The Reds actually led MLB in something. Check it out.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index...010-team-data/
The difference between the team with the most negative WAR, the Mariners, and the least, the Reds, is over six WAR. It is very tough for teams to make up for that lack in talent in some players by others on a team and still be successful. The Rangers though were able to overcome the most negative WAR of any playoff team and make it to the World Series.
The 2010 team had a very good bench. Some of this was caused by lightning in a bottle. Yes I am looking at you Mr Cairo. There is no guarantee that Walt will be able to replace guys like Nix & Cairo. Even if he paid a couple of million bucks for two bench guys they could still fall flat on their faces. To find a couple great bench guys for the league minimum in 2010 was pretty sweet.
It seems that building a bench is a bit unpredictable. Kinda like middle relief.
One thing that helps is to have some guys at AAA who might help out. For example, lets say Walt brings back Cairo or someone similar & they fail. Maybe he then calls up Valaika or Frazier and they do well. If however Walt relies on one of the AAA guys to perform & they fail then the team has no fallback option.
I would try to find a few guys to invite to spring training on minor league deals. Its how we found Hairston in 2008, Nix in 2009 & Cairo in 2010.
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This reminds me of posters who repeated over and over again how much production could be gained through simply not employing or giving playing time to sub-replacement players. 2010 Reds were a tribute to that.
I'd like to see that list if you added a small playing time filter on it, say 20 ip or 100 PA. Which teams really shot themselves in the foot?
Games are won on run differential -- scoring more than your opponent. Runs are runs, scored or prevented they all count the same. Worry about scoring more and allowing fewer, not which positions contribute to which side of the equation or how "consistent" you are at your current level of performance.
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