Padres News: Yonder Returns and Solidifies Line-Up
The game of baseball is made for left-handed batters. It’s a fact. When a left-handed batter takes a full swing his momentum takes him right towards first base. The same swing from a right hander result in all your momentum guiding you towards third base, the opposite direction. Not to mention the left-handed batter is already three feet closer to the first base bag, by just standing in the batters box.
With all that being said, it is very nice to see a solid left-handed bat in the middle of the San Diego Padres line-up. Yonder Alonso has been sorely missed and one could argue he loss from the line-up is bigger than the loss of Wil Myers. Don’t get me wrong, Myers is very important to the team as well. However that lefty in the middle of the order is something the Padres desperately needed.
Alonso has a line drive bat and usually puts the ball in play. More often than not the Padres have been victimized by soft tossing right handers, that keep their mostly right-handed hitters off balance. Alonso traditionally eats up those soft tossers, and his presence has been sorely missed.
Alonso hit well Tuesday night starting out three for three on the night. He sharply grounded out in his last at bat, and ended the night three for four. He seems poised to keep on hitting and should have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs for the Padres.
His position in the lineup is of much debate, Bud Black has a propensity to switch up the line-up on a daily basis, so Alonso has hit second, fifth and sixth in the lineup. Would batting him in between Upton and Kemp by a possibility?
Matt Kemp has already been flip-flopped with Justin Upton in the line-up in order to try to boost his hitting. Kemp has been in a deep slump, but you have to expect him to break-out very soon in a huge way. The man has the ability to carry the team on his back and he is way over due for an offensive explosion.
To Matt Kemp’s credit he has not pouted and complained about anything. He is well aware of his struggle, and he is working on a fix for the issues that have plagued him recently. I really cannot wait until he hits, so that all the Los Angeles Dodgers fans will stop telling Padres fans how Yasmani Grandal has hit more home runs than Kemp.
With Yonder Alonso’s return a little more stability should be evident in the lineup. He will man first base against all right handed pitchers with Yangervis Solarte or Will Middlebrooks playing first against most lefties. That seems to be the likely scenario.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.