The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

Simply put, he needs more playing time. If that means giving Stubbs a day off, Bruce a day off or Gomes a few days off, he should absolutely be getting more starts.

Yes, the sample size is small, but he's already been about 1 WAR. He's had 5 HRs in 75 PAs. He plays amazing defense (the catch tonight in RF was incredible). He was practically the MVP of the game with that catch and his home run (or runner up next to Phillips).

I'd love to make him the everyday LF. Can you imagine an outfield of Bruce, Stubbs and Heisey? They'd run down every ball hit out there.

I'm just saying, Heisey deserves more playing time and I hope if the Reds do trade him here at the deadline, they don't sell him short. He's not an elite talent, but he has value and I think Dusty doesn't utilize his talent enough.

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

Heisey should be starting over Gomes every day of the week. I don't mind him getting a spot start in CF/RF once a week, but he is flat out a better player than Gomes is.

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

I think Heisey should start getting some starts in left field. I like Jonny Gomes, but other than a great month of May, he's been below average this season. I would start giving Heisey some starts in LF against RHP and let Gomes start vs LHP. This move would give the Reds one of the best defensive outfields in baseball, if not the best...

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

Right now, Gomes literally does nothing better on the baseball field as Heisey. I have no problem with Gomes and I'm glad he's on the team, but Heisey needs to be playing.

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

Heisey may/may not be the future in LF. But Gomes has been very instrumental in this team's success this season. Some seem to be overlooking that.

.280 BA .333 OB% .473 SLG% .807 OPS

56 RBIs. That's 3rd on the team behind Votto (59) and Rolen (57). Over the course of the season that projects out to 145 hits, 110 RBIs, 20 Hrs. And while Gomes is stronger vs RHers, he still gives better consistency from both sides, where Heisey's numbers so far vs lefties ain't too hot. Agree it's a small window, but some are using that same small window to say he should be getting more playing time in LF and Gomes less.

A season is comprised of 162 games (6 months), and not "cherry picking" a player's performance over one month and then saying he ain't making it.

Keep using Heisey off the bench just as they are. He's very valuable. Use him all around the OF to give guys a rest, and even as a defensive replacement.

He definitely should be getting the nod of Nix.

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

Baker needs to mix Heisey in a bit more. Gomes, Stubbs and even Bruce can use some time off a bit more often and Heisey fills in very nicely.
But as GAC says, lets not get overly excited. Heisey has also looked lost at the plate at times. I still think he's going to be a good MLB player, either with the Reds or someone else.

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

Once a week, start Heisey in LF, then CF, then RF against a tough LH pitcher. That'd give him 3 starts a week.

Not really all that hard to do, and Baker could manage the three starters by saying I want to keep you guys fresh. Its a marathon, not a sprint.

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

Yes, but what has he done for us lately? ;)

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

Here is my curious case of Chris Heisey.

.217/.294/.370 OPS .664

That is his line as a starter. I don't know why he has had great success coming off the bench but when given a chance to start he hasn't produced. That line is Taveras-esque as a starter.

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

I like it.

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

I think Heisey is a better 4th OFer option than Gomes due to his stronger set of all around tools. I question whether flipping the two would be counterproductive. Even though Heisey might perform well, Gomes might fall off the cliff coming off the bench and starting once or twice a week. A start for me is if Dusty would start bringing in Heisey as his late inning LFer instead of Nix.

He is the 2010 Jeffrey Hammonds.

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

Both are small sample sizes, bench and starter. I think his overall numbers are the only fair gauge.

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

Can Gomes play 1b? Seems like a position he needs to learn, 'cause it would be nice vs a tough lefty, when votto might need a day off anyways, to put Heisey in LF and gomes @ 1b.

Either way, I'm all for getting Heisey more playing time.

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

One could argue Gomes is already falling off the cliff. His numbers over the last 5-6 weeks aren't too good.

Re: The curious case of Chris Heisey
 

Nah, he's a slugger. Last time he went through one of these he went on a binge shortly thereafter. I'm not saying he will, but sluggers are like binge eaters.