Turn Off Ads?
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 27

Thread: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

  1. #1
    Member WVRedsFan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2000
    Location
    Rainelle, WV
    Posts
    10,527

    Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    After another game where the Reds once again dropped below .500, I began to ponder the difference in the 2010 Central Division Champion Reds and the 2011 version, and thought I'd give my thoughts who according to one poster is too ignorant to post on a public board. It's my opinon only, but my therapy after watching the season unfold.

    Let it be said that the season is still out there for the teking, but it's the chemistry that concerns me. In 2010, the chemistry was the perfect storm. Votto was having that kind of season, Phillips was being streaky, but solid in every phase of the game. Orlando Cabrerra was the "winner" who was a solid clubhouse guy and came up with timely hits, even if his defense was suspect at short. Rolen was rocking and the outfield had a hot Gomes in the early season, a developing Stubbs and the emerging superstar Jay Bruce in right. The catching tandem of Hernandez and Hannigan were solid. The starting staff was the envy of baseball with future stud Edinson Volqueez, Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, and Travis Wood. What could go wrong? Plenty

    The Reds dropped OCab and added Fred Lewis, Edgar Renteria, and depended on Paul Janish to be the shortsop with Gomes in left for most games. The chemistry didn't and hasn't worked. Of course, no moves were made with the club being where they wanted to be, according to GM Jocketty.

    Chemistry is a strange thing in sports. For some odd reason, the spark just isn't there. Maybe it was OCab. The winner moved on to Cleveland (and we know their story), and was replaced with two guys who apparently cannot hit and though the fielding is supposedly subperb, there are still multiple errors to contend with. The league has figured out Votto--walk him or give him nothing to hit. Rolen, with injuries and all, is a mere shadow of his 2010 self. Gomes reverted back to the reason he was released long ago. Stubbs is still the strikeout machine and Bruce, outside of a great start, is not Superman except for the month of June. And the pitchers...

    Volquez, regardless of his TJ surgery is simply shown himself to be a thrower. Arroyo has been sick and not himself. Likewise Homer Bailey. Wood just didn't have it. Only Johnny Cueto has proven to have "it." Wood crashed and burned and Mike Leake emerged as a solid starter while the relievers, while good, had a disheartening setback with The Cuban Missile proving to be human and Masset's early season struggles. The Reds miss Arthur Rhodes a lot.

    The lack of moves to obtain a banger for left (Heisey has too many holes to fill that slot), a No. 2 starter, and a solid shortstop have left he club as a .500 team. And no chemistry. Losing 19 one-run games is proof of this.

    Depending on young talent is understandable. Money is the problem. Yes, they could have (and maybe will have) gone after players like the Brewers did or the Cardinals did. And yet, we've seen clubs have a great team on paper only to fail, but to stand pat was stupid. Depending on Janish to be your Volquez as your top starter was foolish. And expecting Gomes to duplicate 2010 was optimistic at best. And so, here we are. Our biggest hopes are Cozart at short ( a wonderful kid who I hope does well) and D. Willis ( a retread at best) to save the season. It is a long shot at best. We saw it in the Cardinal series. Chemistry. The Reds don't have it. I love the Reds and watch every game, but it seems an exercise in futility. This is not the team I saw last year. And it's so sad. At my age. I thought we were going to do something this year, and yet, we lose game after game with a poor pitching performance, a lack of runs, and really inept play.

    I plea is that Walt Jocketty and whoever else is in charge does something beyond calling up prospects so that the Reds have a chance. With the personnel we now have, it aint't gonna happen. Peace, friends (and regardless of how you feel about my opinions) I consider these all of you that and more after 12-15 years, let's hope something is done.
    www.ris-news.com
    "You only have to bat a thousand in two things; flying and heart transplants. Everything else you can go 4-for-5."
    -Beano Cook


  2. Turn Off Ads?
  3. #2
    KungFu Fighter AtomicDumpling's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Hamilton, OH
    Posts
    3,038

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    Good summary there WVRedsFan. Thanks for your thoughts.

    Pretty poor results from the players and the management so far. Hopefully the second half is better than the first half!

  4. #3
    KungFu Fighter AtomicDumpling's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Hamilton, OH
    Posts
    3,038

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    Good summary there WVRedsFan. Thanks for your thoughts.

    Pretty poor results from the players and the management so far. Hopefully the second half is better than the first half!

  5. #4
    Redsmetz redsmetz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Winton Place
    Posts
    12,908

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    WV, I had to go back & read what I wrote after the final game in St. Louis. I'm afraid that you're referring to my comments when you said one poster suggested you're too stupid to post on a board. My comment about us being nuts here on RZ was intended to be a blanket indictment of the board collectively & not of you individually. So if it was my comment that gave you the above impression, please accept my apology. It wasn't my intention.

    Regarding your views on this season, there is no question that whatever magic last year's team had that carried it to the division title, it's nowhere to be found this year. Last year, I fully expected that the team could overcome nearly any obstacle ("leap tall buildings in a single bound" and all that jazz). This year, not in the least. Chemistry or whatever, we're missing opportunity after opportunity to win close games.

    As for moves, I just don't think it's as simple as many of us here believe. Yes, other teams made moves, the Brewers the prime example, so we know it can be done, but for whatever reason, the Reds didn't. You mentioned the Cardinals, but I think most people dismissed their's as poor moves that would not succeed, and then with the injuries they experienced, many believed it was all but certain that they'd fall flat on their faces. Not sure why we think that with that organization because they always seem to find a way to win games.

    As for us, I wonder at times if, with the plethora of blocked talent we have, if part of the problem of making trades to upgrade us is that other clubs may be asking for too high a price. I think of when Bedard was on the market before going to Seattle. The rumors where they wanted huge pieces of our future back then & I'm thankful we never pulled the trigger on such a move. Even in trade proposals here, too often we see the "back the truck up" mentality for one or two pieces exchanged for five of our top chips. I don't question that we've got some surpluses to deal from, but getting a trade to come to fruition isn't as simple as it's portrayed around here.

    I don't know what the solution is. The default mindset here on RZ seems to be an assumption that players never improve, or for that matter, can never break free of what production they're fated to produce. Returning to the mean and all or however it's put. And what we've seen is a club who has hovered around .500 for most of this season. And because RZ's default mode is pessimism, it gives folks the opportunity to say it proves that point. My point on your comment "See y'll in April" was meant to counter that general line of thinking. For as poorly as we've played, for as unlucky as we've been, for lacking timely and productive hitting or finding consistent quality pitching, we're fortunate to only be 3 games out. Now, given how we've played, I'm not sure there is reason to hope that will change. And for whatever gamemanship management has tried to put forward (e.g. "we're fine with our shortstop situation"), it doesn't gain you anything when it's apparent to one & all that said situation is anything but fine. I don't want them acting in panic mode, but it's clear that whatever is missing is having an impact. It's a wonder we're that close, but it's too early, despite all of the understandable frustration with our play, to throw in the towel. We may well ultimately fail to succeed this season. I can't count on any of our division foes to waiver (and that includes the Pirates). I hope we turn it around, I really do, but I don't have the confidence I had last year. I suspect we're not done making moves, although I can't say with any certainty there either that they'll manage to do that either.

    Now I've rambled & I'm not sure I've said anything myself. I just don't believe throwing in the towel is correct right now. Too much of the season remains. If nothing else, if it was my comment that prompted this post, I hope you will accept the above apology.
    “In the same way that a baseball season never really begins, it never really ends either.” - Lonnie Wheeler, "Bleachers, A Summer in Wrigley Field"

    The Baseball Emporium - Books & Things.

    The Baseball Bookstore

    http://tsc-sales.com/
    http://tscsales.blogspot.com/
    http://silverscreenbooks.com/

  6. #5
    Goober GAC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Bellefontaine, Ohio
    Posts
    29,989

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    Very heartfelt summary there WV.

    And what qualifies one to be the board idiot? I just want to know where to send my resume. LOL
    "In my day you had musicians who experimented with drugs. Now it's druggies experimenting with music" - Alfred G Clark (circa 1972)

  7. #6
    Member GADawg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2000
    Location
    Athens, Georgia
    Posts
    2,282

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    calling yourself the board idiot is really a slap in the face to many here who have put in tons of effort to gain that title....you can't just steal a guys thunder like that!

  8. #7
    Member Redhook's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Denver
    Posts
    2,547

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    I agree WV. This team doesn't have it and it's sad. I had high expectations this year, the first time in 10 years. The frustrating part is they're so close to being good yet management doesn't seem to care. Example #1 is taking well over a month to make a change at SS. I'm still upset it took so long for a change at SS, but I am happy for Zach and I'm happy that Walt finally woke up from his season-long slumber.
    "....the two players I liked watching the most were Barry Larkin and Eric Davis. I was suitably entertained by their effortless skill that I didn't need them crashing into walls like a squirrel on a coke binge." - dsmith421

  9. #8
    Red's fan mbgrayson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    2,303

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    WV, I share your frustration at the 2011 Reds so far.

    And yet, despite everything, the Reds will wake up today only three games back in the standings, with 73 games yet to be played. They need to go on a tear, and start playing the kind of baseball they are capable of.

    Although the chemistry and 'come from behind magic' apppears to be missing, this kind of thing can turn around. Somehow, they just need a spark. Wins begat more wins....

    Isn't it weird to think that if the Reds had won any three of the 45 games they have lost, that they would be tied for first? It won't be easy, especially with three other contenders, but at least we still have a chance. We have to keep in mind that the Cards, Brewers, and Pirates play each other a bunch of times in these last few months. All of those teams also have major flaws, and we shouldn't give up just yet.

    Cheers!
    __________________
    "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.”

  10. #9
    Danger is my business! oneupper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    8,257

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    The signs of this slow-lapse have been showing for months. The feeling was that the team was "a hot streak away" from contention or even the division lead. Hence the inaction by the front office. A misjudgement, since they got away with inaction in 2010.
    (IMO, Harang's injury saved the 2010 team).

    I pretty much conceded the season six weeks ago.

    http://www.redszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89484

    My hopes were high for this season, but my expectations low. Still, it's frustrating to see those close ones go the other way, knowing that one bounce, one dribbler, one pitch called correctly, one game decision could have easily made things different.

    Plenty of season left? Not really. 73 left to play and assuming the division can be won with 88 victories (an optimistic assumption), the REDS would need to go 44-29, a .600 pace. Sure, they're only 3 out, but with 3 teams ahead, that distance is misleading. Not all teams are going to collapse, especially since they all play each other a lot.

    They say "la esperanza es lo último que se pierde" (ask Miguel Cairo to translate). So play the games, play hard, play to win and we'll support the team. The odds aren't great, but hey, you never know.
    "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it."

    http://dalmady.blogspot.com

  11. #10
    Member kbrake's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    2,908

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    I think the biggest difference has been luck. The breaks they got last year are no where to be found. The Damon bloop hit off Bray never falls in last year, this year it not only drops but kicks so far off Heisey's glove that the run to tie and the go ahead run come around to score. I feel like that play has summed up the season to this point. Last night with a great chance to come back Bruce smokes a ball so hard that Fielder can't handle it but it perfectly bounces to Weeks. The way it has happened all season. I think you have a bunch of teams with similar talent levels luck goes a long way and the Reds have yet to have it on their side.

  12. #11
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2001
    Posts
    10,079

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    When I saw the title about a Rambling post from the Board idiot...I thought....was I that drunk that I don't remember starting a thread last night?

  13. #12
    Member WVRedsFan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2000
    Location
    Rainelle, WV
    Posts
    10,527

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    Quote Originally Posted by redsmetz View Post
    WV, I had to go back & read what I wrote after the final game in St. Louis. I'm afraid that you're referring to my comments when you said one poster suggested you're too stupid to post on a board. My comment about us being nuts here on RZ was intended to be a blanket indictment of the board collectively & not of you individually. So if it was my comment that gave you the above impression, please accept my apology. It wasn't my intention.

    Regarding your views on this season, there is no question that whatever magic last year's team had that carried it to the division title, it's nowhere to be found this year. Last year, I fully expected that the team could overcome nearly any obstacle ("leap tall buildings in a single bound" and all that jazz). This year, not in the least. Chemistry or whatever, we're missing opportunity after opportunity to win close games.

    As for moves, I just don't think it's as simple as many of us here believe. Yes, other teams made moves, the Brewers the prime example, so we know it can be done, but for whatever reason, the Reds didn't. You mentioned the Cardinals, but I think most people dismissed their's as poor moves that would not succeed, and then with the injuries they experienced, many believed it was all but certain that they'd fall flat on their faces. Not sure why we think that with that organization because they always seem to find a way to win games.

    As for us, I wonder at times if, with the plethora of blocked talent we have, if part of the problem of making trades to upgrade us is that other clubs may be asking for too high a price. I think of when Bedard was on the market before going to Seattle. The rumors where they wanted huge pieces of our future back then & I'm thankful we never pulled the trigger on such a move. Even in trade proposals here, too often we see the "back the truck up" mentality for one or two pieces exchanged for five of our top chips. I don't question that we've got some surpluses to deal from, but getting a trade to come to fruition isn't as simple as it's portrayed around here.

    I don't know what the solution is. The default mindset here on RZ seems to be an assumption that players never improve, or for that matter, can never break free of what production they're fated to produce. Returning to the mean and all or however it's put. And what we've seen is a club who has hovered around .500 for most of this season. And because RZ's default mode is pessimism, it gives folks the opportunity to say it proves that point. My point on your comment "See y'll in April" was meant to counter that general line of thinking. For as poorly as we've played, for as unlucky as we've been, for lacking timely and productive hitting or finding consistent quality pitching, we're fortunate to only be 3 games out. Now, given how we've played, I'm not sure there is reason to hope that will change. And for whatever gamemanship management has tried to put forward (e.g. "we're fine with our shortstop situation"), it doesn't gain you anything when it's apparent to one & all that said situation is anything but fine. I don't want them acting in panic mode, but it's clear that whatever is missing is having an impact. It's a wonder we're that close, but it's too early, despite all of the understandable frustration with our play, to throw in the towel. We may well ultimately fail to succeed this season. I can't count on any of our division foes to waiver (and that includes the Pirates). I hope we turn it around, I really do, but I don't have the confidence I had last year. I suspect we're not done making moves, although I can't say with any certainty there either that they'll manage to do that either.

    Now I've rambled & I'm not sure I've said anything myself. I just don't believe throwing in the towel is correct right now. Too much of the season remains. If nothing else, if it was my comment that prompted this post, I hope you will accept the above apology.
    redsmetz, you're always a gentleman. It wasn't you. IN fact, it doesn't matter who it was.
    www.ris-news.com
    "You only have to bat a thousand in two things; flying and heart transplants. Everything else you can go 4-for-5."
    -Beano Cook

  14. #13
    Member WVRedsFan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2000
    Location
    Rainelle, WV
    Posts
    10,527

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    I'm not much of a believer in luck. You make your luck with intense play and intelligence. Of course, that's just my opinion. Baseball is a game of dings and blasts.
    www.ris-news.com
    "You only have to bat a thousand in two things; flying and heart transplants. Everything else you can go 4-for-5."
    -Beano Cook

  15. #14
    Member WVRedsFan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2000
    Location
    Rainelle, WV
    Posts
    10,527

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Cloninger View Post
    When I saw the title about a Rambling post from the Board idiot...I thought....was I that drunk that I don't remember starting a thread last night?
    No, it was me .

    And I was stone sober. Honest...
    www.ris-news.com
    "You only have to bat a thousand in two things; flying and heart transplants. Everything else you can go 4-for-5."
    -Beano Cook

  16. #15
    Member traderumor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Columbus, OH area
    Posts
    19,911

    Re: Rambling Post on the 2011 Season From the Board Idiot

    The Cards, all they gave up was $8M to get Berkman, but no talent, yet they basically sit where the Reds do, except for having a little bit better luck in one run games.

    The Brewers gave up a lot to get Greinke, yet are still as flawed a team as they were going into the season, and have a respectable record only because of an oddity with winning at home.

    So, while the Reds continue to get criticized for inactivity, they still have a nice little savings account to draw from, just called up one last night. Maybe they'll make a withdrawal for a deadline deal to upgrade the rotation. Go get somebody that will likely pitch better than Homer, Arroyo, and whomever pitches in the 5th spot from week to week.

    I'll still take our position over what the teams ahead of us face, which is:

    Cards to stay healthy. They will eventually run out of smoke and mirrors. Trust me, they will Won't they? They have to, don't they?

    Brewers to pitch and catch the ball. That was preseason analysis, it is spot on, they have fulfilled expectations and their only real hope is that the division remains a fight to the finish for finishing above .500. The Brewers are even on their RS/RA, not boding well for their second half.

    The Pirates starting pitching has overperformed in the first half, and while the winning record is impressive and fun for all, their pythag has them as tenous to make a run of it.
    "Rounding 3rd and heading for home, good night everybody"


Turn Off Ads?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most importantly, enjoy yourselves!


RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball


Contact us: Boss | Gallen5862 | Plus Plus | Powel Crosley | RedlegJake | The Operator