Reds Tidbits (2009 season)

[Dryden]

Good thing I got my tickets secured yesterday for Edinson Volquez bobblehead night next Saturday against the Brewers. I'm a fucking rabbits foot in reverse. I knew the moment I called the ticket agent to put some field box tickets in Will-Call I was putting a hex on somebody, sorry it had to be Bruce.

 

[jlb1705]

Good thing I got my tickets secured yesterday for Edinson Volquez bobblehead night next Saturday against the Brewers. I'm a [censored]ing rabbits foot in reverse. I knew the moment I called the ticket agent to put some field box tickets in Will-Call I was putting a hex on somebody, sorry it had to be Bruce.

How many more games do you think you'll have to go to to get T-virus on the DL? We might start a fund for you.

 

[Dryden]

How many more games do you think you'll have to go to to get T-virus on the DL? We might start a fund for you.

I don't know, but it's the story of my life. Every fucking time I get tickets to a game some star player winds up getting injured the week before. Hell, the last OSU football game I went to was Illinois two years ago. I think I just need to stay away completely. I'm bad luck.

Come to think of it, it probably wouldn't work anyway, since Taveras isn't a *star* player.

 

[Jaxbuck]

How many more games do you think you'll have to go to to get T-virus on the DL? We might start a fund for you.

Somebody has the worthless bastard on their fantasy team. I already tried to go that route to get him the fuck out of here.

 

[Mike80]

In watching the beating the Mets are putting on the Reds I was going to post 3 observations:

1. Harang doesn't look right to me. His off-speed stuff is rolling up there and doesn't have the finish and his fastball lacks pop.

2. The entire team appears to be trying to win every game by 100 runs when they have trouble scoring 1. They need to stop pressing. They aren't likely getting into the playoffs anyway, so why press now? Just go out and play baseball.

3. This organization needs a player to build around. I think that guy is Joey Votto. Not Jay Bruce who is devolving into a left-handed Dave Kingman (at least Dunn walked from time to time) and not Brandon Phillips.

And since I was putting this post together, Votto took a wayyy to close pitch 3-2, got rung up and then tossed when the umpire game him a chance to go back to the dugout without getting run for arguing balls and strikes. Not good.

And, of course, the idiot Reds announcers said the umpire "baited" Votto. Hell he should have tossed him when he jumped at home plate and showed up the umpire's call in the first place. ehh anyway, I figured I'd post that now while there is some chance of the Reds fans here reading it. I feel your pain, I'm a bitter and broken Orioles fan who has seen my own favorite franchise actually be much worse than the Reds have been.

 

[Jaxbuck]

1. Harang doesn't look right to me. His off-speed stuff is rolling up there and doesn't have the finish and his fastball lacks pop.

Many have been saying trade him for some time now. He's a solid MLB pitcher with a decent contract he has value right now to a contender. The Reds are not a contender and by the time they are-if ever again- he won't be of any use to us.

Of course this all means being sellers and making good FO decisions so that said I expect a 10 year contract extension announced any day now.

2. The entire team appears to be trying to win every game by 100 runs when they have trouble scoring 1. They need to stop pressing. They aren't likely getting into the playoffs anyway, so why press now? Just go out and play baseball.

Press, don't press it doesn't matter. This team sorely lacks that fundamental charachteristic known as talent. Their mental state makes less than a fuck bit of difference.

3. This organization needs a player to build around. I think that guy is Joey Votto. Not Jay Bruce who is devolving into a left-handed Dave Kingman (at least Dunn walked from time to time) and not Brandon Phillips

.

Votto is a more athletic Sean Casey. If he's the conerstone you better have a lot more of them handy. Good but not great doesn't cut it by its lonesome.

I feel your pain, I'm a bitter and broken Orioles fan who has seen my own favorite franchise actually be much worse than the Reds have been.

2 once proud franchises run into the ground by poor management piling bad decisions on top of bad decisions for many years. I'm old enough to remember when The O's and the Reds were looked at as model franchises and the Braves were a laughing stock. :(

 

[Mike80]

Many have been saying trade him for some time now. He's a solid MLB pitcher with a decent contract he has value right now to a contender. The Reds are not a contender and by the time they are-if ever again- he won't be of any use to us.

Of course this all means being sellers and making good FO decisions so that said I expect a 10 year contract extension announced any day now.

When I see Harang pitch I actually see him as more of a Bob Milacki type guy. He has more wins and more talent, but I don't foresee him ever going well over .500 in his career without some serious offense behind him.

Press, don't press it doesn't matter. This team sorely lacks that fundamental charachteristic known as talent. Their mental state makes less than a fuck bit of difference.

Talent is one thing that the FO is going to have to address for sure, but my point, I think, still stands. Maybe it is the players being all too aware of the overall lack of depth and talent and they are all trying to win the games themselves.

Either way, they are pressing. I think Votto's ejection kinda shows it too.

Votto is a more athletic Sean Casey. If he's the conerstone you better have a lot more of them handy. Good but not great doesn't cut it by its lonesome.

I wasn't worried about him being a Hall of Famer or a .300 career hitter with 500 homers, although I'm sure you'd take it in an instant.

What I mean is that he can be a steady presence both in the dugout and in the organization, kinda like Lou Whittaker and Alan Trammel were for the Tigers or Cal Ripken was for the O's or even a guy like Bernie Williams was for the Yankees.

He doesn't have to be spectacular, just steady and consistent.

2 once proud franchises run into the ground by poor management piling bad decisions on top of bad decisions for many years. I'm old enough to remember when The O's and the Reds were looked at as model franchises and the Braves were a laughing stock. :(

I usually don't celebrate the death of anyone, but I think when Peter Angelos finally sells the Orioles or kicks the bucket, I may just.....

 

[Jaxbuck]

When I see Harang pitch I actually see him as more of a Bob Milacki type guy. He has more wins and more talent, but I don't foresee him ever going well over .500 in his career without some serious offense behind him.

I agree. Thats why I say trade him. He isn't going to get that in Cincy this year or next.

Talent is one thing that the FO is going to have to address for sure, but my point, I think, still stands. Maybe it is the players being all too aware of the overall lack of depth and talent and they are all trying to win the games themselves.

Either way, they are pressing. I think Votto's ejection kinda shows it too.

I agree they are pressing, I'm just pissy during Reds games.
I thinks its based on them fundamentally knowing they are completely outmanned almost every night. Having the manager consistently run the worst player on the team out there every night sure as hell can't help.

I wasn't worried about him being a Hall of Famer or a .300 career hitter with 500 homers, although I'm sure you'd take it in an instant.

What I mean is that he can be a steady presence both in the dugout and in the organization, kinda like Lou Whittaker and Alan Trammel were for the Tigers or Cal Ripken was for the O's or even a guy like Bernie Williams was for the Yankees.

He doesn't have to be spectacular, just steady and consistent.

Agreed again, like I said, I'm a prickly bastard when I start talking about this gaggle fuck. He needs to be surrounded by more talent and to be fair a lot of it is close to being MLB ready but its going to take good moves to make a complete team that can compete for many years and I just hold out almost zero hope of that.

I usually don't celebrate the death of anyone, but I think when Peter Angelos finally sells the Orioles or kicks the bucket, I may just.....

I know what you mean

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I am slowly moving over to Jax side of the street...I always agree with him, but I always try to stay optimistic...

I just can't any more...

They are as close to being good to being really bad...It depends on how the FO approaches whether they buy or sell...The minors have some talent...really need to add to that, and take our chances with a young but talented team, vs bringing in some guys that you think might win us some game this year, but unless you bring us Matt Kemp or someone like that we aren't doing anything this year...

 

[Jaxbuck]

They are as close to being good to being really bad...It depends on how the FO approaches whether they buy or sell...The minors have some talent...really need to add to that, and take our chances with a young but talented team, vs bringing in some guys that you think might win us some game this year, but unless you bring us Matt Kemp or someone like that we aren't doing anything this year...

and you aren't getting a matt kemp without blowing holes in the major league team. This season was over before it started, I know the optimistic folks don't like to hear it but you can pretty reliably forecast run production and run prevention before a season starts to get an idea if you are looking at a potential contender or not.

Going forward we have a lot of young position players near MLB ready that could contribute to the offensive side of it. My concern is a lack of pitching depth and stud pitching potential. I may be in the minority but I would be trading anyone over the age of 25 (turn of phrase, not literal) for pitching.

If I were GM you would see a memo like this

To:
Harang
Cordero
Weathers
Rhodes
Hernandez
Nix
Gomes
Arroyo
Tavaras

From: Jax

Re: The suck

None of you are part of the future, most of you have trade value. It's been real, it's been fun but it ain't been real fun. I bought an extra battery for my cell phone, get your shit packed up.


P.S. Dusty, don't wait for the phone call. Just get your wrist bands, tooth picks and Dusty Dice packed up you ignorant bastard. Your fired.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Baseball Prospectus chimes in with some midseason awards.

National League Worst Hitter: Jimmy Rollins, Phillies
It's hard to believe that he was the NL MVP just two years ago; he has needed a recent surge just to get to .228/.285/.353 with a .223 EqA.
Dishonorable mention: 2. Willy Taveras, Reds; 3. Alex Gonzalez, Reds

Nice job fixing CF and SS in the off season Walt. Well Done.

GM of the year anyone?

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Baseball Prospectus chimes in with some midseason awards.



Nice job fixing CF and SS in the off season Walt. Well Done.

GM of the year anyone?

 

[brodybuck21]

Baseball Prospectus chimes in with some midseason awards.



Nice job fixing CF and SS in the off season Walt. Well Done.

GM of the year anyone?

hahahaha wow....

 

[Jaxbuck]

My real quick second half look ahead:

They are 42-45 with 75 games left. They would have to go 48-27 (.640) to get to 90 wins. Marty has a better chance of getting a MENSA membership than the Reds do of playing .640 ball for 75 games.

 

[Mike80]

My real quick second half look ahead:

They are 42-45 with 75 games left. They would have to go 48-27 (.640) to get to 90 wins. Marty has a better chance of getting a MENSA membership than the Reds do of playing .640 ball for 75 games.

.500 should have been the goal going into the season and now it should be the goal for the 2nd half.

But I think the smoke and mirrors this team lived on in the 1st half of the season will shatter and they don't win more than 35 games in the 2nd half.