Where is Jason DuBois and Todd Hollandsworth?

April 2, 2006 by cubsnet

Last season, outfielders Todd Hollandsworth and Jason Dubois entered the season in a platoon for the Chicago Cubs in leftfield. Given Hollandsworth's 2004 performance and Dubois's minor league performance, it didn't seem like such a terrible idea. Ultimately, however, Hollandsworth struggled mightily at the plate and Dubois, while showing power, lost some of the on-base ability he showed in the minors and wasn't much of a defensive leftfielder.

The Cubs ultimately demoted Dubois in early July in favor of Matt Murton. This, despite the fact that Dubois still had utility. At the time, he had an 858 OPS against lefthanded pitchers. Less than two weeks later, the Cubs traded Dubois to the Cleveland Indians for Jody Gerut (who they turned into Matt Lawton who they turned into minor league pitcher Justin Berg). The call-up of Murton was ultimately beneficial, but turning Jason Dubois into Justin Berg was not the most fortunate of maneuverings.

As for Hollandsworth, after losing his job after righthanded pitchers to Dubois and then reclaiming it, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves at the end of August for minor league pitchers Todd Blackford and Angelo Burrows.

All of this is background for the question of where in the world are the two outfielders the Cubs' entered 2005 with as their starting platoon in leftfield? Well, as it turns out, Hollandsworth and Dubois competed for a backup outfielder spot with the Indians this spring. Hollandsworth won, reports the Columbus Dispatch, because the Indians are now in a win-now mode after last year's success. Hollandsworth is the one "with experience coming off the bench."

The players' spring training numbers certainly didn't play a role in the decision. Dubois hit .417/.525/.646 in 48 at-bats. Hollandsworth hit .191/.240/.255.

Dubois may get his shot if Casey Blake struggles at the plate, reports the Dispatch.

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