McCoy: Stubbs already piling up strikeouts

“Logic! My God, the man’s talking about logic! We’re talking about universal Armageddon!”

Q: Do you think it would be in the Reds’ best interest to move Drew Stubbs to the leadoff spot in midseason if he starts to show signs of major improvement?

A: That’s beginning to look like one huge “if.” The strikeouts once again are mounting, and you don’t want your leadoff hitter striking out (or any hitter for that matter). If they do that, what do they do with Brandon Phillips? Right now Zack Cozart seems like a perfect No. 2 hitter. They could return Phillips to the cleanup spot. But from what we’ve seen so far from Stubbs, the bigger concern is if they can even keep him in the lineup.

Q: So when does Aroldis Chapman go into the starting rotation?

A: It’s the old saying about if the clock still is ticking, don’t tinker with the hands. In the Reds’ first three wins, Chapman had two of them and had a hold in the other, meaning he had his talented left hand in the middle of all three wins in less than a week out of the bullpen. If he were in the rotation, he would have made only one start in that span. Who knows if he would have won? Where he is right now is much, much better for the team.