Originally Posted by
reds44
Dickerson and Stubbs should be able to get you at least a .375 OBP at the top of the lineup in CF if you truly platoon them. They both play great defense as well, so if Dusty manages them right CF should be strong.
This team needs Jay Bruce to bust this year. If he preforms anywhere near potential, then LF doesn't become as near of a big of a deal. If Jay preforms, CF, RF, 1B, 2B, and 3B all should be above average to better.
I really doubt we bring Nix back if we didn't bring Gomes back. It would make absolutely no sense to me at all. Gomes was the better half of the platoon, and Nix kind of went down the crapper after the first couple months.
Ideally, I'd like to see Frazier at 2B with Phillips at SS to start the season, but I've long given up on that dream. Besides, I think both he and Francisco start the year in the minors as it is.
That leaves Balentin and Heisey. IF Heisey pans out, he would seem perfect to slide into the 2 spot behind Dickerson/Stubbs and before Votto. Good contact and on base guy. As mentioned before, he didn't exactly prove he could hit AAA pitching well yet. Balentin was actually decent in 100+ ABs last year, but he showed a better eye and less run production than you would expect. I think you'll see less power and more OB from Stubbs and more power and less OB from Balentin.
To me, ideally Heisey comes out in spring and wins the job because he slots well into the lineup and is an all-around hitter.
Dickerson/Stubbs
Heisey
Votto
Rolen/Phillips
Bruce
Phillips/Rolen
wouldn't be a bad top 6. Still desperatley need a SS, but for some crazy reason I doubt that happens. The last thing I want to see is Taveras in CF and Stubbs/Dickerson in LF, or really Taveras in the lineup at all.