All-Star Monday Open Thread
Use this thread to discuss anything you want, on- or off-topic, including tonight’s All-Star festivities, specifically the Home Run Derby. I will be cheering on Josh Hamilton.
A couple of other notes:
–Jerry Hairston’s hamstring is a problem, and he was supposed to have an MRI today. I don’t know if that happened, but I do know that it was diagnosed as a mild strain. Hairston is to be reevaluated on Thursday.
–Manager Dusty Baker is pretty upbeat about the Reds going into the break. You know, it’s a better record than they had last year…and this year, 26 of those games have been started by rookie pitchers. That says something.
Okay, discuss whatever you guys and gals want to discuss here.
July 14th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I think it should be obvious that Hairston is not an option for the regular line-up next year. The Reds cannot afford to go with a guy that gets hurt as often as he does. Find an everyday outfielder to take Junior’s place may be Jocketty’s top priority this off-season.
If Homer Bailey can continue to build on his performance of yesterday then the Reds have to move Arroyo to some desperate playoff team to free up money.
July 14th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Do you think Andy Phillips or Corey Patterson will get sent down/DFA’ed when Jolbert Cabrera comes off the DL? I’d rather it be Patterson, but that would leave us short on OF.
July 14th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
The MRI indicates that it is a mild hamstring pull. Re-evaluation on Thursday.
July 14th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
That is, if you consider Patterson an actual OF’er.
July 14th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I hope management sees that this team still isn’t there yet. I don’t want to hear more stubborn “win now” stuff. That would be delusional.
Do what it takes to go young, be smart, and plan for the future.
And by the way… give us Reds fans credit for being able to handle that fact! I think we’ll accept it — and maybe even respond positively — if there’s a clear plan and some savvy, forward-thinking moves to go with it!
July 14th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
With no Hairston, Freel or Hopper, guess what–this means lots of Corey Patterson batting leadoff, because Dusty thinks the only qualification for batting first is being able to run fast.
I agree with Y-C J that Hairston appears to fragile for an everyday player. If they got rid of Josh Hamilton because of durability issues, why would you be confident or even satisfied with Hairston?
July 14th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Shopping list for next year:
Resign Dunn
Everyday outfielder, either RF or CF
Catcher
Bench with some RH bats
July 14th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I like YCJim’s list….I’d add a couple more young arms in the bullpen and we’ll be hoping that our young starters pan out.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
The team is, in fact, better than last yar’s team. And it certainly has mich more potential.
It takes 3-5 years to put together a winner once you have assembled a managerial and ownership team that’s competent and willing to expend the resources to get the job done.
Fans who expect to “Win Now” after one masterful trade are naive.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
For this whole season I’ve been saying that this year we should be getting all of our young guys some experience and once Griffey has moved on and we make a few adjustments, 2009 should be the first year we start “competing”, maybe not winning the Central, but I expect either playoffs or extremely close
I like Y-City Jim’s shopping list
Dunn should be the first priority
Full time OF
I’m not as worried about catcher as I am about the bench and the bullpen.
Problem is that this year’s free agent list is going to be a little light on what we need, so I hope we can pull off some sort of trade for a good RH outfield bat, that could solve many problems
July 14th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Three outfielders for next season. Only one is realistic, but what the heck. I like Jayson Werth, Corey Hart, and Aaron Rowand. All hit righthanded, make pretty good contact, and can spray the ball around.
Rowand is in the middle of multi year deal and Hart isn’t going anywhere so that leaves Werth. I’m sure Werth has his flaws and you stat guys can pick him apart, but he would fit in nice with all the lefthanded bats.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
The first problem with Werth is he is very fragile/gimpy. This is the first year in his career he hasn’t go down, and there is still a LONG way to go. Maybe between him and Hairston you have one outfielder.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
crypticphrasing,
Corey Patterson doesn’t play SS. Bruce will be leading off. Like he has been when Hairston would sit.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Bill. the thought of young relievers being added crossed by mind as well. It is time to send Majewski and Coffey packing. They have no future. Weathers is at the end of his career as well.
As for Thursday’s line-up, why not start off with Keppinger and Dunn? Aren’t they are best OBP guys and are they not the two guys you most want to see get an extra AB a night? The other guy you would like to see get an extra AB a night is Votto and he should be in the three spot but that isn’t going to happen this year.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Josh Hamilton is awesome.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Is anyone watching the HR derby? Josh Hamilton is putting on a stunning show. I’ve never seen anything like it.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
WINTER OF 2007, TRADE EITHER DUNN OR HAMILTON FOR VOLQUEZ. AAAHHHHH……LETS TRADE HAMILTON…..BRILLIANT DECISION
July 14th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
That was AWESOME. Baseball always has the capacity to surprise and amaze. Even an event as played-out and ESPN-ized as the Home Run Derby has the potential for magic.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Does anybody kinda wish that we had given up Bruce instead of Hamilton right now?
I forgot how much fun it is to watch him play.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
No, Dave. But I love Hamilton.
I love Edinson Volquez, too.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Why, again, is Ben Sheets the all-star game starter?
6th in ERA
T6th in W
T10th in K
July 14th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
I know Hamilton hit 28 in Round 1. Did he hit one clear out of Yankee Stadium?
I hope Edinson is as stunning tomorrow night during his performance. How about three innings of perfect, nine strike out ball?
July 14th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Texas would’ve done Bruce for Volquez.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
JUST THINK OF THE OUTFIELD THE REDS WOULD HAVE WITH HAMILTON, BRUCE, AND GRIFFEY? IT IS JUST HEARTBREAKING
July 14th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
He was really close, Jim. he was hitting balls off the wall behind the RF stands. He also brought his youth league coach (age 71) to pitch to him.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I think the longest was 514
July 14th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
chris
the manager called dusty to ask edinsons pitch count from saturday
and dusty recomended not starting him
due to his 114 pitches
and why couldnt we have traded someone else besides hammy
but u gotta wonder
he wouldnt have played
dusty woulda let castro pinch hit for him
July 14th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Anyone have any ideas what was in the case Volquez gave to Hamilton after about 15 HR?
July 14th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Who else would you start? I think Sheets was the only guy who hadn’t thrown a lot of pitches lately.
And, fwiw, I have serious doubts that Texas would have taken Dunn for Volquez. I don’t remember that even being mentioned.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Did the Reds trade off the new Babe? If only they would have taken Dunn for Volquez
July 14th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Sheets is starting because every other starter who’s better pitched either saturday or sunday.
I wish we had Hamilton still, but I love Volquez and I think Jay Bruce will have a better career than Hamilton. I still love rooting for him though and he’s definitely one of my favorite players. I hope we wins the triple crown although that’s very very unlikely.
The Home Run Derby was kind of boring until Hamilton came up. Much more exciting now
July 14th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Texas wouldn’t have given up their top pitching prospect for a 1 year player that could only play LF.
They didn’t resign Sammy Sosa for a reason.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Matt, I could have written that post myself. I agree with everything you just said.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
If not for Wayne Krivsky, Josh Hamilton might not be here tonight blasting HR’s all over the place. He might be playing in some industrial softball game somewhere. He is Krivsky’s greatest achievement.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Hope in a few years we see Jay Bruce putting on his own show during the actual game.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Thanks for the answers, guys. I was literally asking - I hadn’t gone back and looked at the weekend box scores. Though why they need a rested pitcher to start (but not relieve) I don’t understand - they have 12.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I also agree with Matt’s #30.
I would also like to state that Rick Reilly is a real jerk.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Braun’s a likable guy, IMO.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I wish the Home Run Derby didn’t have to only have players in the all star game. Imagine it with Dunn Howard and a few other good homer hitters instead of just really good players like Morneau (who actually lol might win it)
July 14th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
He might be, but I’m not a fan of his. Of all of the teams that I root against, I hate the Brewers more than any of them.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I agree Matt. They should take a page from the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest and get some guys that would put on a fantastic show that didn’t necessarily make the All-Star team.
That’s probably the first time I’ve ever said MLB should do something the NBA does.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
When did they start only using players from the All-Star rosters? Just a couple of years ago they had that ridiculous concept of having HR Derby reps from different nations. There were some really lousy hitters that year.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Dunn would certainly be capable of putting on a show. We should initiate a ballot stuffing campaign for Dunn next year.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
It’s hard enough to get guys to show up when they’re in the game. No way Dunn flies to NYC to take 10 hacks in this thing.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Donkey wouldn’t do it. Hudson River fishing isn’t that great.
I could see Howard doing it though. He loves that spotlight.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I’m pretty sure those reps from the countries were still on the All-Star rosters that season.
It was PNC Park two years ago. Jason Bay (Canada) put up a fat zero. I guess he needed a Redleg to pitch some of those.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
On a related topic, we got a new stadium recently, but there has still been no discussion of bringing the all star game to Cincinnati… What can we do to get that changed haha
July 14th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Yes, can you imagine a home run derby in Cincy? It might end at 3am. I think Dunn would be good in a derby. I believe that he has gotten better this year than in the past. Maybe Dunn is about to come into his own. I just wish that the Reds would get things together and raise the team avg. because the wins would follow that. The Reds have a very good team right now, just no consistancy.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Next year is in StL. Supposedly the Angels and Mets are in line after that.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Chris Berman makes everything better, don’t he?
July 14th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
It might have been three years ago. Actually most of the participants weren’t too bad except Hee-Seop Choi, who wasn’t on an All-Star roster.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
This “call your shot” deal (BROUGHT TO YOU BY STATE FARM) is idiotic. I’m sure it’s great for the guy involved, but it’s pretty dumb.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Erin Andrews +1
July 14th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I agree, Chris.
Everybody cancel their State Farm insurance tomorrow and cite the stupidity of “Call Your Shot” as the reason.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Hee-Seop Choi is definitely the best candidate South Korea has ever been able to offer for a HR Derby.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsl_finder.cgi#n1=&as=result_batter&offset=0&sum=0&min_year_season=1901&max_year_season=2008&isActive=either&isHOF=either&bats=any&throws=any&exactness=anypos&games_prop=50&games_tot=&pos_pitcher=1&pos_catcher=1&pos_first_base=1&pos_designated_hitter=1&pos_second_base=1&pos_third_base=1&pos_shortstop=1&pos_left_field=1&pos_center_field=1&pos_right_field=1&pos_out_field=1&qualifiersSeason=nomin&minpasValS=502&mingamesValS=100&qualifiersCareer=nomin&minpasValC=3000&mingamesValC=1000&c1val=0&c2val=0&c3val=0&c4val=0&min_season=1&max_season=-1&min_age=0&max_age=99&lg_ID=lgAny&lgAL_team=tmAny&lgNL_team=tmAny&lgFL_team=tmAny&lgAA_team=tmAny&lgPL_team=tmAny&lgUA_team=tmAny&lgNA_team=tmAny&orderby=HR&layout=full&c1bsl=&c1gtlt=gt&c2bsl=&c2gtlt=gt&c3bsl=&c3gtlt=gt&c4bsl=&c4gtlt=gt&location=pob&locationMatch=is&pob=South%20Korea&pod=&pcanada=&pusa=
July 14th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I think the old man is out of gas.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Good show, Josh.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
He should have brought Eric Milton to pitch to him.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
who would have thought Justin Morneau would win in that crowd but wow, congrats to him
July 14th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Say maybe the Reds could sign Hammy’s BP pitcher. Reminds me of some of our other pitchers.. well the results. But he did throw alot of pitches.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:31 am
number 28
i think it was a joke that he was going to be there all night so he needs his overnight bag.
July 15th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I think it was whatever was in the suitcase in Pulp Fiction.
Now that I know that Sabathia and Dunn are buddies, I say SIGN CC!!!
Then your rotation for next year is….
Volquez
Sabathia
Harang
Cueto
Thompson/Bailey/Arroyo and loser goes to the pen
Then your lineup…
Hairston or new player CF
Kepp SS
Phillips 2B
Dunn LF
Edwin 3B
Votto 1B
Bruce RF
Ross/new player C
Another option would be to move Kepp to leadoff, Bruce to hitting 2nd, and move CF down in the lineup to 7th or 8th.