Originally Posted by
Will M
mth -
1. i know you wish Krisky had gone after some of these pitchers rather than
Stanton/Weathers/etc but the 2007 staff is clearly better than the staff Krisky inherited.
2. Honestly relief pitching and finding a 5th starter who can keep an ERA under 5.00 is often a crapshoot.
Geoff Geary, Brian Bruney, Mike Wuertz, Frank Francisco, Manny DelCarmen , Brad Salmon, Jon Coutlangus, Brain Shackelford, Calvin Medlock, David Shafer,
Wil Ledezma, Kevin Correia, Ryan Madson, Aaron Heilman, Carlos Marmol,
EZ, Belsile,Stanton,Weathers,Cormier,etc,etc,etc are all candidates for someone's 5th starter slot or middle relief.
3. The fact that Wayne didn't acquire Bailey is irrelevant in deciding whether or not the current Reds pitching staff is an improvement over the one Wayne inherited
4. I predict Lohse will have a very good year then get a big free agent contract ( hopefully not from the Reds ). The guy will magically get his act together then cash in for $30M plus. He will be worth the $6M the Reds will pay him this year. I really don't understand the hatred for Lohse on Redszone.
He will likely only be here for 2007.
5. " As for the RH 1B, WK passed on Josh Phelps, JR House, Jayson Werth and the more expensive options like Aubrey Huff and Craig Wilson. Chris Shelton is a guy who could be available in trade. All whom I would prefer to Conine. "
Votto is 1/2 season or less away.
I actually prefer Conine to all of your choices other than Wilson ( and Wilson who is a free agent has shown no interest in coming to the Reds or accepting a part time role ).
6. " No one is asking for the Reds to Trade Freel for Brandon Webb or Carlos Zambrano or to dump Milton and get Delmon Young back. But department store prices for well used stuff that you should be getting at goodwill not only is no more thrifty than spending big money on the questionable starting pitchers in this year's market, but it still leaves you with an unsettled situation even if these guys do ok temporarily for a year or so."
Actually I think Wayne did an ok job shopping in the Sax 5th Ave style free agent market this year. All the pitchers got 2 year deals and AG got 3 years.
Beats the you know what out of the Zito/Soriano/Suppan/etc contracts.
The only contracts i saw and said 'man i wish the Reds had got him' were Justin Speier and Jason Schmidt. Again, these guys were free to sign with any team and didn't want to play for the Reds.