i know it's only mid march but...

[GADawg]

are there still people here who think that Heisey and other youngsters could ops it up with Gomes this season and that the Reds would be better off without him?

[Joseph]

The Reds haven't had much of an offense so far this spring. Pretty scary actually.

[RedsManRick]

The bat was never really the question with Gomes compared to Hesiey. The question has always been about how much of his bat's value is lost thanks to his weak glove.

The question about what the Reds would benefit the most from requires looking at both.

[GADawg]

The bat was never really the question with Gomes compared to Hesiey. The question has always been about how much of his bat's value is lost thanks to his weak glove.

The question about what the Reds would benefit the most from requires looking at both.

overall i realize that but there were some here who stated that the Reds had enough in house youngsters to equal Gomes' OPS. I never bought that or the fact that his defense is bad enough in left to discount his offensive ability. Again it's early and he might tank for all we know but if he continues his play from last year and this spring i hope some of the naysayers will acknowledge it.

btw Francisco seems to be the real deal and though I don't like platoon's all that much the Gomes/Francisco combo could put up some serious numbers if they could both somehow stay sharp.

[Nasty_Boy]

To quote Dennis Green, "Francisco is, who we thought he is!"

Juan still has no control of the strikezone and would have trouble being consistent at the ML level at this point. He has great power and he makes "hard" contact, but he's not doing anything this spring that shows he could sustain his numbers over an entire season. I think he's moved past Wily Mo territory, but I think he's some patience away from being a ML force.

[Spring~Fields]

overall i realize that but there were some here who stated that the Reds had enough in house youngsters to equal Gomes' OPS.

Again it's early and he might tank for all we know but if he continues his play from last year and this spring i hope some of the naysayers will acknowledge it.


I hope that Gomes has a fine season, though I think it will be interesting to see and as to how Mr. Baker juggles his use and playing time for the various players. Especially as he perceives them in right and left platoon splits, speed/defense etc. to make his decisions.

I don't think that any of the younger players are going to be given the opportunity to support or to disprove any thoughts on what they might produce, this season, considering sample size, are they? Other than Jay Bruce or maybe Stubbs?

[Scrap Irony]

I'd call Stubbs a young one, though perhaps untested is a better term. And chances are that he's getting the starting nod for the majority of the ABs in one OF spot.

I don't think any other prospect will make much of an impact this season with Cincinnati unless injuries wreck a veteran player's season or they fall out of contention early.

[Will M]

i watched the game today & thought to myself how happy i was that we re signed Gomes. while i would prefer that he platoon with someone in LF rather than be the everyday left fielder, i am very very happy to have him start vs LHP & be on the bench as a pinch hitter when a RHP starts. the Reds need offense. rest assured that when a LHP is on the mound we will get some out of Mohawk Man!

i am very disappointed in Francisco. doesn't seem to have learned anything. he should not make the team. he is not going to have a good major league career with the plate discipline he has

[Guacarock]

What's impressed me most: Gomes' defense this spring. He has made several difficult catches, and some strong, pinpoint throws. He might not be as fast as Stubbs or Dickerson, but he doesn't look lost or lumbering out in LF.

Combine defensive proficiency with his solid offense (3 HR, 9 RBI so far this spring), and he becomes an anchor and a more complete, all-around player. If he can maintain this strong start on multiple fronts, his naysayers will be eating crow soon enough.

Nice to see, and one of the reasons I banged the Gomes drum this past winter. He's at the right age to have assimilated a lot of the things he's learned, but not so old as to be on the declining side of his career.

By contrast, most of our outfielders still have a ways to go before they reach their peaks. Even if they eventually out-perform Gomes, it probably won't happen this season. And if Bruce, Balentien, Dickerson and Stubbs all put it together at once, and come out firing on all cylinders, that's the kind of surplus firepower this team needs. Our pitching improved dramatically in 2009, our defense was superior, but we lost an awful lot of close, low-scoring games because of our anemic attack.

[Ron Madden]

What's impressed me most: Gomes' defense this spring. He has made several difficult catches, and some strong, pinpoint throws. He might not be as fast as Stubbs or Dickerson, but he doesn't look lost or lumbering out in LF.

Combine defensive proficiency with his solid offense (3 HR, 9 RBI so far this spring), and he becomes an anchor and a more complete, all-around player. If he can maintain this strong start on multiple fronts, his naysayers will be eating crow soon enough.

Nice to see, and one of the reasons I banged the Gomes drum this past winter. He's at the right age to have assimilated a lot of the things he's learned, but not so old as to be on the declining side of his career.

By contrast, most of our outfielders still have a ways to go before they reach their peaks. Even if they eventually out-perform Gomes, it probably won't happen this season. And if Bruce, Balentien, Dickerson and Stubbs all put it together at once, and come out firing on all cylinders, that's the kind of surplus firepower this team needs. Our pitching improved dramatically in 2009, our defense was superior, but we lost an awful lot of close, low-scoring games because of our anemic attack.


Very true. You don't win very many games if your offense can't support your pitching and defense.