Cory Patterson or Norris Hopper? Six of one a half dozen of the other.
I don't really like our choices here, Patterson can play defense and Hopper can bunt.
I wouldn't pay too much for eighther one.
How long is Jocketty going to evaluate before he does something realistic to improve the team? Has he already decided this season is shot? So that he is just going to play the cards that was dealt, while the losing continues?
Exactly. Unless you are willing to see Bruce, Volquez, Cueto, Votto or the likes leave the team, it is nearly impossible to get this this team anywhere close to where it needs to be mid-season.
Walt is on the clock starting at the deadline to start to take this team in a direction.
Good post, Stormy, and I'll follow that up with something that will make us both sick.
This offense is on pace to score 686 runs ... for the entire season. They're on pace to lose 97 runs of offense this season, a drop of a whopping 12.4 percent from last season.
To use the vernacular of my generation: this offense simply blows.
The Lost Decade Average Season: 74-88
2014-22 Average Season: 71-91
Dickerson is likely to be worse than Patterson. Totally overmatched, just like Janish.. That doesn't mean that Patterson is good, but at least Patterson has a small chance to hit. Dickerson and Janish have virtually no chance to hit.
There is really no internal options at this time to replace Patterson. The Reds are going to have to pick up an OF or two for next year, but they are in a sticky spot. Let's say they pick up a starting caliber OF, with the intention of starting him next year.. Unless Jr or Dunn is sent away, there's no where to play him unless you send Bruce to the bench or AAA. I know some will say to bench Jr, but that's just not going to happen.
[Phil ] Castellini celebrated the team's farm system and noted the team had promising prospects who would one day be great Reds -- and then joke then they'd be ex-Reds, saying "of course we're going to lose them". #SellTheTeamBob
Nov. 13, 2007: One of the greatest days in Reds history: John Allen gets the boot!
"Enjoy this Reds fans, you are watching a legend grow up before your very eyes" ... DoogMinAmo on Adam Dunn
Janish is worse than Patterson, Dusty is trying to score some runs. That's why Harrsion is at SS.
Not to mention, Janish is pretty much the only backup infielder on the roster. It's kind of nice to have someone that can play infield on the bench.. If the bench is basically just Patterson and Hopper (no infielders), that kind of limits double switches.
It pretty much is an emergency now. That's why Valentine has been pressed into playing 3b. If EdE was healthy, things would be different ..
[Phil ] Castellini celebrated the team's farm system and noted the team had promising prospects who would one day be great Reds -- and then joke then they'd be ex-Reds, saying "of course we're going to lose them". #SellTheTeamBob
Nov. 13, 2007: One of the greatest days in Reds history: John Allen gets the boot!
The trade market really doesn't heat up until mid-July. Look at historical transactions. It's pretty quite until then.
Has Dunn's no trade clause expired yet? I forget the date it expires, but that might be holding up action too.
Walt did what he could with internal options.. He sent down Patterson until injuries forced Patterson's recall. He brought up Bruce. He brought up Bray (I think that was Walt).. I mean, there's nothing left to shuffle.
I think you will see the big changes in the offseason. Or at least I hope so. It's kind of tough to make moves now. We're pretty much stuck with Wayne's poorly designed roster at this point.
[Phil ] Castellini celebrated the team's farm system and noted the team had promising prospects who would one day be great Reds -- and then joke then they'd be ex-Reds, saying "of course we're going to lose them". #SellTheTeamBob
Nov. 13, 2007: One of the greatest days in Reds history: John Allen gets the boot!
I too am feeling utterly frustrated but I am not going to point fingers in Walt's direction yet. He didn't create this mess of an offense. I don't expect him to change things at the non-trading part part of the season. There are a bunch of bad teams (7 or 8 worse than the Reds, and and a half dozen more barely better off). How many are making trades right now? Jocketty didn't create the Cardinal teams that competed for titles in a couple of months after arriving. It won't happen here, either. I sure as heck don't want him blowing holes in what the Reds DO have just to patch a leak or two in a knee-jerk reactive manner.
Walt's been handed some insurmountable (short-term) problems:
An Arroyo contract that is looking really horrible as Bronson struggles
Aaron Harang suddenly suffering mechanical problems and pitching poorly
The 2/5ths of the starters that were supposed to be solid
A 5th starter spot that is down to a 22 y/o kid that is going to have struggles
A 4th starter spot held by a 22 y/o kid who is terrific but still learning on the job
A relief corps that is quickly becoming overwhelmed by the innings they have to work yet holding together pretty well given their usage and workload
Two catchers (I'm not even calling Javy a catcher), Ross who can't hit or field and Bako who can't hit and is adequate defensively but not better than average
A rookie first baseman who hits very well but is learning on the job defensively and may not even be the first baseman of the future. His real spot may well be left field and he'll have to re-learn all over again before long
A second baseman who should be the shortstop, who kills lefties but can't hit squat against righties and hits 3rd or 4th regardless of who pitches
A shortstop with no range, who'd be better off at second, who hits well but has been on the DL a chunk of the year. A well paid veteran SS who sits on the DL. A kid SS who can't hit a lick with a pretty good glove. 2 veteran utility guys who should never be near the SS spot who have been on the DL, both hitting better than their career tells you will continue. In summation - shortstop is a hole. Sometimes the glove. Sometimes the bat. Sometimes both.
A Rfer who has aged faster than expected and it shows. A rookie RFer who plays center sometimes, RF sometimes and is learning on the job at the plate and in the field.
Bruce will be great but he isn't carrying the team this season. Play out the string with Junior? Try to move him somewhere he wants to go? And finding someone willing to take him given his contract and declining skills.
Hairston, Patterson, Hopper. Blech. Walt's choices in center are underwhelming. Sure, once the Reds are back in the NL and away from DH, Junior is in right and Bruce in center but that is another stopgap alinement with yet another player in a position he's not best suited for.
Dunn having an off year. The power and walks are there but Dunner is struggling with contact again. Why wouldn't he? With this lineup he's getting zip to swing at really. And he's another defender worse than average.
EE at third flashing bat and leather in between cold spells and error streaks. He is still young and may settle down to become terrific as he gets a bit older but not this yera, not to this date anyway.
Plus the left-right imbalance. Lower than average OBP as a team. Low BA as a team meaning fewer strung together hits to go with the walks, one thing this team does well. A lower than is efficient stolen base pct as a team. A weak, weak bench.
Bad defense. Shaky rotation. Overworked and quality thin pen. Low OBP contact challenged imbalanced lineup. Dumb baserunning.
Corey Patterson is a sympton. He's the snot in a bad chest cold. Blowing this nose won't relieve the underlying illness. In fact, the wrong moves made rashly could turn this "cold" into full blown pneumonia. This season is now gone - let Walt move judiciously making deals that work for next season. Moves that may or may not help this year. Get some more kids moved along. A bunch of these guys are in their last year and if WJ can find homes for a couple more like Ross and Freel he should have the room to re-create this team but it ain't gonna happen NOW no matter how frustrated we are or how much we wish there was a magic pill that could suddenly turn into a RH slugger who'd make all our frustrations go away. There isn't one. Face it. As constructed this is a bad team with too many holes and glaring weaknesses and player compromises. If Walt Jocketty turns this mess around quickly then he really does deserve to be called a genius. Without the sarcasm.
Cincinnati Reds Splits - 2008
Basically the same players with an increase of Votto and Bruce. The team has had a lot of one run and two run games.Code:Last 7 Days .223 .283 .332 .614 April .261 .331 .428 .760 May .263 .339 .417 .755 June .211 .296 .347 .643
A vote of no confidence for the manager and coaches.
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