Early...and I mean early....2007 Starting Rotation predictions....

[red-in-la]

My best guess:

Bronson Arroyo
Aaron Harang
Homer Bailey
Eric Milton
Matt Belisle

[Highlifeman21]

What we have in-house...

Arroyo
Harang
Lohse
Claussen
Milton

[redsmetz]

Originally Posted by Highlifeman21

What we have in-house...

Arroyo
Harang
Lohse
Claussen
Milton

I think with "in house", this is most probably the current rotation. Ideally I'd like to find a legitimate #3 bump Lohse and see what's up with Claussen coming off surgery.

I wonder what, if anything, Coach Pole will be doing during the offseason viz. reviewing the pitchers and film etc.

[redsfan30]

You can bet the farm that there will be an addition to this rotation that's not in the organization right now.

Maybe two.

[Falls City Beer]

Originally Posted by redsfan30

You can bet the farm that there will be an addition to this rotation that's not in the organization right now.

Maybe two.

With the market as vibrant and active as it is this offseason, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever that the above shouldn't be the case.

[RedLegSuperStar]

Harang
Arroyo
Armas Jr.
Milton
Lohse

[pedro]

Originally Posted by red-in-la

My best guess:

Bronson Arroyo
Aaron Harang
Homer Bailey
Eric Milton
Matt Belisle

If the Reds go into next year with that rotation I'll start calling for Wayne's head too.

[RedsManRick]

Harang
Arroyo
Milton
FA
Ramirez

SP and the 1B platoon is really the only spots left for WK to fill. I think he'll make a run at Wolf/Armas Jr and others on that tier.

If Junior moves to RF and Deno is in CF, Elizardo could be much more effective up here next year. I know he isn't a high ceiling guy, but I think he's not given nearly enough credit. He pitched quite well before getting abused and injured late last year. He's still quite young (24 in January) and has a strong track record of not walking people and keeping the ball in the yard. With a better defense, better health, and more experience, I don't think we could ask for much more out of the #5 spot in the rotation.

Also, I haven't looked around, but how many other teams have 2 30+ GS, sub 4 ERA guys at the top of the rotation. There aren't as many "solid" guys out there as you might think. Look at the rotation the Cards won with last year. It was Carpenter and nobody during the regular season.

[Strikes Out Looking]

1. Harang and 2. Arroyo -- Locks
3. Milton -- Unless some GM somewhere has an undetected accident to his brain (Jim Hendry? JimBo?), Milton will probably be in the rotation.
4. This may be a contest between Ramirez, Claussen and Lohse. Lohse is the healthiest of the three, but is more expensive and IMO stinks. If either Ramirez or Claussen can rehab from their surgeries of 2006, they may be in the rotation. Belisle may also get a shot at this competition.
5. FA or trade--unknown who it will be but with the extra cash WK has to spend, I can't see why they can't sign someone for up to $10 million. (Of course, let us hope it is better than the last FA SP signing--see #3 above).

Homer Bailey will, I believe, start the year at AAA.

[Falls City Beer]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

Also, I haven't looked around, but how many other teams have 2 30+ GS, sub 4 ERA guys at the top of the rotation. There aren't as many "solid" guys out there as you might think. Look at the rotation the Cards won with last year. It was Carpenter and nobody during the regular season.

Be careful with that logic. Think about how strong the Cards were in every other facet of the game.

I don't think it's wise for a team like the Reds to ignore their rotation just because the Cards pulled away from an awful, awful division. (And, for the record, by the end of the season, the Cards had two totally legitimate starters in Suppan and Carpenter--Suppan just had a rough half season--his first in three years).

[RedsManRick]

Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

Be careful with that logic. Think about how strong the Cards were in every other facet of the game.

I don't think it's wise for a team like the Reds to ignore their rotation just because the Cards pulled away from an awful, awful division. (And, for the record, by the end of the season, the Cards had two totally legitimate starters in Suppan and Carpenter--Suppan just had a rough half season--his first in three years).

I'm not advocating we plan on a similar performance carrying us. The Cards do play good defense and had solid performances from their pen. Rather, I'm pointing out that we should have an accurate view of reality. Very few, if any NL teams are solid 1-5 in the rotation and most aren't even that solid 1 & 2. A rotation of say, Harang, Arroyo, Armas/Wolf, Milton, and Ramirez could very well be in the upper half the NL. Would I love to have the 3-5 spots filled with more 200 IP, 3.50 ERA guys? Sure. But it's not realistic and it's not like our competition is going to be running out 5 studs against us.

[TOBTTReds]

Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

Be careful with that logic. Think about how strong the Cards were in every other facet of the game.

I don't think it's wise for a team like the Reds to ignore their rotation just because the Cards pulled away from an awful, awful division. (And, for the record, by the end of the season, the Cards had two totally legitimate starters in Suppan and Carpenter--Suppan just had a rough half season--his first in three years).

True. But while we have ignored the rotation so far, we've added supposedly a gold glove SS to help them.

[Falls City Beer]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

Would I love to have the 3-5 spots filled with more 200 IP, 3.50 ERA guys? Sure. But it's not realistic and it's not like our competition is going to be running out 5 studs against us.

No one's asking for that. But two starters with the way this current team stands is dead in the water.

[Scrap Irony]

Bailey's a solid #3 right now.

IMO.

That's like getting lucky with a Gil Meche or a Randy Wolf without the pay hike.

Cincinnati needs two starters, though they may not recognize which two to jettison.

[RedLegSuperStar]

IMO Claussen would be best use as a spot starter/long relief.. at least till all star break. Hopefully Lohse can pitch like the first few games he started for us after the trade. Lohse has the mentality that he is out to prove those who doubt him and his ability. Also I think this is last year for arbitration before becoming a free agent. With that said lets hope him and Milton go out and pitch for a huge contract.

Still with that said I think we need a #3 guy. Names that could bargin signings would be Mulder, Wolf, Eaton, and Armas... when I say bargin.. I mean fit the Reds budget.