Inside Info From Season Ticket Holder Luncheon

[FireDusty]

I spoke with Marty (he comes around to every table).

Marty says "Dusty will be back to start the season" in response to my question "Will Dusty be back?". he then added "They better get off to a good start"....implying that early struggles will result in Dusty getting fired.

Walt, when asked about the Chicago rumors said "It's not going to happen".

Walt, when asked about Chapman next year said "I envision him in the starting rotation".

I met Devin, Logan & Leake. Leake was funny as hell. I met Joe Morgan, who said the Reds had as much minor league talent as he has ever seen.

Bob, when asked about realignment said "It's not going to happen". Bob, when asked about another wild card said "It is going to happen".

So, Dusty survives the offseason, starts next year on a short leash. Chapman moves into the rotation.

Toured the stadium, got to see the press box, got to walk on the field, got to go down into both dugouts...very cool.

[brm7675]

I spoke with Marty (he comes around to every table).

Marty says "Dusty will be back to start the season" in response to my question "Will Dusty be back?". he then added "They better get off to a good start"....implying that early struggles will result in Dusty getting fired.

That makes no sense. If you are going to put him on any "leash" at all then go ahead and fire him now. Ugg this franchise sometimes pisses me off.

Walt, when asked about the Chicago rumors said "It's not going to happen".

Not shocking, much eaiser job and environment here in cincy

Walt, when asked about Chapman next year said "I envision him in the starting rotation".

Yea who at best will only be able to go about 130 innings so we will only see him for about 2 - 2.5 months...ugg:thumbdown:

I met Devin, Logan & Leake. Leake was funny as hell. I met Joe Morgan, who said the Reds had as much minor league talent as he has ever seen.

[texasdave]

Walt, when asked about Chapman next year said "I envision him in the starting rotation".

Yea who at best will only be able to go about 130 innings so we will only see him for about 2 - 2.5 months.

This is interesting. So would you leave Chapman in extended Spring Training for a couple months? And then allow him to make a handful of starts in Louisville before sticking him in the rotation after the ASB? That might be the best way to go with him since he will be on such a short leash innings-wise.

[Vottomatic]

Walt told me privately they were going heavily after Matt Kemp, Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols. It was a good luncheon. :D

[drowg14]

Walt told me privately they were going heavily after Matt Kemp, Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols. It was a good luncheon. :D

Apparently we are also heading for the AL, unless Pujols can play 3rd, and Prince can play left :laugh:

[texasdave]

Apparently we are also heading for the AL, unless Pujols can play 3rd, and Prince can play left :laugh:

Pujols at third. Alonso at short. Fielder at second. Votto at first. Now I would pay to see that configuration. Every game will end up 15-13.

[drowg14]

Pujols at third. Alonso at short. Fielder at second. Votto at first. Now I would pay to see that configuration. Every game will end up 15-13.

We might need to get rid of any and all groundball pitchers. Although I bet Sap, Stubbs and Bruce could patrol that OF just fine

[EMAW]

I spoke with Marty (he comes around to every table).

Marty says "Dusty will be back to start the season" in response to my question "Will Dusty be back?". he then added "They better get off to a good start"....implying that early struggles will result in Dusty getting fired.

Walt, when asked about the Chicago rumors said "It's not going to happen".

Walt, when asked about Chapman next year said "I envision him in the starting rotation".

I met Devin, Logan & Leake. Leake was funny as hell. I met Joe Morgan, who said the Reds had as much minor league talent as he has ever seen.

Bob, when asked about realignment said "It's not going to happen". Bob, when asked about another wild card said "It is going to happen".

So, Dusty survives the offseason, starts next year on a short leash. Chapman moves into the rotation.

Toured the stadium, got to see the press box, got to walk on the field, got to go down into both dugouts...very cool.

Same scenario that was presented for the 2010 season. Reds and Dusty Baker thrived. My predicto meter says Dusty will not manage past next season either way. On several occasions he has said he wanted to be "home" when his son hits high school age. How old is Junior Baker?

[drowg14]

Same scenario that was presented for the 2010 season. Reds and Dusty Baker thrived. My predicto meter says Dusty will not manage past next season either way. On several occasions he has said he wanted to be "home" when his son hits high school age. How old is Junior Baker?

Dusty's kid isn't in high school yet? Isn't the man like 100?

[texasdave]

Dusty's kid isn't in high school yet? Isn't the man like 100?

Remember that little kid that was the batboy for the Giants in the Series? The one J.T. Snow pulled out of harm's way on a play at the plate in 2002? That kid must be just about a freshman now. Or close.

[powersackers]

I think people over think moving Chapman into the rotation. It's pretty simple, move him in day 1 of early spring training. Building him up to a 5 IP SP. Then set him in the rotation every 5th spot. Let Arroyo be a long man to pitch innings 6 and 7 each time Chapman goes if Arroyo is rested. Could work? Chapman gets 165 innings and Arroyo never has to go through the lineup more than once.

[brm7675]

I think people over think moving Chapman into the rotation. It's pretty simple, move him in day 1 of early spring training. Building him up to a 5 IP SP. Then set him in the rotation every 5th spot. Let Arroyo be a long man to pitch innings 6 and 7 each time Chapman goes if Arroyo is rested. Could work? Chapman gets 165 innings and Arroyo never has to go through the lineup more than once.

chapman wouldn't pitch that many innings next year, maybe 130 tops and no chance he would be ready come opening day.

[drowg14]

Remember that little kid that was the batboy for the Giants in the Series? The one J.T. Snow pulled out of harm's way on a play at the plate in 2002? That kid must be just about a freshman now. Or close.

I do remember that play. I also remember thinking what kind of an idiot lets their kid run out onto the field of play like that.

Now I know.

[drowg14]

chapman wouldn't pitch that many innings next year, maybe 130 tops and no chance he would be ready come opening day.

It was later in his career, but CJ Wilson jumped from about 70 IP to over 200 IP after he was converted to be a SP. I'm not saying that Chapman is getting 200 next season, but 160 is at least in the realm of possibility.

Oh, and BTW. We should go after CJ Wilson this offseason :D

[powersackers]

chapman wouldn't pitch that many innings next year, maybe 130 tops and no chance he would be ready come opening day.

He was a starting pitcher for Cuba for years. The Reds made him the RP in a 2 year side track. I don't think its a stretch to make him a SP day 1 of regular season 2012. He's done it before in Pro ball. Assuming Cuba is considered pro ball down there.

[brm7675]

He was a starting pitcher for Cuba for years. The Reds made him the RP in a 2 year side track. I don't think its a stretch to make him a SP day 1 of regular season 2012. He's done it before in Pro ball. Assuming Cuba is considered pro ball down there.

We have no idea of how much or how long he pitched in Cuba, given how the Reds have handled other young pitchers, there is no way Chapman sees more then around 130 innings pitched next year.

[texasdave]

We have no idea of how much or how long he pitched in Cuba, given how the Reds have handled other young pitchers, there is no way Chapman sees more then around 130 innings pitched next year.

Stats from Cuba (Wikipedia):


Year W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG
2005-06 3 5 4.33 15 15 0 54 48 33 26 5 54 56 .240
2006-07 4 3 2.77 23 12 7 81 59 26 25 4 50 100 .207
2007-08 6 7 3.89 16 16 0 74 55 36 32 3 37 79 .200
2008-09 11 4 4.03 22 20 0 118 109 56 53 7 62 130 .252

In Reds organization:
2010 110IP
2011 59IP (With a handful of games left to be played)

[brm7675]

And you trust those numbers from Cuba? Okay, still no way the Reds pitch him more then 130 innings next year "if" they finally move him to a starting role. I still say he will be the closer next year but who knows....

[texasdave]

And you trust those numbers from Cuba? Okay, still no way the Reds pitch him more then 130 innings next year "if" they finally move him to a starting role. I still say he will be the closer next year but who knows....

As to the validity of the numbers from Cuba, who knows? It is the best we have though. Unless you have something better.

[powersackers]

And you trust those numbers from Cuba? Okay, still no way the Reds pitch him more then 130 innings next year "if" they finally move him to a starting role. I still say he will be the closer next year but who knows....

I gotta an idea, let's examine what the Yankees did with Joba Chamberlain and do the exact opposite. Man they messed him up.

[texasdave]

They could transition him to a starter's role using the "Clay Carroll" method. Since this team has a number of six innings pitchers, have Chapman come in and pitch the last three. Carroll did that out of the bullpen on numerous occasions. A starter's role with training wheels so to speak. Use him that way once a week. It would limit his innings and have the added benefit of having him available the entire season instead of having to shut him down with in early August.

[brm7675]

They could transition him to a starter's role using the "Clay Carroll" method. Since this team has a number of six innings pitchers, have Chapman come in and pitch the last three. Carroll did that out of the bullpen on numerous occasions. A starter's role with training wheels so to speak. Use him that way once a week. It would limit his innings and have the added benefit of having him available the entire season instead of having to shut him down with in early August.

I don't want to sound rude...but you do remember who the manager and coaches are for the Reds right?

[texasdave]

I don't want to sound rude...but you do remember who the manager and coaches are for the Reds right?

It was just an idea I thought I would throw out there. Never expected it to happen.

[lidspinner]

what ticks me off is the Reds will never think outside of the box....why does Chap have to start off one way and work his way to a starter? why can he not start out as a SP on day 1 of ST and work his way up from there....combine his starts with another pitcher, lord knows we have enough 4th and 5th starters on our team....combine chap and bronson, or homer, or leake or wood or Edinson....someone can share time with him and allow both to get lower innings, it keeps them both fresh for the playoff push in late summer, it keeps other teams a little off and it allows for growth while allowing Bronson to not see the batters more than a few times per game....
someone give me 2 good reasons why this could not work and you cannot use the union as one of your reasons....and you also cannot say that our staff is stupid as another reason....

I also cannot understand why we have to have a closer....why does Coco have to be the for sure closer? run the hot hand out there in the 7th or 8th innings if thats when the pressure situation calls for it....then run the next hottest guy out there after that....if the top of the lineup is up in the 7th, then throw your closer in there...if he pitches to 3 batters then you already are a inning up on the other team....with their bottom to come up in the 9th preferrably....it just makes to much sense...

[Vottomatic]

That's what I fear about re-signing Cordero. Dusty will use him as the closer again since that was his role.

I'm all for closer by committee. Go with the hot hand.

But that's a problem when you have a manager who is interested in his players getting their stats/numbers. He will want a closer that has 30 or 40 saves. Oh boy.