Loading ...Why, they need a pinch-hitter, of course!
Okay, here’s a question for the Nation. Let’s imagine that the Reds could select one player from any team in either league. Given what the Reds have and what they need, who is the one player you would take?
Personally, I’d take Juan Castro, but I’m willing to listen to anyone that might disagree with me.
Realistically, Adrian Beltre would be a great addition. He’d dramatically upgrade 3B defense, push EdE to LF unless he was included in the deal, and provide a quality right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup.
Ideally, I wouldn’t mind Hanley Ramirez as our SS or CF.
Hanley Ramirez, here as well.
1. Hanley Ramirez – Don’t have a SS on our team so he would be a real nice pickup even though he isn’t a true leadoff hitter (don’t get me wrong he can hit)
2. Manny – as much as people hate him he would he offer some crazy protection between Votto and Bruce.
3. Curtis Granderson – to long since Reds have had an actual leadoff hitter – true leadoff hitter is why I would say Granderson over Sizemore
4. Beltre – Good Defense solid role player that would upgrade the infield immediately by moving EE to left.
Hmm…only one player and we already have Willy Taveras. This is gonna be a tough one.
I’d go with Gary Sheffield. He’s one homer shy of 500 so the Reds can turn the Griffey countdown to the Gary countdown. Plus if the season is going awful he’d be entertaining.
1. Hanley Ramirez.
2. Albert Pujols and Votto can move to left.
3. Chase Utley and Phillips can more to short.
4. David Wright and Edwin can move to left.
I would love to see Hanley or Manny playing for the Reds, but you can’t go wrong with Castro either. He’s getting older, but I still wouldn’t mind having A-Rod at 3B. I wish EE would get a look in the outfield. I’m already dreading a grounder to third.
How good is Wright in the field? I almost mentioned him too.
Wright is solidly above average. At least that’s my perception and what the numbers said when I looked it up just now.
*any* player?
i pick pujols.
that said, he doesn’t really fill a need. but, come on, he’s pujols.
Pujols is a no brainer. You always take the best player, no matter what you “need”.
Plus he’s not old and who cares if Votto plays LF if you have Pujols in the lineup. I sure don’t
Now when if you HAVE to consider needs (the Reds need offense more than almost ANY team in baseball so Pujols fits that bill) it would be ARod. Play ARod at 3B, move Phillips to SS and play Keppinger at 2B and move EE to LF.
I guess I’d consider H Ramirez and just throw him in at SS
It begins and ends with Luis Quinones.
If only a really speedy third catcher were available.
Joe Mauer would be a nice backup for Hanigan and Hernandez. I think he’d be a pretty good bat off the bench as well.
I heard Rickey Henderson was interested in playing again………..
On an offtopic note does anyone think that the arbitration hearing with Edwin might give EE a bad taste in his mouth coming out? I mean it really won’t be too hard to argue down his case for a raise.
Wright is decent defensively. A few years ago he was having trouble making the routine throw to first on easy grounders but has since become a solid definsive player for the Mets. This isn’t based on his numbers just watching him every game since I currently live in NYC. He is also about the only consistent hitter for the Mets so I would not mind having him either.
I don’t know having Ron Oester in a players uniform again might be nice. I mean if we got into a losing streak he could always shave his head again.
If the Reds could plunk any player from any team in either league, I’d strongly consider Cubs catcher Geovany Soto. It would make the Reds team stronger offensively & defensively, short-term and long-term, while weakening the top division contender.
Another one for fun would be Johan Santana. And I would take him from the Mets the night before opening day. That increases the Reds chances of starting the season 1-0 so long as they don’t lose the game 1-0 due to a lack of offense.
Is Glenn Braggs still around?
Herm Winningham?
Billy Bates?
Because if you want to build a winner, you need guys who played for a winner.
(I’d really just like to see Glenn Braggs break a bat during his backswing again.)
I’d like to see Billy Bates race a cheetah.
..or Herm Winningham light up another smoke in the clubhouse.
You have to take David Wright over A-Rod he is younger and cheaper than A-Rod come on now. Yes A-Rod is great but takes up an entire teams payroll.
We made it through 17 comments before someone suggested, even in a far-fetched scenario, a superstar pitcher. That says something good about this team, right?
It says we have some gaping holes elsewhere. I thought about saying a pitcher, but I would hate to have a killer staff and no offense whatsoever.
At least the Reds are admitting that they could use a little “pop” in case they happen to find themselves down a run in the ninth. With the Reds’ staff, I’m actually afraid of them losing a ton of 3-1 type games… If Votto and Bruce become offensive superstars, if E5 can put together a full season of offense and not just a few streaks, if Taveras can hit the ball at all, and if Hernandez has a higher average than last year’s stud catcher group (ok ok, that one should be easy), the Reds MIGHT have enough offense to win. Without all those if’s falling the Reds’ way, this will be an all pitching, no hit team…no single pinch hitter will save that.
Is Jake Taylor available?
In order of preference:
1. David Price
1. Hanley Ramirez
3. Josh Hamilton
4. Dustin Pedroia
5. Joe Mauer
Jake Taylor! HA! … maybe pick up Lou Brown as a manager, of you can talk him out of selling tires in Toledo and coaching the Mud Hens.
Here are my top choices:
1. Albert Pujols – Although we don’t “need” a first baseman, you can’t pass up Pujols if given the option. Maybe Votto could play left.
2. Curtis Granderson – One of my favorite players in baseball. Plays the game the right way. Speed. Power. Extra base hits. Great Glove. Leadoff sparkplug. Character guy. Couldn’t ask for much more.
3. Grady Sizemore – Basically the same type of player as Granderson… just less of a sparkplug / leadoff hitter in my opinion.
4. Joe Mauer – One of the best all-around catchers in the game.
with all due respect, Pedroia probably wouldn’t make my top 20. He had a good year, yes, but he’s a product of the Boston media machine. He wouldn’t even be my top 2B. I’ll take Utley, you can have Pedroia.
Josh – I actually SAW Billy Bates race that Cheetah back in ‘90.
And he won.
That makes Billy Bates the “Fastest Land Animal on Earth”, right?
Any player?
Gotta be Pujols.
How long has it been since the Reds had an actual Superstar in the prime of their career?
And no, Willy Taveras does not count.
I guess I’ve thrown it out there, so in no particular order I’d probably have all of these guys ahead of Pedroia.
Pujols, Utley, Hanley, A-Rod, Johan, Mauer, Sizemore, Lincecum, Webb, Holiday, King Felix, Teixeira, CC, BJ Upton, Wright, Jose Reyes, Youkilis. Maybe Lance Berkman, Zambrano, John Lackey, Ryan Braun, Miguel Cabrera, Roy Halladay, Hamels, etc.
Okay, maybe Pedroia could fit in my top 20 as once we get past a few he could fit in there. I like Pedroia; don’t misunderstand me. I like his style of play, but I think there are a lot of guys out there that are better than he is. Maybe not last year as I think he was a fine MVP, I just don’t think I’d take him over many of the others I’ve named.
Oh, and I hate Red Sox Nation overhyping every player to call Fenway home. They are a media machine and promote their guys to no end. I wish the Reds had a little bit of that in them, but not like that. I think Pedroia is a result of that machine, though. See also Rice, Jim. So maybe my opinion isn’t really without bias.
Wasn’t this thread supposed to be about PH’s? Sheldon mentioned Aurilia and I wouldn’t be opposed to him having another tour in Cincy.
We can trade for Corey Patterson and Pinch hit him?
No but if we are strictly talking about a pinch hitters I would want a veteran, probably Aurilia who can play every position. If you want a Quinones type it would probably be daryl ward (I believe he has had a good career as a PH?)
So long as he’s fast…there’s a guy named Crappy P who’s really fast!
Sheldon threw out Mike Sweeney, Nomar, Millar, Ward, and Aurilia. Ideally you want a LH bat off the bench to face all the righthanded closers. That’d be Ward. Aurilia had his best years under Baker so there might a match there. The dude is just a solid all around player.
and truly, we don’t need a pinch hitter nearly as bad as just another hitter. Preferably an outfielder or SS
good read, great memories…
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/features/1998/wsarchive/1990.html
It was a great time back then preach. Maybe someday we will get to see something like that again.
My List:
1. Pujols
2. Hanley
3. Wright
4. Johan
My suggestions (including A-Rod) were without regard to payroll. I figure if I could pick any player that price shouldn’t be an object.
I had forgotten all about Billy Bates. Did he even have a hit for the Reds? How many other guys with no hits are still being talked about 19 years later. Racing that cheetah was brilliant (so was losing his hat). From Wikipedia:
To Reds fans, Bates is best remembered for an infamous foot race against a cheetah from the Cincinnati Zoo. Looking for an extra late-season promotion, the Reds decided to have a foot race before a 1990 home game. The Reds, who were not tremendously concerned with Bates being mauled, staged the race across the outfield. Bates won the race, but only after his hat came off his head and the cheetah mistook it for food.
Should’ve read the original thread closer. Pick one player? Can’t go wrong with Pujols, but no one has mentioned Jimmy Rollins. Switch hitter, good speed, can hit the occasional long ball, plays a gold glove SS, and is the leader of a World Series champion.
I remember the cheetah race, but that’s clearly not what I remember best about Billy Bates.
I’ll never forget Bates racing around third and scoring on Joe Oliver’s hit off Dennis Eckersley in Game 2 of the 1990 World Series, to win the game.
So Josh, the real reason your dumping on Pedroia is because you are a Red Sox hater. Okay.
Hmmm…. He won the MVP in his second full season at 25. I think that says enough.
No David, the real reason isn’t because he’s a member of the Red Sox. I have Youkilis in my list. The real reason is because I don’t thine he is as valuable as many other players in the league.
As I said, I think he was a deserving MVP last year and would welcome him on my team. I just think his popularity and legend has been enhanced by the Red Sox PR department.
But really, winning an MVP is why you would select him? Have you seen the group that votes on those things? Michael Young won the Gold Glove last year; would he be your first pick for SS?
Josh – No, the reason I picked him is not because he won the MVP. How many players have done so in just two years?
You would take Chase Utley after Pujols, but I would argue that Pedroia is a younger version of Chase Utley. So if the plan is for one year, fine take Utley. I would too. But if the question is right now, who do I want on the Reds it’s Pedroia.
I don’t think Pedroia has Utley’s power potential.
GregD – Right now, you are probably right. However, Utley is 30 and in his prime. Pedroia is 25 and has yet to get there. All of his numbers ae trending the right way. I wouldn’t doubt that Pedroia has the power potential/speed combination to be a 30/30 player.
Eddie Taubensee. Is he available? Either him or Kurt Stillwell.
Manny Ramirez.
While we can discuss what players from what teams we want on the Reds, I’m betting that NO other team’s fans would pick any of the Reds position players for their team. That’s saying something about the makeup of the roster. (This may change by this time next year if Votto and/or Bruce produce a monster season…so there’s still a bit of hope.)
This article shows just how backwards the Reds organization can be.
“We have guys like Jeff Keppinger and extra outfielders that are good athletes, but we’re looking for a good pinch-hitter that brings power off the bench.”
Jocketty understands that power is important . . . but not important enough to justify four ABs a game.
How’s about putting a guy with power in the frickin’ lineup., rather than filling it with slap hitters?
How’s about putting a guy with power in the frickin’ lineup., rather than filling it with slap hitters?
…and realize you have to pay for such a guy. I honestly think Jocketty thought he should be able to pick up one for just a few million $$$.
[i]…and realize you have to pay for such a guy. I honestly think Jocketty thought he should be able to pick up one for just a few million $$$[/i]
And how long has Jocketty been in the baseball business? Does it scare anyone else if he really thought power would be cheap?! He ought to know that much… I’m still hopeful that he has something planned to bring a big bat to the every day lineup. I don’t know why I’m hopeful, but I am. (and let’s face it, if none of us were hopeful we wouldn’t be Reds fans…nor talking about them in the middle of January after a decade-plus of total ineptness.)