Bonifacio and Hernandez to platoon

[BBQ]

On the Nats site. I really think this will be a terrible mistake. Bonifacio is the future and is still learning we can't just cut his ABs because he is slumping.

[ronnynat]

On the Nats site. I really think this will be a terrible mistake. Bonifacio is the future and is still learning we can't just cut his ABs because he is slumping.

I don't think Bonifacio is slumping anymore. If they think Hernandez is going to be on the team next year as a backup, this makes sense. I just don't think he should be on the team next year at this point. He has played well here so far, though.

[UMDNats]

he isn't slumping, but he's having a lot of problems hitting left-handed hitters. give hernandez a shot so bonifacio can work on his swing and see what works

[shoeshineboy]

Bonifacio's Splits from batting left handed versus right handed:

Career
Batting LH vs RHP  .278/.340/.351
Batting RH vs LHP  .162/.158/.297

2008
Batting LH vs RHP  .291/.333/.367
Batting RH vs LHP  .156/.152/.313

His numbers batting from the right handed side are pathetic. Luckily for him, he's a mirror of Nook Logan. Looks like another guy who should never have been told to switch hit. Just let him bat lefty.

Certainly, it makes sense for him to platoon. Maybe they will actually let him work in winter ball seeing if he can do better against lefties batting left handed.

[blue911]

Bonifacio and Hernandez played for Tim Tolman last winter.

[HalfSmokes]

The only way he's going to learn to hit leftys is by hitting leftys. As nice as this streak is, its not like we're in a pennant. race

[mikehughes]

On the Nats site. I really think this will be a terrible mistake. Bonifacio is the future and is still learning we can't just cut his ABs because he is slumping.

No son, Anderson Hernandez is the Human Highlight Reel and he is the future at 2B just wait and see hes been doing great

[PANatsFan]

Bonifacio's Splits from batting left handed versus right handed:

Career
Batting LH vs RHP  .278/.340/.351
Batting RH vs LHP  .162/.158/.297

2008
Batting LH vs RHP  .291/.333/.367
Batting RH vs LHP  .156/.152/.313

His numbers batting from the right handed side are pathetic. Luckily for him, he's a mirror of Nook Logan. Looks like another guy who should never have been told to switch hit. Just let him bat lefty.

Certainly, it makes sense for him to platoon. Maybe they will actually let him work in winter ball seeing if he can do better against lefties batting left handed.

The key is that he can bat left handed all the time, and get that nice little speed advantage. Manny is a supposed stathead, hope he recognizes this.

[RD]

I don't see a problem playing both guys.

You don't just hand the job to a guy, you want one to earn it. With the three trades for middle infielders this season, any one of them could get the job at 2b. Bonifacio needs experience, and he's getting that. He's playing and getting AB's, but stting and still putting in work at the big league level still helps him out.

He is the best bet to be the answer at 2B on opening day next year, but there's no guarantee long term. Danny Espinosa, Smiley Gonzalez, and Jake Smolinski have just as much of a case to stake as the future at 2b(if Espinosa plays SS, then Smiley is a 2B, and vice versa).

[Dave B]

On the Nats site. I really think this will be a terrible mistake. Bonifacio is the future and is still learning we can't just cut his ABs because he is slumping.

hernandez is a bit older. you say the bonfiacio is the better player, or has a higher ceiling, in another thread. i dont know if this is the case.  its close enough that they should just battle it out. hernandez was the mets minor league player of the year two years ago (i think) and just stunk up the joint this year for whatever reason. they both seem to be very good defenders and fast

[DPMOmaha]

The key is that he can bat left handed all the time, and get that nice little speed advantage. Manny is a supposed stathead, hope he recognizes this.

I think he should give up switch hitting too.  Heard an interview with Ryan Theriot the other day and he said he spent so much time trying to be good from both sides of the plate that it took away from his overall game.  Once he gave that up, everything clicked for him.  It might be something to consider for EB. 

[Nat of the Living Dead]

I am of the opinion that we really need to get Emilio on base a whole lot more. Sue me, I'll say it: when he is on the bases, that speed of his is absolutely devastating to the opposing team's game plan. I still have that grease lightning vision in my head of Emilio getting that triple on Friday night. Whether he gets on base by hits or walks, we need him on base so he needs to work on doing that. If he can, hands down, Emilio is our 2B.

[wpa2629]

I am of the opinion that we really need to get Emilio on base a whole lot more. Sue me, I'll say it: when he is on the bases, that speed of his is absolutely devastating to the opposing team's game plan. I still have that grease lightning vision in my head of Emilio getting that triple on Friday night. Whether he gets on base by hits or walks, we need him on base so he needs to work on doing that. If he can, hands down, Emilio is our 2B.

Agreed completely ... Gonzalez was actually the same way the other night -- was it against the Dodgers where they changed their entire infield alignment because they thought he might steal home??? ... It truly is amazing to see how speed can change an entire game plan ...

[blue911]

Agreed completely ... Gonzalez Hernandez was actually the same way the other night -- was it against the Dodgers where they changed their entire infield alignment because they thought he might steal home??? ... It truly is amazing to see how speed can change an entire game plan ...

[wpa2629]

Ah yes ... thank you for the correction ...

[We Won?]

Here's why Bonafacio has the inside track on 2nd base:

This year, he's been on base 35 times--29 by base hit, 5 by walk. And out of those 35 opportunities, the man's scored 19 times. Better than half.

And we all know about his range.

[spidernat]

Here's why Bonafacio has the inside track on 2nd base:

This year, he's been on base 35 times--29 by base hit, 5 by walk. And out of those 35 opportunities, the man's scored 19 times. Better than half.

And we all know about his range.

Good stat. Plus he's a little younger so, theoretically, he should improve.