I might add that one of the things I admire about the job Walt has done is his ability to be patient and take the long view. The team is set up to win for a window of 4-5 years now and I'd like to see whether Chapman can lead our staff rather than provide late-inning gas.
“Every level he goes to, he is going to compete. They will know who he is at every level he goes to.” -- ED on EDLC
M2 (03-21-2013)
Barry On Baseball Also blogging at Banished to the Pen.
Without bringing in someone else from outside of the organization, Stubbs was the best option in CF the past 3 years. Better than Heisey.
I don't see how they failed with Frazier. They entered the season not counting on him to do anything. When he played well, he got more playing time. They put Frazier in a position to succeed and he did. Now in his sophomore year, he's being handed the 3b job. I'm not sure what else they could've done differently.
Don't say "bench Rolen" because Rolen was a huge reason for their 2nd half surge.
Bailey.. I'll give you that one. A previ
ous GM called Homer up way too early as a desperate publicity stunt. If they had taken their time with Homer, he would've probably been more productive at an earlier date.
I don't see what's wrong with Leake. Many teams would love to have a 5th starter as good as him. It's just not realistic to have 5 Latos in the rotation.
Bottom line is I expect Leake to produce quality starts at a reasonable rate and eat innings. That's fine for a 5th starter. He's unlikely to pitch in the playoffs barring an injury. He's relatively inexpensvie.. Not sure why everyone hates Leake now (other than he's not Chapman).
[Phil ] Castellini celebrated the team's farm system and noted the team had promising prospects who would one day be great Reds -- and then joke then they'd be ex-Reds, saying "of course we're going to lose them". #SellTheTeamBob
Nov. 13, 2007: One of the greatest days in Reds history: John Allen gets the boot!
Fernando Rodney threw 3 more innings and gave up 7 fewer runs (in fact, he only gave up 5 all season!) and blew just two saves. He was absolutely on his level. Chapman allowed more than 100% more runs than Rodney did, in fewer innings.
Rodney posted the lowest ERA for a reliever since 1900 (I didn't check further back).
Last edited by dougdirt; 03-21-2013 at 04:40 PM.
bigredmechanism (03-22-2013)
[Phil ] Castellini celebrated the team's farm system and noted the team had promising prospects who would one day be great Reds -- and then joke then they'd be ex-Reds, saying "of course we're going to lose them". #SellTheTeamBob
Nov. 13, 2007: One of the greatest days in Reds history: John Allen gets the boot!
I agree that rotation depth and top-end SP are more important than anyone in the bullpen. I've never denied it. That's the basis for even thinking about Chappy in the rotation.
But that's not really the issue here. The issue is taking this particular pitcher, who has a key role now, and making a big transformation with him on the eve of a potentially championship season.
To me, that's a tough call. And I would be inclined to leave him alone in the pen, unless the Reds firmly believe he will rather quickly become an Ace starter. If they do have that belief, then I'd go for Chapman as starter.
Is the job to strike guys out or avoid giving up runs? Rodney gave up the fewest runs per 9 innings of any reliever since 1900 and you say saying he wasn't on the same level of Chapman because Chapman struck out a bunch of guys. Rodney is an elite groundball machine who also strikes out more than a batter per inning and doesn't walk batters.
REDREAD (03-21-2013)
Man I sure am outraged that Aroldis Chapman will be defending and protecting the team's leads in 2013.
AtomicDumpling (03-21-2013)
Same here. I know the rotation isn't broke but I don't want to fix it, I want to improve it. The Bengals made the playoffs last year. The Bearcats made the NCAA tournament. Believe you me, there's plenty of room for improvement for both teams as well as the Reds.
However, the problem with Chapman in the rotation is judging his success. In his first start if he goes 5 innings, strikes out 8 guys and gives up 3 runs, is that a success or a failure? If that's his average for the first 4-5 starts, I think people are going to start to wonder - especially in this instant gratification society - if he should go back to the bullpen - especially if the bullpen blows a few saves. I think some believe that once he's a starter, he will sustain his .81 WHIP, 1.51 ERA, .450 OPS against. If he doesn't meet those expectations, people are going to wonder what's wrong with him. If he's not getting TOR stats and the Reds - by hard luck or whatever reason - aren't winning games he starts in, how long are the Reds going to stick with him in that role?
This is one topic where I would have preferred Dusty just giggle like Marvin Lewis. His comments to the press have done nothing but confuse the issue -- if not Chapman himself.
“Every level he goes to, he is going to compete. They will know who he is at every level he goes to.” -- ED on EDLC
remdog (03-22-2013)
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