Thursday, March 16, 2000Reds boast outfield of plenty
Young, Tucker interest Rockies
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati EnquirerSARASOTA, Fla. — Nearly every trade rumor involving the Reds asks them to break up their outfield. Yet keeping it together isn't such a bad idea.
A fresh round of gossip featuring the Reds has mentioned the Colorado Rockies' interest in either Dmitri Young or Michael Tucker.
The Rockies, who had only one home run in their first 13 spring games and want a left-handed hitter, also are said to be intrigued by Baltimore's Brady Anderson and Los Angeles' Todd Hollandsworth.
The Rockies can draw from a surplus of starting pitchers to offer in return. But none of them is the certified winner the Reds would prefer to add, in the mold of Minnesota's Brad Radke.
Manny Aybar and Jose Jimenez are largely unproven, and Scott Karl, who's due to earn more than $3 million, is overpriced and mediocre (31-35 from 1997-99 with Milwaukee).
Reds General Manager Jim Bowden refused to comment when asked if the Rockies had contacted him about any of his outfielders. He did say, “I think there are about 20 clubs that have interest in our outfielders. We have a lot of talent.”
Trade or no trade, the Reds' outfield is their primary source of strength.
“We love all our outfielders,” Bowden said. “In an ideal world, you'd keep them all. That's how you win pennants. You win pennants with depth.”
Versatility helps, too. Center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. is renowned as a five-tool player. But his fellow outfielders can combine to provide the complement of assets needed for success.
“They all have something different to offer,” Bowden said. “It's a very good blend. Last year, Tucker and (Jeffrey) Hammonds were just as important as Young and (Greg) Vaughn. We have the same type of blend this year.”
Cincinnati's projected start ing outfield features Young in left, Griffey in center and Dante Bichette in right. They're a big inning waiting to happen. Ask them for any kind of offense, and they can deliver.
They hit consistently. Young owns a .306 average in his two years as a Red. Griffey's a career .299 hitter, a more than respectable figure for a power hitter. Bichette's career average of .300 is garnished by his 1,111 hits since 1994, the most in the major leagues.
They hit for power. Young matched his 1998 total of 14 homers last year and did so in 163 fewer at-bats. Griffey has the best chance of any active player to break Henry Aaron's all-time home run record of 755. Bichette is a line-drive hitter who nevertheless averaged 30 homers a year for the last five seasons.
Manager Jack McKeon will have no problem deploying his outfield strategically. If the opposition uses a tough right-handed pitcher, he can counter with the switch-hitting Young and Tucker, a left-handed batter. Of course, Bichette's .301 career average against righties makes platooning him unnecessary.
If McKeon wants to add a right-handed hitter against a formidable lefty, he can summon Alex Ochoa, the offseason acquisition from Milwaukee who batted .319 against southpaws last year.
McKeon also has options when defense becomes his priority. As a 10-time Gold Glove award winner, Griffey's fielding excellence is beyond question. Concerns have been raised, though, about Young and Bichette flanking him.
“Dmitri and Dante have really got to keep focusing on their defense, because that's a key for our team,” said first-base coach Dave Collins, who supervises Cincinnati's outfielders. “You can't have holes in the outfield, because they'll find you.”
Should McKeon want to plug those holes, he can summon Tucker, as he frequently did last year, or Ochoa, who joined the Reds with a solid defensive reputation.
“Probably he and Griffey have the best arms on the club,” McKeon said.
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