"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it."
http://dalmady.blogspot.com
Like I stated in an earlier post, the Pirates are a strong matchup for the right handed heavy and OBP Deficient Reds. Blame Dusty all you want, but Walt has constructed a right handed free swinging team with one of the worst benches in Reds recent memory. That being said, they've played well with the hand they were dealt.
Last edited by forfreelin04; 06-07-2012 at 10:32 PM.
OBP. As an old-schooler, I didn't use to believe, but it's so glaring these days:
1. 245/294/417
2. 254/289/345
Lead off with a rookie and bat a kid who very, very inconsistent second, emasculating Votto. Phillips miscast as a cleanup hitter. Big mess most nights. Add to that the first swinging tendency and the bad slumps by Bruce and this club will let a lot of opportunities pass by. Tonight they could have moved 4 up with the Bucs playing a weak Twins team and the Cards playing The faltering Indians. But, it was not to be on a mental error.
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
I hate how the pirates kill our pitching and suck against everybody else. So frustrating.
“I don’t care,” Votto said of passing his friend and former teammate. “He’s in the past. Bye-bye, Jay.”
I don't really see any move that Walt could, or maybe should, make this year that improves the team going forward. He made some bold moves in the offseason that have had some mixed results. He can't really clear the farm of any useful talent until some of the lower level guys start to push their way up the system. He took a flyer with what he had left and that was a crappy OB team, hoping the pitching would win, and by and large, it has. Athough collectively stumbling a bit this month and tail end of May. The "core" is around for a few years now. Suck it up this year, take your 85 or so wins and re-evaluate for '13. Just don't panic (and I don't see Walt doing so) and try and win at all costs this year. Now, with what's available I would like to see Dusty maneuver his guys so that people actually get on base for Votto and Bruce, but that also may need to wait 'til next year (Dusty's last contract year, right?).
OK, and I'm asking because I don't know, who would it take to get him - hypothetically of course. I just don't think the Reds have a lot to give right now. Now, if they are going to make a trade then I would hope it would be for a Latos (not SP, per se) type player who would be part of the team for the next few years. And I don't think the Reds really have the bullets right now. Do you think DeJesus is that type of player? Would a package of Negron and Costanzo do it? j/k
There is no way Walt is going to "suck it up this year." He's in a weak division with a playoff opportunity. No way he doesn't make efforts to improve the offense.
He probably won't acquire very expensive players or give up a ton in a big trade. But Walt will go after rentals, or guys with relatively short term contracts.
And this is Dusty's last contract year, not next season.
Yes, was I was trying to infer was that THIS was Dusty's last year. Get off my back.
I guess my whole premise was that these rentals that can be had that don't require a king's ransom are, in fact, Heisey and Ludwick. Can the offense really be more than marginally improved (assuming a blockbuster we don't forsee). Look, I see next year as a much better year for the Reds than this, assuming Chapman in the rotation, regardless of what the rest of the division looks like.
I thought you meant that next year was Dusty's last. My mistake, sorry.
To me, it's just a crime to have a hitter like Votto and have Cozart/Heisey hitting before him and Phillips after him. I think the team can be significantly improved with modest changes. There are skill sets that are missing.
Get a couple of OB guys, lefty hitters. Provide some offensive balance. Superstars unnecessary.
I think it can make a difference this year, a meaningful difference, without a ton of additional investment.
Last edited by Kc61; 06-07-2012 at 11:40 PM.
I was joking about the Baker comment. Hope you got that. I don't take this stuff that seriously.
I agree it's a crime with Votto, but one that's already been committed. Look, I'm not opposed to moving Phillips back in the 1 spot and hope his approach changes. He's stated he'd rather bat there anyway, so maybe he'd relax a bit. Move Frazier, for better or worse, into the 4 spot if you MUST break up the lefties (although I'd just bat Votto/Bruce back-to-back with some wiggle against certain LHP), and fill in the lineup from there. I love the defense this team gives and if Rolen CAN come back, move Frazier to LF (although I suppose you lose some of that defense especially compared to Heisey).
If they can get a LF or CF that can get on base for little mid-season, then count me in - I'd love Choo - I just don't see the marginal upgrades worth the potential cost, but it's hard for me I suppose to judge moves without said move on the table.
Willingham is the guy that Walt needs to pull out of a hat.
"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
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