Someone in the media needs to hold Walt accountable

[brm7675]

Yes im out of my mind because i expect success from my team that has the talent to make some noise this season, i dont understand how such a post is negative. I guess i dont have the loser mentality that 90% of the posters on here have and they misinterpret such posts as negativity. Good thing you guys arent the head of a big corporation just being content with mediocrity because you wouldn't last long

We all want success but with anything in sports, it doesn't happen overnight. We are working our way to being a dominate team, right now we are not quite there, but getting closer...

[Who Dey Time]

Yes im out of my mind because i expect success from my team that has the talent to make some noise this season, i dont understand how such a post is negative. I guess i dont have the loser mentality that 90% of the posters on here have and they misinterpret such posts as negativity. Good thing you guys arent the head of a big corporation just being content with mediocrity because you wouldn't last long

For you to claim that the Reds have the talent to make noise this season is curious given that you spend every game thread stating how terrible the team is. The worst offense in the league is a common post made by you.

Which one is it?

[TheBigLebowski]

We paid too much; that can't be argued. But if we got the pitcher we thought we were getting, it would be easier to stomach. Latos has been awful. I'm not saying the trade is an absolute failure; I didn't want Volquez here any more than anyone else but the sad fact is, he's having a better season than Mat. Maybe Mat turns it around and becomes the solid #2 we thought we were getting. Time will tell.

However, one defense of this trade that I am just sick of is the following: "Alonso was blocked by Votto and Grandal was blocked by Mes. Those guys would not be helping us."

Bull. While it may be true that Alonso is blocked by Votto, he showed what he could do last year and just because he's blocked in our system, that doesn't decrease his market value. If it does, this organization needs to adopt a firm "draft to needs" approach rather than simply taking the BPA. It's stupid to take a blocked BPA if you're just going to sell him off at 40 cents on the dollar. As for Grandal, Mesoraco hasn't proven anything yet at the ML level and there is no question Grandal could have surpassed him. If we take the tack that Mes was blocking him as gospel, then the above scenario applies as they drafted him knowing they had the best catching prospect in baseball on board already.

[Kingspoint]

It's foolish to measure a Starting Pitcher on 10-15 starts when the trade was made for him to play for the team for 120+ starts.

[Kingspoint]

We paid too much; that can't be argued.

That's a foolish statement. It can not only be argued, but to try to assume that you will know what will happen over the next 3-1/2 years of these players' careers is foolish beyond measure.

[panzecaz03]

The idea that the Reds gave up the house for Latos is an absolute fallacy. The fact is that Latos is the most proven Major Leaguer in that deal with the exception of Volquez and anyone who claims that they would rather have seen Volquez back than having Latos is a flat out liar.

Alonso, the supposed great talent (who is one year OLDER than Latos) is hitting a very Chris Heisey like .255 with 2 HR and 17 RBI. Quite the impact player that we all expected.

Boxberger, the same age as Latos, has just made his MLB debut and will pitch middle relief for San Diego. I'll go out on a limb and say that the Reds are not desperate for middle relief help.

Grandal, the only one younger than Latos, has exactly one MLB at bat and is currently back in the minors. Also, given the fact that Mesoraco has shown glimpses of success in his rookie year it's hard to argue that Grandal was expendable.

Latos has been far from outstanding but also hasn't been nearly as bad as some here claim. Now, predictably, those who hate the trade will fire back with some nonsense that the players that were sent to San Diego are young and will continue to improve and show themselves to be quality major leaguers. Well, Latos already is a quality major leaguer at the same age as they beloved prospects. If they will improve, why won't Latos?????

The Reds had a need for a starting pitcher and they filled it with a young player with immense talent. If and when he is able to harness his abilites (much like Cueto and to a lesser extent Bailey have) some of you will look downright foolish.

Those proclaiming this deal a bust after 2 1/2 months already are foolish.

couldn't have said it any better

[brm7675]

We paid too much; that can't be argued. But if we got the pitcher we thought we were getting, it would be easier to stomach. Latos has been awful. I'm not saying the trade is an absolute failure; I didn't want Volquez here any more than anyone else but the sad fact is, he's having a better season than Mat. Maybe Mat turns it around and becomes the solid #2 we thought we were getting. Time will tell.

However, one defense of this trade that I am just sick of is the following: "Alonso was blocked by Votto and Grandal was blocked by Mes. Those guys would not be helping us."

Bull. While it may be true that Alonso is blocked by Votto, he showed what he could do last year and just because he's blocked in our system, that doesn't decrease his market value. If it does, this organization needs to adopt a firm "draft to needs" approach rather than simply taking the BPA. It's stupid to take a blocked BPA if you're just going to sell him off at 40 cents on the dollar. As for Grandal, Mesoraco hasn't proven anything yet at the ML level and there is no question Grandal could have surpassed him. If we take the tack that Mes was blocking him as gospel, then the above scenario applies as they drafted him knowing they had the best catching prospect in baseball on board already.

We have no idea of what his "market" value is, only other Gm's determine that and none of us here are that. Alonso is a one position player, it's either first base or nothing position wise or maybe a DH.

We gave up 2 prospects with NO future on this team and other teams knew that and could use it in trade talk. We didn't overpay...ask DC what they had to give up to get Gio...ask the Yanks what they gave up to get damaged goods...

[brm7675]

We paid too much; that can't be argued. But if we got the pitcher we thought we were getting, it would be easier to stomach. Latos has been awful. I'm not saying the trade is an absolute failure; I didn't want Volquez here any more than anyone else but the sad fact is, he's having a better season than Mat. Maybe Mat turns it around and becomes the solid #2 we thought we were getting. Time will tell.

However, one defense of this trade that I am just sick of is the following: "Alonso was blocked by Votto and Grandal was blocked by Mes. Those guys would not be helping us."

Bull. While it may be true that Alonso is blocked by Votto, he showed what he could do last year and just because he's blocked in our system, that doesn't decrease his market value. If it does, this organization needs to adopt a firm "draft to needs" approach rather than simply taking the BPA. It's stupid to take a blocked BPA if you're just going to sell him off at 40 cents on the dollar. As for Grandal, Mesoraco hasn't proven anything yet at the ML level and there is no question Grandal could have surpassed him. If we take the tack that Mes was blocking him as gospel, then the above scenario applies as they drafted him knowing they had the best catching prospect in baseball on board already.

When a catcher of Grandals potential you take him even if you have Mesco in your system because you do what the Reds did, you trade him to get what you need and lack. Why is that hard to grasp?

[5TimeWSChamps]

If you take this year's stats out of the equation and look at Latos & Gio going into this year I would want Latos. He is 2 years younger, already acclimated to pitching in the NL, and has more years of club control. Yes Gio's strong 1st half makes Latos look inferior but equating that is armchair quarterbacking. Most of this board community acknowledged that we gave up a lot for Latos but would live with it because we needed another starting pitcher for the rotation we could count on for several years. With there being off season questions regarding Bailey & Arroyo pulling the trigger on Latos made sense and I supported the move.

An objective view shows Volquez is still suffering the same control problems, Alonso is not hitting any better than guys we kept, & Grandal/Boxberger are still just cracking the major league roster. Meanwhile Latos has had 1 problem in his transition, giving up more home runs (15 this year vs. 16 each in 2010/2011). He just needs to focus on keeping his fastball in the lower half of the strike zone. When he has done that he is almost unhittable. The games he is on you see the dominating skills he possesses.

I would prefer to have Chapman in the rotation also but not at Latos' expense. If anyone's spot is tenuous it is Mike Leake but that is another discussion. Jocketty should be given credit for being aggressive in the off season and we should reserve judgement until this season's results are in. Remember we are in 1st place & 4 1/2 games ahead of our main rival.

Good post

[PumpFak3First]

LOL @ Maker_84 saying he doesn't have a loser mentality like 90% of us on here. All of your posts wreak of a person who is a lifetime loser.

That's a clown comment bro!

[Falcon7]

Good throw JB.

[realistic]

good ole Volquez has already walked 4 through 2 and 2/3 already tonight allowed 3 runs on 2 hits

id rather have ANYONE than that frustration on this team

[BluegrassRedleg]

And ask him what their thought process was in targeting Latos over Gio Gonzalez.

Because this trade is on the verge of turning into Paul O'Neill for Roberto Kelly bad.

In all fairness, Roberto Kelly never stunk it up like this. He doesn't deserve that.

[brm7675]

In all fairness, Roberto Kelly never stunk it up like this. He doesn't deserve that.

How has Latos "stunk it up"?

[CrosleyField]

I think we gave up one player too much. I have said that many times. Would you rather have Volquez to kick around. He certainly didn't get it done either.