Loading ...Mercifully, the Reds have an off-day today. That gives us time to catch our breath here, and try to figure out what’s going on with this team during this roller-coaster season.
Some possible topics to discuss:
1. What are the Reds going to do with the fifth spot in the rotation?
2. Junior to Tampa? Or anywhere else? What are your thoughts?
3. umors abound that GM Walt Jocketty wants to get rid of Adam Dunn, Ryan Freel, Junior Griffey, and Bronson Arroyo. What do you think?
4. If Adam Dunn isn’t retained, will the Dunn critics complain about an outfield of Corey Patterson, Jay Bruce, and Jerry Hairston? That would be the worst outfield in the majors, even with Bruce’s production.
5. (Related to question 1) What’s up with Homer Bailey? Why are the Reds so concerned with his pitch-efficiency? He was dominating people before the Reds got so concerned about it; meanwhile, they don’t seem to care about Edinson Volquez’s pitch-efficiency.
6. Tiger Woods or Rocco Mediate?
7. I’m going to watch the Reds at Yankee Stadium this week. Any suggestions on things to do in NYC that aren’t your ordinary tourist attractions?
Discuss!
Definitely rid the team of Jr. as he does not hit and is a distraction…plus expensive. Fifth spot in rotation should go to some young pitcher like D. Thompson and a new pitching coach is definitely important. Dear God don’t lose Dunn, he is consistent at what he does and he and BP are the only two hitters that you can count on every year based on their history in MLB
The season’s only been as roller-coaster as we’ve allowed it to be, in that we get swept up too quickly by a 2 or 3 game stretch where they play well, only to be smacked down by the next two or three series where they play badly.
Though in thinking about it, maybe the team itself is comprised nearly wholly of players that are doing quite well or players that are doing quite badly. That’s kind of roller-coaster.
For NYC, one thing that may or may not be your thing is the American Folk Art Museum. Doesn’t really fall in the ‘ordinary tourist attraction’ category. Good museum housed in a remarkable building.
1. Let Thompson get a start or two in the majors. Just don’t let his first start be at Yankee Stadium.
2. I do think Griffey needs to go. He’s not what he used to be and Baker isn’t going to move him in the lineup unless he is physically not on the team anymore.
3. Dunn should stay, everyone else on that list is expendable. But, who would trade for the Red’s garbage?
4. That is one problem with a Griffey trade. A Griffey trade would mean Corey Patterson would have to play. That makes me want to vomit.
5. Homer looks lost. His fastball is straight and not very fast. It also sounds like he is getting too much coaching.
6. Who?
7. I have no suggestions for NYC.
1. I would prefer not to rush Thompson. Belisle-No, Fogg-No, Bailey-No. Who else is left? Affeldt? I wouldn’t mind seeing Thompson up in September.
2. I would love to see Junior go to Tampa, but not counting on it.
3. Definitely don’t want to see Dunn go and probably would keep Arroyo too. The others can go.
4. Probably
5. When was Homer Bailey dominant? His fastball has always been straight.
6. Rooting for Rocco, but Tiger should win.
This season should be used as a year to get a lot of our good minor leaguers some valuable MLB experience. I think that means calling up some of the young guys in triple AAA and getting some MLB innings under their belt. I know everyone would like to contend right now, but I’m willing to be patient and break in some of these younger guys in now. We have a good start with Johnny, Edinson and Bruce up.
Move Homer to the bullpen for awhile, let him figure things out. Try out some of the other pitchers for the 5th spot and see what happens.
Griffey gets a real bad rap. I would like to see him moved from his #3 spot in the batting order though. If we switched him and Dunn, BP might have more opportunities to drive in runs, since Dunn’s OBP is much higher.
As for NYC, I lived near there for 5 years and still didn’t see everything. If you’re going to be around the Bronx though, there’s not a lot to do/see. On Manhatten, I suggest the Museum of Natural History, Rockefeller Plaza, Times Square if you can handle the crowds, Central Park definitely, the Met and Battery Park
Oh and originally I was going to say Rocco because playing another 18 holes makes me think that Tigers knee might bother him…
but you can’t pick against Tiger
1. They can keep throwing kids at the 5th spot or they can do a trade for a real pitcher.
2. Griffey goes somewhere anytime after the All-Star game. If the Reds get an active major leaguer in return, be happy. What they’re really trading for is cutting his salary loose.
3. As with any trade, depends on what you get in return. Arroyo might go to a team that’s as desparate for a 5th starter as the Reds. Freel’s probably best dealt as part of a package. I’d be relectant to deal Dunn unless it brought it in effective starter. Unless you talking about superstars, I’d always trade a competent hitter for a competent pitcher.
4. Bailey is screwing up everything but his fastball, so batters are justing waiting for that pitch. Maybe he is getting too much advice, maybe not, but he’s still the guy that’s got to fix it. If he’s going to be a successful major leage pitcher, he needs to be able to identify and correct problems with his mechanics.
4. The problem with dealing Dunn is that you have this hole in the outfield. You could put Votto out there, but that just transfers the hole to first base.
5. Bailey is botching all his pitches except the fastball, so hitters are waiting for it. Regardless of the amount of advice he may or may not be getting, it is his responsibility as a major league pitcher to diagnose and fix his own problems.
6. Tiger or Rocco? Don’t care, but probably Tiger unless his knee acts up.
Homer is going down, and barring injury to someone else, won’t be back until next year if at all. Yesterday was one of those starts that can crush a kid. He was incapable of stopping the train wreck that was his performance. Pitchers like that aren’t ready for the big stage. Send him down, let him serve a nice long apprenticeship, bring him up only after he dominates at AAA, not when the Reds have a need to fill. Give Thompson a shot. Overall, this offense is putrid. Way too much inconsistency from a team full of streaky/home run dependant hitters. If you surrounded Dunn with high OBP guys, his deficiencies would be moot (like Ryan Howard), but on this team, he sticks out like a sore thumb. Call me crazy, but with our pitching, we still have a shot at the wild card, even by trading Griff and possibly Dunn. You can still preserve the goals of competing now while introducing more youth and a different offensive mindset to the team.
Decline Griffey’s option. Sign Mark Teixeira and move Votto to the OF. Resign Dunn. Package Bailey with someone else from our farm system to get a #2 or #3 type starter. Go into next season with Volquez-Harang-Cueto-Arroyo-Thompson. Do not resign Weathers or Patterson. Keep Freel. Go into next season with the lineup of Phillips-Keppinger-Bruce-Teixeira-Dunn-Votto-Edwin-Ross…
If dreams came true.
Lets see Thompson in the 5th spot. It sounds like he is a pitcher rather than a thrower (ala Bailey)
If we trade Dunn, why does Patterson have to start as you suggest? Lets have Hopper in the outfield and batting leadoff as he should have been doing since day one. Lets see what kind of numbers he can put up.
I want Jocketty to trade Dunn, but only if he invests the money that was earmarked for Dunn and spends it elsewhere (how about for a right-handed third-baseman who can actually hit for a high average and play solid defense)
If the Reds can get a young righthanded hitting outfielder for Dunn, I say go for it. Then, Hairston/Hopper in center and Bruce in right. Griffey to the Rays for one of Tampa Bay’s prospects is right on. Time to begin a new era in Reds baseball. As for the Big Apple, nothing quite like walking, especilly on Broadway and down to the Battery and then a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. NYC, no place quite like it.
1. Whatever they do, PLEASE don’t send Fogg back out there. (CTrent wrote that might be what happens) I too would like to see Thompson get a shot.
2. At this point, I’d trade Griffey anywhere as long as we either don’t have to pick up any of his salary OR get a decent prospect or two in return. I really like the guy, but he’s below replacement level at this point.
3. I honestly think we could get a decent return for Arroyo. He’s not too expensive, he’s a bit of an innings eater, and can be very effective, especially in a more pitcher friendly park. I’d keep Dunn, try to re-sign him (he is only 28), and I agree that we wouldn’t get anything for Freel alone, he’d have to be packaged in a deal.
4. I think in the long run we’d be ok without Dunn, but it’s true that this year the outfield would SUCK.
5. Bailey is still young enough to learn to control his offspeed stuff, but unless his fastball gets above 90 mph he won’t be anything more than average. What happened to his velocity? Has anyone ever given a satisfactory answer to this question?
6. Can’t bet against Tiger, bum knee or not.
7. Go to the Boat Basin Cafe. It’s in Riverside Park right on the Hudson River at about 79th st. Great, strong Margaritas and good beer that you drink under the stars. Very cool atmosphere. Or go to Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. You’ll wait in line forever, but it’s the best burger you’ve ever had.
Not getting emotional about what a good guy Grif is or Dunn is. Just looking at what would make the team better.
1. Move Jr. May not get much in return, if anything, but we need the space opened.
2. Bronson has the best return value of the bunch. Should be easiest one of the group to move.
3. Agree with most other posters about Freel. Only way he goes is as part of a deal. Maybe with Bronson.
4. Dunn, ahh the Donkey. I don’t share the love for Dunn. He is a very one dimensional player. He will handle agverage and below pitching OK and run up big numbers in the process. Above average pitchers eat him alive. He just stand there with the bat on his shoulder and the deer in the headlights look. Not sure what he would bring but I would try to move him as well.
I hope Dusty would not be permitted to put Patty back in on a regular basis. Late inning “D” and pinch running for the rest of the season, then bye, bye.
Oh, fifth starter, I really don’t know that there is a satisfactory solution in the organization.
I would be hesitant to rush Thompson. Maybe a combination of Fogg and Affeldt. Once through the order for each and hope that gets ya through five innings. Maybe throw Homer into the mix and hope they can combined get through seven. I’m concerned that any of the AAA guys would be Dumatrait redux.
Grif should have been gone before the season even started, but management decided to sacrifice the team for his own accomplishments (and lack thereof) – trade him yesterday! I hate to see Freel go, but due to our present makeup, he adds little value. I think there should be an effort to reacquire Hamilton and bring up a young 5th starter….at this point, it doesn’t really matter who, does it. Lastly, the goal should be contending for the Wild Card.
1. Probably put Fogg back in there because Jocketty won’t make a trade. Though Thompson is the better choice and would put butts in the seats.
2. Junior for bullpen help or a 5th starter.
3. I’d keep Dunn and Arroyo. Arroyo’s the kind of guy who would go somewhere else and win the Cy Young and shut out the Reds six times a year.
4. Yes. And that’s why you keep Dunn.
5. Why are the Reds so concerned with his pitch-efficiency? Because the Reds have never shown an ability to coach pitchers. Look at Volquez and Cueto. Both of them respond better to Mario Soto than Dick Pole. Find me one pitcher who has responded well to Dick Pole’s coaching.
6. I don’t golf or follow golf. I don’t need two sports to frustrate me. I do fine just following the Reds.
7. Never been, but I’d want to see Letterman or Conan. If they were taping. I’d also go to ground zero, not to get all maudlin or all Toby Keith or anything, but out of respect. And to see what it looks like now.
…and another thing, does it bother anyone else that our management is a pack of Cards retreads? We just added another as an advisor!! Sure they won a WS, but it was the most surreal victory in my lifetime – no one (outside of their fanbase) looked at them as vintage champs..no one I know at least. Flukes happen, and that year was certainly a fluke.
Clean house!
1. Ken Griffey Jr. and Matt Belisle to Tampa Bay for RHP Edwin Jackson.
2. Ryan Freel to Cubs for LHP Sean Marshall.
3. Jeremy Affeldt to Philadelphia for 3B Greg Dobbs.
4. Bronson Arroyo and Edwin Encarnacion to LA Dodgers for OF Matt Kemp.
5. Homer Bailey, Matt Maloney and Javier Valentin to Texas for C Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
6. Adam Dunn,Drew Stubbs and prospects to Cleveland for LHP C.C. Sabathia.
7. Aaron Harang and prospects to Colorado for OF Matt Holliday.
LINE-UP: SS Keppinger,RF Bruce,2B Phillips,LF Holliday,1B Votto,CF Kemp,3B Dobbs and C Saltalamacchia.
ROTATION: Volquez,Sabathia,Cueto,Jackson and either Marshall or Thompson.
I would like to see Votto in the OF, I think his defense is a liability. Are their any decent FA first basemen (preferably right handed) available? I don’t think we can get value for Bronson right now and probably should wait. I think he is better than the current numbers suggest. You can always get something out of any starter with even mediocre success, so I would not rush trading him until he rebounds a little, which I think he will. Keep Dunn. Next years outfield: Dunn, Bruce, Votto with Hairston as number 4. I expect some real moves soon; not so much because they will be good ones, I just think Jokkety will try to establish ‘his team’ and exert some immediate authority.
I was watching golf during lunch. Don’t do that often because it usually seems like cruel and unusual punishment, but the playoff between those two is exciting. I love Tiger, but I’m hard pressed not to root for a guy who’s not ranked in the top 150 and who’s never won a major and hasn’t won anything in 6 years. Talk about David and Goliath.
FA first basemen: All trash except Teixeira.
2009 Free Agents
Catchers
Rod Barajas (33)
Michael Barrett (32)
Johnny Estrada (33)
Jason Kendall (35) – club option for ‘09; vests with 110 games played in ‘08
Paul Lo Duca (37)
Miguel Olivo (30) – $2.7MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.1MM buyout
Ivan Rodriguez (37)
David Ross (32)
Jason Varitek (37)
Gregg Zaun (38)
First basemen
Ben Broussard (32)
Sean Casey (34)
Tony Clark (37)
Carlos Delgado (37) – $16MM mutual option for ‘09 with a $4MM buyout
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jason Giambi (38) – $22MM club option for ‘09 with a $5MM buyout
Scott Hatteberg (39)
Eric Hinske (31)
Doug Mientkiewicz (35)
Kevin Millar (37)
Richie Sexson (34)
Mark Teixeira (29)
Second basemen
Ray Durham (37)
Mark Ellis (32)
Marcus Giles (31)
Mark Grudzielanek (39)
Orlando Hudson (31)
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37)
Aaron Miles (32)
Jose Valentin (39)
Shortstops
Orlando Cabrera (34)
David Eckstein (34)
Adam Everett (32)
Rafael Furcal (31)
Cristian Guzman (31)
Cesar Izturis (29)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Edgar Renteria (33) – $11MM club option for ‘09 with a $3MM buyout
Juan Uribe (30)
Omar Vizquel (42) – $5.2MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Third basemen
Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (28) – $6.2MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Joe Crede (31)
Morgan Ensberg (33)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Wes Helms (33) – $3.75MM club option for ‘09
Chipper Jones (37) – $8-11MM vesting option for ‘09
Dallas McPherson (27)
Left fielders
Moises Alou (42)
Garret Anderson (37) – $14MM club option for ‘09 with a $3MM buyout
Milton Bradley (31)
Emil Brown (34)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) – $2.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Luis Gonzalez (41)
Raul Ibanez (37)
Jacque Jones (34)
Kevin Mench (31)
Jason Michaels (33) – $2.6MM club option for ‘09
Craig Monroe (32)
Jay Payton (36)
Wily Mo Pena (27) – $5MM club option or $2MM player option for ‘09
Manny Ramirez (37) – $20MM club option for ‘09
Juan Rivera (30)
Center fielders
Rocco Baldelli (27)
Mike Cameron (36) – $10MM club option for ‘09 with a $750K buyout
Jim Edmonds (39)
Jacque Jones (34)
Mark Kotsay (33)
Corey Patterson (29)
Right fielders
Bobby Abreu (35)
Casey Blake (35)
Milton Bradley (31)
Cliff Floyd (36) – $2.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Brian Giles (38) – $9MM club option for ‘09 with a $3MM buyout
Ken Griffey Jr. (39) – $16.5MM club option for ‘09 with a $4MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) – $15MM club option for ‘09 with a $3MM buyout
Jacque Jones (34)
Bobby Kielty (32)
Brad Wilkerson (32)
DHs
Milton Bradley (31)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) – $2.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Jason Giambi (38) – $22MM club option for ‘09 with $5MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) – $15MM club option for ‘09 with a $3MM buyout
Raul Ibanez (37)
Manny Ramirez (37) – $20MM club option for ‘09
Juan Rivera (30)
Mike Sweeney (35)
Frank Thomas (41) – $10MM option for ‘09; vests with 376 PAs in ‘08
Jim Thome (38) – $13MM club option for ‘09 with $3MM buyout
Jose Vidro (34) – vesting option for ‘09
Starting pitchers
Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Tony Armas Jr. (31)
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) – can opt out after ‘08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33) – $8.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Ryan Dempster (32)
Chad Durbin (31)
Josh Fogg (32)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) – $9MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Esteban Loaiza (37) – $7.5MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.375MM buyout
Braden Looper (34)
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) – $11MM club option for ‘09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Carl Pavano (33) – $13MM club option for ‘09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) – $8.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42) – $12MM club option for ‘09
Brett Tomko (36)
Josh Towers (32)
Steve Trachsel (38)
Tim Wakefield (42) – perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Woody Williams (42)
Randy Wolf (32)
Closers
Joe Borowski (38)
Brian Fuentes (33)
Eric Gagne (33)
Trevor Hoffman (41)
Jason Isringhausen (36)
Todd Jones (41)
Brad Lidge (32)
Brandon Lyon (29)
Francisco Rodriguez (27)
Kerry Wood (32)
Middle relievers
Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Doug Brocail (42) – club option for ‘09
Shawn Chacon (31)
Juan Cruz (28)
Alan Embree (39) – $3MM club option for ‘09
Scott Eyre (37)
Kyle Farnsworth (33)
Keith Foulke (35)
Aaron Fultz (35)
Tom Gordon (41) – $4.5MM club option for ‘09 with a $1MM buyout
Eddie Guardado (38)
LaTroy Hawkins (36)
Matt Herges (39) – club option for ‘09
Bob Howry (35)
Steve Kline (36)
Damaso Marte (34) – $6MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Trever Miller (36) – $2MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.4MM buyout
Guillermo Mota (35)
Will Ohman (31)
Darren Oliver (38)
Al Reyes (38)
Dennys Reyes (32)
Juan Rincon (30)
Russ Springer (40)
Mike Stanton (42)
Mike Timlin (43)
Salomon Torres (37) – $3.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.3MM buyout
David Weathers (39)
Dan Wheeler (31)
Matt Wise (33)
With all the talk of trading Dunn in order to spend his salary elsewhere, isn’t it rather obvious that if the powers that be are not willing to pay the market price for a player like Dunn AND the market price for another quality outfielder AND the market price for two more quality starters, etc., etc., this team will never win?
It makes no difference if you bring players up through the farm or trade for prospects or sign established stars. Players know what their market value is and owners always pay it. Just not maybe your team’s owners.
Consider: If Volques, Cueto and the other AAA pitchers turn out as well as we hope, and stay that way for 4 or 5 years, will they continue to play for any team that wants to pay them peanuts?
>>”I think there should be an effort to reacquire Hamilton…”
Hee-hee. Hamilton will have the deeds to Dallas and Fort Worth before the year is over.
#18
I don’t see the Rays shipping Jackson for Junior and Belisle…but i like the optimism
#18
Or getting Sabathia for Dunn. Why trade your ace whose contract is up at the end of the year for a one-dimensional OF whose contract is up at the end of the year. Also, on the last two trades you added “and prospects”. Once we trade away everyone you listed there aren’t many prospects left haha. And the Cubs will NEVER give up Marshall for scraps like Freel. Sorry.
I think Griffey and Dunn finish the season with the Reds and then hit the F/A Market. The Reds own Arroyo too much money for anyone to take on that contrat and Freel is at least a month away from being ready to play.
In short, there are just too many holes in this story for it to have much truth to it.
In my dreams this came true. Dunn and Griffey have no trade value, let them walk and get draft picks. Sign Pat Burrell and Joe Crede next year with the 30million you just saved. Callup Alonso, he appears to rake, is older than Bruce and won’t have to be in the middle of the order yet.
2009 Lineup:
Keppinger SS
Phillips 2B
Bruce CF
Burrell LF
Votto RF
Crede 3B
Alonso 1B
Ross C
The outfield is slow but still faster than this years.
This is off topic, but it relates to comment #16. Does anyone know why Soto wasn’t selected as Pitching Coach when Pole was hired? He did a good job with a few pitchers (especially dominican). I remember him helping out Elizardo Ramirez. I read an article that said when Cueto was struggling a month ago the Reds brought Soto to work with him. Correct me if I’m wrong, but shouldn’t that be the Pitching Coach’s job. If Soto can help out the youngsters with their changeup like he did with Volquez and Cueto, it would be worthwhile just to have him as the pitching coach. We need fresh blood, but still a sense of Redleg pride. Soto would bring both to the team.
I could see the Braves going after Arroyo again and they have some interesting prospects in their system, but we won’t get anything *real* good for him. I don’t think we have too many assets that we are willing to trade that will get us anything back.
Sabathia and Texeira would be nice to have, but they’re free agents at the end of the year and are definitely testing the market and we will be priced out.
I would like to keep Dunn and replace Griffey with a right handed hitter (not necessarily a power hitting but a high average, high obp guy).
Like I said earlier, next year is a much better year for us to compete and we should concentrate on getting our young players like Thompson some experience. Either you put Homer in the bullpen right now and let him figure things out in non stressful situations or you keep running him out there every 5th game and tell him not to worry about it and just pitch.
Homer was called up in a no win situation. He was brought up after struggling a few times in the minors and then had to face 4 of the BEST teams in baseball right away. I still say he’ll be alright, given time and patience.
two final comments: If we could somehow get Matt Kemp, I think we should definitely entertain that idea, but I think the asking price will be a little bit higher than we’re willing to pay.
Two free agents I think we should look at: Joe Crede (if we decide that E.E. isn’t goign to work out as a starter) and Ben Sheets (yes I know his injury history but if we got him reasonably priced away from the Brewers, that would be a great steal)
Ron35, the Dodgers already have two stud 3bs in their system. There is no possible way they trade for another 3b.
Not sure if this is “out there” yet, but Keppinger and Hopper are on their way back. Both have been removed from the Sarasota roster and unless I’m missing something, will be added to the big league roster tomorrow. Who besides Janish will be heading down?
How about acquiring Milton Bradley and wait on Marty to start getting really bitter. Now THAT could be entertainment…
#29
Sorey Outterson?
*please please please*
My 2009 lineup:
Dunn Hopper Bruce
EE Kepp BP Votto
Free Agent
That was supposed to be formatted into a little baseball diamond: From L to R, OF, then IF, then C.
Why do some of you want to get rid of EE?
Suggestion for NYC: Take a ball and gloves and play catch in Central Park. Simple, cheap, and something you can do just to say you did it. A suggested this to a friend and he ended up playing softball in a lunch time media league with a team from ABC news.
Please get rid of Sorrey Outterson, everything else will improve from there.
#29: >>”Homer was called up in a no win situation…”
Absolutely. It shouldn’t have happened. He was having problems at Louisville. Did anyone expect something magic would happen when he got to Cincinnati?
EE has been one of the more inconsistent hitters on the team.
1. There is no answer for this for the next couple of months. Not unless we trade for one. Thompson will be ready by the end of July.
2. Junior to TB is great. I would do it for Baldelli, and sign him to an extension (cheap) before he shows he can play at a high level again.
3. Junior (see above), Freel (trade for middle reliever), Bronson (Only if you can get some good value), and I would only trade Dunn if you feel like you can sign Teixiera. Otherwise, trade him to Dodgers for Kemp and a pitching prospect (LA needs dingers).
5.Homer is an interesting enigma. I think he can be great, but he needs to be moved down (maybe to AA) and let him let loose. Just let him be him, what they saw when they drafted him because surely when they drafted him they didn’t say…”he will be good if we change this and that.”
What I would like to see next year.
1. Baldelli CF
2. Kepp SS
3. Bruce RF
4. Dunn LF
5. Phillips 2B
6. Votto 1B
7. EE 3B
8. Catcher
Bench: Hopper, Gonzalez, Alonso, Hairston, Catcher
Harang, Volquez, Arroyo, Cueto, Thompson
Cordero, Burton, Bray, Wheeler (FA), Herrera, Bailey
(As you can see, I really have no idea as far as catchers…ours all suck and there isn’t much else out there.)
And finally… Waive Weathers, Lincoln, Outterson (should happen this year)
Fire Dick Pole and Toothpick for that matter (unlikely)
I don’t know… baldelli has a lot of talent but has always been injury prone and with that illness that he has, I think I’d try to find someone else instead. Besides, he’s a free agent this year (or atleast that list posted above says so) so why trade for him when you can attempt to sign him this offseason.
If we make a trade with Tampa Bay, we need to get some of their pitching depth. That might be hard, but if we eat some of Griffey’s contract, it might be easier.
Personally I doubt that Griffey gets traded this year (though a few months ago I was sure of it)
I don’t understand the mentality of being ready to dump Homer after 3 starts (only 2 of which were bad). Watching Fogg get slapped around is neither fun nor productive since he’s a known quantity. Bailey’s got to learn somewhere and yeah, the Reds may be kinda, sorta in the wild card hunt this year but in our heart of hearts, we know this isn’t true. Like somebody suggested, the organization should tell him to just go pitch and forget about it.
I know he’s another right hander but what about this guy just released? and he has done better than our #4 pitcher in the AL Central!! http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080616&content_id=2941673&vkey=pr_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex
Okay, after looking at Ponson’s stats he is a ground ball pitcher and has only given up 3 Hr’s in about 56+ ip…better than what we have now if we could get a contract through the rest of 2008, Check it out…
http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_player_gamebygamelog.jsp?playerID=132260&statType=2
Ponson is a head case and a clubhouse cancer.
Also, never, ever, ever make a trade with the Braves involving pitching on either end. You will get fleeced every time.
The second half of my comment at #45 is responding to #29.
You’re thinking back to the days of Mazzone and Schuerholz.
Belisle is sure not to come back, he got beat up by a AAA team that is 10 games under .500 tonight…sad, really sad.
The Reds did okay getting Denny Neagle (and Michael Tucker and Rob Bell) for Bret Boone and Remlinger.
The Braves have a great track record of trading their young pitchers for quality back and then those young pitcher not amounting to anything, with the exception of Jason Schmidt of course. (look at the Tim Hudson trade for example)
When I say that they have interesting prospects I guess I should have said that they have some good OF prospects that we should take a look at.
anyway, if the Reds pick up Sidney Ponson, then the team is more poorly mismanaged then I thought.
Neagle, okay. Rob Bell, not so much.
Remlinger ended up having a good little career down there.
Neagle was essential to the 1999 season, and was then flipped for Drew Henson and a bunch of other touted failures. Henson was then swapped back to NY for Wily Mo, who begat Arroyo.
There is some crazy-a** aquisition-talk on this thread! Ponson. Baldelli. Really?!?! Sabatthia. Teixeira. As if we we’re living in NY!
mhopp-EE is still young and has a lot of talent. You want to trade or send down every player that goes into a min-slump and call up every player who throws seven scoreless innings in the minor leagues.
A couple of people have discussed why some people want to trade EE. Dont get me wrong, I think he has talent…he is improving each year. However, I think that he has and will continue to make a high number of errors, and he runs hot and cold with his bat. I want a more consistent contact hitter at the position and someone who makes fewer errors
Further, since ee is so young and cheap that only serves to increase his trade value. (see, e.g., Hamilton)
Since we are stuck with ryan freel (i doubt anyone wants him and his contract), lets put him at 3d, and kepp at ss and get rid of ee.
what does everyone else think?
I’m for any lineup that doesn’t have Freel in it. EE is inconsistent, but he works his tail off. Gotta give him more time IMO.
1. There’s no magic formula; keep throwing out the guys we have (Homer, Belisle, Fogg) and hope for the best. I don’t see Affeldt being any better than the rest so leave him in the pen. Give Thompson more time in AAA and bring him up later. Overall, let’s not be so quick to give up on players after a few rough performances. Homer is operating under a microscope right now–give him a little room to breathe before we bury him.
3. I just don’t see getting rid of fan favorites Dunn and Arroyo just to get rid of them. Dunn’s consistent production has been well-documented, and Arroyo is a good personality to have on the team even if he’s in the pen. Only move them in exchange for something special.
4. I think Hairston deserves a shot somewhere (at CF and leading off is probably best). Patterson is a late-inning sub/pinch runner and shouldn’t be in the lineup. Freel or Hopper aren’t horrible options if there’s no one better available. Remember, last year everyone was pretty high on Hopper leading off and legging out those infield hits.
2. I’d like to see Junior traded for a catcher, but the Reds have holes all over the roster, so get the best available player.
if you’ve never been to red foley’s in nyc, go there for a bite and a pint. great baseball memorabilia collection. baseball cards on the tables and all. lots of big red machine stuff.