Quote:
Originally Posted by cinreds21
I don't quite understand your question.
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I don't think he was expecting much of an answer. The Mudcats, through no fault of their own, have been pretty bad the past couple years, and there isn't a lot of reason to expect much different this year. I think he's basically saying that the staff can't make the Mudcats a winner until the Reds actually put some talent there. Fortunately, there will be actual talent there, but it's doubtful that it will result in a winning team. It's very difficult to say how the new group will do because AA is typically the level that separates the men from the boys, and we really don't have much idea how the organization's prospects will fare.
The offense probably won't do as much as it did in 2010. Chris McMurray will likely be the only catcher retained. Kahaulelio might be promoted. Negron will be in AAA. Sean Henry is gone. Dave Sappelt will be in AAA. The pitching is where the big difference will have to be. The rotation will get a ton of groundballs, but there isn't a 'stopper'. The success of the rotation will heavily rely on the infield defense. Unfortunately, the bullpen doesn't inspire much hope. But you never know. A year of grooming could go a long way for any of those guys.
CF Felix Perez - downgrade from Sappelt
LF Josh Fellhauer - downgrade from Sean Henry
2B Cody Puckett - upgrade from Kahaulelio (or maybe Kahaulelio doesn't advance)
1B Nefi Soto - upgrade from Eric Eymann
RF Kyle Day - upgrade from Phipps
3B Alex Buchholz - downgrade from Costanzo, or Costanzo could get most of the playing time; maybe Campbell will surprise
C Kevin Coddington - downgrade from Chris Denove
SS Miguel Rojas - downgrade from Negron
C Chris McMurray
1B/3B Mike Costanzo
1B/3B Carlos Mendez
3B Eric Campbell
SS Miguel Rojas
OF David Cook
OF Denis Phipps
SP Dallas Buck
SP Tom Cochran
SP Matt Fairel
SP Scott Carroll
SP Jordan Hotchkiss
SP Matt Klinker
SP Travis Webb
SP/RP Brad Boxberger
RP Donnie Joseph
RP Justin Freeman
RP Jeff Jeffords
RP Derrik Lutz
RP Aguido Gonzalez
RP Mace Thurman
RP Jerry Gil
RP Ruben Medina