Mr. Redlegs: @Dan: OBP is just one element out of 6-7 they’re measuring.

I totally agree with you on that. I just think that OBP is a particularly important element. It’s not fair to dismiss it as fantasy baseball stuff or stat-geek stuff — it has a very real link to runs scored.

I would argue that OBP was the worst thing about the 2009 Reds.

And by the way, I do think you’re artificially limiting the number of players who you’re saying had an above-average OBP by restricting your list to players with “qualifying AB’s.” There are a lot more players than that out there. In particular, at catcher, there are very few who get 502 plate appearances (or whatever the value is). That doesn’t mean we can’t sign them and use them for half of our two-headed catching monster. (It’s a moot point now…)

So when you talk trades, go down a list of the player’s abilities and weigh all factors, not just one. Some of his positives might outweigh a few of his negatives and those positives fit a team’s need. A guy like Hernandez fits that description with the Reds.

So when fans drunk on OBP look at a player and all they can see is OBP, ask yourself: what else does this guy bring to the table? That’s how he’s being measured by front offices. OBP is just one element out of 6-7 they’re measuring.

I remember it because I found it very odd that someone with all this “insider” access would post inside information on the big ol’ WWW that, if true, would have gotten the Reds in dutch with MLB. Inside information that, if the office saw it, would most likely cost a guy their access to such.

It just trips my alarm, cynical jerk that I am. That’s alls I’m sayin’.

The Reds had a team OBP of .318 (NL average .331). That was 14th out of 16 teams.

The pitching/defense were, overall, just about league average (allowed 723 runs, NL average 727 runs allowed).

So overall, the pitching/defense were good enough to be competitive. The Reds were bad this year because they didn’t score enough runs.

My point is not that 100% of their players need to have an OBP that’s above average. My point is that it needs to become a greater priority for the team. Whenever they sign or trade for someone, I want OBP to be a significant factor in the decision. Especially with Janish looking like he’s going to get a lot of plate appearances, and with Bruce and Phillips being somewhat OBP-challenged (and with the chance that Taveras may bat now and then)… we really need to get some on-base guys throughout the rest of the lineup, as much as possible.

So when we were looking for catchers, for example, I just couldn’t get behind Miguel Olivo, who has a career OBP of .278 — that’s atrocious! I know that catcher is an important defensive position, and I know he hit a lot of HR’s, but .278? To me, that would’ve been a step in the wrong direction.

Getting on base matters, a LOT — for this team more than most, given the way it’s currently set up.

Happens all the time as these things play out, especially when everyone can get together after the season.

Just like today with the Redskins and Jon Gruden. He turned down replacing Jim Zorn in the middle of the season because he was watching his high school kid play football for the first time in his life. Gruden said he wasn’t going anywhere this fall.

But the Redskins thought they had Gruden locked up for the next five years. They were a good fit. But today he re-ups with ESPN in a deal that doesn’t permit him to coach in 2010.

Redskins never saw that happening. They are floored. Back to Mike Shanahan now.

Things happen, things change. Where’s this stuff written in stone, and why do you think it should be? What’s your point?

“Duncan is the guy Jocketty wants and he has the opportunity now, not next year, so he created that opening by firing Pole. But there’s a caveat, and an interesting one: Duncan serves as pitching coach this year, sets up the pitching program for the entire organization, replaces Baker as manager in 2011, brings in his own staff with a pitching coach who will carry out his program.

Under that scenario, it makes no sense to remove Jacoby now. That would mean three different hitting instructors in just over two seasons. Make the changes next year when you clean house.

I think they’re getting Big Dunc, that Jocketty discussed it with him this past week, and there are plans for him far bigger than just pitching coach of the Reds.”

This is getting a bit too personal on many levels. Let’s just drop this conversation. Truly this isn’t accomplishing anything.

In fact, I would prefer that no one even responds to my post and that we just go on.

So….I agree with World, pass on Burrell at all costs. And yes, Pinson: I’m glad I am a Bengals’ fan at present. It is about time the games in December will mean something.

I’m not trying to start anything. I’m trying to understand how, if I wanted to prove that statements were not made, how could I prove it?