If not for Alonso's injury, he'd be getting a call-up in a couple of days. He's not your normal draft pick. 1 full year and done in the minors, and that's just for his defense, is all he needs.
He can't play Left Field.
Votto can play Left Field.
Now it's more complicated because of the trade for Balentien.
When is Votto going to start playing Left Field? He's no Adam Dunn out there. He's as good as the average Left Fielder, keeping in mind that the average Left Fielder isn't very good in the Majors.
There's no reason to believe that Alonso can't win the First Base job in Spring Training next season. He's that good. Of course, Dusty's prejudices will keep him from winning it, just as Votto couldn't win it over Hatteburg during Spring Training.
Gomes and Nix are bye-bye, as they should be.
Taveras just needs to be released and eat the stupid contract.
With an already crowded outfield in Heisey/Stubbs/Bruce/Balentien/Dickerson/Votto/ it's time to make a decision about the First Base situation.
Dorn, Henry and Frazier are right around the corner themselves.
I have to assume there's a depth chart on the wall of the G.M.'s Office that has the 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 project Outfields and First Base on it. There's only two possible scenarios. Alonso at First Base, or Alonso out of the Organization, and if so, then why in the heck didn't they draft Gordon Beckham. Jockety's losing my faith by the minute.
2009
1B Votto
LF Dickerson
CF Taveras
RF Bruce
UO Balentien
5OF Gomes
2010
1B Alonso
LF Votto
CF Stubbs
RF Bruce
UO Dickerson
5OF Heisey/Stubbs/Balentien
(Stubbs or Heisey spends the first half of the season at AAA and eventually gets a mid-season call-up forcing Balentien off of the roster or sending Stubbs or Heisey back down if they're struggling too badly or replacing an injured Votto/Dickerson/Bruce)
or,
2010
1B Votto
LF Dickerson
CF Stubbs
RF Bruce
UO Balentien
5OF Heisey
2011
1B Alonso
LF Votto
CF Heisey
RF Bruce
UO Stubbs
5OF Balentien/Dickerson/Dorn/Frazier (If Dorn or Frazier are outstanding in Spring Training and force Dickerson/Balentien to be traded. Most likely, Dorn and Frazier are both sent back down in order to be recalled because of injuries to any of the top-5 outfielders)
or,
2011
1B Votto
LF Heisey
CF Stubbs
RF Bruce
UO Balentien/Dickerson
5OF Balentien/Dickerson/Dorn/Frazier (If Dorn or Frazier are outstanding in Spring Training and force Dickerson/Balentien to be traded. Most likely, Dorn and Frazier are both sent back down in order to be recalled because of injuries to any of the top-5 outfielders)
2012
1B Alonso
LF Votto
CF Heisey
RF Bruce
UO Stubbs
5OF Frazier
or,
2012
1B Votto
LF Heisey
CF Stubbs
RF Bruce
UO Frazier
5OF Balentien/Dorn/Henry
Walt, a decision has to be made. Dusty is highly likely to screw all of this up just as he has the past two years with his insistance on having some horrible veteran, that belongs in AAA taking up at-bats and stunting the growth of the better talent, all because he has Castellini's ear.