Quote:
Originally Posted by TheNext44
That is true, I think you are undervaluing what a utility player brings to a club. Good utility players are harder to find and cost more than the minimum. A team can find Cairo's and J. Cabrera's and Andy Phillips' and Mark Belhorn's for the minimum all day, every day. But a winning team needs to be able to have a real backup for every position, so they don't lose ground when they have injuries.
I think one key element of a winning organization is that they fill out their roster with homegrown talent. They don't have to spend money or talent to get solid middle relievers and bench players who can fill in for starters, they can just call up guys from the minors.
If Lohman and Greene become as valuable as Hairston was for the team, I think the Reds made good use of their 3rd and 4th round picks this season.
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Agree. If a third or fourth draft choice projects to be a solid major leaguer -- even in a utility role -- he is worth it. Although I wouldn't be too rough on Cairo, he's been excellent.
The key is getting major leaguers out of the draft. Starting players, bench players, starting pitchers, relievers.
And people are being too rough on the Lohman selection. From what I read, he has a shot to be a good shortstop, although without much power.