Loading ...I don’t know who John Erickson is, and I know he doesn’t write his own headlines, but this piece by Erickson in the Dayton Daily News entitled “Reds should trade in sluggers for small ball” is just silly, not to mention poorly-reasoned.
I mean, there are legitimate arguments for trading Adam Dunn and Junior Griffey. I don’t necessarily agree with them, but reasonable minds can disagree on the point.
But to say that the Reds need to “usher in a style of small ball that might lead to more wins” is just, again, silly and unserious. “Small ball” isn’t going to cut it in this era. It’s not the Seventies any longer. Come to think of it, in the 70s, the Reds were the opposite of small ball, when everyone else was playing it.
Any thoughts?
GABP is just perfectly designed for the Reds to build a team ready for lots of 1-0 and 2-1 victories. Sure there have only been four 1-0 games in GAPB history, but that’s Adam Dunn’s fault for hitting all those damned home runs. Selfish bastard.
First, I would like to say I don’t know what Juice Giambi has to do with smallball.
I do not think we should trade Dunn and Griffey just because some people are hung up on the idea of small ball. I really think the Reds are a innings eater, and a great reliever away from being a serious contender. Just look at our position player core. We have Votto, Phillips, EE, Gonzo in the infield, and Griffey, Dunn, Hamilton, Hopper, in the outfield. Maybe I have too much of an optimistic point of view, but it is hard to think this team will be cellar dwellers for much longer.
Last, I do think smallball can still win in today’s game. In ‘05 look at the Chicago White Sox. They were quietly one of the best teams in the last 10 years. That comes straight from the mouth of Peter Gammons
Getting rid of Dunn AND Griffey is a terrible idea. Trading one of them, however…
Lonnie Wheeler discussed trading Griffey here. I expanded on it here. As a 10/5 guy, Griffey can veto any trade, but if he agreed to be traded, I think it’s an excellent idea.
And I’m not sold that small ball couldn’t work. Seems to be working OK for San Diego and Arizona. GABP’s the X-factor, but what if a trade could bring a Bronson Arroyo-type to round out the top 3 in the pitching rotation? I’d be fine with one less masher in that case.
I stopped reading after he suggested that the A’s became a small ball team. Did I miss something (perhaps the sequel to Moneyball)? Moneyball II: How Joe Morgan convinced the Athletics to play baseball the right way.
I have so much to say that I wont say anthing. I dont have the time. This man should be fired and sent to psyciatric care. That was the dumbest suggestion followed by the dumbest support I have seen since people said that a plane didnt go into the pentagon because in the pictures after the blast they didnt see a plane.
When I read this item early this morning on the DDN website, I almost spit out my daily doughnut. But being the doughnut was a powdered Bavarian creme delight, it wasn’t worth wasting on such inane and inept sports writing. Small town, small-time thinking.
This crap is just exhausting. It just never goes away.
By the way, the 2005 White Sox? Not small ball. Fourth in the AL in HR, sixth in strikeouts.
If you want to see an actual modern small-ball team, take a look at the Angels over the next couple of weeks. They’re fourth in the AL in runs, but eleventh in HR, only .001 off the lead in AVG, and second in steals. Only two teams have struck out fewer times, and they have the most sac flies in the league (though are only middle of the pack in sac bunts).
That wasn’t even long enough to be considered an article. This Erickson guy must be an intern.
Small ball was replaced long ago by “do anything but make an out” ball.
I’m just baffled at the Jason Giambi references. I don’t understand at all.
Are they having open additions at the DDN to eventually replace McCoy? There have been columns from a few different writers over the past year and they’re all terrible. I wonder where they’re recruiting from – Arby’s?!
How can you place all of the losses the past years at the feet of Griffey and Dunn??? It’s been crappy pitching that has doomed the Reds and will continue to doom them unless they make some drastic changes with that part of the team!
They can – and should – trade Griffey. I really, really like the guy, but his expiration date is passing. Remember, better to trade one year too early than one year too late. But “little ball” in GABP? Heck, even “little ball” teams swing for the fences in Cincinnati. That’d be like having Dan Marino as your quarterback and saying, “We’re going to run the ball a lot more now.”
In my opinion, the Reds don’t need to tinker around too much with the everyday lineup. I don’t know how anyone could have watched this season and feel that the everyday players are the problem. Its the pitching staff for crying out loud! Just like the old political saying, “Its the economy, stupid!” Well, Its the pitching, stupid! The bullpen sucks and the starters are only marginally better. You have Harang and Arroyo as starters. After that its anyone’s guess. Burton and Weathers are not enough. They need some help out there.
Trading Dunn or Griffey only creates another problem.