Reds Tidbits (2011 Season)

[Dryden]

http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/RichStevens/201102070063

Marty offers his assessment of this coming season during a three hour-plus keynote at Marshall University.

The Pirates:

"They've probably improved themselves, which means they'll probably lose 97 games ... There's no light at the end of the tunnel for that franchise. There really isn't. ... I don't think it has great ownership, I don't think it has great baseball expertise in its front office, and is strapped for finances, which is probably the single biggest problem. I feel bad for them. PNC Park is one of the fine ballparks in Major League Baseball."

"It's a catastrophe."

The Cards:

"I'm not a big St. Louis fan, because I'm not a big Tony LaRussa fan. I refer to him as 'Mr. Baseball' on the radio, because he acts like he invented the game."

The Cubs:

"The Chicago Cubs won't be a factor because, no matter how much they add to their club, at the end of the day, they've got 'Cubs' across the front of their jerseys. That's the reason why they won't win."

The Brewers:

"The franchise we all have to be worried about is the Milwaukee Brewers. What they've done is mortgage their future for one shot. That's this season. They lose Prince Fielder, probably to free agency at the end of this year. They've traded away almost every good, young prospect in their organization in order to try to be better than the Reds and the Cardinals."

Other gems at the link, including Marty saying the president of Marshall must be "queer" for softball since he spent $2.5M on a facility in 2008, but Marty's there raising funds for the baseball team which travels for home games.

 

[Dryden]

BP breaks down the Reds' farm:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=12880

Future Shock
Cincinnati Reds Top 11 Prospects
by Kevin Goldstein

System In 20 Words Or Less: It's a system with plenty of star power up front, but depth falls away quickly after that.

Five-Star Prospects
1. Aroldis Chapman, LHP

Four-Star Prospects
2. Devin Mesoraco, C
3. Billy Hamilton, 2B/SS
4. Yasmani Grandal, C

Three-Star Prospects
5. Yorman Rodriguez, OF
6. Yonder Alonso, 1B
7. Zack Cozart, SS

Cont'd ...

Detailed breakdowns of each guy at the link.

Also offers a list of Top 10 25-and-unders:

1. Jay Bruce, RF
2. Aroldis Chapman, LHP
3. Johnny Cueto, RHP
4. Devin Mesoraco, C
5. Mike Leake, RHP
6. Homer Bailey, RHP
7. Billy Hamilton, 2B/SS
8. Yasmani Grandal, C
9. Travis Wood, LHP
10. Yorman Rodriguez, OF

It's really easy to forget Homer isn't even 25 yet ...

 

[BengalsAndBucks]

Crazy to think that 4 of our top 6 starting pitchers next year are not 25 yet, and that isn't even including Aroldis.

Also, Bruce isn't even 25 yet. I feel like he's been on the team for forever already.

 

[brodybuck21]

Reds return to Goodyear with similar look

Club opens camp with most of division-champ roster intact

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 02/11/11 10:00 AM EST




CINCINNATI -- Whatever lingering buzz from being division champions should have dissipated by now. It's just about time for the Reds to get back to work.
A date that's been long circled on fans' calendars, pitchers and catchers are officially scheduled to report to Spring Training in Goodyear, Ariz., on Wednesday, and the 27 pitchers and six catchers are slated to work out the same day. The full 53-man spring roster is scheduled to report on Feb. 19, and the first full-squad workout at camp is also on that date. This is the second year that the Reds are holding Spring Training in Arizona and playing in the Cactus League. Their first exhibition game is on Feb. 27 vs. the Indians.


http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news...10&content_id=16610610&vkey=news_cin&c_id=cin

 

[Jaxbuck]

Reds return to Goodyear with similar look

Club opens camp with most of division-champ roster intact

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 02/11/11 10:00 AM EST




CINCINNATI -- Whatever lingering buzz from being division champions should have dissipated by now. It's just about time for the Reds to get back to work.
A date that's been long circled on fans' calendars, pitchers and catchers are officially scheduled to report to Spring Training in Goodyear, Ariz., on Wednesday, and the 27 pitchers and six catchers are slated to work out the same day. The full 53-man spring roster is scheduled to report on Feb. 19, and the first full-squad workout at camp is also on that date. This is the second year that the Reds are holding Spring Training in Arizona and playing in the Cactus League. Their first exhibition game is on Feb. 27 vs. the Indians.


http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news...10&content_id=16610610&vkey=news_cin&c_id=cin

Oh wait, they actually aren't. Well are they kind of shitty maybe? Bad at hit and run perhaps? Dusty is still a functional retard when it comes to in game strategic moves right?

Damn these new look Reds and their fancy winning ways. All my normal rhythms of spring are screwed up. I miss the simpler days gone by when I knew they sucked ass from Day 1 and could just start working myself up into a lather so I was in shape for the rigors of 162 games of futility.

Oh well into the void of the unknown I guess. I'm sure Dusty will give me some ammo to work with soon.

 

[Dryden]

Oh wait, they actually aren't. Well are they kind of shitty maybe? Bad at hit and run perhaps? Dusty is still a functional retard when it comes to in game strategic moves right?

Damn these new look Reds and their fancy winning ways. All my normal rhythms of spring are screwed up. I miss the simpler days gone by when I knew they sucked ass from Day 1 and could just start working myself up into a lather so I was in shape for the rigors of 162 games of futility.

Oh well into the void of the unknown I guess. I'm sure Dusty will give me some ammo to work with soon.

Well, they do open ST against the Indians, so your graphic is applicable.

 

[jlb1705]

Oh wait, they actually aren't. Well are they kind of shitty maybe? Bad at hit and run perhaps? Dusty is still a functional retard when it comes to in game strategic moves right?

Damn these new look Reds and their fancy winning ways. All my normal rhythms of spring are screwed up. I miss the simpler days gone by when I knew they sucked ass from Day 1 and could just start working myself up into a lather so I was in shape for the rigors of 162 games of futility.

Oh well into the void of the unknown I guess. I'm sure Dusty will give me some ammo to work with soon.

Dusty is still filling out lineup cards and making double switches. Cordero is still the closer. Bronson Arroyo might have to try to pitch against the Blue Jays. There's still no No. 1 starter. Rolen has aged another year and his back another five years. Jay Bruce has yet to produce at the plate for more than two months at a time. Jonny Gomes. This group still has not done anything other than shit the bed in a big series against top competition.

Meanwhile, the Brewers added a hammer to the front of their rotation, and the Cardinals still have Pooholes, Holliday, Wainwright and Crapenter.

Feel better?

 

[Jaxbuck]

Dusty is still filling out lineup cards and making double switches. Cordero is still the closer. Bronson Arroyo might have to try to pitch against the Blue Jays. There's still no No. 1 starter. Rolen has aged another year and his back another five years. Jay Bruce has yet to produce at the plate for more than two months at a time. Jonny Gomes. This group still has not done anything other than shit the bed in a big series against top competition.

Meanwhile, the Brewers added a hammer to the front of their rotation, and the Cardinals still have Pooholes, Holliday, Wainwright and Crapenter.

Feel better?

Yeah. Yeah I do. Thanks.

 

[Dryden]

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick is at Reds camp, reports good news about two of Walt's reclaimation projects:

Arredondo is throwing 90-plus now 13 months removed from TJ. Will be turned loose in spring training. Reds feel they got a steal and he'll return to the form he had with the Angels (lefties hit .185 off him).

Dontrelle Willis's wife gave birth to their third daughter yesterday. D-Train appears to be in great spirits and has regained his confidence. Also confirmed by John Fay. Both the Tigers and Reds gave Willis a clean bill of health and say there is nothing wrong with him physically. Willis has worked with Bryan Price and has a repeatable delivery and is throwing a ton of strikes. If he makes the roster it'll be as a RP. They are not considering him for the rotation (yet).

 

[Jaxbuck]

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick is at Reds camp, reports good news about two of Walt's reclaimation projects:

Arredondo is throwing 90-plus now 13 months removed from TJ. Will be turned loose in spring training. Reds feel they got a steal and he'll return to the form he had with the Angels (lefties hit .185 off him).

Dontrelle Willis's wife gave birth to their third daughter yesterday. D-Train appears to be in great spirits and has regained his confidence. Also confirmed by John Fay. Both the Tigers and Reds gave Willis a clean bill of health and say there is nothing wrong with him physically. Willis has worked with Bryan Price and has a repeatable delivery and is throwing a ton of strikes. If he makes the roster it'll be as a RP. They are not considering him for the rotation (yet).

I have had zero doubt as to Arrendondo being a steal from the day I heard they got him. TJ surgery is so commonplace now and he was flat out filthy prior to it.

If these two pan out and all 6 starters continue to develop you'd have to think they will trade someone (see ya Bronson you long haired, pinko, commie, hippie goof).

 

[Dryden]

If these two pan out and all 6 starters continue to develop you'd have to think they will trade someone (see ya Bronson you long haired, pinko, commie, hippie goof).

I understand Arroyo is becoming expendable, but I'd still hate to see him go. He's a known commodity and a valuable member of the big league team. I'd rather see the Reds flip something from their surplus of C/1B before they start trading pitchers. Prospects will never be anything more than prospects if they're blocked from moving up.

You can never have too many arms.

Of course, I can say that now that Paul Wilson, Elizardo Ramirez, Matt Belisle, Brandon Claussen and Eric Milton aren't the rotation.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Of course, I can say that now that Paul Wilson, Elizardo Ramirez, Matt Belisle, Brandon Claussen and Eric Milton aren't the rotation.

A hacking mass list is meaningless without the Jimmy's...Haynes and Anderson.

Milton though, powerful with the gopher ball was he.

 

[jlb1705]

SI.com: Volquez named opening day starter

I know Volquez is good and has a world of potential, but he's also a bona-fide space cadet. I don't place too much emphasis on opening day - it's just 1 of 162 after all - I just wonder what it is about him that makes Dusty feel compelled to give him the ball first. I felt the same way about his NLDS start, even though the no-hitter by Halladay made it a moot point.

Also, Tom Verducci has a Dusty Baker profile. Gives some background on how he got into managing, and how he's one of the most successful managers in MLB history to not yet win a World Series.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tom_verducci/02/22/dusty.baker/index.html?eref=sihp

 

[Jaxbuck]

SI.com: Volquez named opening day starter

I know Volquez is good and has a world of potential, but he's also a bona-fide space cadet. I don't place too much emphasis on opening day - it's just 1 of 162 after all - I just wonder what it is about him that makes Dusty feel compelled to give him the ball first. I felt the same way about his NLDS start, even though the no-hitter by Halladay made it a moot point.

Also, Tom Verducci has a Dusty Baker profile. Gives some background on how he got into managing, and how he's one of the most successful managers in MLB history to not yet win a World Series.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tom_verducci/02/22/dusty.baker/index.html?eref=sihp

Well its a day game so Arroyo will probably be too hung over.

Cueto or Volquez, flip a coin I guess. EV has more upside, Cueto is more mentally stable.

It's not Eric Milton so that's progress.

 

[Dryden]

I know Volquez is good and has a world of potential, but he's also a bona-fide space cadet. I don't place too much emphasis on opening day - it's just 1 of 162 after all - I just wonder what it is about him that makes Dusty feel compelled to give him the ball first. I felt the same way about his NLDS start, even though the no-hitter by Halladay made it a moot point.

My guess is they named him the Opening Day starter this early to send a message for the Spring. You're our ace, now pitch like it. Big, fat contract awaits.