What Does Castellini Do?
Bob Castellini has already admitted to being an impatient man. He’s already said (and shown) that he absolutely expects to win right now. But what can he do about it? He’s already fired GM Wayne Krivsky and installed old buddy Walt Jocketty. His hand-picked manager is in place. Pitching Coach Dick Pole would be a target, but generally speaking, the pitching has been pretty good.
In my opinion, Castellini’s early hook for Wayne Krivsky painted himself into a corner. The team is just as bad worse now as than it was then (9-12 before the firing; 3-7 after). But what can he do about it?
The truth is this team was probably a year away from contention, but Bob Castellini has refused to accept that, and (I suspect) pushed Krivsky into deals like the Cordero and Baker hirings. If Castellini admits that this really is a rebuilding year, isn’t he admitting that he erred in firing Krivsky?
My worry is he can’t make that admission, and that Jocketty, pressured by his boss’s ego, makes some sort of short-term deal to bring in a bat in CF or behind the plate, but at the expense of the future (maybe not Jay Bruce for Coco Crisp, but something that I wouldn’t like.)
Thoughts? Where do we go from here?
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
I remember Krivsky saying (after he was fired) that Baker was his choice, and that Castellini then approved of it.
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:20 pm
One thing I think Walt will do much better than Krivsky is manage The Robert. The Robert doesn’t pay Walt so that he can come in and tell him how to run a baseball team. Walt seems like a master negotiator and communicator, and no way does he let The Robert start telling him how to do his job.
Walt is playing out Krivsky’s hand for this year. I don’t think The Robert trusted Krivsky to get maximum value at the dealine for Griffey, Dunn, Affeldt, Weathers, and Mercker who likely get dealt this year at the deadline if we are still tanking.
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:59 pm
It is time for a culture change in the locker room. I know Castellini likes Griffey as a ticket draw and there are a lot of people who still believe in Dunn, but it’s time for them to go. If you read national writers who cover baseball and have no need to maintain relationships with Reds players (i.e. Jon Heyman from SI) they all say Dunn and Griffey are not winning players. They do their job, but can anyone say that they are confident when either comes up in a big spot anymore?
Trade em both whenever it is available (i think there is something with Dunn and him not being able to be traded until the middle of June) and get whatever you can. If seattle wants griffey, i would love jeff clement, but im not sure that’s possible.
For dunn, try and find a decent left handed starter like a sean marshall from the cubs who have always liked dunn and could use a lefty bat.
Offseason priorities have to focus on another outfielder/bat, catching, and more bullpen. I would also unload arroyo to a contender in need of an innings eater like the yanks. I can embrace a young talented team on the rise. The mediocrity and frustration are reaching a fever pitch here and something has to happen. Good luck to walt in trying to keep bob in control. I can’t wait for his next interview on fsn where he mumbles for 15 minutes about becoming competitive sooner rather than later.
May 4th, 2008 at 12:15 am
I agree, Ben. Ever since these two guys have been around, the Reds have not been a winning team. Not that’s it’s all their fault of course, but they should be the team leaders, and they don’t seem to ever have been. I agree with trading all of those guys too, but honestly I doubt Walt will be able to get much for any of them. At any rate, it’s time for a major overhaul. Even if the Reds rip off 7 or 8 in a row, this team is destined to underachieve, and it’s time to bring in some better competitors. This team is getting ridiculously frustrating…..
May 4th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Jon Heyman practically has an entire wing to himself at firejoemorgan.com due to him being in the top 5 of most incompetent baseball writers in existence.
May 4th, 2008 at 12:36 am
i would agree with you on Heyman from the standpoint that he doesn’t understand fundamentals and techniques and how to evaluate players like a scout does. However, he talks to a lot of people who do know what they are talking about (like scouts and other gm’s) and has a good feel for what is going on around the game.
If you honestly watch the reds everyday like I do, you cannot possibly justify wanting to keep dunn and griffey on this team. Perfect examples from dunn this week are his two-run homer that boosts his stats in 7-0 ballgame and then the strike out with men on 2nd and 3rd and 2 outs tonight. I don’t care what stats people come back at me with, Dunn is not someone I want on our team anymore and Griffey is teetering on the edge of losing it completely. The time to trade was two years ago, but at least sell now before it’s too late.
May 4th, 2008 at 3:01 am
Clean house. Now. Griffey, in a package deal, can get Jeff Clements. Dunn will be harder to trade and with his struggles we will have to take less than fair value for him. But IMO that is the lessor of two evils … he is just awful at the plate to go along with his less than stellar defense. I wouldnt flush out the bullpen .. they have been solid despite tonights blow up. Unless you want Coffey, Mejewski & Brower up here … because that is about all thats down there. The rest are “has been’s or never will be’s”. I am ready to see an OF of Freel, Hairston/Patterson, Bruce. Unless we can get a decent RH OF in a trade to replace the two head Dusty monster in CF. If we are going to fail, I’d rather do it with some one new. The Griffey/Dunn act has worn out its welcome.
May 4th, 2008 at 4:24 am
In order to trade Dunn or Griffey they will have to show they have some kind of value, which right now they have none.
I find it funny that everyone is saying “get whatever you can” for these guys but when Kriv did the same exact thing with 2 clubhouse troubles(Kearns/Lopez), he got ripped, even to this day. If they would trade Dunn today we could only expect a similar return.
You would think these guys would be interested in putting up some good numbers this year, since both will likely be free agents at the end of the year.
The only thing we can hope for is that some big power guys get injured and teams start overvaluing power numbers. It is time to get rid of the deadweight but you have to wait until the right time to start dealing. Right now I don’t think any team would take on either of those guys.
May 4th, 2008 at 10:54 am
You’re completely underestimating Dunn’s value.
The best trade would be Corey Patterson for Jay Bruce. Wonder if Louisville would make that deal?
May 4th, 2008 at 11:35 am
In some circles the Reds farm system is rated third best back of Tampa and Boston. But if you want to ‘win now’, then you’re going to have to trade your best prospects for experienced players. All three, Bob, Walt and Dusty seem to give little credence to building with youth like teams such as the Twins and A’s have done. I think it’s a mistake, but that’s just my opinion. It all goes back to 2000 when Lindner played the ‘hometown card’ and gave the payroll away to Junior. At the time Cameron was in center and a team leader like Greg Vaughn had been. The clubhouse leader is what we don’t have today and it shows.
May 4th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Blame Dunn and Griffey on the Reds multi-year losing streak all you want. They weren’t the ones putting this team last or near last in pitching the past 7 years.
Not everyone is saying “get whatever you can”. That’s a poor approach to take for Griffey or Dunn. Why dump them for nothing? Oh yeah, it worked so well for Kearns and Lopez! That’s right.
May 4th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Between now and opening day next year, I see if other teams have any interest in Griffey and Arroyo. Clement for Griffey has been bandied about on blogs, but haven’t seen any reports to support that pipe dream. Arroyo could hopefully return another OFer. Retain Dunn and have a 2009 OF of Dunn, Bruce, and Trade (or Dunn, Trade, and Bruce.) Infield stays pretty much as is: Votto, Phillips, Keppinger, Encarnacion, Clement.
Though, I wouldn’t be at all heartbroken if Phillips is traded, also. People harp on the Dunn/Griffey clubhouse, but do you really think that Phillip’s clubhouse issues aren’t causing problems, too?
Spend even more money to sign Sabathia in the offseason. Rotation of Harang, Sabathia, Volquez, Cueto, Bailey.
Easy to do when it’s not my money!
May 4th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
And of course, short-term, Bruce and Bailey should be on the 25-man roster.
May 4th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I’m sorry, but the team hasn’t been winning for the past 2 or 3 years. Making 1 or 2 changes in the lineup and 1 or 2 new pitchers isn’t going to work. The Need a new team! Call up some of those young players!
May 4th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Um…the “call up new young players” was the same thing people were saying about Adam Dunn when he was tearing up AAA. And Bruce isn’t exactly doing that.
May 4th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I didn’t say Bruce! He’s not the only one that can hit.
May 4th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I read this blog pretty often and I don’t comment that often. But, AAA is doing very well right now. I’m not talking about Bruce or Baily in particular. But, as a tream, they are doing a whole heck of a lot better than the Reds are right now. Maybe there aren’t a lot of big names and big prospects. I’m getting tired of hearing about Bruce, although he can play. But, I would love to see the AAA team play againt the Reds. AAA would win. All I am saying is some of these guys deseve a chance. Obviously the Reds have not 1 thing to lose. Even if you’re not a “Big Prospect” if your hitting and someone else isn’t, then they should get a chance. This team isn’t getting it done. Someone else, anyone else should be given a shot at this point.
May 4th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I read this blog pretty often and I don’t comment that often. But, AAA is doing very well right now. I’m not talking about Bruce or Baily in particular. But, as a tream, they are doing a whole heck of a lot better than the Reds are right now. Maybe there aren’t a lot of big names and big prospects. I’m getting tired of hearing about Bruce, although he can play. But, I would love to see the AAA team play againt the Reds. AAA would win. All I am saying is some of these guys deseve a chance. Obviously the Reds have not 1 thing to lose. Even if you’re not a “Big Prospect” if your hitting and someone else isn’t, then they should get a chance. This team isn’t getting it done. Someone else, anyone else should be given a shot at this point.
May 4th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I read this blog pretty often and I don’t comment that often. But, AAA is doing very well right now. I’m not talking about Bruce or Baily in particular. But, as a tream, they are doing a whole heck of a lot better than the Reds are right now. Maybe there aren’t a lot of big names and big prospects. I’m getting tired of hearing about Bruce, although he can play. But, I would love to see the AAA team play againt the Reds. AAA would win. All I am saying is some of these guys deseve a chance. Obviously the Reds have not 1 thing to lose. Even if you’re not a “Big Prospect” if your hitting and someone else isn’t, then they should get a chance. This team isn’t getting it done. Someone else, anyone else should be given a shot at this point.
May 4th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
You commented pretty often today, Jason.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:18 am
I’m pretty sure AAA wouldn’t hit if they faced Harang or Volquez.. lol but I see your point!