What do Norris Hopper, Chris Dickerson, Jerry Hairston, Lance Nix and Jacque Jones all have in common? They are all competing for one starting outfield position- a position that none of them will win. So, who is going to win it? With Spring Training right around the corner, this seems to be the biggest question. The favorites have to be Dickerson and Hairston who heavily contributed to the club last year. However, Hairston may be the starting SS, making Keppinger number one off the bench. Dickerson produced last year batting .304 on the year BUT only played in 31 games and had only 102 AB’s. Can the career minor leaguer keep the stats of last year being the starting day left fielder? I wouldn’t be so sure. Remember, the best he hit in AAA is .287; which is far from spectacular. Hopper coming off of surgery which prevented him from playing all year will probably make him a strong canidadate to be starting at AAA. Layne Nix, although young and able to play all three outfield positions, has no chance to make the starting day roster. He has never found a grove hitting in his entire major league career and has only played in 91 games over the past three years. Jacque Jones, because of Dusty’s love for his former players, will most definitly be on the bench to start the year but I can’t see him being our starting left fielder.

You might be asking yourself well if it’s not any of them, who will be the starting left fielder? You heard it from me -watch out for Jonny Gomes. What seperates him from the other potential left fielders is that he is right handed. The reds desperatly need a right handed hitter to step up and produce. Gomes has shown he could do that in 2005 when he hit .282 with 21 HR’s and 54 RBI’s. for the Rays. He has never been able to get back to his 2005 form because he hasn’t been given the chance to play consistently. In order for Gomes to regain his 05 form his must play everday. He has been given the chance to prove himself and to earn a starting spot. A change of scenery will benefit Gomes and you WILL see him as our staring left fielder.

Walks to Norris Hopper and Paul Janish, a sacrifice bunt by David Ross, and a sacrifice fly by Jay Bruce manufactured the winning run in the top of the tenth as the Reds bested the Blue Jays 6-5 in extra innings.  Jared Burton picked up his fourth win in relief, and Francisco Cordero notched his 15th save.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit a two-run homer in the top of the first off Jays starter Roy Halliday.  Reds starter Aaron Harang had one bad inning, giving up a pair of two-run shots to Adam Lind and Joe Inglett in the third.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, a better alternative to OPS.

Aaron Harang had a subpar start, lasted only five innings and suffered his tenth loss of the season, while young Dodger lefty Eric Stults stymied the Reds hitters for six innings to earn his first win of the year.  James Loney went 3-for-4, while Matt Kemp hit his sixth home run and drove in three for the Dodgers.  Brandon Phillips and Norris Hopper had two hits each for the Reds.  The loss completed a 2-7 homestand for the Reds.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, a better alternative to OPS.

Dusty Baker flip-flopped Joey Votto and Corey Patterson in the order, but it didn’t help much, as the only Reds run scored on a solo homer by Edwin Encarnacion.  Meanwhile, Bronson Arroyo gave up six Dodger runs in six and one-third innings.  Brandon Phillips had two hits and turned a spectacular double play.  James Loney and Juan Pierre drove in two runs each, and starter Derek Lowe picked up the win for the Dodgers.

Norris Hopper, activated from the DL before the game, pinch-hit for Patterson and played a couple of innings in center.  Hopper had a single and a base on balls, but was stranded in scoring position both times.  To make room for Hopper on the roster, Homer Bailey was optioned back to Louisville.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, a better alternative to OPS.

Ken Griffey Jr. got home run #600 out of the way in the first inning, and the Reds never trailed after that.  Edinson Volquez had yet another quality start and got his ninth win against only two defeats.  Reds catcher Paul Bako broke out of an extended slump by hitting two homers off left-handers.  Brandon Phillips also homered for the Reds.

Jerry Hairston Jr. broke his thumb sliding headfirst into second, and is likely headed for the disabled list.  Jeff Keppinger and Norris Hopper were both scheduled to begin rehab assignments tonight.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, an alternative to OPS.