8.26

Reds win last night 8-6, @ Milwaukee. 17 hits!!! If anyone has seen the Reds we've been watching all year, will you tell them to get lost? I want the team we saw last night...

Bombs from Laynce Nix (2) and Votto were the difference last night, as well as another real good outing from Bronson Arroyo.

Ahem, the first two maxims this site suggests to field consistently competitive teams? Pitching, power...(anyone, anyone?!)

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My thought today on our squad, however, revolves around the third pillar of consistent baseball success...on base percentage. The site is called 'Reds Need OBP', after all.

Scott Rolen last night went 4-7, which is great of course. My issue with last night...Rolen only had 1 RBI.

Why is this? Couple of reasons... The man batting ahead of him, cleanup hitter Brandon Phillips, went 2-for-7 last night, making 5 out of 7 times last night Rolen came up with not too many people on.

Crazy suggestion here...bat Rolen first.
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Rolen's on base percentage this year with the Toronto Blue Jays was .370, which coincidentally is his career average as well. The NL average OBP is .331.

Let's compare OBPs for Rolen (.370) versus some of his teammates this year.

Nix .302
Phillips .320
Rosales .286
Tavares .273 (I know, I know)
Gomes .360
Janish .295 (batted 2nd last night, by the by)
Stubbs .353 at Louisville
Votto .390
Easy-E .333 (thankfully, the man Rolen replaced)
Bruce .283
Dickerson .373

Among those teammates, only Joey Votto and Chris Dickerson get on base more often. Can I get a witness for Rolen-Dickerson-Votto-Phillips Top 4 when all are healthy?!?!