Some interesting views from impartial observers. I think they're dead-on on a lot of things, particularly in who deserves credit for the current bright spots on the team. (my friend's e-mail pops up as the first question...big Baseball America fan)
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/media/podcasts/ (the 4-25 podcast)
Love the line "...but the Cardinals DO more with their tradition." Also love the comparison between pitchers in the Reds' farm system circa 2004 and the drummer from Spinal Tap
There is no such thing as a pitching prospect.
"The Reds are in the best shape they've been in in a decade." Basically this is true... maybe 8 years, rather than a decade, but basically true.
Stick to your guns.
Interesting point made by John Manuel. The Reds' media reach has dwindled, perhaps, because WLW is "lunatic fringe radio."
J.J. Cooper - There was a time where being a Reds pitching prospect was being like the drummer in Spinal Tap.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
Candor galore here...
"Wayne Krivsky didn't do anything where he deserved to be fired."
"Walt Jocketty becoming available in St. Louis is what got him fired."
Rationale for The Trade... "If we get Kearns away from Adam Dunn, maybe Dunn does better?"
Hamilton for Volquez "was a win-win."
/r/reds
The thing that bothered me at the time and still does is this: could we have gotten Volquez for Dunn?Originally Posted by Unassisted
.
Very doubtful. 1 year of a slugger making big bucks, or 5 potential years of a better all around hitter with good defense to boot for chump change.
Every time Cueto takes the mound, I think a little less of the "great" development team assembled under Krivsky.
Honestly, how many times are we going to hear how good a shape this team's farm system is? It's this overarching narrative that connects every era of the last 10 years: the MLB product is dogcrap, but boy their farm is making great strides.
outside of Bruce there likely isn't a major league quality starting OF in the system ... and the Reds need to replace 3 of them next season.
Yes, I kind of agree. I definitely understand the thinking behind putting the pieces together carefully and step by step by rebuilding the farm system into something that produces long-lasting success -- that's the ideal -- but the real goal is to win at the major-league level, not to be able to point to some almost intangible farm system quality.
Don Drysdale told a funny story about when his playing days were done and he was an adviser for the organization, sitting in a room with some of the scouts and execs going over the players' development, and he had to come out and say something to the effect of, "Man, we're going to win 120 games in a couple years ... everyone of these players is going to be an all-star according to you guys."
Disagree big time. Danny Dorn has a chance to be ready next year when he comes off the DL (cut his leg in a game in the 3rd week of April, needed 19 stitches). While I am not saying these guys can be the type you are talking about, Shaun Cumberland and Sean Henry are making AA look awful easy right now. Down the line still, Drew Stubbs is surely showing he has the makings to be a quality CF. He won't start in Cincinnati out of the gate next year, but he certainly looks to be good at this point.
which is why organizational depth is so important ... because you never really know. The Reds are decidedly lacking in depth.
and also has a chance to amount to nothing. At this point if you are going to count on him for something you better well have a Plan B ready to go at a moments notice(same goes for Stubbs).
These guys may turn out to be something useful but it is every bit as likely that they don't so you better have options and right now the Reds have none.
Wasn't long ago that guy named Corey Patterson was the next best thing since sliced bread(far better prospect than either Dorn or Stubbs) and we know how that turned out.
Last edited by flyer85; 05-01-2008 at 12:48 PM.
No chance whatsoever.
Go Gators!
I'm not sure I agree with that, although it depends on what you mean by "depth." If we're talking star quality, then yeah. As the current batch of grade-A prospects hits the beach, there's not another wave of A prospects behind them. But it's not like our competitors have multiple waves of A prospects coming either, and our depth in B/C prospects is very good, according to John Sickels among others. Those guys probably won't be stars but they're the useful players who keep a team from having to pay over-market for average production. And they serve as trading chips, which will make Jocketty happy, since trades were his specialty in St. Louis.
Reading comprehension is not just an ability, it's a choice
Todd Frazier is another guy who could eventually be a left fielder if Edwin pans out at third base. He's got the bat to play just about anywhere.
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