To the postseason…and beyond
I’m back from a golf trip and it seems like the Reds 2008 season ended months ago. Guess I needed this trip. Just wish I weren’t so terrible at golf. Either way, I’m recharged and ready for some more baseball.
Unfortunately, the only baseball taking place now does not involve the Reds. There have been some interesting games, however. What are everyone’s thoughts on the Dodgers sweep of the Cubs. Is anyone disappointed in that? (Not me.)
So what’s going to happen over the next few weeks…and beyond?
October 5th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
For the sake of general interest and cash flow, I’d like to see series go on more than three games - sweeps are boring for all but the fans of the winning team.
So I’m glad the Cubs lost, but I would have liked to see them lose in five.
October 5th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
a couple comments about the Reds and their current state
There have been a number of articles in the Cincinnati media since the end of the season giving the Reds credit for playing youth at the end. This is just a down-right blatant lie. It’s marketing BS and it pisses me off. The youth were ALREADY playing….none of the guys they called up matter and none got much playing time. Maybe a few middle relievers (ho hum, who the W@%#@#$ cares) would have been worth giving innings and surprise surprise they didn’t get innings.
Every post season prospect view I’ve seen has Bailey as a fallen, who-knows-what-will happen, nobody now. Hard to believe for a pitcher that was once one of the top 5 pitching prospects in the game.
A number of articles from the Reds…oh I mean Cincinnati media (it’s hard to tell the difference) have bashed EE, including McCoy, this is probably a sign EE will be dealt.
Top 10 Reds by Win Shares this past season.
Win Shares
20 Votto (Reds MVP me thinks)
18 Phillips
17 Dunn and Volquez
14 EE and Jr
13 Hairston (please don’t sign this guy he has stunk his whole career)
10 Arroyo and Cordero (Arroyo 2nd half of the season was damn good.)
9 Bruce and Keppinger
Maybe Patterson never take another AB as a Red. Then again, who hurt the team more Patterson or Fogg? I think Fogg did. And even more so, the AWFUL #5 starters.
Have the playoffs been really boring so far? I think so. Who the hell wants to watch LA/Philly? I won’t want a single inning of that. I can’t believe I’m pulling for one of Boston, Sox or TB now. I don’t think I’ve ever pulled for an AL team in my entire life.
Jr looked great today.
The Reds stink and I have no faith at all management knows what the problems are or how to correct them.
October 5th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Some postseason comments: Go White Sox ! (I’m such a diehard.) Junior had 2 singles and a walk in his 3 at bats today, and made a smart baserunning move (taking second on a fly out when the throw went to the cutoff man) that led to his scoring a run. His walk also led to another run.
Can’t stand the Red Sox: the Angels letting an Ellsbury popup fall in for 3 runs made me turn that game off for a while.
October 5th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
PS I was rooting against the Cubs but I can’t say I enjoyed their playing so badly. I wasn’t surprised at the result, the Dodgers are dangerous now.
For one thing Furcal’s return helps them.
October 5th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Cubbies choked once again. Happy about that. Gotta say the Angels look silly against the Red Sox.
October 5th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
the Angels are silly. Their hitters mostly stink. They had one of the worst offenses in baseball and the lineup is made up of mostly speedy swing at anything guys. Get use to this because this is the route the Reds seem to be going.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:28 am
Hey David Ross in there catching for the Red Sox.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:51 am
It’d be nice to have the Angels bullpen.
And Jared Weaver, in the first relief appearence of his career, looked really good. What a smooth pitcher, what would it take to get him ?
October 6th, 2008 at 1:00 am
And Jared Weaver, in the first relief appearence of his career, looked really good. What a smooth pitcher, what would it take to get him ?
I can’t see how the Reds have anything LAA would want. They need bats and the Reds don’t really have any cept Votto and Bruce. I’m sure LAA would take Bruce for him but would you do that deal? I wouldn’t
October 6th, 2008 at 7:00 am
I’m just happy the Brewers are out of it
October 6th, 2008 at 9:55 am
The feeling here in Chicagoland is priceless. The cocksure Cubs fans have now been pantsed. Heck, even the ChiSox have won ONE playoff game. My hope is that in the ensuing carnage, Cubs management will be rash and trade off value in an attempt to ’shake things up’. To that end, it might be in their benefit to get rid of Soriano and Lee, but I’m not sure if there are takers for Soriano’s massive contract. All this volatility can only be good for the Reds.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I have been think most of the second half of the season that the Reds should try Homer in the bullpen and watching Weaver kind of solidifies this for me. Let him start next year out of the pen. With his mind set and stuff he might be better suited for it.
The guy I see in the playoffs the Reds might get cheap is Rocco Baldelli. If his health is good he would make for a great leftfielder and complimentary righthanded power hitter. I think he might even be a free agent.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:13 am
The Cubs were built to win this year because of the pending sale of the team, so it will be interesting to see what happens with that club this offseason.
The Tribune Co. is hoping to get $1 billion for all the Cubs properties–the team, Wrigley Field, Comcast Sportsnet and etc. But Wrigley needs almost $400 million in renovations and the team had a payroll of around $120 million this year. Failing to make the NLCS really hurt the debt-to-profit ratio of the property.
So it will be very interesting to see how the Cubs’ gag job in the playoffs (again) impacts the on-field product for next year. Did this team’s window of opportunity pass?
October 6th, 2008 at 10:21 am
the only thing I regret about the cubs losing is they didnt do it in chicago. would have loved to see the looks on the cubs fans faces.
weaver has been fairly average to below average his whole career. I’d take him but I wouldnt give up anything for him. I would take a chance on baldelli. I might even consider taking a chance on sheets, since we have pitching depth for once in my lifetime to cover if he gets hurt. and of course a LF, and i dont care what side of the plate he hits from doesnt make a dam bit of difference in my mind.
I love the playoffs, DVR has allowed me to catch at least some of every game.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:30 am
mike - LA philly boring? who did you want to see brewers cubs? while the playoffs havent been exciting (given the amount of sweeps) it hasnt been boring either. especially the cubs losing, that was pretty exciting. Not sure what you would call a “non-boring” series, unless of course the reds we’re involved.
and give walt jocketty a chance, Im sure he has an idea of what the reds problems are, they’re obvious enough. Does he have a clue how to fix them? guess we’ll have to find out the answer to that.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I’d like to see Homer sent to class A and work out his funk, similar to what the Rangers did with Voltron.
I want Furcal.
Interestingly, after just trading for the guy, the Twins are shopping D. Young for a 3B or SS. Could be a fit.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Let’s go Rays, all the way.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
“Let’s go Rays, all the way.”
i agree, it would good for the game if they won.
October 6th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
on the Reds 2008 MVP.
Red Reporter has a poll going.
How he didn’t include Volquez as one of the choices I don’t know.
Votto currently leads by a mile
Check it out
http://www.redreporter.com/2008/10/6/629227/who-is-the-2008-reds-mvp
October 6th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
there had got to be an issue there with Young. To good of a talent to be moved so often so young.
The thing about sending Homer to Class A is I don’t think he gets it. He would be happy dominating at Class A again and not make the adjustments.
October 6th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
For those who have no faith in Reds management, just exactly WHOM in baseball do you have faith in? I am so tired of hearing arm chair wanna be’s bash the Reds. Think you can do better, apply for the job, write up why you believe you could do better and submit it.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Every post season prospect view I’ve seen has Bailey as a fallen, who-knows-what-will happen, nobody now. Hard to believe for a pitcher that was once one of the top 5 pitching prospects in the game.
He looked like their top prospect in Louisville’s only postseason win. He’s only 22 and may still be the best of all the prospects.
October 6th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Jim - I think your right that Bailey still is very young and has room to improve. It certainly isn’t a Todd Van Poppel story yet.
The guy really only has two pitches though. His fastball and his curve are both plus pitches according to most. It’s the changeup that is killing him. I read an interesting article, maybe here or another blog, which showed the release point of changeups to fastballs coming out of Bailey’s hand. They were a good foot apart, meaning hitters were easily able to pick up the changeup.
Maybe more time spent one on one with Soto would improve that.
October 6th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Gotta be honest, I think I enjoy watching the Cubs lose as much as watching the Reds win! I hope to see more of both next season!!
October 6th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
I echo the sentiments of everyone on this board relishing the Cubs’ immense choke job. (Almost as many errors as runs.) Rest assured though, their fans will be just as obnoxius in ‘09 as they have been in recent years. Ken Rosenthal didn’t jump off the bandwagon. He writes they should stay the course and with 5 to 7 postseason appearances per decade eventually they will catch fire in October. Made me ill to read it.
October 7th, 2008 at 9:42 am
I hate the repulsive Cubs’ fans as well. I almost think it would be worth letting them win one time to see if they would then go away. No more goat, no more woe is me.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
david - I heard baileys developed a pretty decent slider and his change is slightly improving. Plus he had a knee injury, that will slow down anyone.
October 7th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I still have hopes for Bailey but he needs to either be at AAA or in the bullpen. Hopefully with the increased depth in pitching they can pull that off. Not sure if management is smart enough, and yes Evarmstrong I do believe I could do a better job than Baker (as could many on this board)…I could roll the dice and do a better job because that is all he does without regard to logic.