Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
Actually, I agree that the time to strike for a Choo LTC may be now. Previous posters have made the point that the Ludwick contract is basically a front-loaded one-year deal to cover this year. I think a Bruce-Hamilton-Choo OF would be pretty awesome starting in 2014, and they are more likely to get Choo at a reasonable price before he goes gangbusters in GABP. And make no mistake -- he will.
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Previous posters have made the point that the Ludwick contract is basically a front-loaded one-year deal to cover this year.
Ludwick's deal is heavily backloaded. Only getting 1 million this year. Guaranteed about 12 million next year and beyond.
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
lollipopcurve
Ludwick's deal is heavily backloaded. Only getting 1 million this year. Guaranteed about 12 million next year and beyond.
Okay, maybe I screwed that up. What I meant is that previous posters have made the point that the signing might be intended to play on the field for this year. If Choo is signed, I don't think they'd worry about Ludwick providing the contract's main value this year in performance.
I don't know if that makes sense at all. Do you understand?
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
RedEye
Okay, maybe I screwed that up. What I meant is that previous posters have made the point that the signing might be intended to play on the field for this year. If Choo is signed, I don't think they'd worry about Ludwick providing the contract's main value this year in performance.
I don't know if that makes sense at all. Do you understand?
I think it was a mistake to sign Ludwick and bring in Choo. I don't think they can afford both. Short of them being able to move Ludwick, we can't afford Choo too. We have too many other priorities. LF is way down the list from starting rotation, closer, Votto, Phillips, etc. You gotta cut somewhere. I think we need someone like Lutz to take over LF eventually. This team needs some significant contributions from pre arbitration eligible players like we've gotten in the past from Cozart, Frazier, and others.
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
OnBaseMachine
Baker happy with Shin-Soo Choo so far
Recently Dusty Baker noticed new center fielder Shin-Soo Choo approached bench coach Chris Speier with a question, but not him. The Reds manager went up to his new player and asked why he didn’t come to the manager directly.
“He said in Korea, you don’t talk to the manager directly — the manager is like God,” Baker recalled.
Baker smiled and said he told Choo, “Well, we’re not in Korea.”
That's cute and all, but Choo started playing in the US in 2001 when he was 18.
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
Sea Ray
I think it was a mistake to sign Ludwick and bring in Choo. I don't think they can afford both. Short of them being able to move Ludwick, we can't afford Choo too. We have too many other priorities. LF is way down the list from starting rotation, closer, Votto, Phillips, etc. You gotta cut somewhere. I think we need someone like Lutz to take over LF eventually. This team needs some significant contributions from pre arbitration eligible players like we've gotten in the past from Cozart, Frazier, and others.
People keep forgetting the TV money that will be coming in soon. Not to mention the attendance should continue to climb. I don't think money is as big an issue as the fans make it out to be.
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
_Sir_Charles_
People keep forgetting the TV money that will be coming in soon. Not to mention the attendance should continue to climb. I don't think money is as big an issue as the fans make it out to be.
Every team has a budget and every team has limitations, especially those not on the coasts or a giant lake. Eventually the TV money will be spoken for, and depending on attendance in Cincinnati is a fools errand.
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
Sea Ray
I think it was a mistake to sign Ludwick and bring in Choo. I don't think they can afford both. Short of them being able to move Ludwick, we can't afford Choo too. We have too many other priorities. LF is way down the list from starting rotation, closer, Votto, Phillips, etc. You gotta cut somewhere. I think we need someone like Lutz to take over LF eventually. This team needs some significant contributions from pre arbitration eligible players like we've gotten in the past from Cozart, Frazier, and others.
I guess I disagree, for several reasons.
When Ludwick was signed, there was no way of knowing that we'd be able to trade for Choo.
We've seen during the Reds run of success that a productive LF is very important to the offense. When Gomes/Ludwick/Fraiser were hitting well in LF, it gave the team a huge boost. When LF floundered, it drug down the team.
So, I'd argue that LF is very important, especiallly when Stubbs was in CF (which was the plan when Ludwick was signed).
I'm guessing Walt realized that the chances of Rolen coming back were slim, and even if Rolen did come back, that's still some offense/depth lost, due to Rolen's health/age. Also letting Ludwick walk would've been a big risk to the 2013 offense at the time.
Finally, I think the chance of us extending Choo are very slim. I think if Choo was willing to forgo FA, the Indians would've extended him.
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
REDREAD
Finally, I think the chance of us extending Choo are very slim. I think if Choo was willing to forgo FA, the Indians would've extended him.
Well, we agree on your bottomline...
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
Sea Ray
Well, we agree on your bottomline...
What if Choo just didn't want to sign with a losing franchise? Cincy gives him a much better chance to win in the immediate future. One would think that would impact his decision.
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
edabbs44
That's cute and all, but Choo started playing in the US in 2001 when he was 18.
What's your point?
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
RedEye
What if Choo just didn't want to sign with a losing franchise? Cincy gives him a much better chance to win in the immediate future. One would think that would impact his decision.
Who knows what kind of discount he might give a team for being on a winning franchise...a mill/yr? That's not going to be enough to keep him here. Be who knows? I could be wrong...
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
Sea Ray
Who knows what kind of discount he might give a team for being on a winning franchise...a mill/yr? That's not going to be enough to keep him here. Be who knows? I could be wrong...
I wasn't thinking in terms of a "discount." That assumes that Choo's main priority in becoming a FA is money. Obviously, that plays a big role. But becoming a FA also offers a player the opportunity to choose a place to live and a team to play for. If the money is pretty much equal, I would think that sometimes a guy chooses a place rather than a dollar amount.
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
Sea Ray
Who knows what kind of discount he might give a team for being on a winning franchise...a mill/yr? That's not going to be enough to keep him here. Be who knows? I could be wrong...
Of course, Cincy isn't eactly known for its large Korean population, so that could be a factor, too.
Re: Shin Soo-Choo on playing CF
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Originally Posted by
RedEye
Of course, Cincy isn't eactly known for its large Korean population, so that could be a factor, too.
I'm guessing that is probably pretty low on the list, well after dollars and years. He can afford the full satellite package with Korean TV programming and a private chef to fix his favorite home cooked meals I imagine.