In moving from center field to left, Dave Roberts has gone from a below-average defender to one of the best at his position according to some metrics. The visual evidence supports this, as he is able to cover a lot of ground in the much smaller left field and his weak arm isn’t as much of a negative since most throws are shorter.

At the plate, Roberts has proven that last season’s unexpected outburst wasn’t a fluke. He continues to get on base at a good, not great clip (.364) and is able to drive the ball when needed. Also, Roberts makes pitchers work fairly hard, averaging 3.99 P/PA in the first half. In addition, he always keeps the defense on its toes with his bunting and baserunning ability.

When Roberts went down with a knee injury in mid-June, Ben Johnson proved more than capable of patrolling left field in his absence. Johnson produced on offense, flashing some of the power that once had made him a top prospect. In the field, he didn’t cover as much ground as Roberts but made up for that with a right-fielder’s arm.

The only blemish on left field so far in 2006 has been the play of Eric Young, who by all accounts is a great clubhouse presence but who, unfortunately, has little to offer at the plate or in the field. His only real tool at this stage in his career is speed, and most teams nowadays can’t afford the luxury of carrying a pinch runner on the roster.

Grade: B