Drew Stubbs has been struggling at the plate. The annoited centerfielder had just two hits in 20 at bats coming into the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Tucson Arizona.
"The numbers don't concern me," Dusty Baker said. "He has to get going pretty soon. I'd like to see him make more contact, try some bunts."
Chris Dickerson is hitting his way into the picture in centerfield as well as leftfield.
Dickerson wondered out loud why he wasn't being considered for centerfield. He was considered all along for a leftfield platoon with Jonny Gomes but wants more. He is hitting .429, putting pressure on Stubbs.
Stubbs was asked about it this morning.
Right on cue, he led off the game with a double down the rightfield line. His next at bat he ripped a triple past a diving rightfielder.
The Reds scored seven runs off Arizona starter, Edwin Jackson.
Juan Francisco, who is playing leftfield for the first time in a spring game singled in the first run.
"We have to talk to him about being too aggressive," Baker said. "They are starting to pitch him out of the strike zone. He has to adjust."
Francisco swung at the first pitch in each of his first three at bats. He didn't have a play in left.
Jonny Cueto was scheduled for four innings but fell an out short.
He gave up seven hits and hit a batter but some fly balls were lost in the sun.
Baker wanted to see how Jordan Smith would rebound from his last outing in which he gave up four runs after two were out.
"He did a very nice job," Baker said. "His ball had more movement than it did the other day."
All of the young relievers were impressive.
"(Logan) Ondrusek threw the ball good. (Phillipe) Valliquette is throwing the ball good. Once he gets control of the stike zone and tightens his breaking ball up a little bit. He's got big league stuff but right now minor league command. He's going to be a very good pitcher."
Ondrusek threw a perfect 1 1/3 inning with two strikeouts. Valliquette allowed three runs and hit two batters in a row.
Jay Bruce and Paul Janish hit home runs. Bruce also doubled in three trips to the plate. Both were hit to leftfield.
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Hey Gary, thanks for the blogs. You're doing a great job as always. I wonder if Logan Ondrusek is in any way related to Gene Ondrusek, Ph.D., the psychologist with whom I took a Behavioral Psychology course in my first year at the California School of Professional Psychology at San Diego, 1984-1985. Gene was a 6'5" slender athletic blonde guy, and taught well. Would you ask Logan if he's related?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Kevin Wulff class of 1972