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Reds Tidbits (2009 season)

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Mailbag: Can Volquez get even better? | reds.com: News

Reds beat reporter Mark Sheldon answers fans' questions

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
11/03/08 3:45 PM EST

Do you think Edinson Volquez can cut down on some of his control issues, and have a repeat, or even better, year next year?
-- Storm, S.C.

I wouldn't say Volquez has "control issues," but he is a strikeout pitcher that is susceptible to high pitch counts and early exits. And yes, he can definitely be better next year. The right-hander is just 25. He has great stuff and seems to have a very good makeup and the right attitude -- he's never too up or down. Anyone that can throw 96 mph with good offspeed pitches in his arsenal has a chance to be a nasty pitcher in the Majors for a few years. Volquez also avoids the long ball pretty well. If he can learn to economize his pitches, he would work into the eighth and ninth innings more often than the sixth and seventh innings.

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Edinson Volquez has overpowering stuff, striking out 206 batters over 196 innings in 2008. (AP)
 
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Reds investing heavily in Latin players | reds.com: News

Guillon latest signing as part of team's aggressive strategy

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
11/04/08 12:15 PM EST

CINCINNATI -- The Reds have spent years watching other clubs use their financial and scouting muscles to pluck the best and brightest young prospects out of Latin America.

This year, however, it's been Cincinnati doing some impressive flexing.
Last week, the Reds signed hotly pursued 16-year-old left-handed pitcher Ismael Guillon out of Venezuela. He received a $625,000 signing bonus.
It wasn't even close to the highest amount of money the Reds have doled out to Latin teenagers this year. This past summer, they gave outfielder Juan Duran a $2 million bonus to sign and outfielder Yorman Rodriguez received $2.5 million. Like Guillon, both players were 16 years old at the time of their signings, but Duran and Rodriguez hail from the Dominican Republic. The moves have been part of an aggressive organizational strategy.

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Brandon Phillips :banger:

Maddux adds an 18th Gold Glove | MLB.com: News

Rollins, Beltran, Wright also repeat as NL winners

By Robert Falkoff / MLB.com
11/05/08 7:30 PM EST

Greg Maddux has an 18th Gold Glove to carry with him as he heads off into the sunset.

One day after agent Scott Boras said at the General Managers Meetings that Maddux intends to retire, the announcement came Wednesday that the 42-year-old right-hander was again front and center on the National League list of Gold Glovers in 2008. Maddux has won five Gold Gloves in a row and 18 in a 19-year span. After notching 13 straight from 1990 through 2002, Maddux saw Mike Hampton get the honor for NL pitchers in '03. Then Maddux got on another Gold Glove roll, bolstering his reputation as the best fielding pitcher of his time.
The remainder of the NL Gold Glove list includes catcher Yadier Molina of the Cardinals, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres, second baseman Brandon Phillips of the Reds, shortstop Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies, third baseman David Wright of the Mets, outfielder Nate McLouth of the Pirates, outfielder Carlos Beltran of the Mets and outfielder Shane Victorino of the Phillies.

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Once again,

:banger:
Lovin this guy on the Reds
 
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Love the direction of this team, building from the bottom up...Now we are making a big presence in DR, and LA...Venz...

Not sure what I think about the Greene thing...If he could revert back to his regular self, I would be fine...he is a great defensive SS correct...I am thinking about the right guy right? Gotta be better than Hairston or Kepp...
 
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Anyone think we could make a serious push for Penny or Peavy? I would think no but we have a ton of cap room and either of those guys would push our rotation over the top. I'd even venture to say if we signed either of those guys we have the best rotation in the major leagues next season, and that will be key to having the type of year we would like to have considering the youth movement. Most likely just a pipe dream I'm sure as Peavy is going to command a ridiculous salary. I'm not as sure about Penny.
 
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Peavy recently added the Yankees and Angels to the list of teams he would accept a trade to, but it sounds as if he wants to stay in the N.L. Guess who else is on that list? Braves, Dodgers, Cubs, Astros, and Cardinals....

:(
 
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DaytonBuck;1317740; said:
This is how the Reds are going to build a farm system and compete again.
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I'm all for it. It's nice to finally see that they recognize that things have to change, and are exploring all avenues.

Jocketty: No Greene for Reds | reds.com: News

GM says team looking for less expensive protection at short

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
11/06/08 5:35 PM EST

CINCINNATI -- The Reds could be open to pursuing another shortstop, but it won't be Khalil Greene.

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty on Thursday shot down a newspaper report out of San Diego this week that he was interested in trading with the Padres for Greene. "We're looking at shortstops but not that one. I don't know where that came from," Jocketty said as he prepared to return home from the General Managers Meetings, which were held in Southern California.

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Dispatch

General manager Walt Jocketty has said it is a priority to improve the Cincinnati Reds defense and, if possible, add a middle-of-the-order hitter. Reports have him trying to do just that.

Texas has three young catchers, is willing to trade one for young pitching and the Dallas Morning News mentioned the Reds as one of the clubs interested in such a trade. The San Diego Union-Tribune also mentioned Cincinnati as having shown interest in Padres shortstop Khalil Greene.

Continued..........
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Mailbag: Why the need for a shortstop? | reds.com: News

Reds beat reporter Mark Sheldon answers fans' questions

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
11/10/08 12:55 PM EST

Can you explain why the Reds are looking at picking up another shortstop? Alex Gonzalez is still getting $5-plus million, and Jeff Keppinger and Jerry Hairston Jr. have proven to be above average at the plate and solid enough in the field.
-- Jon N., Madeira, Ohio
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You have the key word in that question -- "looking." It doesn't mean the Reds will add one. And if they do go for a shortstop, we now know it won't be an expensive one such as Khalil Greene after general manager Walt Jocketty shot down that rumor pretty definitively. Any shortstop addition would be for a more inexpensive player with less than three years of service time. Here is what I wrote last week. Gonzalez missed all of last year and had a complicated surgery to repair a fractured left knee. So I think seeking some insurance is wise. This past season underscored the point that depth is needed at shortstop, as the Reds lost four of them to serious injuries -- Gonzalez, Keppinger, Hairston and Jolbert Cabrera. At this point, the Reds will have Keppinger back, but Hairston is still an unsigned free agent. Cabrera won't be back. Young shortstop Paul Janish isn't proven yet offensively, and prospect Chris Valaika remains at least another year away.

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If Jerry Hairston signs elsewhere, the Reds would be even thinner on the infield. (Marc Serota/Getty Images)
 
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Reds being conservative in free agency | reds.com: News

Team eyeing right-handed-hitting slugger, left-handed hurler

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
11/10/08 12:00 AM EST

CINCINNATI -- As the free-agent market prepares to open in earnest by the end of the week, don't expect the Reds to be heavy shoppers this offseason.

It's not that Cincinnati doesn't have real needs and holes to fill, because it certainly does.
General manager Walt Jocketty has identified his top concern: landing a consistent right-handed hitter or hitters, including one for left field. It's highly possible that the Reds might investigate catching help and potentially a shortstop. The rotation also lacks a proven left-handed starter.
The timing of supply and the Reds' demands is not in sync in this year's market. There are few desirable right-handed-hitting outfielders out there. For a team that had a $74 million payroll last season that's not likely to jump significantly, you can forget about Manny Ramirez. The rest of the crop comes with question marks -- lots of them. The real world of troubling economic times has affected everything in this country, and baseball isn't likely to be spared.

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Votto places second in NL ROY voting | reds.com: News

Reds slugger nets one first-place vote; Volquez, Bruce finish in top five
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
11/10/08 5:50 PM EST

CINCINNATI -- Based purely on their offensive numbers, Reds first baseman Joey Votto and Cubs catcher Geovany Soto were about as evenly matched as they could be.

When it came down to who has the higher profile, there is no contest -- it's Soto all the way. Therefore, it was of little surprise that Soto won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in landslide fashion.
In results released on Monday, Soto received 31 first-place votes on the 32 ballots cast with one second-place vote for 158 points in a 5-3-1 scoring system. Votto was given one first-place vote, 21 for second place and eight for third place and had 76 points.
"I want to congratulate Geovany for winning," Votto said from Florida. "As good of a season as he had, I don't mind coming in second place after a solid season." Two other Reds also received mention. Despite the fact he was not classified as a rookie, pitcher Edinson Volquez picked up three second-place votes and finished in fourth place overall. Rookie right fielder Jay Bruce came in fifth with seven-third place votes.

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Joey Votto hit .297 with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs while posting a .974 OPS this past season. (AP)
 
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Weathers: Time to 'turn page' | reds.com: News

Free-agent reliever believes he won't return to Reds next season

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
11/12/08 3:45 PM EST

CINCINNATI -- Veteran reliever and free agent David Weathers is pretty convinced that his days with the Reds are over.

"As far as I'm concerned, I've flipped the page," Weathers told MLB.com on Wednesday.
Since the end of the season, the Reds and general manager Walt Jocketty have had some talks with Dan Horwits, Weathers' agent. Nothing has progressed to the serious stages, and Weathers said no offers have been made.
Therefore, the right-handed Weathers is looking elsewhere. "I don't anticipate anything with Cincinnati," Weathers said. "They haven't called but once or twice. The way we are looking at it, we're moving on. A lot teams have called looking to talk, but we haven't been allowed to talk about numbers. I look forward to Friday."
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David Weathers went 4-6 with a 3.25 ERA over 69 1/3 innings for the Reds in 2008. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty)
 
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