Why Cincinnati Reds’ David Bell plans to keep slumping Elly De La Cruz in leadoff spot

CHICAGO — When it comes to a starting pitcher in a tight game, Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell has no problem evoking images of one of his predecessors, Sparky Anderson, with a “Captain Hook” willingness to try somebody else.

But when it comes to slumping rookie Elly De La Cruz’s shaky two weeks as the Reds’ leadoff hitter, Bell evokes images that look more like General Custer, if not Corporal Punishment.

Maybe that’s a bit harsh.

But the fast and powerful switch-hitting rookie who took the baseball world by storm in June has mostly had the impact of a summer breeze since moving from cleanup to leadoff on July 17.

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And despite a meager .277 on-base percentage and 42-percent strikeout rate in those 15 games through Wednesday’s scheduled day off for him, Bell said he still likes De La Cruz there and has no plans to move him out of the lineup’s top spot anytime soon.

“Elly is going to be Elly no matter where he’s hitting in the lineup,” Bell said. “I think the best version of Elly, which is what I know we’re going to get, I think it’s a good spot for him.

“It doesn’t mean he’s going to hit there the rest of his career, or even the rest of the season,” the manager said, “but for now I'm not considering moving him out of that spot.”

De La Cruz recently said he was making adjustments to batting leadoff but that he was comfortable there.

Bell attributed the rookie’s recent hitting struggles — which actually began three hitless games before the move — to natural “ebbs and flows” of a season for any player and especially a rookie.

So if a player’s going through one of the “ebbs,” and there are better options in the moment for the spot that bats most often, maybe that’s a reason to think about a change?

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“That’s true,” Bell said. “I consider those things every single day. I really think Elly’s going to do well in that spot, and when he does (break out) I want him in that spot.”

The team has managed to go 9-6 when De La Cruz has batted leadoff. He’s reached base more than once four times, one of those requiring getting hit by a pitch.

“He’s had some good games for sure mixed in there while he’s been leading off,” Bell said. “For me it’s more of just other factors. It doesn’t have to do with where he’s hitting in the order.”

When he made the move last month, Bell called De La Cruz’s speed at the top a “difference maker” and suggested moving to the top from cleanup would be good for De La Cruz as much as the team: “Just having a need to get on base and not have to do damage all the time, I think it can help Elly progress as a hitter.”

But with the urgency to win increasing with every page turn of the calendar for this ahead-of-schedule contender, it’s hard to imagine having much more patience if De La Cruz doesn’t break out soon.

Imagine what the numbers would look like without the 4-for-4 one-off against the Dodgers in that stretch.

Meanwhile, rookie Matt McLain, in nearly three months in the majors, has a .374 on-base percentage that leads the team, along with a power threat. And if the right-handed bat isn’t ideal, or McLain’s value is better used in the second or third spot, then TJ Friedl — who led off for a month before De La Cruz — still has a .353 OBP despite cooling off since the All-Star break.

Maybe the day off helps get him restarted. The last time he had one, he returned to the lineup and led off the game with a long home run.

As Bell said the day after making the move last month: “I believe he has a chance to be a difference maker hitting at the top of our order.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why David Bell sticking with leadoff plan for De La Cruz despite slump