Heisey Kickin' Butt in the AFL

Chris Heisey is tearing up the Arizona Fall League so far. Through 6 games and 26 plate appearances he's posted a line of .522/.593/1.000. He's walked 3 times and only K'ed twice. 6 of his 12 hits have been for extra bases. Our opening day left fielder?

over 2 years ago nycredsfan 41 comments 0 recs |

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whoah there

it’s only 6 games. He definitely deserves consideration for making the big league roster, but I’d be hesitant to call him the LF. Offensively, I still think he profiles more like a centerfielder. He might be okay in LF, but I’d still rather have a power bat like Jonny Gomes out there.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Oct 21, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions

I know, I only said that so hotheads like you would post comments

I'mma let you finish, but....

by nycredsfan on Oct 21, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

You dirty Moderbaiter.

People always asking, 'Uncle Jemima, why you sell booze?' I say 'sell whatchu know' and I knows about booze.

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on Oct 21, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Can't we say that Slyde is the master of this blog?

"If it wasn't this, it'd be something else."

by ZJiff30 on Oct 21, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

but is Slyde the master of his domain?

i mean sometimes Walt is like a prison shower, you know it is gonna happen, but it isn’t a good thing.

by justin007000 on Oct 21, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

King of the castle?

by Brian B on Oct 21, 2009 3:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Perhaps not the king

Maybe the handmaiden.

by Brendanukkah on Oct 21, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

who's the jester?

"I have found me a home"

by obc2 on Oct 21, 2009 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Oct 21, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Get your butts above the hard deck and return to base!

by Brendanukkah on Oct 21, 2009 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

While I agree

that we should probably have a more potent bat in LF, the thought of an outfield defense comprised of Heisey in left, Stubbs in Center and Bruce in right is enough to make one salivate.

"Some times you get lucky; some times you get Willy Taveras." --Fay

by RedStalk on Oct 21, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

i think the outfield D of Dickerson/Stubbs/Bruce is just as good if not better

and when you throw Gomes’ bat in the rotation i think we can have a solidly above average group. i like Heisey, but there’s no need to rush him.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Oct 21, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

rush might not be the right word

Heisey will be 25 next year after all. It all depends on what the Reds see as his long-term potential. If they consider him a 4th outfielder, then it might make sense to go ahead and move him up while he appears to have his shit together. However, if they think he has the offensive potential to play LF and provide an .850 OPS, but that potential is still developing, then maybe a little more seasoning in AAA might make sense.

FWIW, Heisey loves him some left-handed pitching in the minors. His career line against lefties is .344/.419/.510. If the budget really is too tight to hold on to Jonny Gomes, then a LF/CF rotation of Heisey/Dickerson/Stubbs could turn out to be decent. Still wouldn’t be much power, but it might move Janish out of the 2-spot in the order. That could mean more runners on base for Votto, BP, Rolen, and Bruce. Honestly though, I’d still probably put Votto batting 2nd, Rolen 3rd, Bruce 4th, and BP 5th, but there’s no way old school Dusty does that.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Oct 21, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Abundance of OFers

I wish the Reds didn’t have a tight payroll. With nearly every position filled except for SS, the time has come to maybe think about trading some of these prospects who are stuck behind a young major league starter. The OF is logjammed with Bruce, Stubbs, Dickerson, Gomes, Balentein, Heisey, Tavares (if he’s still here)……….throw in Francisco now too. Same goes for Alonso, with Joey in front of him. And Phillips contract continues to escalate each of the next few years topping off at $11M. On the flipside, it’s amazing that the farm system is in position to possibly fill the needs of a cheap quality lineup in the now and the future – 1B Votto, 2B Frazier?, SS Cozart?, 3B Frazier again?, Francisco OF, Heisey OF, Stubbs OF, Bruce OF……….Hanigan C………..pretty amazing if they’re able to accomplish it.

by Dude Rock on Oct 21, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I think they will make some trades

I wouldn’t be surprised if they traded for a shortstop this off-season, but I would guess that it will be either Harang or Arroyo plus a prospect that gets dealt. And if that doesn’t happen, I could definitely see them dealing prospects next summer if the team is in contention.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Oct 21, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd rather have Heisey

I don’t think we’d be rushing him. He was drafted the same year as Stubbs, and is the same age.

I don’t think there’s much to be gained by leaving him in Louisville. He’s Rule 5 eligible now, and has to be added to the 40-man roster or lost.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 21, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

he only has 260 ABs in AAA

and his numbers were fairly pedestrian (.285/.339/.469). that kind of production will not play in LF. i think he’d make a fine CF, but Stubbs is better. so why not let him play in AAA where he can hopefully develop a bit more?

the only time he showed real power in his career was the 273 ABs he had in AA this season. that power surge is the one and only reason anyone is seriously considering him for the roster next year. yes, he’ll be 25 next year, but that doesnt mean he’s ready to handle the big leagues. i can understand and condone playing him if the team doesnt have the 3 mil to pay Gomes, but if the team doesnt have that kind of money then we have more to worry about than Heisey’s development.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Oct 21, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Well said. Heisey needs to bake in AAA a little longer.

He’ll likely be the 1st or 2nd option in OF when injuries happen though.

I’m not a big Gomes believer, but I can’t argue we need the insurance in case something goes wrong with the offense. Any good guesses on how much Gomes will get in arbitration?

by mdccclxix on Oct 21, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

It's hard to say because he is a player that was non-tendered

my guess is that he will get treated much like a 3+ player (i.e. first year arb) and will probably get between $2 and $4 million. That is purely a guess though.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Oct 21, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we're looking at Dickerson vs. Heisey

Not Gomes.

The Fay says the Reds can’t afford Gomes, so I’m assuming he’s history.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 21, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Fay has been wrong many times in the past

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Oct 21, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

True

But I’m still not counting on the Reds signing Gomes. The budget is looking pretty ugly.

I just hope they don’t do something stupid, like they did with Cantu. If you’re gonna cut him, do it before the Rule 5 deadline.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 21, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

hopefully they can trade him if they don't want to resign him

better yet, hopefully they can trade Willy and keep Gomes.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Oct 21, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

who in their right minds

Would take Willy off our hands?

Then again, I couldn’t imagine anyone trading for Tony Womack after the year he had with the Yanks, but someone did.

Oh, wait…

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 21, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

this one

i mean sometimes Walt is like a prison shower, you know it is gonna happen, but it isn’t a good thing.

by justin007000 on Oct 21, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW, I too have been wrong many times in the past

I’m not attacking Fay. I’d believe what he was saying if it were less than a few months out. His “long-term” predictions tend be less fact based and more gut based.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Oct 21, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

You shouldn't discount Wlad or Francisco

The Reds seem pretty high on E.N.D. Is Frazier in the mix also?

Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 21, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Laynce Nix

Jay Bruce will become a major league baseball STAR, starting in April, 2010.....

by Madville on Oct 21, 2009 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

question

a New York/Cincinnati World Series, who do you root for?

i mean sometimes Walt is like a prison shower, you know it is gonna happen, but it isn’t a good thing.

by justin007000 on Oct 21, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Luckily, it will never happen.

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Oct 21, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

The Spirit of '76 lives on!

by Brendanukkah on Oct 21, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

The Red Sox

Jay Bruce will become a major league baseball STAR, starting in April, 2010.....

by Madville on Oct 21, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Your LF......

First time I shot her, shot her in the side.
Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died...

by btcoop71 on Oct 21, 2009 10:53 AM EDT reply actions

/swoon

by Brendanukkah on Oct 21, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Be careful of prospects...especially after 6 games

Jay Bruce will become a major league baseball STAR, starting in April, 2010.....

by Madville on Oct 21, 2009 11:04 AM EDT reply actions

Reds could trade Alonso (gives Padres a replacement at 1B and a former #1 draft pick), and several other prospects, then move Joey to LF, stick Gonzalez on 1B as our big bat. Hehehe.

I’m not gonna let it go.

by Dude Rock on Oct 21, 2009 6:54 PM EDT reply actions

Albeit a small sample size

Joey’s UZR in LF is TERRIBLE.

Plus, you know we can’t afford Gonzalez. Heck, we can’t even afford Jonny Gomes.

"If it wasn't this, it'd be something else."

by ZJiff30 on Oct 21, 2009 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you may be right about Gomes.......

…..which is a shame. I like Gomes. Seems like a good clubhouse guy and does alright overall. But with Heisey playing well in the AFL, wouldn’t surprise me to see the Reds brass give him a serious shot in spring training, and bypass Gomes in arbitration.

by Dude Rock on Oct 22, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

I thin Big Bob would be inclined to go with a player who has Gome's experience and skill set over an unknown like Hi-Z

Stubbs hasn’t made the line up for sure even…so guys like Frazier and Hi-Z will have to have beyond incredible STs to be considered. Frazier looked quite impressive last spring but he wasn’t ready and the club knew it.
I’ll be shocked not to see Gomes or Wlad or Laynce before we see Hi-Z.

these guys are masters of the universe.
http://redlegs.mlblogs.com/Bob_and_Walt_in_Columbus.JPG

Jay Bruce will become a major league baseball STAR, starting in April, 2010.....

by Madville on Oct 23, 2009 7:29 PM EDT reply actions