Reds Tidbits (2007 Season)

[Bestbuck36]

I cant believe I'm about to say this but, the young guys are really good. Usually in the Reds organization the hype is followed by bust city, but some of these youngsters can play and will be around here for a long time I hope. Keppinger, Votto, Bailey, Hopper.....hell even Cantu (I know hes' not young) and even Buck Coats has been producing in limited action. Votto's just a stud and we all thought Keppinger would drop off significantly after his fast start, he hasn't.

Brandon Phillips is the man. If he's not locked up for the next 10 years something is terribly wrong. 30/30 is nothing to sneeze at even in this day and age of the long ball. I actually think with a better lineup on a daily basis he could approach 40/40. Wouldn't that be awesome! You've got to love the guy, he brings it every single day. He still has his bonehead plays but some fantastic ones make up for it in my opinion.

A couple of good pitchers and this team will be where we were hoping it could reach this season.

 

[Dryden]

I cant believe I'm about to say this but, the young guys are really good. Usually in the Reds organization the hype is followed by bust city, but some of these youngsters can play and will be around here for a long time I hope. Keppinger, Votto, Bailey, Hopper.....hell even Cantu (I know hes' not young) and even Buck Coats has been producing in limited action. Votto's just a stud and we all thought Keppinger would drop off significantly after his fast start, he hasn't.

Keppinger, Votto, and Hopper have been excellent through their stays. The most surprising things have been Votto's speed and versatility, and Hopper's arm.

I think Cantu and Coats wind up the odd men out here. Hatteberg clearly has just been keeping first base warm for Votto. Griffey is the wild card. One of my all time favorite players and would love to see him end his career in Cincinnati, but the risk/reward of him getting injured is simply becoming a burden on this team. If Griffey can bring a big time arm to the rotation, it's about time to make a move.

Somebody has to go, and I don't think you can give up Dunn, Freel, or Hamilton, even with the later two being on the DL so frequently.

It's amazing that the Reds have traded off Willie Mo and Kearns, and almost immediately have an embarrassment of riches in the OF again.

 

[Jaxbuck]

The future is exactly as bright as the pitching beyond Harang. That is it. Once that starts looking up we can get excitied, untill then...meh.

Offense hasn't been the problem for the past 7 years.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Games count from here on out
Reds will attempt to play spoiler against NL Central-leading Cubs
Friday, September 28, 2007 5:12 AM
By Jim Massie


The Columbus Dispatch

Al Behrman Associated Press
Craig Biggio, who is retiring after the season, receives a framed second base from Ken Griffey Jr.



CINCINNATI -- After three nights of playing baseball in the tepid zone reserved for noncontenders, the Reds can expect the temperature to reach the boiling point tonight in Great American Ball Park with the arrival of the Chicago Cubs for the final three games of the season.
The Cubs, losers of three straight, are hanging onto first place in the National League Central by two games over the Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago fans figure to pack the stadium to will their beloved Cubbies into the postseason.
Pardon the Reds, who lost 4-3 to the ho-hum Houston Astros last night, for enjoying the atmosphere and doing their best to keep the corks on the champagne bottles in the visitors' clubhouse. Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo welcomes the challenge.

Continued.....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Cubs conquer Central
Chicago clinches division title with victory over depleted Reds, Brewers loss
Saturday, September 29, 2007 3:50 AM
By Jim Massie


The Columbus Dispatch

David Kohl Associated Press
Cubs catcher Jason Kendall tags out the Reds' Joey Votto at the plate in the fourth inning.



CINCINNATI -- That a series of injuries drop-kicked the Reds into the final week of the season with an offense as potent as a still-life painting hardly reached the level of a national secret.
The bad news from the training room for Cincinnati proved just what the doctor ordered for the previously ailing Chicago Cubs last night in Great American Ball Park.
Alfonso Soriano led off the game for the Cubs with a home run and Carlos Zambrano made the early lead stand up in a 6-0 victory. The win, coupled with a loss by second-place Milwaukee, wrapped up the National League Central title for the Cubs.

Continued.....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Cubs 4Reds 0
One-hitter a downer for Reds despite Harang's strikeouts

Sunday, September 30, 2007 3:59 AM
By Jim Massie


The Columbus Dispatch

Al BehrmanAssociated Press
Felix Pie of the Cubs steals second as the ball gets past Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips in the sixth inning. Catcher David Ross was charged with an error.



CINCINNATI -- The gasoline tank in the Redsmobile was so empty yesterday afternoon in Great American Ball Park that even the fumes from the last fill-up counted as a distant memory.
Nobody wearing a Cincinnati uniform needed to say so, but encountering a steep, downhill grade for the final three games of the season instead of the Chicago Cubs would have been a kindness.

Continued....

 

[CookyPuss]

The future is exactly as bright as the pitching beyond Harang. That is it. Once that starts looking up we can get excitied, untill then...meh.

Offense hasn't been the problem for the past 7 years.

It was nice to see the season end with Homer getting a W. He doesn't look to have staff ace stuff just yet, but he should hopefully fill the #3 spot next year. Too bad about Livingston. He had the look of a decent #5 and was a lefty. With that injury, he'll be lucky to make it back at all. This year was by far the most Belisle has thrown in his career, so hopefully he'll be better conditioned for next season. He just needs to make it another inning or two without running out of gas. I would love to see them trade for one more starter. I'd still like to see them resign Dunn and try to move him for pitching. I know he will have a no trade clause, but I'm betting he'd wave it. I think Bruce could put up enough offense that it wouldn't hurt that much to lose his bat. I thought it was funny that Krivsky didn't bring him up in Sept because he claimed he wouldn't get enough ABs. Well, after watching a week of Buck Coats and Jason Ellison... maybe it wouldn't have been such a bad idea to have given him a taste. All I know is that after watching Votto attempt to play LF today, he makes Dunn look like a gold glover... so he's 1B all the way. Not sure what they'll do with Hatte. Sounds like he wants to hang it up rather than be a bench player, but said he'd honor his deal. I doubt they could deal Gonzo, so I really don't know what other chips they have. They have to make some kind of pitching acquisition or they might as well not even bother searching for a legit manager because the Almighty himself couldn't skipper a winner with that rotation. Sadly, Milton and Lohse doesn't sound that bad anymore.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Reds
Pitching remains defining problem

Tuesday, October 2, 2007 3:37 AM
By Jim Massie


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

CINCINNATI -- Deciphering what went so terribly wrong for the Reds this season never required the expertise of CSI sleuth Gil Grissom, or even laying out $15 to buy a Sherlock Holmes cap.

The box score mystery began and ended with a bullpen that finished last in the National League with a 5.17 ERA and a starting rotation that didn't run much deeper than 16-game winner Aaron Harang.
The combination led Cincinnati to a seventh consecutive losing season, despite another 200-home run campaign by an offense built to take advantage of hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. Opponents touched up Reds pitchers for 198 homers and a .282 batting average.

Continued......

 

[Jaxbuck]

Shocking news out of Redsland.

The pitching still sucks, the offense isn't the problem, the FO thinks maybe getting rid of Dunn will help. No real hope on the horizon for improving the pitching.

Wake me up when the nightmare ends.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Baseball
Hamilton will be back
Center field is his next season after solid showing as a Reds rookie
Thursday, October 11, 2007 3:51 AM
By Jim Massie


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Al BehrmanAssociated Press
Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton showed fans, skeptics and himself a lot during his rookie season. The former No. 1 pick put his addictions in the past to hit 19 home runs.



CINCINNATI -- Last week, outfielder Josh Hamilton filled a sturdy cardboard box with his nonbreakable baseball belongings one handful at a time.
The athletic shoes, batting gloves and jerseys shared a common trait. Hamilton had worn them all during his rookie season with the Reds. In the process, he had proved he had reclaimed his career and life after losing nearly four years to drug and alcohol addiction.

Continued.....

 

[DaytonBuck]

Has anyone read Hal McCoy lately? He seems to be nothing but a puppet for the organization. I fully expect the Reds to sit on their hands this off season and try to bring in Hideki Irabu, Rod Beck, John Wetteland, Tomo Ohka or Ugueth Urbina to solve the pitching problems.

I understand McCoy and many are reluctant to move Dunn and Griffey for pitching. Haven't we pulled Greg Vaughn, Juan Encarnacion, Jose Guillen and Josh Hamilton out of the scrap heap and gotten good production from them in the outfield. I'm not sure who started the myth that the Reds offense would be hurting if we lost an outfielder. GABP made Willy Mo look like he had the potential to be a star.

 

[jlb1705]

I fully expect the Reds to sit on their hands this off season and try to bring in Hideki Irabu, Rod Beck, John Wetteland, Tomo Ohka or Ugueth Urbina to solve the pitching problems.

Well thank God that one of them is dead and another is incarcerated - otherwise you're right, the Reds would be all over them.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Any chance we can get Jeff Shaw out of retirement and Steve Howe out of rehab?

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Has anyone read Hal McCoy lately? He seems to be nothing but a puppet for the organization. I fully expect the Reds to sit on their hands this off season and try to bring in Hideki Irabu, Rod Beck, John Wetteland, Tomo Ohka or Ugueth Urbina to solve the pitching problems.

I understand McCoy and many are reluctant to move Dunn and Griffey for pitching. Haven't we pulled Greg Vaughn, Juan Encarnacion, Jose Guillen and Josh Hamilton out of the scrap heap and gotten good production from them in the outfield. I'm not sure who started the myth that the Reds offense would be hurting if we lost an outfielder. GABP made Willy Mo look like he had the potential to be a star.

I am all for moving one of them, if not both of them for pitching...

Here is my plan how I would like to see it...First resign Hatte...Only as a spot starter and as pinch hitter...

Then trade either of the above mentioned for pitching...I would take the #2 or #3 pitching prospect in any minor league organization with something else thrown in...

Then we would be left with Hamilton, one of Dunn or Griffey or neither, Votto, Bruce, Hopper, Freel(?), Dickerson(?) to man the outfield spots...Ideal would be Hamilton, Bruce, Hopper IMO...Meaning we got some good pitching prospects in return for Dunn and Griffey...

Then you have Votto/Cantu/Hatte at 1b and you have Votto who could play the outfield, to get Cantu and Hatte starts...Depending on opposing teams pictching...No reason to platoon, just like we have been doing with Hatte/Conine, just when the time calls for it...

IMO Votto, Bruce, Hamilton are everyday players...I would throw Cantu into that mix as well, but where do you play him, with Votto at first, that is why you give Votto starts in the LF, and give Cantu some time at first...

Then you have Phillips, EE, Kepp as everyday...

That takes care of every position besides Catcher, and I am really not sure what to do there...Ross is a great defensive catcher, and I am ok with that, but would just love to see him put up like a 230 average, instead of 200...But if we have guys like cantu, Hatte, Hopper, Valentine, Gonzo(?) on the bench at respective times we have some pop, speed, and contact off the bench to use in later innings when we need a bat for Ross...

So then it comes down to pitching and with 2 or 3 prospects for Dunn and Griffey we would be sitting with about the best crop of minor league pitchers that there is out there, at least top 5...With bailey, Cueto, mahoney, prospect 1, prospect 2, and that is not counting the solid arms we have out of the bullpen in the minors and some guys that we have at lower levels in the minors like watson, Thompson, Wood, etc...

And with another solid draft this year and with some very good RH bats drafted last year with Frazier, Soto, Waring we are on the way up...

We don't need to be real active, just be smart with the moves, and realize that you build with youth and not the crafty veterans...Look at the Indians, Rockies, Brewers, Dbacks, Padres, A's, Twins, etc...Small market teams that get it...

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

you build with youth and not the crafty veterans

Amen.

And the Reds have a $1.5M option for Hatteberg. No need to re-sign him. I wouldn't mind seeing him around off the bench, but he's one of the few "crafty vets" that might bring something of value in a trade. I wouldn't mind either way, as long as they pick up the option.

Ditto for Dunn. Keep him or trade him, I really don't feel strongly either way. But don't let him walk away and have nothing to show for it. And for the love of god, make sure you get something valuable for him.