Spring training is barely a week old and players are already complaining. Not in a "waah I want to play" sort of way, but more of a "can i get a little respect up in here" way.
Chris Dickerson told reporters yesterday that he doesn't understand why Drew Stubbs should automatically be penciled into the starting center field position.
"It's kind of angry and it's frustration and I know it's going to come out that way, I know," Dickerson said.
The 27 year-old Dickerson has had a frustrating career with the Cincinnati Reds. He has been plagued with injuries throughout his minor league and major league career. He was only able to play in 77 games last year due to injury—while watching Stubbs tear it up from the dugout
The 25-year-old Stubbs played well in his short time in Cincinnati last season, hitting eight home runs in 180 at-bats, while hitting .267 and playing above average defense.
What irks Dickerson is that his numbers weren't that different when he came up the previous year. Dickerson also came up in the middle of August '08 and he hit six home runs in 102 at-bats, while batting .304. Like his 2009, the season was cut short by a trip to the disable list.
So what did the Reds do last offseason? Sign Will Taveras.
'Nuff said if you watched the Reds last year.
Dickerson took it as a punch to the gut to hear that the same numbers he put up in '08 now automatically gets Stubbs the starting spot in '09.
"Dickerson has as much ability as anybody, it's just a matter of him staying healthy, the same thing I said last year," manager Dusty Baker said.
"People want to know why he didn't play every day, and that's because I wanted to keep him healthy with his history of injuries."
So by not playing him you are helping him avoid injuries? Great logic Dusty.
Beginning in August '08, Dickerson has been on the disabled list three times. He also spent time on Class AAA Louisville's disabled list in 2008. So the concern is there but you can't be afraid to play him.
Dickerson played all three outfield positions last season, starting 27 games in left, 19 in center and 13 in right. He produced, finishing sixth among National League rookies in batting average (.275), fourth in stolen bases (11), third in on-base percentage (.379), sixth in walks (39) and tied for third in outfield assists (five).
Sure Dickerson can still be the starter in left field, but he will be battling Johnny Gomes and Laynce Nix for ABs all season. But Dickerson is light years ahead of the two in the defensive department. Dickerson feels that playing in center field is in his DNA.
"I've played that my entire career since I've been with the Reds," Dickerson said. "Now I've been slated as left field and even then it's not maybe he'll take over center, nope, no, he's battling for left.
"I don't understand it. You can ask anyone I've played with what my best position is and they'll give you a clear-cut answer. It's not even a question for them, it's centerfield."
Strong words from a guy that clearly sounds frustrated with Reds management.
I tend to agree with the guy; why does Stubbs automatically get the job? Every game Stubbs played in was meaningless as the Reds were already out of contention. Not to mention the fact that the Reds played the woeful Pirates and Astros a combined 16 times in the month of September.
At the very least Baker should give Dickerson a chance to win the job. He is more experienced and has a better glove. Offensively the two are very similar.
I'm not saying Stubbs isn't the best option for 2011 and beyond—but right now Dickerson gives the Reds the best chance to win. Usually that's the goal of a baseball team, I think.
Dickerson isn't going to demand a trade— but he will have to settle for using this as motivation for the new season.
"I guess I'll just have to go out and hit .450 this spring".
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