Dayton loses its first game of the year, 15-4
Dayton loses its first game of the year, 15-4
i believe that as long as bruce's OPS remains solid (.966 after tonight), that it does not matter how often he walks. the bottom line is he is probably not swinging at bad pitches if he's hitting .339. he will walk more as pitchers learn to be more careful with him, but if he's seeing good pitches why not crush them like he's currently doing.
BTW, I'm sure we're going to be told why Gardner's start this season is not very good also.
Bud Selig: "I'm the worst commissioner ever"
Rob Manfred: "Hold my beer"
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Janish keeping that OBP up around .400 all season is keeping things mighty interesting.
A SS with dazzling defense & a .400 OBP? I'm starting to come around on him just a bit.
I know it is the first 10 games ,but Valakia is over 1.000 in OPS. Even if he has to move off short he still should hit enough for 2nd or 3rd. He is definitely one to watch. Maybe a good comparison for him would be Ian Kinsler.
While it is possible for a player to make incremental improvements, the Sammy Sosa model of suddenly "getting it" with plate discipline is the exception, not the rule. I'm pretty disappointed that Francisco doesn't have a walk yet this year, because it doesn't bode well for success at higher levels. Remember Habelito Hernandez?
Lets see a 25 year old pitcher pitching in Aball. Why do people still care about Gardner? What made his start so awesome? Think he can move to higher levels and do something similiarly? I am amazed how we overrate prospects around here.
The fact is, Bailey and Bruce have been outperformed by the Hughes's,Gallardo's and now Maybin for the last year. Maybe they just aren't that good. Maybe Bailey really is nothing more than a mythical 2 starter. Maybe Bruce is just a above average talent like Dunn(or what we project Votto to be). Maybe all they are is what they are. We all drool for the day we get a Pujols,Arod,Verlander,Beckett(who is bouncing back nicely this year FWIW). Maybe Reds baseball has been in such a talentless pit for over a decade now, we are so desperate for stardom, thus we will overrate what we can and will become messiahical in our own minds. Then leading to severe deflation when it doesn't happen.
The fact is, outside the Pirates,Royals,Devil Rays and Brewers(maybe not for much longer) the Reds are the bottom pits of baseball.
Dubito Ergo Cogito Ergo Sum.
And performance only means so much in the minor leagues too. For the most part, top prospects are y-o-u-n-g, which 99% of the time means they are incomplete players and have something to learn. That is why they are in the minor leagues....to learn. If they were ready, they would be playing in Cincinnati. I don't think anyone here overrated Bruce or Bailey.... look at their scouting reports.... look at their numbers.... they go hand in hand. I mean sure I guess you can say we overrated Bruce and Bailey if scouts and the likes thought otherwise, but last I checked Jay Bruce was the best prospect listed by Baseball America in the MWL, which included Maybin and Upton, and Bailey is at worth the #2 pitching prospect in baseball. Dont get me wrong, I love Yovani Gallardo, but he doesn't have the stuff that Bailey does. I think if anything, you underrate almost all of our prospects.
As for Gardner, I dont think I am going to be throwing him into any top 10 Reds prospect conversation, but I am happy for the guy who has battled back from a major arm injury and is pitching very well. What is the problem with rooting for a guy?
We got a guy with a .966 ops and a .339 batting average and we are questioning his top end ability.
It's only been ten games buddy. Adam Dunn has only walked 6 times so far.
This is the time. The real Reds organization is back.
This is the time. The real Reds organization is back.
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