Out of the park

Braves, Reds get power from best outfields in the game

Adam Dunn launches a grand slam deep into the afternoon on Memorial Day in Atlanta, a game winner in the 11th. A night later, Chipper Jones smacks a solo shot to win one for the home team in the bottom of the 10th.

The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves have been punching and counterpunching for five games this season, two big-swinging clubs aiming for the fences. Three of the five games in this cross-divisional rivalry have been decided by a run. Two have gone extra innings. A homer in the home team's last at-bat decided one other.

In all, there have been 15 homers in the five games between these two teams. The Reds lead the series, 3-2, going into Wednesday night's finale.

The swinging for the fences highlights an interesting story within a story in this battle of the bats. This is not just a matchup between two offensive teams (the Reds lead the National League in homers, with the Braves are second). It's also been a duel between, arguably, the two best outfields in the game.

There are other good outfields. St. Louis has a very good one (Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and J.D. Drew). Maybe Anaheim (Garret Anderson, Tim Salmon and Darin Erstad). San Francisco might get some votes (Barry Bonds, Marquis Grissom and Jose Cruz). A lot of teams have two-thirds of a good outfield going.

Out to hit A look at the outfields of the Braves and Reds. Reds PLAYER AB H R HR RBI Dunn 163 37 32 18 40 Kearns 181 55 30 13 45 Guillen 132 45 22 10 28 Griffey 57 15 12 4 8 OF Totals 533 152 96 45 121 Braves PLAYER AB H R HR RBI C. Jones 184 53 32 8 31 A. Jones 202 59 34 13 44 Sheffield 183 63 41 12 44 OF Totals 569 175 107 33 119

But the Reds have home run leader Dunn, center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. , slugger Austin Kearns and fourth man Jose Guillen. The Braves, who overall have the best team batting average in the NL, counter with Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones and the sizzling Gary Sheffield.

Right now, are there better, healthier, more productive outfields than the ones of the Reds and Braves?

"I know I got a pretty good outfield," says Cincinnati manager Bob Boone, "and they got a good one. But I don't go around ranking them."

Ahh, but plenty of people do. Reds general manager Jim Bowden told ESPN that he considers his foursome the best in baseball. You can find a lot of people who agree.

But the Braves last season became only the second NL team to have three outfielders hit at least 25 homers apiece. And that outfield probably is better this season.

"They're both somewhere in the top five," agrees Reds pitcher Chris Reitsma. "I think ours has the potential to be one of the best ever."

This year's Reds outfield has blasted everyone in its sights. Dunn has ripped 18 homers already. Kearns has smashed 13. Guillen has 10, including three against the Braves. And, since the return of Griffey, Guillen is no more than a fourth outfielder.

The Reds' outfielders are relatively young, they are strong and they are scaring the rest of the league to death.

"Those guys, on that team … " says Sheffield. "You got the home run leader [Dunn], sitting on the bench [Tuesday night]. That says something right there."

The best, as many say?

"That's probably true. They probably do," says Andruw Jones. "They're young and they hit a lot of home runs. And they all hit for high averages. And they have so many. We are just three."

Guillen caused a mini-storm recently by demanding a trade after being benched upon Griffey's return. Guillen has calmed down since and Boone, for his part, is doing his best to use all of his guys. The four players have combined for a .285 batting average with a whopping 45 homers and 121 RBIs in 533 at-bats.

"And I don't think they've reached their full potential," says Atlanta's Chipper Jones.

The Braves, meanwhile, have the two Joneses and Sheffield, who may be the most dangerous hitter in baseball right now. Sheffield is hitting .344 with 12 homers and 44 RBIs. All together, the Braves' outfield has been good for a .308 batting average with 33 homers and 119 RBIs in 569 at-bats.

"We got a strong outfield," says Andruw Jones. "We go out and do what we need to do to win. We can hit some home runs. But I give the [best] outfield to them.

"All around, defensively, offensively, I got to give it to them."

Defensively may be another matter. Andruw Jones is a Gold Glover, widely acknowledged as the best center fielder in the game today. Sheffield is a solid, probably underappreciated fielder in right. Chipper Jones, a converted third baseman, plays left for Atlanta.

Griffey was a great center fielder at one time, but injuries in the past few years may have sapped him of some of his speed. Neither Dunn or Kearns, both just 23, has enough time in the big leagues to get a defensive reputation.

Offensively, in comparing the two outfields, there's one factor that can't be overlooked. The Reds play in the brand spanking new Great American Ball Park, a place where balls carry better than anywhere this side of mile-high Coors Field.

"It's the new no-lead-is-safe ballpark," says Chipper Jones.

Chipper is one player who takes a lot of pride in the Braves' outfield. He's willing to put the Braves' threesome against the Reds' outfielders any day.

"We're pretty good," he said. "I will say this: I'd like to see our outfielders play in their park."

Before this season is over, the outfields on both teams could be mentioned among the biggest-bopping outfields ever. Either one, or both, could join the 1963 Minnesota Twins as the only outfield in history to crush 100 home runs (each player with a minimum of 30).

There's still a lot of homer hitting to go before the Reds and Braves get there. But if these two teams keep swinging like this, everybody better just move back a step or two. It's coming.

John Donovan is a senior writer for SI.com.

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