Quote:
Originally Posted by Mario-Rijo
I know it's a small sample size but they scored more runs than they allowed from the Dunn trade on I believe. Indicator of potential success or just pure luck? Probably a bit of both but their RS/G went up and their RA/G went down. I think the RS had alot to do with Dickerson's and Votto's great end of the season which could make RS quite a bit deceiving. But RA went down is likely a pretty fair indicator in this case. Work on getting that RS up while tweaking the defense at key spots SS and 3B simultaneously and we should be well on our way.
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I agree we thought that we saw something positive happening after the all-star break with the younger players. We can even pull out some numbers to show some indication. What I am getting at is that I would like to see that growth in a nice direction to continue to have life, to continue to be what we see by eye and by number to be in real growth and development. I just don’t want to see a flash of solid promise and then there to be stagnation or a decline back to a unpleasant reality.
When we look at buying free agents we see problems that are real. When we look at the problem areas where the Reds are short on the field with the regulars and the bench we look to see who the Reds could trade or buy, right now we are having a tough time supporting that the Reds or the market would cooperate with a trade or trades that would support the continuance and we are having problems seeing how the Reds could afford to buy a FA or two to make the difference also.
We are also banking on Arroyo, Harang, Volquez and Cueto doing more than they are capable of without the runs scored or the much improved defense combined. I can’t find the answer to where the runs are going to come from or where the defense is going to be improved significantly to correct the run differential. Let alone enough for the Reds to compete against four other teams in their division that is going to be working on improving their teams over their last years team, teams that were already better than the Reds.
Mario I would hate to have to answer and to support where these trades, or FA are going to come from to improve the fielding, run scored, and relief pitching for next year if you or JoJo, or RedsManRick, Steele, Cyclone or others said, “you tell us and support who, when, where and how” in trades or FA that will cause the Reds to improve enough realistically?
I can’t. Because they need to hang on to the major league pitching, they need to keep the relief pitchers that they have and to use some of those rookies in the minors to fill roles there and to be available in the event of injury, so the Reds are left with little or nothing to trade.
That is why I am asking for genuine clarity on trade resources, but even that is difficult to speculate about. I accept what Doug is saying about the minor league prospects, and the trade possiblities for a few of them. Though I can't see the Reds being able to move many of them to fill so many needs to upgrade.