Where Would the Reds Be Without BP and Choo?

They were supposed to be the top two bats in the Reds lineup for the 2013 season. In a sense, they still are. After an unfortunate shoulder separation to Ryan Ludwick, Brandon Phillips was once again moved to the cleanup spot in the batting order. Shin-Soo Choo, acquired in the off-season, was still sitting atop Dusty Baker’s lineup.

The anti-Dusty brigade might say at least Dusty did something right…

Apr 15, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Phillips throws to first to record an out during the second inning at Great American Ball Park. (Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

No one can deny what the duo of Phillips and Choo have meant to the Reds even though we are a mere 13 games into the 2013 season. Save an early outburst from Todd Frazier and a one game homer spree from Zack Cozart, the Reds dynamic duo has provided the majority of the Reds offense.

With Joey Votto on pace to walk a mind-boggling 260 times (like that will actually happen), the Reds have needed to find offense from other sources. Sure, the bats have not been consistent – save BP and Choo.

Last night after BP singled home Derrick Robinson and Zack Cozart to provide the Reds a 4-2 lead, I tweeted this…

Not doing this toot my own horn either. It’s a question that seriously needs to be pondered. And no Reds fan should overlook the 13 games in which Choo has aided this team either.

See with your own eyes what Phillips has done in 2013…

• triple slash of .340/.357/.660
• leads team with 4 HR (T5th in NL), 16 RBI (2nd in NL) and in SLG (7th in NL)
• held hitless in only 2 of 12 games played
• tied for team lead in doubles with Jay Bruce (not Joey Votto as he’s walked so much) with 5
• 8 multi-hit games
• RBI in 8 games
• only 1 GIDP this season

Phillips has done all of his damage since Opening Day when he went hitless in 6 plate appearances.

Apr 15, 2013; Choo bunts during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park. The Reds defeated the Phillies 4-2. (Photo Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports)

As for Choo…

• triple slash of .353/.476/.588
• leads team in BA (9th in NL)
• 2nd on team in OBP (also 2nd in NL)
• hitless in only 2 of 13 games, but on base in every game
• multiple hits in 7 of 13 games

And there are these facts…

• BP and Choo are tied for the team lead in hits (18)
• BP and Choo are tied for the team lead in runs scored (11)

What some might find a little bizarre is this. According to Baseball Reference and Fangraphs, Phillips and Choo are 3rd and 4th on the team in regards to WAR. Of course what doesn’t help Choo was that two error game in St. Louis.

For the inquiring mind, Votto and ToddFather are ahead of Choo and BP on both.

I ask again, where would the Reds be without BP and Choo?

Most likely, not 6-7. Most likely, not even close.