Turn Off Ads?
Page 2 of 7 FirstFirst 123456 ... LastLast
Results 16 to 30 of 102

Thread: Who plays CF in 2014?

  1. #16
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    972

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    Yeah, I think the Reds brass knew it was unlikely to keep Choo after a year and expected Hamilton to be the replacement in 2014. The fact he hasn't developed into a MLB-ready player has left them in a quandry. They're not going to spend to get one, there's none ready in the pipeline, so it'll be BHam by default. If they go the stop-gap route they're in trouble.....if they want to remain playoff contenders.


  2. Turn Off Ads?
  3. #17
    rest in power, king Wonderful Monds's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    11,440

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    Quote Originally Posted by Old NDN View Post
    Yeah, I think the Reds brass knew it was unlikely to keep Choo after a year and expected Hamilton to be the replacement in 2014. The fact he hasn't developed into a MLB-ready player has left them in a quandry. They're not going to spend to get one, there's none ready in the pipeline, so it'll be BHam by default. If they go the stop-gap route they're in trouble.....if they want to remain playoff contenders.
    I still think Rasmus would be a good stopgap. Plus if you have to trade a good prospect for him and need to get more value out of him, he could be further resigned to be the LF after Billy is up for good.

  4. #18
    Moderator RedlegJake's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Saint Joseph, Mo
    Posts
    9,731

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    If BHam isn't deemed ready I expect them to go stop gap with a guy on a one year deal similar to Choo but much cheaper and much less satisfactory to RZ. A platoon guy with Heisey maybe and hoping BHam is ready by midway at least.

  5. #19
    Member mth123's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    31,861

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    I think the Reds need to consider CF a spot that they not only need a stopgap for a year, but maybe two or three until Ervin is ready. Hamilton may step-up, but his brand of weak offense supplemented by speed is usually a longer shot to pan out than a player who is based upon better hitting skills (getting on base and having extra base power). The "get somebody for a couple years and slide him to LF if Hamilton works out" strategy makes sense. If Hamilton doesn't work out, others (Y-Rod, Lutz, maybe one of the high A guys) might be ready to assume the role in LF in 2015 while the stopgap continues to man Center. They can always keep Ludwick for 2015 if he's still hitting. Invoking his option isn't really that pricey when you consider it saves the cost of the buy-out.

    Just don't know if they have the money to get a guy like that.
    All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!

  6. Likes:

    remdog (09-02-2013)

  7. #20
    Member mth123's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    31,861

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    Quote Originally Posted by RedlegJake View Post
    If BHam isn't deemed ready I expect them to go stop gap with a guy on a one year deal similar to Choo but much cheaper and much less satisfactory to RZ. A platoon guy with Heisey maybe and hoping BHam is ready by midway at least.
    I could see that as well. Dejesus or Will Venable might make sense as a platoon partner with Heisey.

    From the Right side, a guy like Chris Young might bring back visions of Stubbs. He'd cover defensively, provide some power and hit against LHP. GABP may bring him back to a mid-.700s OPS instead of the guy he's been in Oakland's cavern. He's not terrible if he's not real expensive, but at $7 or $8 Million per season like the last couple years, has been a bad deal. He's not bad against LHP, I just wouldn't go much over $3 Million for a season of him.
    All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!

  8. #21
    Moderator RedlegJake's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Saint Joseph, Mo
    Posts
    9,731

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    Quote Originally Posted by mth123 View Post
    I could see that as well. Dejesus or Will Venable might make sense as a platoon partner with Heisey.

    From the Right side, a guy like Chris Young might bring back visions of Stubbs. He'd cover defensively, provide some power and hit against LHP. GABP may bring him back to a mid-.700s OPS instead of the guy he's been in Oakland's cavern. He's not terrible if he's not real expensive, but at $7 or $8 Million per season like the last couple years, has been a bad deal. He's not bad against LHP, I just wouldn't go much over $3 Million for a season of him.
    That much more the scenario I expect if the Reds think they need a plan to ensure they are covered if BH isn't ready opening day.

  9. #22
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    1,094

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    I see them letting Choo walk but offering him a contract at a huge discount...I truly dont think they want him back. we have a few OF's in the minors who are really only 1-3 years away and Choo is going to demand a 5 year deal IMO.....Jay Bruce is here for the long haul so that leaves 2 OF spots to fill and we have Hamilton and Ervin that are knocking on the door....Choo would look great in our OF for one more year but that is not happening, he will get a 5 year deal....

    The only other option I can see if they sign Choo is to deal Jay Bruce after next year....not so sure that will happen but we have all seen wilder things happen in baseball. I really like what I see from Ervin....Winker is 3 years away and he is young and looks like he is figuring it out....Keeping Choo means Bruce goes in my opinion. As mad as Jay makes me sometimes, I like his production and I like the way he is learning to hit backside and stay off the curveball in the dirt.....Jay would be a hard pill for me to swallow if they dealt him in order to keep choo.....I would not hate it, but it would be tough......Jay brings alot to the table.

  10. #23
    Member 757690's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Venice
    Posts
    33,146

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    Quote Originally Posted by mth123 View Post
    I think the Reds need to consider CF a spot that they not only need a stopgap for a year, but maybe two or three until Ervin is ready. Hamilton may step-up, but his brand of weak offense supplemented by speed is usually a longer shot to pan out than a player who is based upon better hitting skills (getting on base and having extra base power). The "get somebody for a couple years and slide him to LF if Hamilton works out" strategy makes sense. If Hamilton doesn't work out, others (Y-Rod, Lutz, maybe one of the high A guys) might be ready to assume the role in LF in 2015 while the stopgap continues to man Center. They can always keep Ludwick for 2015 if he's still hitting. Invoking his option isn't really that pricey when you consider it saves the cost of the buy-out.

    Just don't know if they have the money to get a guy like that.
    Hamilton right now would be at least a league average CF defensively in the bigs, probably above average. Add in his value on the basepaths, and he doesn't have to do much offensively to be a league average CF overall. Last year, Stubbs, with a .610 OPS was still a 1 win player.

    This is why speed is actually more valuable than power. It helps you produce in other areas.

    Every MLB hitter needs to get on base at a solid rate to be a starter. If you can't, but you have power, all you add are a few homers every now and then. But if you can't get on base well enough to start, you at least provide value on defense and on the basepaths.

    Guys with nothing but power go to Japan. Guys with nothing but speed become valuable role players.

    I will add that power hitters who can get in base are usually more valuable than guys with speed who get on base.
    Hoping to change my username to 75769023

  11. Likes:

    Crumbley (09-01-2013),REDREAD (09-04-2013),Revering4Blue (09-01-2013)

  12. #24
    Member mth123's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    31,861

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    Quote Originally Posted by 757690 View Post
    Hamilton right now would be at least a league average CF defensively in the bigs, probably above average. Add in his value on the basepaths, and he doesn't have to do much offensively to be a league average CF overall. Last year, Stubbs, with a .610 OPS was still a 1 win player.

    This is why speed is actually more valuable than power. It helps you produce in other areas.

    Every MLB hitter needs to get on base at a solid rate to be a starter. If you can't, but you have power, all you add are a few homers every now and then. But if you can't get on base well enough to start, you at least provide value on defense and on the basepaths.

    Guys with nothing but power go to Japan. Guys with nothing but speed become valuable role players.

    I will add that power hitters who can get in base are usually more valuable than guys with speed who get on base.
    A 1 win player is a back-up player or potential minor leaguer (though I really don't care what the score of some screwed-up formula says) and Drew Stubbs hit 14 HR to help him to that .610 OPS. What will Hamilton do without any power at all? How does Hamilton's .308 AAA OBP project to be any kind of improvement over what Stubbs did? Seems like he'll be Stubbs without the occasional HR. Curtis Goodwin or Willy Taveras seem like likely comps at this point. Get excited all you want. To have any value at all, he needs to not only figure out how to keep the opposition from getting him out, but then on the rare occasion he does get on, he gives them another shot at him by trying to steal. Valuable base stealers in the history of the game are valuable because the get on base and have some pop. Those are still the primary skills.
    All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!

  13. #25
    Did we just become BFF's dubc47834's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Terre Haute, In
    Posts
    2,233

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    Quote Originally Posted by armybrat45103 View Post
    Hamilton will open in 2014. If he falters, we may see Ervin faster than we though.
    Everything I have heard says that BHam will not open up with the Reds. I personally don't think he is an everyday answer tho.

  14. #26
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Amarillo,Texas
    Posts
    4,406

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    Since Stubbs was brought up earlier in the thread, he's got a .678 OPS this year with Cleveland. I checked the Indians board and they think that's just fine for the #9 slot.I really expect him to do .670-.700 for the near future.

    Although-he will be entering his arbitration years soon. That had to be a calculation the Reds made when they made the trade. That-and his terrible year in 2012.

  15. #27
    I wear Elly colored glass WrongVerb's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Woodbridge, VA
    Posts
    18,035

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    Quote Originally Posted by 757690 View Post
    Hamilton right now would be at least a league average CF defensively in the bigs, probably above average. Add in his value on the basepaths, and he doesn't have to do much offensively to be a league average CF overall. Last year, Stubbs, with a .610 OPS was still a 1 win player.

    This is why speed is actually more valuable than power. It helps you produce in other areas.

    Every MLB hitter needs to get on base at a solid rate to be a starter. If you can't, but you have power, all you add are a few homers every now and then. But if you can't get on base well enough to start, you at least provide value on defense and on the basepaths.

    Guys with nothing but power go to Japan. Guys with nothing but speed become valuable role players.

    I will add that power hitters who can get in base are usually more valuable than guys with speed who get on base.
    Power isn't just about hitting home runs. If outfielders know you can't hit it over their heads, they're going to play way in, taking away even more of the field. Thus line drives that might have fallen in had the outfielder been playing normal depth become outs. BHam is going to have to show something in terms of power or he's going to have a very short major league career.
    Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. -- Carl Sagan (Pale Blue Dot)

  16. Likes:

    remdog (09-02-2013)

  17. #28
    Member 757690's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Venice
    Posts
    33,146

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    Quote Originally Posted by Dan View Post
    Power isn't just about hitting home runs. If outfielders know you can't hit it over their heads, they're going to play way in, taking away even more of the field. Thus line drives that might have fallen in had the outfielder been playing normal depth become outs. BHam is going to have to show something in terms of power or he's going to have a very short major league career.
    Good point. But Hamilton already and that power, especially from for right side. If you've ever seen him, he's not a slap hitter, he drives the ball. That actually is part of his problem. He's hitting too many fly balls, not enough ground balls. He has six HR's this year, btw.
    Hoping to change my username to 75769023

  18. #29
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Posts
    35,317

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    Quote Originally Posted by mth123 View Post
    I think the Reds need to consider CF a spot that they not only need a stopgap for a year, but maybe two or three until Ervin is ready. Hamilton may step-up, but his brand of weak offense supplemented by speed is usually a longer shot to pan out than a player who is based upon better hitting skills (getting on base and having extra base power).

    Just don't know if they have the money to get a guy like that.
    I think this analysis underrates Hamilton's ability considerably. He isn't just some no-hit player with good speed. This guys has a rare talent.

    And if you look at the Reds, they sorely need that talent. Team is painfully slow this season and it is the major cause of all these aggressive baserunning plays that fail.

    Hamilton will be the CF next year, if not out of the box, then as soon as he has a decent streak at AAA. The Reds will have another CFer, or will try Heisey there, but Hamilton is coming to Cincy. They aren't investing in a three year CFer in the market.

    At most, the Reds will get a guy (maybe Choo himself) slated for LF. More likely, just a one-year CFer who can share the position with Hamilton when BH is called up.

    As for the offense generally, the Reds will obviously have to make some other changes. 3B, SS, one catching spot, all are fair game for more offense.
    Last edited by Kc61; 09-01-2013 at 09:24 PM.

  19. Likes:

    Old school 1983 (09-02-2013),Redlegs Homer (09-04-2013),REDREAD (09-04-2013)

  20. #30
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    250

    Re: Who plays CF in 2014?

    Norichika Aoki is a CF forced to play RF in Milwaukee. Because Milwaukee already has maybe the best defensive CF in baseball, Aoki really doesn't fit well there. Trading within the division may be tougher, but I think Aoki is a good (and cheap) option that Milwaukee would move for a piece that better fits a need.


Turn Off Ads?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most importantly, enjoy yourselves!


RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball


Contact us: Boss | Gallen5862 | Plus Plus | Powel Crosley | RedlegJake | The Operator