Why not interested in?
 

Why were the Reds not interested in Ryan Franklin or Brandon Duckworth?
Could they be interested in Josh Fogg or maybe Kevin Brown?

Re: Why not interested in?
 

None of those pitchers constitutes an upgrade, even for the Reds. Duckworth has gotten consistently worse since leaving the Phillies (11.02 ERA in '05; 6.86 ERA in '04). Franklin had a high ERA (5.10) and high HR total in Seattle. Just imagine his numbers in GABP. I don't have much faith in either Fogg or Brown. Age and injuries have caught up with Brown. Fogg has never had great numbers, and he pitched like a Reds starter last year (5.05 ERA, 27 HR). I'd take a minor league deal flyer on Fogg, but I'm guessing he wouldn't take it. As for Brown, I just think he should retire.

Re: Why not interested in?
 

Well, here's a question....What about Kaz Ishii?

The last two seasons he has pitched haven't been great, but still. He's a decent pitcher, nonetheless, and in my opinion he would be an upgrade to the rotation.

Re: Why not interested in?
 

Ishii is a walk machine...49 in 91IP in 05, 98 in 172 IP in 04 and a whopping 101 in 147 IP in 03 and 106 in 154 IP in 02.

Re: Why not interested in?
 

It's my understanding that he signed with a team in Japan (not that I'd want him here, anyway). At least that was the talk that I'd heard here when the Mets let him go. I never saw anything in print to confirm it.

Re: Why not interested in?
 

Because we already have a surplus of mediocrity. Kevin Brown is the only one that could possible be better then guys we have now, but after his act last year in NY, I would guess that his career is over.

Re: Why not interested in?
 

note that most of the pitchers available are fly-ball pitchers.....

Re: Why not interested in?
 

Ryan Franklin was aweful in a pitcher's park and was on steroids to boot. Steroid free and at GABP, he would make Milton look like a CY Young winner. He's also the wrongside of 30.
Plus he signed yesterday with the Phillies. He should have an era well above 5.00

Re: Why not interested in?
 

We don't need more 5.00ish ERA starters. Brownie is the only one who is really a step up talent wise and he's 3 years removed from his last above average year. Furthermore, he's 41 and has serious health issues.

Re: Why not interested in?
 

As you try and go through names available as pitching upgrades you quickly realise why pitching has become so expensive the past few years.

Re: Why not interested in?
 

Well, Franklin sucks. Even worse than Ramon Ortiz. Chuck-and-duck city, only without the grooming expertise.

Duckworth I would have been interested in, as he's a clear case of Standridgeitis where he's got good basic stuff but is miscast as a starter due to the lack of any sort of offspeed ability.

Re: Why not interested in?
 

Franklin signed with the Phillies; Duckworth signed a minor league deal with the Pirates.

Re: Why not interested in?
 

I'd have been interested in either of these guys for minor league deals, but the $2.6 million that the Phillies threw at Franklin borders on malpractice.