Tarasco says line drives will be Zimmerman's biggest adjustment in left

As third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's move to left field becomes the big story at Nationals Park, the team's outfield coach, Tony Tarasco, says the toughest outfield to play in the National League are in San Francisco and Chicago's Wrigley Field. "Both cities are windy, and that's what makes their the ballpark outfields so tough to play,'' Tarasco says. After the Phillies' series in D.C., Zimmerman, who hasn't played since April 12 because of a thumb injury, will get his chance to play left in San Diego and San Francisco. On the final weekend of June, the Nationals will be in Wrigley Field. At least he doesn't have to deal with the Green Monster in Boston or the quirkiness of Houston's left field in Minute Maid. Tarasco, who taught former catcher Bryce Harper to play three outfield positions in the minor leagues, says Zimmerman should be fine. "Line drives are the toughest adjustment," Tarasco says. "They are wicked. They knuckle at you. They are difficult to read and half seem to get lost in the lights.'' Another adjustment: "He's learning to see the ball when he's running, and he's done a good job at that,'' Tarasco says. Other notes about being out in left field: * This isn't the first time the Nationals moved an infielder to left field. In 2006, after acquiring Alfonso Soriano in a trade from Texas, general manager Jim Bowden wanted Alfonso Soriano to play left. So when manager Frank Robinson put Soriano in left during spring training, Soriano balked and went to second base. After a few days, Soriano gave up the fight and enjoyed left field, having a season with 46 home runs, 41 steals and 22 assists, leading to a big-money contract with the Chicago Cubs. For a long time, Soriano wouldn't talk to Bowden, but eventually the chilly relationship ended. Soriano sent Bowden an autographed picture and thanked him. Bowden has the pic in his office. Guess this is a case of, "All's well that ends well.'' * In the 1960s, the Orioles played a part in Don Buford's transition to a full-time left fielder. Buford played third, second and left when he was with the Chicago White Sox, but in 1969, Buford played 128 games in left and was the Orioles' leadoff batter in the American League Championship Series against the Minnesota Twins. * The Milwaukee Brewers' Robin Yount moved from shortstop to the outfield in 1985 because of a shoulder injury at 29, making his scenario similar to Zimmerman's. At first, Yount played both left and center, but eventually settled in center. Yount made a diving catch to save Juan Nieves' no-hitter in 1987. He won the National League MVP in 1989 as outfielder, giving him two MVP at two positions, the other coming as a shortstop in 1982. * Another famous move of an All-Star to left field came in 1986, when the White Sox moved their 38-year-old catcher Carlton Fisk, a 10-time All-Star behind the plate, to left field to make room for promising prospect Joel Skinner. The White Sox manager was Tony La Russa, who wanted Ron Kittle to be his DH. Fisk worked hard at his new position and when he got to Boston, the former Red Sox catcher joked that he was "turning his back,'' on an old friend, referring to Fenway's Green Monster. The hardest part about playing left field? "Staying awake,'' Fisk said at the time. "I only touched the ball twice.'' * Houston's Craig Biggio has the wildest resume of defensive positions. He started as a catcher, but in 1990, he played all three outfield positions for the Astros. In 1992, he became their regular second baseman. Then at age 37 in 2003, he played center field. In all, he played 1,989 games at second and 353 games in the outfield, mostly in center and left. Is there any doubt that Biggio, a member of the 3,000-hit club, should be in the Hall of Fame?