Johnny Estrada is another reason why the manager must go

[BC867]

Switch-hitting Catcher Johnny Estrada is not only excellent on defense. He is leading our team in batting average and RBI's. And he's been our best clutch hitter.

Yet he doesn't have enough at-bats to be listed among the NL leaders. A part-time player.

Meanwhile, singles hitting rookie, Conor Jackson, is batting cleanup, to get a righty between the lefties, while Estrada bats seventh.

What is Bob Melvin thinking? Move Johnny Estrada to cleanup for this season. I believe he has the experience to not try to put every ball into the seats and wind up hitting popups (as so many of the D'backs are doing).

And if he can't keep up with the rigors of catching every day, let Estrada play 1B when he's not catching. His fielding certainly wouldn't be worse than CoJac's. (I love to see Tony Clark sharing 1B, but he's not producing and is almost exclusively a pinch hitter and defensive replacement now.)

Not only would playing Johnny Estrada regularly and moving him up in the batting order put punch into the lineup night in and night out . . . but with all-star time approaching, it would have been a good public relations move to give our most dependable hitter more than part-time status.

But I wouldn't expect Bob Melvin to do anything dynamic.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Switch-hitting Catcher Johnny Estrada is not only excellent on defense. He is leading our team in batting average and RBI's. And he's been our best clutch hitter.

Yet he doesn't have enough at-bats to be listed among the NL leaders. A part-time player.

Yet at the same time, Estrada is on pace for a career high in games played. You also have to consider that early in the first month in the season, Estrada wasnt hitting at all, many times relegating him to the bench in favor of Snyder who had a hot start. Thats a big reason why he doesnt have has many at-bats as you'd think he would. For the last two months, he has shouldered a much heavier load. In June, he has only had what looks like 5 off days and only two games of being used as a pinch hitter. That is a pretty good chunk of playing time of a catcher, especially one with his injury history.

Meanwhile, singles hitting rookie, Conor Jackson, is batting cleanup, to get a righty between the lefties, while Estrada bats seventh.

What is Bob Melvin thinking? Move Johnny Estrada to cleanup for this season. I believe he has the experience to not try to put every ball into the seats and wind up hitting popups (as so many of the D'backs are doing).

And if he can't keep up with the rigors of catching every day, let Estrada play 1B when he's not catching. His fielding certainly wouldn't be worse than CoJac's. (I love to see Tony Clark sharing 1B, but he's not producing and is almost exclusively a pinch hitter and defensive replacement now.)

Plopping a guy at a position he has never played before is much easier said than done, but there arent a whole lot of games where Estrada isnt catching anyways.

Not only would playing Johnny Estrada regularly and moving him up in the batting order put punch into the lineup night in and night out . . . but with all-star time approaching, it would have been a good public relations move to give our most dependable hitter more than part-time status.

So you are suggesting that an exhibition game should influence a manager's day-to-day decisions?

But I wouldn't expect Bob Melvin to do anything dynamic.

Melvin also fell under heavy criticism when he was more "dynamic" at the end of last season, moving players around to strange positions just like you are now suggesting.

 

[BC867]

So you are suggesting that an exhibition game should influence a manager's day-to-day decisions?

I appreciate the points you made. But marketing your best players is always part of a Manager's or Head Coach's responsibilities.

Trying to get your leading position players higher in the league's stats. It's good for the team and the fans.

I guarantee you that when Amare returns to the Suns next season, if he and a teammate are near a rebound, the other player will yield in favor of Amare.

Or if your leading scorer is dependable with foul shots, he will get all of the technical free throws to pad his average even higher.

That's not a bad thing. It takes place in business, too. A manager within industry will "spoon" extra deals to their top producer for bragging rights among the other managers.

Getting back to the other point in my post, I believe that a starting lineup like this will be better than Conor Jackson batting cleanup, and will help Chad Tracy get back to what we expect of him, while giving us a good lefty-righty mix.

Counsell Brynes Tracy Estrada Green Jackson Gonzo Hudson

 

[Lefty]

Why is Gonzo batting 3rd or 4th and Counsell leading off? Melvin is an idiot.