2. Here’s a cost of the Ramon Hernandez trade….it hurts worse all the time…from Baseball prospectus. Here’s a guy we need RIGHT NOW…instead we have Hernandez and false praise…

Sleeper alert!

Justin Turner, 2B, Orioles (Triple-A Norfolk)
Sunday’s stats: 2-for-4, R, BB, 2 K
A seventh-round pick in 2006 out of Cal State Fullerton, Turner came to Baltimore from the Reds in the off-season as part of the package for Ramon Hernandez, and all he’s done this year is what he’s done at every level – be productive. He’s now hitting .309/.373/.405. His tools will never impress anyone on any level, but if you want to compile an all-makeup team, Turner is one of your first picks, and nobody would be surprised if he ended up with a David Eckstein-esque career.

Worth a shot, at least, maybe in the Arizona Fall League?

Also I don’t understand the obsession with Drew Stubbs, the guy has never hit over .277 for a full year in the minors. Stubbs has the same AVG (.268/.269) and lower OBP (.353) in AAA than Dickerson (.365) does in the majors (Not to mention Stubbs strikes out once a game). Do we really think that him coming to the majors is going to improve his numbers?
So Stubbs plays better defense and is a better base stealer than Dickerson…but how much better? Will his defense/base stealing make up for his lack of hitting?

I also think people are under valuing Chris Heisey. You want some pop this guy has it (He’s tied for 5th in homers in the AA southern league, yeah the league he hasn’t played in for 2 months). 19 homers on the year (13 in AA, 6 in AAA).
06 he batted .286, 07 .295, 08 .291 and 09 he is batting .320 (.278 in AAA). His on base percentage is usually about .80 points above his average. In my mind this guy is a great candidate for LF. He should give you a decent avergage, on base percentage and power and probably plus defense.

or do the reporters act like cowards, wait most of the season then start writing stuff in public but don’t directly ask him? Is there a Dusty pre-game in the Cincinnati area like there is a Giants pre-game with their manager? Someone just ask him! And don’t take the stupid-cliche-responses and write them down, follow up, interact and find out what the hell is going on.

The odd thing is they understand that Paul Janish (.281 career OBP) can’t cut it with the stick, but believed that Alex Gonzalez (.293) is not only good enough to start, but should bat second.

THAT’s what I mean by having a no effing plan. Do they require their shortstops to hit, or don’t they?

Here’s the thing: Our starting lineup is pretty much going to be set for opening day. THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT, but it is what it will be (barring injuries)

CF Tavarez
SS Hairston
1B Votto
2B Phillips
3B Rolen
RF Bruce
LF Dickerson
C Hanigan

That’s right, Hairston will be back. Hernandez will be back if no one else wants to pay 5 million or more for him because you would have to be insane to pick up the 8 million option.

you are correct steve, but I also think this goes further
players have switched positions throughout history and not just Reds

Perez went from 3B to 1B
Bench went from C to 3B
and we all remember ARod moving from SS to 3B
hell even a player who griped about his move, Soriano moved from 2B to LF, and then said he liked it.

there are many quotes from both and many other players about whatever is best for the team. Maybe players on other teams have switched positions THIS YEAR

Stl is experimenting with moving an OF to 2B.

and honestly all the unfounded statements about Jr not wanting to move out of his spot in the batting order or move out of CF and he eventually did both without saying anything except, whatever we have to do to win. The only even partially negative thing I ever heard him say about it was saying, “I’ll move out of CF when we have someone else who can play the position”

Dusty is just stubborn about the roles players play and the place in the batting order they hit.

what confuses me the most is, if you are out of it like the Reds, it’s the time to experiment. It’s the time to take a look at players. The Reds are still acting like they are in the race.

We often fail to appreciate just how good Paul Janish is at defense. And shortstop is, as you know, a crucial position for a good glove.

He has played 229 innings at shortstop this year. If you search for all shortstops who have played at least 200 innings this year – the top six SS in terms of defense (measured by UZR/150):

6. JJ Hardy (MIL): 9.2
5. Elvis Andrus (TEX): 10.1
4. Cesar Izturis (BAL): 10.5
3. Brendon Ryan (STL): 11.7
2. Jack Wilson (PIT): 16.8
1. Paul Janish (CIN): 19.3

Yes, Paul Janish is the top rated SS – and it isn’t really close, and it’s really, really separated from #3 – in all of MLB.

BTW, Alex Gonzales (BOS!) is #13: 5.8

Crosby, in his last 1500 plate appearances, spanning four seasons, has never had an OBP above .300 – his career OBP is lower than Willy Taveras. His fielding has not been significantly above average since 2005.

Either move BP and sign/promote a 2B – or just put Janish there, have him bat eighth, play great defense, hit .220 and spend our resources on an OF.