Quote:
Originally Posted by Bumstead
Nix is our LH side of the platoon and he is a 5th OF at best...and I've seen him play LF and it was ugly so I don't think LF defense has been above average at all. Not sure why people want to stick with bad players and not give younger guys a chance; it just leads to more losing. Only 1 of Nix, Gomes and Taveras should be on any given MLB team, unless winning isn't something that is a goal for that particular team. Personally, I would pick Gomes to play against LHP only. Send the others packing.
Bum
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I'm all for Dorn, Heisey, Dickerson, et al, but I can't agree with the assessment of Nix. To start with, I think he's played a very solid left field this year. I've seen maybe one or two poor games, and beyond that he's been pretty impeccable.
Now, about that platoon. Gomes and Nix have not strictly platooned in LF this year. Some of their starts have been in RF, and they've occasionally been in the lineup together. Nevertheless, their combined plate appearances are about 40 short of the average for the LF position in the NL.
Between them, they've hit 29 HR. The high mark for the LF position in the NL right now is 29, by the Phillies. So it's reasonable to say that a platoon of Gomes and Nix has (or more accurately, would have) provided the Reds with as much power as any LF combination in the league. Actually, if you extrapolate the extra 40 PA, they'd be about two homers ahead of the Phillies. Their combined OPS would be in the 4-5 range. And that's with a good many of Gomes' at-bats coming against righthanders.
Just sayin'.