Well, I can think of ONE good thing to say: Taveras put up awesome numbers in GABP last year: .500/.600/.625 for an OPS of 1.225. Of course he only had 10 plate appearances....but if he can hit that well here in 2009....
Well, I can think of ONE good thing to say: Taveras put up awesome numbers in GABP last year: .500/.600/.625 for an OPS of 1.225. Of course he only had 10 plate appearances....but if he can hit that well here in 2009....
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"I think we’re starting to get to the point where people are starting to get tired of this stretch of ball,” Votto said. “I think something needs to start changing and start going in a different direction. I’m going to do my part to help make that change.”
You know it is a slow offseason when we are all getting bent out of shape over the Reds acquiring Willy Taveras. I hate to see it when Jocketty acquires that righthanded hitter for the middle of the lineup.
If you think small, you'll go nowhere in life.
"Reality tells us there are no guarantees. Except that some day Jon Lester will be on that list of 100-game winners." - Peter Gammons
If you think small, you'll go nowhere in life.
Basically we replaced David Ross and Ryan Freel with Ramon Hernandez and Willie Tavares.
Is that even a lateral move?
Do you get that this guy is going to have a net reduction on the team's RS/RA, or at the most no change at all? The Reds created 97 runs out of the leadoff spot last year. With a two year deal, and with what Walt has said in the Press Relase, this guy is going to leadoff in 09. If this guy gets 600-700 PA's, he going to create about 65-80 runs.
That's not going to help the team. That's going to be a net loss in RS, something the team is going to have problems doing anyway.
This team, even if it gets a "middle of the order RHB" type guy is going to have a real problem scoring 675 runs in 09.
If Walt winds up with JHJ out in LF, the team isn't going to score 650 runs.
It's because Lincoln is a middle reliever, destined to see 1 inning of work in roughly 30-40% of the games this coming year.
Willy Taveras, given Dusty's managerial tendencies and Jocketty's comments, as long as he's healthy, will start ballgame after ballgame for the Reds over the next two seasons. Given days off, about 150 games next season, 9 innings per game, 3 or 4 PAs per game.
Every game, you'll hear the Public Address announcer say "Leading off for the Reds, the center fielder WILLY TAVERAS!" And, roughly 70% of the time, the Reds will begin the game with nobody on, 1 out.
Cincinnati Reds: Farm System Champions 2022
Who had the better season? Who knows. The info you provided doesn't even come close to answering that question. If player 1 played gold glove caliber defense and player 2 was a statue out there, that would change things a bit. If player 1 scored 100 runs and player 2 only scored 10 runs. There are a ton of factors obviously. Now if you want to know which of the 2 I'd want based ONLY on those limited stats...I'd take #1 because he'd have the better odds of driving in runs by having more hits. But who knows with only that data.
Okay, I'll buy that they're not black holes AS OFTEN...but they're still black holes at times. And in regards to Taveras, I think he'll be more like he was in 2007, but if he's not...we still needed OF'ers, I don't want to rush the kids if they're not ready, and I don't see any options out there that are better in the FA market. At least none that'll be short term contracts for reasonable dollars.
Well, first off I have yet to see a "mountain" of statistics thrown at me. Secondly, I didn't say that walks are only less emotional. Walks fail to advance runners more than one base. Walks fail to force the defense to make a play. And walks don't generate managerial options. They're far from bad...but they're also far from being as good as a hit.
Yes, I do think we need to add more to be a winning team. Just not as much as some people here seem to think. I see an improved rotation, an improved bullpen, an improved defense over last season's starting team. I see young players with more MLB time under thier belts. And I see a young team coming together and jelling. If they start the season off well, I can see them gaining confidence VERY quickly. I think they'll be improved from last season, but still a year away from the playoffs. I don't see ANY moves out there THIS off-season that puts them in the playoffs for certain. But I can easily see us passing the Astros, Cards & Brewers for second place.
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!
Here is another thing. Taveras isn't going to suddenly develop power. He's moving to a park that suppresses doubles and triples. He'll need to hit .300+ AND increase his BB totals to career highs, 60+, in order for him to be even remotely effective. He needs to be something he's never been.
for 2 years.
Dubito Ergo Cogito Ergo Sum.
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