Should Dusty Baker Receive an Extension?

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by mdccclxix

Between the Champs not being worth anything nowadays and the Champs being the only thing that defines success, I think there is a definite psychic impact from this past season.

Yep, it's a real metaphysical quandary when sucking is all you do when you aren't winning a tainted championship.

[mdccclxix]

Originally Posted by westofyou

Yep, it's a real metaphysical quandary when sucking is all you do when you aren't winning a tainted championship.

I can see why Homer's out there shooting deer and hogs and whatever all off season.

[mdccclxix]

This "Votto Window" is open probably pretty wide through 2017. He'll have plenty of power during that time. After, perhaps he can be an awesome 2 hitter with a .375 OBP for the rest of his years. Who knows. But think about how many drafts haven't happened, and the one's that are still very recent.

2009 - Hamilton is almost ready
2010 - Grandal = Latos
2011 Stephanson, Cingrani, probably 2-3 others will 'pop'
2012 Travieso, Winker, again probably 2-3 others will impact
2013 ?
2014 ??
2015 ???
2016 ????
2017 ?????

If Hamilton is just a .340 OBP player with good defense, he could maybe score 110 runs one year.

The 2015 rotation could be Chapman, Latos, Cueto, Stephanson, Travieso. Or 100 other variations.

Winker may end up being a huge .900 ops bat, who knows?

Bruce may bring back a haul in a trade after he's hit 250 HR as a Red...who knows?

So many things will go right, that's what I think. The Reds have reached a higher plain and will be able to operate by regularly adding small tweeks through their farm and smart FA plans.

[George Foster]

Chapman needs a couple of other pitches if he is going to be an effective starter. He uses his slider every now and then...rarely for a strike. Does not have a change up...How can he start?

2nd and 3rd time through the line up they will be hitting him hard. His fastball has no movement...it's fast...but straight.

I have a hard time thinking he can pitch 200 innings pitching 100mph 90% of the time.

[Always Red]

David Bell is now out of the organization; he signed on as 3B coach for the Cubs today.

Blocked out of the major league coaching staff here for the next 2 years; I can't blame him for moving on.

[mdccclxix]

Originally Posted by Always Red

David Bell is now out of the organization; he signed on as 3B coach for the Cubs today.

Blocked out of the major league coaching staff here for the next 2 years; I can't blame him for moving on.

Can we now see his hiring as exactly what it was purported to be? To put pressure on Dusty?

[redsmetz]

There's really nothing presently that precludes the Reds considering David Bell when Baker's contract is up. I understand it's possible he might take another job between now and then. Then again, others may be available too.

[Always Red]

Originally Posted by redsmetz

There's really nothing presently that precludes the Reds considering David Bell when Baker's contract is up. I understand it's possible he might take another job between now and then. Then again, others may be available too.

Yes, exactly- moving out of the organization and being exposed to other ideas generally will broaden both experience and a knowledge base, and is seen as a good thing.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Always Red

Yes, exactly- moving out of the organization and being exposed to other ideas generally will broaden both experience and a knowledge base, and is seen as a good thing.

Plus being a Cub for a few years will teach him about disappointment

[Always Red]

Originally Posted by mdccclxix

Can we now see his hiring as exactly what it was purported to be? To put pressure on Dusty?

I don't see it that way. He was at Carolina in AA for 3 years before he was at Louisville.

The Reds didn't fire him, he chose to go to Chicago.

David Bell is building himself a nice bundle of different experiences for his future.

[Always Red]

Originally Posted by westofyou

Plus being a Cub for a few years will teach him about disappointment

Yep, it's like a 2 year residency for Bell, if he puts his head down and works very hard, the time will go by quickly.

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” ~Gibran