Lopez making best of bench

[missionhockey21]

Infielder working on improvement
By Marc Lancaster
Post staff reporter

Given a choice, Felipe Lopez obviously would prefer to be the Reds' starting shortstop every day.

As he is all too aware, though, that decision isn't his to make. Lopez has started three of the Reds' nine games thus far, with generally positive returns, but it doesn't appear likely that he will unseat Rich Aurilia anytime soon.

So even as he yearns to be out there much more than he has been this season, Lopez is adamant about approaching his reserve status in a positive manner.

"My approach this year is to take advantage of the situation," he said. "Whenever they give me a chance to play, I'm going to give it 110 percent every time I go out there. I'm not going to make a fuss over anything. I'm not that type of guy."

That might not necessarily have been the case if Lopez had been put in a similar situation a year or two ago, but there's no doubt the 24-year-old has matured. It has been evident not only in his demeanor but the way he has approached his work on the field since the beginning of spring training.

Lopez has focused on making more contact at the plate and being more consistent in the field, and has shown improvement in both areas.

"I'm keeping the same work habits," he said. "The things that I worked on in spring training have carried over to the season. Put the ball in play - I don't want to strike out. I don't go up to the plate saying, 'I don't want to strike out,' but I want to put the ball in play every time."

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[NFLman2033]

i am made, Lopez goes 3-4, and has been on the bench ever since, what the hell do you have to do to be in the lineup every day, the guy was the best hitter that night, and he is sitting behine a guy hitting .130

[redsrbetter]

He was also our best hitter in the Spring. I don't get it either. This has got to be the worst decision made by management so far. Makes zero sense. All the things this team stands for and the reasons behind certain decision all make Aurilia a horrible choice to even be on the team. Larkin could have been resigned, Lopez needs the work, Lopez is doing better, but Aurilia is here, starting. Why?

[Twenty Three]

Aurilla had a good day today against Houston, but I think Lopez should be given every opportunity to be the everyday shortstop. FeLo gets to more balls than Aurilla, and being a switch hitter doesn't hurt much either.

[missionhockey21]

Young, hitting well, and with plenty of potential. I really don't know who to blame, Dan O or Miley. If I recalled, Miley was pretty pumped about Lopez when he had him after a demotion, so I don't know why he wouldnt give him a fair shake. But Dan O was all about making it a competition (Machado vs FeLo, then Aurilia vs FeLo) maybe since he knew how important SS is to Reds fans given the former legacies there, he wanted to be the one to find the heir to the throne. Not to have a player from the past regime. Obviously he does like players from the past regime, but anyone he aquires he seems to really want to have on the roster (Machado, Hancock, Romano at times, etc). Just a thought.

[missionhockey21]

Aurilla had a good day today against Houston, but I think Lopez should be given every opportunity to be the everyday shortstop. FeLo gets to more balls than Aurilla, and being a switch hitter doesn't hurt much either.

I agree with you Twenty Three. In my opinion, we have to find the youth. Lopez has hit well and done everything needed to show he deserves a chance to start. I have nothing against Aurilia personally and if anything he might be valuable as a mentor to FeLo, but how much longer must FeLo wait to get another fair chance? He got his first shot in 2003 when he was sent here but since then he has essentially only gotten consistent playing time when an injury occured. I don't know why given his spring that he didn't get his chance this year.

By the way, welcome to the forums.

[Twenty Three]

Thanks much for the welcome. I was on the Redszone forum, but with the recent shake up there, I thought I'd give this place a fair shake.

As to the Lopez/Aurilla competition. I don't think you can do more thatn FeLo did in ST to win the job. Yes he had a few iffy throws, but I'd rather take my chances on him getting to a ball and throwing it away than Aurilla not getting to it at all and it definitely being a base hit. You statement about the legacy of the Reds SS is spot on. For the last 30 years the fans have been blessed with two guys who are worthy of HoF discussion and management has to be careful before crowning a successor. Aurilla may be their way to ease into someone new because the fans don't expect him to be a permanent replacement, but more a fill in.

[AdamDunn#44]

Welcome to the board twnty three. How did you find this board? Did you post on any previous boards before this?

[Twenty Three]

I was/am posting on the Redszone.com forum, but they recently applied some overly stringent policies [IMO] and I noticed a couple people mentioned these forums, so I thought I'd check it out.

Thanks for the welcome.

[AdamDunn#44]

NM. I think I know who ya are.

nice avatar, btw.

[CincyRedsFan30]

Yeah, I think I know who you are too.

Welcome. You aren't a West Virginian by any chance, are you?

[Twenty Three]

Nope nope, I'm a [southern] Kentucky fellow. My board name there [and real name incidentally is Joseph]

[CincyRedsFan30]

Oh ok. Yeah, I know you. I think you are going to like this forum.

We have some great people running this site... including the above missionhockey.

[NFLman2033]

no doubt, i mean before this season i was a huge anti FeLo guy, but i really think he has great potential, and i don't see why he isn't playing over Aurillia right now

[missionhockey21]

FeLo has really turned some heads with his play, too bad it isn't the ones making the decisions. I really don't know why this club doesnt like the promise of a young player not in his prime versus a vet past his prime. I couldnt understand Larkin, he was Barry, the captain. But Aurilia, what kind of dirt does he have on O'Brien???