We don't even know that his opinion IS being considered. You're jumping from point A to point B without any evidence.
All we know is that he said he prefers closing and that apparently the Reds are going to make him a closer. We have not been told that they consulted him in their decision.
"No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference." ~Tommy Lasorda
From David Schoenfield:
The funny thing about all this: The Reds -- the small-market Reds -- will now be paying Jonathan Broxton, probably their fourth-best reliever, $21 million over the next three years to pitch in potentially higher leverage situations than those Chapman will appear in. (To be fair to Broxton, he has a 3.52 ERA over the past three seasons, but R.J. Anderson tweeted to me that he added a cutter after joining the Reds late last season and that was his most effective strikeout pitch.)Frankly, however, if Chapman's heart isn't in starting, it doesn't say a lot about his intestinal fortitude and moving him back to the pen is probably the right move. Starting pitching is harder and more challenging, a challenge Chapman may not be 100 percent invested in. Starters make a lot more money because it's a more valuable role and great ones are harder to come by. As much Baker thinks Chapman is an indispensable weapon in the bullpen, it's simply not true. No reliever is going to get a $100 million contract like Felix Hernandez and Zack Greinke received this offseason.
“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
coachpipe (03-21-2013),redsfandan (03-21-2013)
"No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference." ~Tommy Lasorda
AtomicDumpling (03-21-2013),Eric_the_Red (03-21-2013),redsfandan (03-21-2013),Tom Servo (03-21-2013)
So would I, but do it for that reason, not because of the exaggeration that Leake is a soft-tosser, thereby can't become a very productive pitcher for the Reds. Heck, most would say 92-93 MPH fastball is not exactly a "soft-tosser" anyhow.
Kirk Saarloos, now there was a soft-tosser.
"No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference." ~Tommy Lasorda
Mark Sheldon:
Contrary to a report, the #reds (Baker and Jocketty) said there was no decision on Chapman, nor will there be any announcement today.
https://twitter.com/m_sheldon
redsfandan (03-21-2013)
When Chapman was starting in Louisville, 93 MPH was his LOW point in most games. He was 93-96. Even then, his slider, when he could avoid bouncing it, was a pretty good pitch. Is it as good when it won't be with a 100 MPH FB? Of course not. But that doesn't mean it isn't going to be a good pitch still.
redsfandan (03-21-2013)
I don't blame Dusty for this, he's been consistent in wanting Chapman in the pen. I disagree with that, but that's why God gave everyone opinions.
I do blame Walt. Every single report since time began, Walt has said that Chapman's future was in the rotation. Every move in the off season was a move towards that goal (and last season as well with the signing of Madson). Chapman has pitched well in his starts during the spring, everything is on course.
And now this.
I've said before, and I will say it now, for the record: if he isn't going to start, you have to trade him to a team that will either overpay for a closer or think they can convert him to the rotation.
Closers have short shelf lives. Get value now.
IF you have a closer that convertes 90% of his saves and another closer that converts 91% of his saves but with more k's and less runs allowed, ... what's the difference? Not much.
I haven't 'preferred' to ignore anything you've said. Have I questioned you in an aggressive fashion? Oh my! You really DO have a thin skin. I didn't realize that though. I'm so sorry. This IS the internet and I thought you understood that just as much as I do. This is one of those sports topics that CAN be heated. But, if you think, or want to make it personal, leave me a pm.
The fact that you've made it personal in this thread says volumes.
Last edited by redsfandan; 03-21-2013 at 01:07 PM.
Limiting one of the potentially best pitchers in the league to only 70 innings a season is an incredible waste.
And let's call a spade a spade: Leake pretty much sucks.
“I don’t care,” Votto said of passing his friend and former teammate. “He’s in the past. Bye-bye, Jay.”
Walt failed? He brought the Reds 2 playoff teams in 3 years, after going a decade without playoffs before his tenure. How can one fail when the answer hasn't even been resolved yet?
If I was GM, it would probably suck, because I don't have any experience running any organization, let alone a major league baseball franchise (much like everyone here).
But, I wouldn't suck for the reason you stated, because it is a misrepresentation of what I am arguing. I'm sugegsting the Reds make decisions based on all of the information available, not make decisions on arbitrary pre-defined hypotheses.
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