This is what is so uber-frustrating to me. Moves that seem so simple that this front office repeatedly screws up. There is no way that Taveras should have ever been signed. There is no way that Darnell McDonald should have ever made the major league roster. And definitley no way he should stay on the roster for 40 games. And despite all of this, somehow the Reds are 1.5 games back!
Willy's legs are his game. His entire game. If he can't leg out the occasional infield single and steal a bag or two a series, he is not helping this team.
My prediction: Dusty gives him this weekend or so to show he can do those things. If he can't, he goes on the DL (sore hammy) to make room for Votto's triumphant return.
I have a love-hate relationship with Albert Pujols. Mostly hate.
Taveras clearly is experiencing leg or hammy related problems. Just looked and he doesn't have a steal since May 22nd, in his last 10 games played. He also missed a number of games in that time span, and has one caught stealing.
Without speed and stolen bases, Willy T. has no area of superiority over Dickerson at all.
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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.”
At this point, I really can't see what Taveras brings to this club.
As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.
Right now Willy would have tough time winning a poll asking "Willy or Roseanne Barr in CF?" and that's with the caveat that Roseanne would also be singing the national anthem.
"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
I have a conspiracy theory about the Taveras signing.
Just a hunch, but I think that Dusty went to Walt and said I want Taveras. He's a leadoff hitter in CF. A speedy guy who plays solid defense. My dream guy.
Walt said okay, knowing that the Reds probably were not going to contend, and this way he can say to Dusty at the end of the year, we tried it your way, it didn't work, now let's try it the right way.
He knew that either Dickerson or Stubbs would be ready by the end of this year or next year, so Taveras would just be a $6M stopgap until then. And a fifth outfielder for $6M for two years is not that outrageous, and something the Reds could afford.
And maybe, just maybe, Taveras has a year more like 2007 than 2008.
And now that Taveras is more like 08 than 07, and the Reds are contending, I think that Walt will give Dusty to the All-Star break with Taveras. If he doesn't turn it around, at the very least, Dickerson will platoon with him in CF.
Just a hunch. Maybe wishful thinking?
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." -- Albert Einstein
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