Cincinnati Reds are forced to start Jose Peraza despite his shortcomings

The Cincinnati Reds are out of options at shortstop with Zack Cozart on the DL, save Jose Peraza.

Jose Peraza is the Billy Hamilton of middle infielders for the Cincinnati Reds.  Actually, he isn’t even that.  He is like the most important player for the Reds’ franchise in 2017, while playing average defense.

Peraza is a low OBP player right now that should be playing part time.  He is streaky and often looks tired.  He and Scott Schebler were traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a reason.

They both have their offensive shortcomings.  Ironically, Peraza’s shortcoming before this season was a complete lack of power.  He only has 11 career home runs in the minors.

Schebler, meanwhile, has just lacked consistency.  It is not a mortal sin for a corner outfielder, but it doesn’t help any.  Right now, Peraza and Schebler are playing like bottom third of the order hitters.

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Part of Peraza’s issue is that he is following Zack Cozart.  They are going from the best defensive shortstop in the National League to potentially the worst.  If you take Peraza’s shortstop play from the minors and project him in a starter’s role for the Reds, he would be the worst starting shortstop out there.

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The Cincinnati Reds are forced, for now, to play Peraza everyday, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t bat eighth.

Before the injury to Cozart, the Reds should have been playing Scooter Gennett more than Peraza at second.  Now they are playing Gennett and Peraza everyday.  Fortunately, the Reds started the post-Cozart era in Tampa Bay allowing Peraza to bat ninth.

With a sub-.300 OBP Peraza should be batting eighth and just focus on taking walks.  That sound simplistic because it is.  Peraza needs to get on base, just like Hamilton, for his speed to mean anything.

With Cozart out and Dilson Herrera the only available infielder on the forty man roster, the Reds need to play Peraza.  Otherwise, they would have to move third baseman Eugenio Suarez to short or start Arismendy Alcantara at short. Those are the options.

With Gennett in the two spot in the line-up, though, the Reds can afford to bat Peraza eighth.  Suarez is having a fine year at third and Duvall has slowly raised his play from last season.  The Reds just need Peraza to try his hardest on defense and try to get on base.

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That is all.  Peraza likely needs a break, but won’t be able to take one until Cozart comes back.  Then it is likely just a matter of time before Cozart moves on to another team and Peraza has to fight for the full-time job at short.