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Thread: The Left Field Conundrum

  1. #1
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    The Left Field Conundrum

    With the deadline behind us, no impact LF bat added, and Gomes out of the picture, the Reds have quite a few suitors for the left field job. Here's how they stack up:

    Chris Heisey- MLB
    Advantages: Good defense, capable of leading off, some power, has been waiting for a chance at the job.
    Disadvantages: Only hitting .241 on the year; generally considered a better pinch hitter than starter.

    Fred Lewis- MLB
    Advantages: Capable leadoff/average hitter, major league service time.
    Disadvantages: Minimal speed and power, unimpressive defense, signed to a 1-year contract.

    Yonder Alonso- MLB
    Advantages: Top prospect, disciplined hitter, decent power, potential future cleanup hitter.
    Disadvantages: Slow, poor defense due to recent move from 1B, new to MLB, numbers slightly down from last year.

    Todd Frazier- MLB
    Advantages: Solid power hitter, decent defense, experience in cleanup role, recommendation from Rick Sweet as the best LF on the Louisville team.
    Disadvantages: New to MLB, struggled in minors last season, more useful as a 3B or utility player, high K rate.

    Juan Francisco- AAA DL
    Advantages: Raw power, rocket arm, acceptable average, has nothing left to prove in AAA.
    Disadvantages: Defense beyond arm strength is suspect, currently on DL for 2nd time this year, high K rate.

    Dave Sappelt- AAA
    Advantages: Outstanding hit tool, some pop, good defense, leadoff experience, some speed, league leader in AAA, numbers good despite oblique injury.
    Disadvantages: Not a heralded prospect, not on 40-man, poor stealing ability, new to MLB.

    Jeremy Hermida- AAA
    Advantages: MLB service, league leader in AAA, generally consistent .740 OPS throughout MLB career.
    Disadvantages: Signed to a 1-year contract, struggled in brief MLB stint this season, below-average defense.

    So what, Redszoners, would you do? Who should be the one to get most of the starts to finish out the season? Would you groom one of these players long-term for the job, or allow widespread competition? Who screams "trade bait"?


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  3. #2
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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    Lewis and Heisey most of the time. Start making Yonder take groundballs at 3rd base lol.

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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    Alonzo.

    We've had bad defensive left fielders througout Reds history, and I don't think he would be any worse than most.

    This guy will be an impact hitter and change our lineup if given the chance.

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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    id try alonzo until i see a few mistakes. his swing over the limit at bats ive seen looks nice.

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    Playoff Veteran sdwagers's Avatar
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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    Lewis has decent speed IMHO, but is a subpar defender. Frazier is best at 3B I think. Hermida is a AAAA player. I d rather have Edwin "E5" Encarncion over Francisco who projects better as a DH.

    Platoon Heisey and Alonso with a Frazier in the mix every two weeks in LF just to keep him fresh there. (make them all take balls at third in BP too.)

  7. #6
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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    In a perfect world Votto would volunteer to try LF to open a spot at 1B.

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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    Quote Originally Posted by sdwagers View Post
    Francisco
    id love to give him a chance. hes played 59 game in mlb (obv not all starts) hitting .295. not huge amount ab but still. hes a lifetime .300 hitter in minors and thats better than alonzo also. + hes gotten better every yr it seems.

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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    Lewis is weird because he has plenty of speed but he sucks at stealing bases and playing defense lol.

    I think Dusty may have been onto something earlier this year when he explained why Heisey wasn't the everyday LFer. His reasoning then appears to have been spot on. Still though, at this point I'm OK with giving him his chance. Lewis will get his starts here and there and that is cool too.

    With Alonso I honestly have no idea, but it appears that Dusty does not believe he is capable of playing LF at this level. I doubt he's the only one either, but it begs the question, why would Walt bring him up? Maybe they're not on the same page. A lot of guys can look really good in limited playing time so I will withhold all judgement on him till I see what he can do over a period of time. I just have no idea how or where that will be.

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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    Sappelt. The only negative you have listed that I think has any legitimacy is his lack of mlb experience and he's certainly not going to fix that in Louisville.

    Players that hit .300+ with a low K%? More please.

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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    I think they should platoon Heisey and Alonso. This way they get some experience for next season. Plus it gives us a chance to show case them for any potential off season trade.

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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    I would try Sappelt. As stated in another thread, waaaay too many K's with an OF of Heisey, Stubbs and Bruce. A leadoff man, speed, contact, above avg. defense. Allows Stubbs to hit lower in the order. Sorry, I just don't see anywhere Alonso fits on this team, in spite of his potential bat.

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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    Quote Originally Posted by The DARK View Post
    With the deadline behind us, no impact LF bat added, and Gomes out of the picture, the Reds have quite a few suitors for the left field job. Here's how they stack up:

    Chris Heisey- MLB
    Advantages: Good defense, capable of leading off, some power, has been waiting for a chance at the job.
    Disadvantages: Only hitting .241 on the year; generally considered a better pinch hitter than starter.

    Due to Walt removing Gomes from the picture Heisey will be the almost everyday LF here on out. Not a bad idea, but should be used in all positions in the OF and allow the Reds to see what Yonder can do.

    Fred Lewis- MLB
    Advantages: Capable leadoff/average hitter, major league service time.
    Disadvantages: Minimal speed and power, unimpressive defense, signed to a 1-year contract.

    Dusty still not really sold on this guy, will be used in limited appearances.

    Yonder Alonso- MLB
    Advantages: Top prospect, disciplined hitter, decent power, potential future cleanup hitter.
    Disadvantages: Slow, poor defense due to recent move from 1B, new to MLB, numbers slightly down from last year.

    Unless pushed by Walt will see very little playing time this season for the Reds. A total waste of a young talent due to Dusty's view of him as nothing more then a 1st basemen who is stuck behind the MVP. Walt should either have traded him or needs to step in and inform Dusty he is to see playing time in LF


    Todd Frazier- MLB
    Advantages: Solid power hitter, decent defense, experience in cleanup role, recommendation from Rick Sweet as the best LF on the Louisville team.
    Disadvantages: New to MLB, struggled in minors last season, more useful as a 3B or utility player, high K rate.

    Will be back in AAA once rolen returns, not viewed by Dusty as really major league talent


    Juan Francisco- AAA DL
    Advantages: Raw power, rocket arm, acceptable average, has nothing left to prove in AAA.
    Disadvantages: Defense beyond arm strength is suspect, currently on DL for 2nd time this year, high K rate.

    Really no shot at ML level until he can stay healthy at AAA and even then no position to play on major league roster.

    Dave Sappelt- AAA
    Advantages: Outstanding hit tool, some pop, good defense, leadoff experience, some speed, league leader in AAA, numbers good despite oblique injury.
    Disadvantages: Not a heralded prospect, not on 40-man, poor stealing ability, new to MLB.


    Will probably get a sept callup to ride the pine and be told he got his shot and didn't produce.

    Jeremy Hermida- AAA
    Advantages: MLB service, league leader in AAA, generally consistent .740 OPS throughout MLB career.
    Disadvantages: Signed to a 1-year contract, struggled in brief MLB stint this season, below-average defense.

    Average ML player at best, shines at AAA, but can't produce on major league level.

    So what, Redszoners, would you do? Who should be the one to get most of the starts to finish out the season? Would you groom one of these players long-term for the job, or allow widespread competition? Who screams "trade bait"?

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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    Quote Originally Posted by LeDoux View Post
    In a perfect world Votto would volunteer to try LF to open a spot at 1B.
    Another reason why i think Votto is a selfish teammate.

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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    Quote Originally Posted by mrherd05 View Post
    Another reason why i think Votto is a selfish teammate.
    why in the world would you move the MVP? Plus just like Yonder Dusty would only see Votto as a first basemen.

  16. #15
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    Re: The Left Field Conundrum

    Quote Originally Posted by brm7675 View Post
    why in the world would you move the MVP? Plus just like Yonder Dusty would only see Votto as a first basemen.
    Pretty sure both people were being facetious.

    Sign me up for a heavy dose of Sappelt if and when we officially fall out of contention. In many ways, this sweep of SF might serve to do nothing more than retard a good opportunity to build for next year.
    “The crows seem to be calling my name,” thought Caw.


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