Can Walt do no wrong?

[Benihana]

There have been both unanimously good moves as well as several controversial ones, but one thing is clear - Walt Jocketty seems to be invincible as Reds GM:

Many complained (myself included) about the Scott Rolen trade, as the Reds weren't contending and Zach Stewart was a prized prospect.

One year later, Rolen led the Reds to the division crown twice in three years and Stewart fizzled out into a journeyman.

Many complained (myself included) that Walt was "asleep" and unable to accurately read the market and acquire the ace pitcher the Reds so desperately needed last offseason.

Walt gave up spare parts for Mat Latos, one of the best young arms in the game. Walt went out and signed Ryan Ludwick to play LF and outperform Yonder Alonso offensively.

Many complained (myself included) when Walt "overpayed" for Sean Marshall by dealing Wood, Sappelt and Torreyes.

Marshall played an instrumental role in the Reds league-best bullpen while Wood appears to be a #5 starter at best, and it remains doubtful that Sappelt or Torreyes will ever stick in the majors.

Many complained (myself included) when Walt failed to trade for Andrew Bailey.

Walt instead signed Ryan Madson and traded for Jonathan Broxton to help the backend of the bullpen. Meanwhile Andrew Bailey pitched to a 7+ ERA after missing the first half of the season with an injury, and the Red Sox are back in the market for a closer, reportedly close to trading significant pieces for Joel Hannrahan.

Many complained when Walt traded Sulbaran and Joseph for Jonathan Broxton, arguing that Broxton was all smoke and mirrors.

Broxton was a key member of the Reds strong bullpen down the stretch and into the postseason. Sulbaran and Joseph do not appear to be impact major leaguers, at least at this point.

My question is this - can Walt do no wrong? Does he deserve anything less than a A++ for his performance the last 3+ years? These transactions don't even mention the Chapman signing, the Choo trade, and the extensions of Votto, Bruce, Phillips and Cueto- all of which were universally praised by almost everyone. Even the drafts under his watch have been highly successful, producing the first player in a decade to make his major league debut without playing in the minors (Leake), one of the most intriguing prospects of all time (Hamilton), two of the top 15 pitching prospects in the game (Stephenson and Cingrani), and several trade bait prospects to acquire Mat Latos and Scott Rolen (Alonso, Stewart, Roenicke, Boxberger, and Grandal). Is there another GM in the game who is currently in as good favor with their fanbase as Walt?

Andrew Friedman maybe. Jon Daniels possibly. You could make the case that Walt has done as good of a job as either of these guys. Certainly he has made fewer mistakes.

[MikeS21]

It's all about performance. All it takes is the team getting off to a poor start, or a couple key injuries, and suddenly everything will be Walt's fault because he should have read his tea leaves and consulted a fortune teller so that he would know who the weakest link would be.

Don't worry. As soon as it becomes apparent the team won't go 162-0, and win every game by a score of 10-0, he will be the goat again.

[Benihana]

It's all about performance. All it takes is the team getting off to a poor start, or a couple key injuries, and suddenly everything will be Walt's fault because he should have read his tea leaves and consulted a fortune teller so that he would know who the weakest link would be.

Don't worry. As soon as it becomes apparent the team won't go 162-0, and win every game by a score of 10-0, he will be the goat again.

That's one of the reasons for a post like this - to poll the board. Is there any glaring thing Walt should've done this offseason? Is anyone unhappy with his performance? I wanted Justin Upton but I am very pleased with the Choo deal. There really isn't much else for him to do at this point, other than maybe acquire a LOOGY for the 'pen. It's almost like a "Speak up now or hold your peace until the trade deadline" type of thing.

[dougdirt]

Of course he can do wrong.

[reds1869]

Of course he can do wrong.

He just chooses not to.

[dougdirt]

Walt Jocketty was a special adviser and a 6 weeks from being named GM when the Reds brought on Corey Patterson. Walt was the GM when the Reds brought on Willy Taveras.

[Tom Servo]

Walt Jocketty was a special adviser and a 6 weeks from being named GM when the Reds brought on Corey Patterson. Walt was the GM when the Reds brought on Willy Taveras.

Pobody's nerfect.

[REDREAD]

Walt Jocketty was a special adviser and a 6 weeks from being named GM when the Reds brought on Corey Patterson. Walt was the GM when the Reds brought on Willy Taveras.

I'll give you Taveras.. Walt inherited a team full of holes and in rebuild mode and chose to roll the dice on WTavares as a reclamation project. However, he did manage to dump him a year later. In the end, no real damage done.

You can't blame him for Corey Patterson.. That's all on Wayne K.. Now in Wayne's defense, I don't think it was a horrible gamble.. it was like 1 year/3 million (IIRC) and the Reds were a horrible defensive team that desperately needed a defensive upgrade. So in the grand scheme of things, Wayne certainly had much worse offenses than Patterson.

Walt deserves an A++++++++ for his tenure here as a whole. By the time he retires, he may be the best GM the Reds have had in my lifetime.

Just think.. if someone on Redszone proposed trading Stubbs + Didi for Choo with the Indians eating the salary difference, I think that poster would be laughed at for proposing a fantasy trade. Yet, Walt made it happen. Honestly, I think bringing back Broxton and Ludwick at reasonable prices deserves praise too.

[bellhead]

I also think he benefited from Wayne Krivsky who had some excellent drafts while he was here and stocked the farm pretty well, but saying that He has been the man here and I hope he never leaves...

[kaldaniels]

Forget the "Walt can do no wrong" remark Doug. I'm interested how you would evaluate his tenure here on an overall basis. You loved the Latos deal, hated the Rolen deal...just looking for your general view of things.

[traderumor]

He certainly has shown the ability to make significant, game changing transactions and has really been spotless in his choice of guys going the other way. He is trading for impact major league talent with prospects.

Left out of this analysis are pickups like Hoover and Simon, which were sweet moves that cost no talent, but brought talent into the organization.

[AmarilloRed]

It's way too early in his minor league career to say Torreyes won't stick in the majors.

[camisadelgolf]

Left out of this analysis are pickups like Hoover and Simon, which were sweet moves that cost no talent, but brought talent into the organization.

What did Juan Francisco ever do to you?

[traderumor]

What did Juan Francisco ever do to you?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...rancju02.shtml
Yawn. A steal for the Reds. Young back of the bullpen power arm for that? There is a reason he is barely mentioned after the deal. I'm glad the Reds are past the era where Francisco would be pumped up by a clueless organization as the next great thing because he can occasionally hit the ball really, really far.

[dougdirt]

Forget the "Walt can do no wrong" remark Doug. I'm interested how you would evaluate his tenure here on an overall basis. You loved the Latos deal, hated the Rolen deal...just looking for your general view of things.

He has been a good GM. I think most GM's could have come into the situation he did and done well. The farm system was stocked and the guys in place who were running the show were also in place (on the farm). Most of his moves of note are all benefit to that (the trades he made were of the plentiful farm system). I am sure that some guys would have made a better move here or there or a worse one here or there. Still think he overpaid for Rolen and I will never be convinced otherwise because of how the situation in Toronto played out with Rolen forcing a trade to a specific part of the country where only one team in that part of the country could have used him and the Reds gave up a strong chip, albeit one that hasn't turned out as well as the Reds or slew of other teams to have acquired him have hoped. Still love the Latos deal beyond belief and if his arm falls off tomorrow in a strange deer hunting fishing accident from a helicopter, it was still a great move. He has steered a very strong ship in the right direction most of the time. You can't ask for much more than that. No ship captain takes a direct line from start to finish, but his line has been with a few bumps rather than a lot of bumps.