If we move Choo to LF, that pretty much relegates Paul and Lutz to pinch hitting only. And then we have no backup in CF until Heisey is better.
I'm not ready to give Robinson and everyday job... It's just not worth it.
Choo has been adequate in CF.
I know the announcers gave him grief last night and said that most CF should've caught that ball that bounced off his glove, but in general.. Choo has been adequate. He's not Drew Stubbs defensively, but we knew going into this season that we were not going to get gold glove defense in CF..
[Phil ] Castellini celebrated the team's farm system and noted the team had promising prospects who would one day be great Reds -- and then joke then they'd be ex-Reds, saying "of course we're going to lose them". #SellTheTeamBob
Nov. 13, 2007: One of the greatest days in Reds history: John Allen gets the boot!
IF I was to do anything it would be put Jay Bruce in CF and Choo in RF. Jay has played there before and IIRC he was open to it in Spring Training.
Old school 1983 (06-10-2013)
Old school 1983 (06-10-2013)
Its all part of the puzzle. Agreed that Choo in CF to get Ludwick's bat into the lineup is a good trade off. Not now.
That isn't to say that the bullpen is bad, boneheaded plays are too common, and the offense squanders a bunch of opportunities.
I couldn't disagree more. CF defense was the difference between winning and losing last night. If Choo makes a catch that 98% of CFers make, the Reds win. Phillips is having to go out and make over the shoulder catches 100 feet into the outfield that should be routine plays for the CF.
Last night won't be the last it costs the Reds a game either.
Bob Sheed (06-11-2013),dougdirt (06-10-2013),Old school 1983 (06-10-2013)
Choo is not a good defensive CFer. Before the season, I guessed he might be a -10 run CF glove. He's on track to grade out worse.
"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
Disagree 100%. That ball is one of the toughest to judge in all of baseball. The line drive hit directly at you is a much more difficult play than many people think to make. A good defensive CF probably makes that play but it does require the proper read off the ball in order to catch it.
Focusing on one play as to why the Reds lost is silly. What about Bronson bunting on the first pitch with 2 outs? Or how about Robinson bunting into a force out? Or how about Votto not sliding into 3rd base? The Reds had multiple chances to break that game open and didn't take advantage of it. Pointing to one isolated event as to why the Reds lost is silly.
It's no focusing on one play it's focusing on a 2+ months of data. I'm not saying Choo's play is the only reason the Reds lost, but if the Reds had a competent CFer they most likely win.
If you think Phillips having to run out and make over the shoulder catches in CF is okay, then well okay. But there's no reason it has to be like this.
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reds44 (06-10-2013)
Exactly. The idea the Bruce can play better defense than Choo is pure speculation based upon zero evidence. Robinson is a 5th OF type who probably deserves a spot start once every 5 games, not a glaring reason to start him in CF. Paul had a difficult enough time in LF catching balls. Heisey is on the DL and I have always thought his CF defense is a tad over-rated. Nice player to have, probably a tad better in the field than Choo, but there is a massive gap a the plate.
As fans we all knew that Choo was going to have his struggles in CF. I don't think its anything out of the ordinary. In reality the only answer I see anytime this season is Hamilton in CF and Choo in LF.
Choo is terrible out there. Maybe the other three discussed options won't be better, but they are ALL worth a try. At this point, with Ludwick out until at least mid-August, there is nothing to lose. Choo already knows how to play RF and it would be very difficult for any of the others to be worse than what he's doing right now.
Strike3Called (06-14-2013)
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