AUTHOR: Reds03 TITLE: The Battle For Left Field DATE: 8:15:00 AM ----- BODY:

With Spring Training on the way, the Reds have no clue who will be the LF. Will it be the veteran Layne Nix who hit .249 with 15 Hrs and 46 RBIs, but parted time with Johnny Gomes resulting in only 116 games? Many think the young Chris Heisey will get the job. Heisey can run, field and hit which may push him over the top. In AA last year he hit .347 in 71 games and .278 in 63 games at AAA. The Reds have another option with Wladimir Balentein. (Yes, he spells it with a W) Balentein was aquired at the trade deadline last year from the Mariners. Griffey said that Balentein had a tremendous amount of power hitting the ball the other way and it showed. Balentein hit the farthest HR of 2009 against the Pirates. But out of all these guys, my pick is Juan Francisco. Francisco is originally a troubled fielding 3B, but they will try him out in LF. The 23 year old Dominican hit .429 in 14 games for the Reds last year. In AAA, he hit .295 with 27 HRs and 93 RBIs. It should be a fun Spring!

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: MrBaseball09 DATE:2/08/2010 03:50:00 PM Haha a troubled third baseman moving to left field. I have heard the one before. And it certainly worked out well for Braun. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Reds03 DATE:2/08/2010 04:53:00 PM haha, I forgot about that ----- --------