Gammons: Scouts worried about Reds Defense.

[paulrichjr]

Maybe this is another reason that Pena was traded...to get Dunn back to left.



http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog...peter#20060323

Marte making positive impressionposted: Thursday, March 23, 2006

The Indians have been impressed by Andy Marte's bat and work habits, but general manager Mark Shapiro insists that Marte will open the season in Buffalo. "It's only right," Shapiro said. "He's never really opened in cold weather, and Buffalo is a good preparation for Cleveland." Shapiro also said that there is no consideration for moving Marte to first base or right field.

This has been a good spring for the Indians' two closest starting pitchers, Fausto Carmona and Jeremy Sowers. The 23-year-old Carmona was 93-96 mph most of the spring with his improving slider and probably is first in line, followed by Sowers. And if Casey Blake struggles out of the gate, Franklin Gutierrez, who is a great defensive center fielder, could get a shot in right. Gutierrez took a huge jump in his approach and plate discipline this winter in Venezuela and carried it over to spring training.



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It may be just spring training, but Scott Kazmir's struggles this March raise the issue of how much his career may have been impacted by being rushed to the majors too soon. Good lesson.



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One former Brewers coach said, "When it's all said and done, J.J. Hardy may turn out to be the best of their young infielders. He's going to fill out to 6-3, maybe 200 pounds, he could someday hit 20 homers, and he's a really good defensive shortstop. The improvement he made in the second half of last season [boosting his OPS 300 points] was amazing."



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Reds manager Jerry Narron calls Edwin Encarnacion "the Grapefruit League MVP," but scouts are very concerned about the infeld defense, especially Dunn at first. "He just doesn't seem to take to the position," said one AL scout. "He's pretty rough over there."

[KronoRed]

Hatteberg isn't so much better to offset the loss of O by taking Deno or Freel out of the lineup.

To me I think Narron and/or Krivsky decided long before ST that they wanted Dunn back in the OF.

[REDREAD]

Originally Posted by KronoRed

Hatteberg isn't so much better to offset the loss of O by taking Deno or Freel out of the lineup.

To me I think Narron and/or Krivsky decided long before ST that they wanted Dunn back in the OF.

I think it's more of a case that Krivisky realized that he absolutely HAD to trade an OF for pitching this spring. If Kearns or Pena turned in another year where they didn't break out, their value would drop even more. I know some people don't think Arroyo was fair value, but IMO, that's fallout from DanO's years of inaction. DanO let their prospect label wear off.

Freel at 1b might be worth trying. We have to consider that even though Dunn didn't pull a Soriano, he does not really want to play 1b. I'm willing to give WayneK some time to solve the 1b problem. I'd rather have a hole at 1b than to hand a slot in the rotation to someone like Gosling.

[traderumor]

I'm starting to see a pattern. Hatteberg is this year's Rich. Were that one guy the only thing contributing to five straight losing seasons.

[OldXOhio]

Originally Posted by traderumor

Hatteberg is this year's Rich.

Which would translate roughly into the following for SH for 2006:

17 HR
75 RBI
.275 AVE
.775 OPS

Now i'm not crazy about Hatteberg being the everyday 1B, but strictly from an offensive stand, those numbers are remarkable Casey-esque.

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by OldXOhio

Which would translate roughly into the following for SH for 2006:

17 HR
75 RBI
.275 AVE
.775 OPS

Now i'm not crazy about Hatteberg being the everyday 1B, but strictly from an offensive stand, those numbers are remarkable Casey-esque.

True but he'll be making quite a bit less than Casey.

[max venable]

I'm tellin' ya...Dunn's gonna move back to LF and your favorite and mine, Mr. Rich Aurilia, is going to be our new 1B.

[BRM]

Originally Posted by OldXOhio

Which would translate roughly into the following for SH for 2006:

17 HR
75 RBI
.275 AVE
.775 OPS

Now i'm not crazy about Hatteberg being the everyday 1B, but strictly from an offensive stand, those numbers are remarkable Casey-esque.

If Hatteberg puts up numbers like those, I'll be very pleased.

[KearnsyEars]

I don't want dunn at first. I think he's a lifetime LF. Keep him happy. He is the nucleus.

[deltachi8]

There was so many opportunities fro Dunn at 1b this spring, I mean, how couldn't you come to that scout's conclusion?

[princeton]

first base is the least of our defensive problems. It's just first base.

the rest of the field-- you know, where most balls actually drop in for hits-- ugh.

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by princeton

first base is the least of our defensive problems. It's just first base.

the rest of the field-- you know, where most balls actually drop in for hits-- ugh.

Yeah. Unless he's Ron Blomberg and balls are clanking off his glove, I don't think it's that big of a deal. But the people making the decisions feel otherwise.

[M2]

Originally Posted by princeton

first base is the least of our defensive problems. It's just first base.

the rest of the field-- you know, where most balls actually drop in for hits-- ugh.

Exactly. It's like trying to fix a car with thrown engine rod by trying to change the tires.

[Roy Tucker]

Tucker: RedsZone also worried about Reds Defense

[deltachi8]

dont forget the johnson rods and starter hoses.