It Came From Out of Left Field

Dave Paisley

Left field is often the final refuge of the player who is too bad at throwing to play the other outfield positions, too bad at fielding to play an infield position, and too bad at hitting to be a designated hitter. It's the low position on the fielding totem.

Then there are the exceptions, like Barry Bonds. He's one of only two genuine stars playing left field, and Bonds is head and shoulders above Albert Belle offensively. While both have dubious reputations with the media, Belle's is much more deserved than Bonds. Also, Bonds continues to have spectacular year after spectacular year, albeit usually wasted with the Giants, while Belle fell off some sort of cliff in '97. The circus surrounding Belle's signing and the bizarre situation in the South Side can't have helped his concentration so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Plus, with Robin Ventura out early, any semblance of a batting order below him was washed away. That may prove to be an interesting study in protection sometime. Also, Belle fits the "accident waiting to happen" prototype more typical of left fielders.

Beyond those two, there isn't much to write home about. Rusty Greer, Bobby Higginson, Moises Alou, Chris Stynes, Ryan Klesko, Brian Giles and Jose Cruz Jr. are all solid, if unspectacular. Stynes made a decent run last year, and should be ready to help Cincinnatti become a surprise. Cruz is the other one to watch, if only to settle the bad trade/really bad trade arguments about the move to Toronto last year.

Dante Bichette may be rivalling the Goodyear blimp this spring, but his offensive totals will be anything but fat. Once again, his totals will look good, disguised by the Coors effect.

After that, it's stiffs galore, with only a few rookies and a couple of specialists to relieve the boredom. Tim Raines and Rickey Henderson may not have the power any more, but their ability to get on base will still serve them well as leadoff guys if their health holds. Todd Dunwoody and Yamil Benitez are the rookies to watch for. Playing on expansion teams (I'm counting Florida as one again this year) they should both get a chance sometime, if not right out of spring training.

Other notable left field stiffs are the highly overpaid Greg Vaughn and the perennially overrated Garrett Anderson. Even the regular news media are cottoning onto Garrett these days - a sure sign his days are numbered - as a potential star, at least.

Bringing up the rear is Todd Hollandsworth, who can only creep back to respectable with a return to the form of 96.

When it comes to excitement, left field just isn't the place to be.

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