CINCINNATI -- Everything has changed for Felipe Lopez. He's playing a different position for the Cincinnati Reds. He's hitting consistently. He's got a different look about him, both in the field and at the plate.
A Newfound Confidence
"I'd say it's definitely confidence," manager Dave Miley said Monday. "That's what I see."
He's seen enough of it to decide that Lopez must stay in the lineup somewhere. Lopez made his fifth consecutive start Monday, the last four at second base in place of slumping D'Angelo Jimenez.
The Reds thought they had their shortstop of the future when they got Lopez from Toronto as part of a four-team deal in December 2002. He struggled mightily the next season, hitting only .213, and batted .242 last season in 79 games.
When Barry Larkin's contract expired at the end of last season, the Reds signed Rich Aurilia instead of handing the job to Lopez. He didn't play much in the first few weeks of the season but has won a job at the other middle-infield position.
Showing His Potential
Heading into the start of a three-game series against San Diego, Lopez was hitting .319 with three homers. He was 7-for-17 during a four-game hitting streak.
"It's just maturity," Lopez said. "I was always confident. You grow up. It's part of the process. You've got to struggle to be great."
He got roughed up by opposing pitchers and fans during his first season in Cincinnati, when he had 16 errors in 59 games. He doesn't regret it.
"I came up young," said Lopez, who turns 25 on Thursday. "There's some advantages and disadvantages to coming up to the big leagues young. Yes, I struggled. That's the disadvantage for me. But I got to learn how to play the game the big-league way. That's the advantage of coming up young."
No Power Outage in Cincinnati
Major league home runs are down 8.8 percent from the first five weeks of last season, leading to speculation about how much is due to the crackdown on steroids in baseball. However, the Reds' pitching staff has been an exception to the rule so far, giving up 49 homers in its first 30 games, the most in the majors. "The balls that are being hit out are the balls that are elevated," manager Dave Miley said.
Reliever Kent Mercker thinks it's impossible to gauge whether the attention to steroids has affected the home run total. Cold weather in April and early May were likely factors in the diminished overall total. Plus, these things go in cycles.
Injured Players
Outfielder Wily Mo Pena and reliever Ben Weber went on the 15-day disabled list Monday. Right-hander Todd Coffey and infielder William Bergolla were called up from Triple-A Louisville.
Pena was one of the Reds' best hitters before he strained his left thigh on April 23. Weber, on the other hand, made 10 appearances and gave up 11 runs, 20 hits, and nine walks in only 12 1-3 innings. The Reds said he has a bulging disc in his neck.
Coffey made three relief appearances for the Reds from April 19-25 and had an 11.25 ERA when he was sent back to Louisville. Bergolla hit .298 in 29 games for Louisville but has never played in the majors.
Overall, Felipe Lopez has proven that he's capable of meeting expectations and contributing to the success of the Cincinnati Reds. With his newfound confidence, improved performance, and ability to adapt to different positions, Lopez has solidified his spot in the lineup. The Reds will continue to rely on his mature approach to elevate their game and bring success to the team.
As the Cincinnati Reds continue to thrive with Felipe Lopez's performance, it's important for fans planning to attend games to consider their accommodation options. Book a hotel near the stadium to ensure convenience and easy access to the exciting action happening on the field.
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