Reds adjusting their approach to hitting
Team batted .212 last season, then was shut out twice in playoffs.
After batting .212 as a team last year and getting shut out twice in the playoffs, the Reds are trying something different this spring.
Three words summed up Cincinnati Reds hitting coach Alan Zinter’s feelings after the twogame sweep by the Atlanta Braves in the Division Series last season: “That was quick.”
The Braves shut out the Reds 1-0 and 5-0, ending the first winning season for the Reds since 2013.
“The first game, we had almost 10 opportunities to score runs,” Zinter said. “It’s the beautiful thing about baseball. In that first inning, first and third, nobody out, Joey (Votto) hits a hard ground ball right at the first baseman. (Eugenio) Suarez hits one right at the shortstop. No excuses, but can you imagine if they were just a few more feet this way or a little blooper over shortstop? We’ve got three runs in the first inning. Things can change in a heartbeat in this game. That’s what’s awesome about this game, but it didn’t happen for us.
“Then we got exposed that second game, and we were done. I liked how we were moving towards the end of that year. Two quick games, it is what it is and it sucked, but it also gave us that taste and we’re very hungry now. These are proud men. They’re very determined. I’m looking forward to these guys coming in and taking care of business.”
The Reds hit .212 last season. That was the lowest season average in franchise history, though they only played 60 games in the pandemic-shortened season. Two years ago, in baseball’s last full season, they hit .244. Through 10 games in the Cactus League in spring training this year, the Reds are hitting .247.
Zinter enters his second season with a better understanding of the hitters and focused