I really like what we are getting out of Bubba Crosby and Josh Hamilton in the pre-season. Either one of them OR Freel are superior to Griffey defensively in the all important CF position. We've all heard the cliche that it is imperative to be strong defensively up the middle, and all that is lacking right now is superb defense in CF. Griffey isn't bad, mind you, but he is a step slower and any acrobatic catch has a significant chance of resulting in injury. He does us no good nursing an injury.

Griffey's best moments last year, if you recall, were in dramatic game-changing at-bats. He hit a game winning home run, a game winning double, game tying homeruns, etc. He would be the best LF pinch hitter in the league and you pick his spot when he can change a game's outcome, i.e. runners on late in the game. I would certainly give him some spot starts, especially when favorable pitching match ups arise and we feel we can slug it out rather than scratch it out with small ball.

So I prefer the strategy of utilizing Junior as a PH and spot starter. He may not like it, but his body has betrayed him time and time again and at his age and with his history this is the only way to make sure he is around for a stretch drive and into the post season. He's already off to a slow start, and in my opinion the writing is on the wall. If Hamilton and Crosby both struggle we can re-think the strategy, but in my mind this is the best approach.

My lineup would look something like this:

CF Freel
2B Phillips
LF Dunn
3B Encarnacion
RF Hamilton
1B Hatteberg
SS AGON
C Ross
Pitcher

Crosby would replace Freel when Ryan needs a break or when he needs to play infield.

This week on the podcast, the Crack Technical Staff and I are pleased to welcome Lambo and Sketkar of the Astrocast to the program to share their insights on the Astros and how they think the season is going to play out.It’s the first time we’ve had two guests on the show at the same time, and I think it worked out well, thanks in large part to me shutting up for a change and letting the guests do most of the talking. The Crack Technical Staff feels very bad that he forgot to unplug the laptop, which is the cause of the hum and some of the other weird noises you hear throughout the program, but I think he’s probably being too hard on himself.

Hopefully you’ll still be able to make out their voices, despite us not having the greatest connection in the world, because this is the first preview of another NLC team we’ve done where the guest isn’t totally down on the Reds. It’s nice to have someone recognize.

Episode 50: Astros Preview with Lambo and Sketkar (12.4 MB, 18:04)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Lineups from C. Trent:

Jays, eh?
Clayton SS
Hill 2B
Overbay 1B
Glaus 3B
Zaun C
Thigpen DH
Griffin LF
Mottola RF
Duncan CF

Redlegs
Freel CF
Gonzalez SS
Phillips 2B
Dunn LF
Encarnacion 3B
Conine DH
Hatteberg 1B
Valentin C
Denorfia RF

He forgot to mention the starting pitchers, DOH!
Its Matt Belisle for the Reds and Gustavo Chacin for the Blue Birds.

Eric Milton will make his third start of the spring today as the Reds host the Pirates in Sarasota. Coming off a come-from-behind win against the Indians last night, the Reds ought to be in a good state of mind to deal with the Buccos.

Discuss.