Pardon me if been discussed...
 

I've been in and out and not read all the threads lately but what about the freel/deno thing.
Alot has been said about one of them playing center but let's just focus on the players right now. What is everyone's opinion of the approach going into ST.
Is the RF/CF job Freel's to lose? Will their be competition for the job ?
I have not really heard Narron address this specifically.
I mean if Deno hits .385 in ST and Freel hits .250 , will it be Freel in RF/CF on opening day or can Deno take it?
Again....sorry if discussed and if it has been ...feel free to link me to a thread...

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

I would hope it is a competition. I think Deno is a better all around ball player than freel. Freel's hustle has enamored him with this city and I find it hard to believe that Narron would sit Freel becaue he is a fan favorite.

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

I think the OF is a lock, Dunn in LF, JR in CF and Freel in RF. IMHO what happens in ST isn't going to matter.

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

You are probably right. Deno will get some time in CF and RF to spell Junior and Freel but I think your starting three will be Narron's starting three come opening day.

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

From strictly an opinion standpoint, I would think Freel to be close to a lock. However a blatant performance advantage displayed in ST by Deno could certainly change things, knowing the general sentiment that Freel would "still get his ABs" in as all-around utility role. At this point I am not sure when Deno could offer that Freel cannot in the OF, beside possibly more durability.

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

I agree, I think the outfield is Dunn in left, Griffey in center and Freel in right. Obviously, they might not be at the best positions for them(Griffey) but this is probably the way it will play out. I would like to see more of Denorfia, though.

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

I've seen enough of Deno to know I would rather see someone like Hopper in the lineup than him. He hasn't really shown me anything to really think he is going to ever do any damage in the big leagues. I'd love for him to prove me wrong but I just don't see it.

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

You lost me at "Hopper".

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

I think you have to give him a shot. Deno has hit every where. After a very poor season up to September, Deno finally got in a groove and was the only one that hit in the last month.

.352 Avg, .407 obp, .463 slg, .870 OPS in 54 AB's.

I'm not saying he is a starter, because I just about give that roll to Freel as a lock. But Deno deserves some time.

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

Yep...Freel usually gets his DUI after the team gets back from ST. :)

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

It's a competition but Freel has a significant head start. Deno is going to need to have a solid spring to be thought of as anything but a 4th OF, which is sad. I'm just waiting for the trade in June when he gets sent somewhere for an A ball starter and turns in to an .800 OPS gold glove CF elsewhere. Shortly thereafter, Ryan Freel breaks something giving Jeff Conine and Josh Hamilton significant at bats in RF while Junior moves back to CF...

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

Hopper has shown me more at the plate than Deno has so far. Granted his sample size is much smaller, 39 ABs vs 149 ABs, but his BA is 80 points higher and his OPS is about 300 points higher. I believe he also won the AAA batting title didn't he? It seems like the guy just knows how to hit.

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

I think that Deno offers more upside than Freel. Deno has hit everywhere, including with some power. It's not impossible that he could bring a .280-.300 average, with 15 HR's and good OB ability. Add in good speed, and a good glove and range , and you have a pretty good CF.

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

The guy has a career minor league OPS of .682.

Re: Pardon me if been discussed...
 

I didn't look at his minor league stats so I didn't realize it was so low.