[GAC]

Originally Posted by bucksfan2

I would submit that the organization to model is the Twins.

In thorough agreement there too.

The size of the Reds payroll doesn't mean much to me until it prohibits them from making the proper move.

But don't you think it has in some sense? We obviously couldn't afford an Adam Dunn, yet we forked out 12M/year for the next 3 years to a closer. We extended Bronson Arroyo needlessly IMO. We've spent money on peripheral (marginal) players - and still are - which takes away from an already limited budget to either acquire or hold onto quality players.

I can remember when we use to spend the money on the position players, while trying to patch together a pitching staff on shoe strings. Now it appears it's the other way around.

I'm a firm believer - though I don't put as much into as some on here do - in statistical analysis for evaluating, acquiring, and building your farm system (team). You have to have the right people in that FO though who adhere to it (buy in), and do their homework.

I don't think this FO does that at all. Not when I hear not just Baker, but now Jocketty, gush over speed, and how he is excited to have Taveras at the top of this order.

This is another area where I have problems with Jocketty. He heavily relies on underlings for advice and player evaluation. Jamie Quirk, a new member of this FO, watched Taveras last year while working as a bench coach for the Rockies. In fact, it was Quirk who pushed Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty toward acquiring the 27-year-old Dominican.

He WATCHED him.

"We tried to do a trade with Colorado for Taveras earlier, but it didn't work out," Jocketty said. "When the Rockies didn't tender him (offer him a contract), we called his agent and got this done." About his fallen batting average and on-base percentage, Jocketty said, "Jamie Quirk believes Willy got away from his game plan. He needs to bunt more and keep the ball on the ground and get some infield hits. I don't know if he tried to hit home runs or what, but Jamie thinks he changed his approach and that we can get him back to where he was in 2007."


http://www.daytondailynews.com/sport...tlid=inform_sr

Hey Walt! Why do you think the Rockies basically non-tendered this guy?

So can we call the Taveras signing a "quirk"?

I didn't see the Reds being players in the CC, Tex, or Burnett markets nor did I want them to sign them for as expensive or as long term as the teams did.

They never will. Which is why I agree with you that they need to follow the model of a Twins and/or As, where your farm system is strong enough, and you keep it strong, by turning over those productive players that are pricing themselves out of your market at some point.


Jocketty has always been the type of GM that primarily is on the other end of that spectrum, looking to snap those players up at the opportune time - not having to deal with trading them away (or lose them), while getting a good return in the form of prospects. I don't think that's his forte.