Fantasy Fare: Billyball is so frustrating

Billy Hamilton's aversion to taking a base on balls or bunting has landed him behind the pitcher in the Reds batting order (AFP).False alarm, Billy Hamilton owners. The Reds switch-hitter, who was dropped from leadoff to No. 9 — that’s right, BEHIND the pitcher — was back at the top of the batting order on Wednesday against the Pirates. Unfortunately, it was only because Brandon Phillips was sitting out with a jammed thumb, and Hamilton was returned to the ninth slot on Thursday. It’s a frustrating time for Hamilton owners. He has piled up 36 steals, but a .203 AVG and .261 OBP got him lifted from leadoff last month, costing him roughly one at-bat every game and cutting into his counting stats such as steals and runs. To the Reds’ credit, they figured he’d be more valuable hitting right before the top of the order came up and not in the eighth slot and, so far, it appears to be working. Batting ninth, Hamilton is hitting an improved .258, though the difference between his AVG and OBP (+55 at the top of the order, +37 at the bottom) is worse. The stats illustrate why the third-year speedster has become such an enigma. He still shows little patience, taking an average of 3.68 pitches per plate appearance which, while not terrible, should be closer to the 4.3 of Yankees leadoff guy Brett Gardner. There have also been occasions, when facing a pulled-back infield, that Hamilton has been swinging away where dropping down a bunt would have resulted in an easy single. And when Hamilton is taking his cuts, the numbers aren’t pretty, either. Since his eagerly anticipated 2013 debut, his groundball rate has dropped from 50% to 40%, his flyball rate has risen from 14% to 37% and his percentage of opposite-field hits has plummeted from 63% to 32%. Yes, much of that may be due to opposing pitchers being more familiar with him, but the good batters adjust. And, so far, Hamilton has not.

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