also has plenty of service time in CF
- Blue Jays from 2004-2009; White Sox 2009-Present
- Stats:
- 2012: (157 Games) .304/.334/.516, .850 OPS, 25 HR, 91 RBI, 23 SB, 37 2B, 8 3B
- 2013: (74 Games) .276/.335/.459, .794 OPS, 11 HR, 35 RBI, 13 SB, 18 2B, 1 3B
- Analysis:
- Plus defender in the outfield
- Much needed right-handed bat in the lineup
- Solid power and decent speed
- $12.5 Million salary for 2013
Would Rios be a fit with the Reds in 2013? What would the White Sox ask for in return? If this trade was worked out, would the Reds be able to afford Rios after the season? Therefore, would he be worth the half-season rental? Are we willing to trade away some of the pitching surplus we currently possess if the southsiders ask for them in return for Rios? It's too early to know any of this just yet, but I imagine it won't be long before we hear more on this scenario as well as several other trade possibilities as the deadline draws nearer.
