Ludwick out until at least mid-August

[NeilHamburger]

I know there were some hopeful of a return by Ryan around the All Star break. Looks like that isn't going to happen.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs...T04/305250131/

My guess is he doesn't play this year, but we'll see. Paul has been good out there, but left field is certainly a position I could see Walt improving.

[Degenerate39]

My biggest worry is that Baker moves Phillips out of the clean up spot when Ludwick comes back. I think Robinson and company are doing a fine job in LF anyway

[Tony Cloninger]

I never counted on him coming back or even being much help if he did.
Like Yankee fans who are frothing at the mouth when Jeter and Alex come back and how much better they will be ..... I mean these are tough injuries which sap your ability to hit and or field very well. They are not wind up toys who just put up the same numbers after an injury... especially the ones they are dealing with. Kemp is a good example. His shoulder injury has sapped his power and he is trying to rebuild his strength while trying to play and hit.

[Krawhitham]

My biggest worry is that Baker moves Phillips out of the clean up spot when Ludwick comes back. I think Robinson and company are doing a fine job in LF anyway

NO

LF'ers on the reds this season

.233 AVG
.317 OBP
.328 SLG
.645 OPS

[Vottomatic]

NO

LF'ers on the reds this season

.233 AVG
.317 OBP
.328 SLG
.645 OPS

Paul is.....

.259 AVG
.381 OBP
.383 SLG
.764 OPS

He's been the best of the group.

Definitely need an upgrade over Lutz/Robinson.

[Big Klu]

Paul is.....

.259 AVG
.381 OBP
.383 SLG
.764 OPS

He's been the best of the group.

Definitely need an upgrade over Lutz/Robinson.

There's your #2 hitter (at least in the short term). The Reds just need a RH hitter to platoon with him in LF.

[757690]

NO

LF'ers on the reds this season

.233 AVG
.317 OBP
.328 SLG
.645 OPS

Take out Heisey, who hopefully won't be starting much whenever he gets healthy, and those numbers are much better.

[Red in Atl]

This whole Ludwick thing has stunk from the beginning. Overall, Walt is great. But sometimes his love for certain guys can cloud the big picture. I am not nor have I ever been a fan of Ryan. To me he is the epitome of what is wrong with baseball. Makes too much money for what he is.

Now the Reds are strapped with him this year and next. He will add nothing to the team this year. All based on an inability to slide from a veteran player? Yes things happen. But when you are a small market club you have to reduce as many "things" as possible to be able to compete with the big boys.

If we are going to make it to the next round of the playoffs, we need a #2 hitter/LF'er. BP deserves to stay in the 4 hole. Stats show it his best place in the lineup. And he delivers.

So let's hope Walt can correct his "mistake" of signing RL for two years and find a guy who can fill this glaring whole when playoff time comes around.

[traderumor]

This whole Ludwick thing has stunk from the beginning. Overall, Walt is great. But sometimes his love for certain guys can cloud the big picture. I am not nor have I ever been a fan of Ryan. To me he is the epitome of what is wrong with baseball. Makes too much money for what he is.

Now the Reds are strapped with him this year and next. He will add nothing to the team this year. All based on an inability to slide from a veteran player? Yes things happen. But when you are a small market club you have to reduce as many "things" as possible to be able to compete with the big boys.

If we are going to make it to the next round of the playoffs, we need a #2 hitter/LF'er. BP deserves to stay in the 4 hole. Stats show it his best place in the lineup. And he delivers.

So let's hope Walt can correct his "mistake" of signing RL for two years and find a guy who can fill this glaring whole when playoff time comes around.

I guess Walt was a bozo for signing Votto to his big lt contract since he wrenched his knee sliding. Getting injured playing the game has nothing to do with experience.

[Red in Atl]

I guess Walt was a bozo for signing Votto to his big lt contract since he wrenched his knee sliding. Getting injured playing the game has nothing to do with experience.

You must not have watched the replay of his slide. If you can't do it, don't slide headfirst.

And why bring up the Votto signing? Has nothing to do with that.

My point was that Walt really wanted to sign RL, so he did even though it cost us $10 million for two years. I don't think it was money well spent.

Explain to me how it was? About as good as the Madson signing. Personally I'd just stay away from Ryan's altogether.

Yes it's bad luck, guys get hurt, etc. All I'm saying is once again a small market team must spend wisely. Signing overvalued players because they have been in the league and had some success is a risk. Walt should have let RL go and found another solution. Now he will have to.

[dougdirt]

You must not have watched the replay of his slide. If you can't do it, don't slide headfirst.

And why bring up the Votto signing? Has nothing to do with that.

My point was that Walt really wanted to sign RL, so he did even though it cost us $10 million for two years. I don't think it was money well spent.

Explain to me how it was?

$10M is nothing on the free agent market. Absolutely nothing. Ryan Ludwick was coming off of a season where he had an OPS over .875. On a production basis, Ludwick was underpaid for the contract he signed.

[Red in Atl]

$10M is nothing on the free agent market. Absolutely nothing. Ryan Ludwick was coming off of a season where he had an OPS over .875. On a production basis, Ludwick was underpaid for the contract he signed.

I of course hope you are right.

I just remember a few days in the past where we didn't do what needed to be done over a few mill.

[Falcon7]

I guess Walt was a bozo for signing Votto to his big lt contract since he wrenched his knee sliding. Getting injured playing the game has nothing to do with experience.

This is only the 2nd year of that 12 year $250 million contract.
You really think he will beat father time and and still be a great hitter the last 6 years of his contract?

[NebraskaRed]

This is only the 2nd year of that 12 year $250 million contract.
You really think he will beat father time and and still be a great hitter the last 6 years of his contract?

Depends on your definition of "great".

Of course his numbers will decline the last few years of his contract, but why would you think he wouldn't still be a great hitter?

[SpiritofStLouis]

This is only the 2nd year of that 12 year $250 million contract.
You really think he will beat father time and and still be a great hitter the last 6 years of his contract?

Votto's contract is a pair of cement shoes. Starting in 2018, when Votto will be 34, the Reds owe him 25 million per, for 6 years. Then an option year.

Good luck with that.