CNATI: Cincinnati OH Sports Journalism

Spring Training 2010

Competition in CF is on

By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted March 16, 2010 7:36 PM ET

TUCSON, Ariz. - Maybe Drew Stubbs just needs people to ask him about struggling before every game.

On Tuesday before the Reds' 13-7 victory over the Diamondbacks at Tucson Electric Park, three different reporters asked Stubbs about his 2-for-20 start this spring. He went out and led off the game with a double and had a two-RBI triple in the second.

"I told you give me time," Stubbs said with a laugh after going 2-for-3 on the day, raising his average from .100 to .174 - not a bad day's work.

"Just putting together quality at-bats, like I said, that's all I'm concerned about," Stubbs said after the game. "This early in the year, as few as at-bats we have under our belt, the more you're in there, the more settled you get , the more comfortable you are."

Earlier this spring, Chris Dickerson talked about how nobody was giving him a chance to win the starting center fielder's job coming out of spring training. After a starting the spring with a .429 batting average with nine hits in as many games, Dickerson is starting to get that talk.

"This is what I had hoped Dickerson would have done instead of talking, just play," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

Just as much as what Dickerson's done - including a 4-for-4 day with a homer on Monday - it's been what Drew Stubbs hasn't done. Stubbs, penciled in as the starter in center has gotten off to a slow start.

"It's obviously not the best start, but the thing I've felt like I've been able to do and want to continue to do is have better at-bats," Stubbs said before Tuesday's game. "From the start to now, I feel a lot more comfortable out there. I can put better at-bats together and put better swings on the ball. The more settled in you can be, your results will come with time."

Stubbs said he understands it's become a competition for the spot and welcomes it.

"For me to have as little experience as I do coming in, it was far from given, I knew that," Stubbs said. "I think it's good it's that way, it keeps you from getting complacent. It makes you go out and compete each and every day."

Last season Stubbs hit .100, with one hit in 10 at-bats in big league camp. He started the season at Class AAA Louisville before being called up in August when Willy Taveras was put on the disabled list and then got extensive playing time when Dickerson went down with an ankle injury.

In 42 games with the Reds, Stubbs hit .267 and eight home runs, putting him in position to start this season as the Reds' center fielder.

Stubbs, though, has been plagued by a high rate of strikeouts. He struck out 49 times in 180 at-bats with the Reds last season and struck out 104 times in 411 at-bats in Louisville. Entering Tuesday's game, he's struck out seven times in 20 at-bats and walked three times this spring - and struck out in his final at-bat on Tuesday.

"He needs to get going here soon. It's not, what are we, about a third of the way through? You can go 3-for-4 or 3-for-4 and you're right back there," Baker said. "You don't have many at-bats. I'd like to see him make more contact, because he's struck out a lot and try a couple of bunts, which is something he's been working on early with (Billy Hatcher) in the morning."

Stubbs has the speed to get on base by bunting and he led the international league in stolen bases last season with 46. He had 10 stolen bases with the Reds. He's also an excellent defensive outfielder.

With 21 games remaining in spring, Stubbs knows he can turn around his batting average with a good day or two, but until then, it's tough not to look at the stats.

"It's a small sample size, so things could change. Obviously numbers are important, but for myself right now, the biggest thing is to continue to put together good at-bats and feel good up there at the plate," Stubbs said. "Thinking back, I've traditionally been a slow starter. It's the first time you've seen live pitching in a while. It takes a little while to get acclimated with it. Some guys adapt a little more quickly. I'm starting to feel more comfortable and that's the main thing for me right now."

It's not that Stubbs is alone in scuffling a little bit here early. After 10 games Brandon Phillips is hitting .100, Scott Rolen is hitting .176 and Joey Votto is hitting .200.

"It's a little bit different when you have, like Joey, you know Joey's going to hit, Brandon's going to hit, by their history. You know that Stubbs is has gotten better, you still don't know what he's going to do yet because he hasn't had an extended history," Baker said. "(Spring stats) count more for some more than others. You've got (Orlando) Cabrera, you've got Joey, you've got Rolen, those guys, Brandon, their results don't count as much. The guys that don't have a true background of success, it counts more, but we still have two-thirds of the spring to go, it's a very important two-thirds. I've got to get guys as many at-bats as possible."

Dickerson will lead off in Wednesday's afternoon game against the Brewers and Stubbs will do the same against the Indians Wednesday night. With two good games in this time, Stubbs numbers could look a lot better.

"It's obviously important, but I think if you worry about it, it only makes things worse," Stubbs said. "If you worry about things, you start to press and if you start to press, things go downhill. I try not to stress over it and let things happen."

Categories: Cincinnati Reds, Featured Stories, Spring Training 2010

Tags: Chris Dickerson, Drew Stubbs, Dusty Baker