I had a similar situation this past season and ended up splitting their time between the two positions. The answer to which was better?

It's a wash, but the higher range in LF did slightly (VERY slightly) better.

You're not going to win or lose any games when making this decision.

Ellenwood in LF, because he's a fine LF. Plus LF sees more chances at the moment.

Milone in RF, set to come out with any lead as soon as possible to be replaced with one of the defensive options you don't want to have starting because you don't like the offense they provide.

If you have a lead, you have 6 innings of Milone in RF, which shouldn't be too much worse than 9 innings of Ellenwood there. If you don't have a lead, Milone stays in to try and generate runs with his bat.

Or simply trade one of them for a slightly worse hitting/better fielding true RF....

Quote: Originally posted by iain on 2/25/2010This is a "pick your poison" question... and I stated why I'd pick that particular poison.You're welcome to have either one butcher RF in his own way.  :)

You hit the nail on the head. It really is a 'pick your poison' question. I am aware that I can trade one of them away and all of that. Just looking for feedback as to how you pick between two sub-optimal choices.

That said, all of you offered good feedback and some interesting insights. Thanks!

You're welcome

Ellenwood will play good enough defense to handle either corner OF slot.

hey... why are overeasy and I trying to help your team compete against ours?

Don't know. How do I know if you are lying?

Seriously, your two teams are not getting challenged by my lowly D-backs anytime soon. The NL West, on the other hand, better look out!

Ellenwood plays LF (where he'll be above average)...The other guy goes to 1B or a 1B/LF back up and a bench bat. Or trade him for a RF.

Fielding counts.

My 2 cents....about all it is worth.

Keith

Here is my serious alternative take.
I like Ellenwood's bat myself and I don't like his 78 DUR. As such I want his bat in the lineup as much as possible, so I would play the guy at 1B, where he would suffer the least amount of fatigue, allowing him to play the greatest number of games over the course of the season.

Meanwhile, I stick Embree and his 88 DUR in LF, despite the 1B style fielding abiltiies and put the other guy in RF.

And as of late, I've seen some value add in having a decent fielding 1B much more so than at LF, at least looking at my team fielding stats. I mean look at my regular LF in Atlanta, vs. who I have playing 1B and the difference in my fielding stats between this season and last.
My former 1B, who should be a DH, is now my LF. Through our first 30 games, his bat has won me about 3 games so far, while finally at Game #29, his glove finally lost a game for me. So he makes a few extra errors, oh well, I 'm fine with a 3-1 ratio.
Meanwhile, I've got my LF/RF type playing 1B this season with his 75 DUR, who his my speedster leadoff guy, sort of a Chris Burks-lite and my pitching staff appear to be the beneficiaries. It's not just Villano's arrival why our staff ERA is currently #1, its our improved defense.

Interesting theory. Of course, last season I stuck Embree in LF (and Tallet at 1B). It did not go very well. My defense just killed me which led me to trade Tallet and move Embree back to 1B to marginally improve my defense.

I hear you about the durability thing though.