News
Stubbs keeps job as Taveras returns
Rookie has more homers, higher on-base percentage
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
09/22/09 7:25 PM ET
PITTSBURGH -- For a returning player coming off the disabled list, being compared to Wally Pipp by the manager is never a good thing. Reds center fielder Willy Taveras was activated from the DL on Tuesday. He had been out since Aug. 19 with a strained right quadriceps muscle. Instead of going back to the lineup, Taveras went straight to the bench while rookie Drew Stubbs remained the leadoff hitter and center fielder vs. the Pirates. "He's been out quite a while," Reds manager Dusty Baker said of Taveras. "Sometimes, Wally Pipp is still alive, you know what I mean?" Wally, meet Willy. An injured Pipp famously lost his first baseman's job with the Yankees to Lou Gehrig, which set up a historic consecutive-games streak. Taveras, who signed to a two-year, $6.25 million contract as an offseason free agent, was a disappointment before his injury. He entered Tuesday batting .238 with one home run, 15 RBIs, 25 steals, 18 walks, 57 strikeouts and a paltry .273 on-base percentage in 98 games. Stubbs, the Reds' first-round Draft pick in 2006, was called up from Triple-A Louisville the same day Taveras went on the DL. In 32 games before Tuesday, he was batting .265 with eight homers, 15 RBIs, seven steals, 10 walks, 38 strikeouts and a .315 OBP. Since coming to the Majors, Stubbs leads the Reds in homers, total bases (65), steals and runs scored (20). His 36 hits are second to Brandon Phillips, who has 41. Baker was asked how he would work the center-field situation with Taveras back on the roster. "Not to be smart about it, but I will work it as I feel like it," Baker replied. "Stubbs has been playing good. We'll see how Willy is feeling. I asked him, and he said he still feels a little something. Hey, we're doing fine with who we've got out there." It could be interesting how the Reds work it with Taveras in the offseason. He is still owed $4 million for 2010.Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
