Not a good media day for our general manager. First, there’s the rumor that he’s offered $6M/2 to SECOND BASEMAN Mark Loretta. That makes no sense at all, to anyone.

Then (courtesy of Red Reporter), Hal McCoy has a lengthy(and frankly, pretty shocking) article about Krivksy’s perception in the front office.

The article is definitely worth reading - and kudos to McCoy for the scoop. The source is former Reds senior special assistant Larry Barton Jr., one of two long-long-long-term Reds guys who convinced Castellini to hire Krivksy instead of Jim Beattie, (the owner’s first choice). Barton was with the Reds for 38 years, outlasting Howsam, Wagner, Bergesh, Cook, Quinn, Leatherpants, and O’Brien.

Now, 10 months later, Barton pulled a Johnny PayCheck and told Krivsky, “Take this job and shove it, I don’t work here anymore.”

…

“Wayne has changed,” said Barton, confirming the Beattie/Krivsky scenario. “After what went on this year, I just had enough. Wayne isn’t the person I thought he was.”

Barton’s main complaint is that Krivsky wasn’t listening to his advice, especially the trade of Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez to the Washington Nationals for shortstop Royce Clayton and pitchers Gary Majewski and Bill Bray.

Barton seems to say that when Krivsky presented the Arroyo trade, it was for any one of Pena, Kearns, or Dunn, but that Boston wanted Pena. (If Krivsky was willing to trade Dunn for Arroyo, straight-up, last March, he’s clueless). But since Pena was surplus, Barton advised him to go for it.

But when Krivsky said he was trading another outfielder, Kearns, and a 25-year-old All-Star shortstop (Lopez) for an old shortstop (Clayton) and a couple of pitchers, “I told him I didn’t like the deal and asked who was going to play shortstop next year, and he told me, ‘I’m not worried about next year.’ ”

Barton said when the Reds were ready to acquire pitcher Eddie Guardado from Seattle, a scout told him Guardado had a bad arm that could blow any time, “But Wayne said he had talked to his agent and was told Guardado just had a bad back and his arm was OK.”

Barton also disagreed with last year’s - and apparently next year’s plan to go with three catchers: “They need pitching, not three catchers.” The article goes on to say that people were falsely told that Barton retired, but in reality, “I just got tired of fighting with him on the deals he made late last season.”

Then, there’s this comment from Will Carroll’s daily report from the meetings:

So far, Wayne Krivsky’s not making friends. “He’s signing guys no one wants and pushing the bar up.” I can’t print the rest of the quote from an NL official.

Wow. Just . . . wow. Suddenly, from all sides.

Comment by DevilsAdvocate — 12/5/2006 @ 1:19 pm

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Re Will Carroll’s blurb - I find it hard to believe someone (I’d guess from MIL or PIT) is mad with the Reds for pushing the market up. We signed Gonzalez for about the same as Derosa - after the Cubs made their move. And a couple of two year/5mm deals for relievers are hardly out of place in a market where Bayez gets 3/19 or Jamie Walker gets 3/15.

Comment by Ken — 12/5/2006 @ 1:47 pm

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Larry Barton, Special Assistant to the GM, since 1993…. how’s that been working out for the Reds?

See ya Larry.

Howsam fired more guys a year late then a year early by his account.

Sour Grapes from a man who couldn’t climb any higher then he got 13 years ago.

Comment by Brian — 12/5/2006 @ 1:55 pm

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I tend to agree with that. Bubba Crosby, sure. But Stanton and Weathers would seem to have a market, and Gonzalez looks pretty reasonable, at this point.

Comment by Chris — 12/5/2006 @ 1:59 pm

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Does anyone think that Krivsky is a better GM than Dan O’Brien?

O’Brien could be incredibly frustrating, but I also appreciated that he didn’t respond to knee-jerk instincts. When he erred, it was usually on the side of caution. And I can respect that to a degree.

Krivsky, on the other hand, I’ve never felt comfortable with. He secured his superhero status quickly with two deals that were risks and could have just as easily gone the other way. And then there was The Trade, after which I honestly had to stop checking the Reds boxscores for the latter half of the season, as I was so disillusioned. What he did to our offense was like Chamberlain handing over Czechoslovakia. Does anyone think we are now a better team after Krivsky’s first year than we were before it?

I am now not confident that Krivsky can enter any trade or contract negotiation and not only avoid making the wrong move, but not get fleeced.

You shouldn’t be nervous to follow your favorite team. And when I think about it that way, it makes me wonder if even Jim Bowden was a better GM than Krivsky.

Comment by Lurker — 12/5/2006 @ 2:40 pm

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The above the ramblings of someone with Mad Cow. Denny Crane!

Comment by Sean JP — 12/5/2006 @ 3:03 pm

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The Padres have reportedly signed Jose Cruz, Jr. to a $650k contract. That’s the sort of low risk, medium-reward deal I’d like to see the Reds make. Spending $6M on Mark Loretta, to play first base, is right out of the Pittsburgh Pirates playbook.

Comment by Chris — 12/5/2006 @ 3:37 pm

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According to Lancaster, Narron denies the whole Loretta deal, however he does say they talked to his agent. Don’t know why you would do that if you aren’t interested…

Comment by preach — 12/5/2006 @ 3:39 pm

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http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/spring/

Reds deny Loretta report

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Jerry Narron can be artful with his words when he chooses to be, taking a circular route to let you read between the lines. He didn’t bother when asked a few minutes ago about the Reds’ reported offer to Mark Loretta.

“We have NOT made an offer to Mark Loretta, I can tell you that,” said Narron. “We talked to his agent, but we did not make any kind of offer.”

Comment by Brian — 12/5/2006 @ 3:44 pm

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Exactly. Why talk to his agent if you have no interest?

I guess I’d be fine with it if they were just asking Loretta if he’d play for $1M a year, or something (he’d be attractive as trade bait, if nothing else). But I doubt that sort of call makes its way to the rumor mill. But if Crasnick is reporting that the Reds think he can play first base, that means it was more than just a curiousity call.

Comment by Chris — 12/5/2006 @ 3:45 pm

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but there actually are right handed first basemen available, and I don’t think that Loretta would take a job as purely a fill-in spot starter. There’s got to be more to this. Besides, I like to see my corner infielders with a little more pop.

Comment by preach — 12/5/2006 @ 3:55 pm

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Barton’s comments echo the thoughts of many here. The fact that they come from a guy who had been a Krivsky supporter makes them even more insightful.

As for the question is Krivsky better than O’Brien. Yes but that doesn’t say much.

Comment by Y-City Jim — 12/5/2006 @ 3:56 pm

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I’m with you, preach. Loretta’s .380ish SLG is comparable to Juan Castro, and I don’t ever want to see him at first again.

Comment by Chris — 12/5/2006 @ 6:36 pm

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From Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

The Pirates are not the only team with pitching to spare. The San Diego Padres could be ready to put Scott Linebrink, a top-notch setup guy with closer potential, on the block to attract a power hitter. Reportedly, Cincinnati slugger Adam Dunn is in their sights.

Comment by Y-City Jim — 12/5/2006 @ 7:55 pm

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From South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

Cincinnati’s Chris Denorfia is another intriguing possibility and likely available for pitching help since the Reds are keeping Ken Griffey Jr. in center.

Comment by Y-City Jim — 12/5/2006 @ 7:57 pm

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I think we already have the type of pitching “help” we could get for Denorfia in our bullpen already….

I guess we could always trade him for a reliever with a burnt arm and a never-was middle infielder.

Comment by preach — 12/5/2006 @ 9:05 pm

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Of course, if we had Loretta and packaged him with Dino, maybe we could work a quality starter….hhmmm..

Comment by preach — 12/5/2006 @ 9:09 pm

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I bet the Padres are looking to get Adam Dunn for Linebrink. A 27-year-old 900 OPS guy for a 30-year-old setup man who has failed in every chance at closing? There’s only one GM in baseball who makes that deal. Unfortunately, it’s the one GM who has the ability to actually trade Adam Dunn.

Comment by Chris — 12/5/2006 @ 9:25 pm

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The best part about this thread is the “Denny Crane” reference above. Love that show.

Comment by Chad — 12/5/2006 @ 10:32 pm

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Krivsky, on the other hand, I’ve never felt comfortable with. He secured his superhero status quickly with two deals that were risks and could have just as easily gone the other way.
And could still end up going the other way in the long run. I hope Arroyo repeats his 2006 season, but he’s never pitched like that before. This was the best of his deals.

I hope Phillips didn’t just have a career year and that he improves in 2007 instead of having a Felipe-like regression. I hope that David Ross can wow us with his 2006 power again in 2007, but he is the most likely of the trio to regress next year.

Comment by GregD — 12/5/2006 @ 10:35 pm

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And Hatteberg…

Take a look at his performance in odd-numbered years.

Comment by Chris — 12/5/2006 @ 10:59 pm

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Somebody wake me when Krivsky shows the first sign that he has a clue about offense. He’s like the Grand Master of Hacking Mass.

Comment by Tom — 12/5/2006 @ 11:41 pm

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LOL @ Tom … I agree. I’m still wondering if Kriv has a clue with the players he’s signing.

Comment by Jay — 12/6/2006 @ 9:16 am

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Somebody wake me when Krivsky shows the first sign that he has a clue about offense. He’s like the Grand Master of Hacking Mass.

David Ross had a pretty nice season at the dish, 40 or so EBH in less then 300 ab’s

Comment by Brian — 12/6/2006 @ 11:03 am

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…and he promptly signed Chad Moeller.

Comment by Chris — 12/6/2006 @ 11:13 am

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Well, we only had two catchers when LaRue left; I’m surprised he didn’t sign Craig Wilson not to play first or OF, but so we could fill that oh-so-important 4th catcher spot….

Comment by preach — 12/6/2006 @ 11:42 am

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…and he promptly signed Chad Moeller.

Probably because Javier is a world class crappy receiver

Comment by Brian — 12/6/2006 @ 11:57 am

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The best part about this thread is the “Denny Crane” reference above. Love that show.

I always forget what night it is on. Great show when I remember.

Comment by Y-City Jim — 12/6/2006 @ 4:55 pm

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Will Votto get a chance to break camp with the club next year do you think? He seems to have the potential to be a very solid offensive 1b. I wouldn’t think they’d look too hard for a FA 1b if they see Votto as likely to push for the starter’s job before the end of 2007.

Comment by endymion — 12/7/2006 @ 6:57 am

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Did you see the deal the Phillies and White Sox made? Garcia for a mid/low quality guy and a prospect the White Sox once had. Don’t tell me we can’t get a good arm or a strong bat with what we have stockpiled on our bench. It just really places emphasis on the fact that you don’t need to trade two everyday starters for two part time players.

Comment by preach — 12/7/2006 @ 8:32 am

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did anyone else hear about an offer to Cirrillo, or is that just another rumor? I could see that working out in a platoon situation, although the power isn’t there, and he is versatile. Of course “versatile” is sometimes code for: ‘not particularly great at any one thing’. He would be a good bat from the bench. I also think he would fit the ol’ “veteran presence who really knows how to play the game” thing….

Comment by preach — 12/7/2006 @ 8:39 am

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“I respect the Cubs’ organization a lot,” Cincinnati Reds GM Wayne Krivsky said. “Everybody has their own set of parameters and marching orders. They’ve obviously been very aggressive signing players. But, we’re confident we’ll be able to compete. Everybody knows it’s not always the largest payroll that wins. And everybody’s going to show up on Opening Day and play it out.”

Thought I would bless you with that….

Hey, I hear the Angels are shopping Brendan Donnely around. I know he hasn’t been used to close, but his numbers are good. Potential closer?

Comment by preach — 12/7/2006 @ 12:43 pm

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Cirillo? Why are the only rumors about guys with no power?

Comment by Chris — 12/7/2006 @ 3:53 pm

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