Another chance in left for Yonder Alonso

After not starting in left field at all over the last eight games, Yonder Alonso is back in the lineup there tonight against the Washington Nationals.

“We’re trying to find out,” Reds manager Dusty Baker. “We’re trying to find out was that just a bad day or if he can do it.”

Alonso had two very rough games against the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field. He misplayed ball into a two-run inside-the-park home run, misjudged another ball, had an error and didn’t have the speed to get to another ball.

Alonso started 62 games in the left for Triple-A Louisville.

“There’s not much difference,” Baker said. “There’s more people, third deck, there’s scrutiny. The game’s the same. Some of it’s mental; some of it’s physical.”

The physical part of it is Alonso lack foot speed.

Baker is torn between trying to win games and finding a spot for Alonso’s bat in the lineup. He wouldn’t say how much of a trial Alonso will get.
“That’s a good question,” he said. “We’re hoping does it. But we’ve also got to win ballgames too. A lot depends on how confident he feels. It’s been an experiment from the beginning.”

Alonso welcomed the chance.

“I’ve been working really hard,” he said. “I’ve got to do my thing and not think about the negative. Don’t try to do too much. That’s how you get in trouble.”

Alonso has also been working out at third base. But Baker is reluctant to try him there in a game.

“The Reds have a history of that,” Baker said. “But everybody’s not Pete Rose.”



(cincinnati.com)