Tracking - Alonso, Grandal, Volquez, Boxberger, Sappelt, Wood, Torreyes

[dougdirt]

It may not mean anything but an interesting fact is that in the last two seasons the number of players debuting under the age of 24 is only about 30% of tbe total debuts. I think players are debuting later these days.

Most players that debut aren't starting material though. Utility guys making their debut at any age doesn't really matter much. They aren't starters. Look at the current Reds starters and when they debuted:

Votto - 23
Phillips - 21
Frazier - 25
Cozart - 25 (only a month shy of being 26)
Mesoraco - 23
Choo - 22
Bruce - 21

Two guys debuted after age 23 and they are the two guys who catch the most flack on the team (from the starters). It is pretty similar around the league. Most guys are in the Majors by 23-24 if they are going to be long term starters.

[mdccclxix]

Most players that debut aren't starting material though. Utility guys making their debut at any age doesn't really matter much. They aren't starters. Look at the current Reds starters and when they debuted:

Votto - 23
Phillips - 21
Frazier - 25
Cozart - 25 (only a month shy of being 26)
Mesoraco - 23
Choo - 22
Bruce - 21

Two guys debuted after age 23 and they are the two guys who catch the most flack on the team (from the starters). It is pretty similar around the league. Most guys are in the Majors by 23-24 if they are going to be long term starters.

Shouldn't there be a Cardinal clause to this rule?

[Benihana]

I mean for 2007, the time period we were actually talking about, where he spent about 30% of his season playing left field. He was much more of a left fielder in 2007 than he was a third baseman or a catcher.

Yes, and Yonder Alonso played more than 75% of his games in 2011 in LF. Does that mean he could really be, or ever was, a LF?

[dougdirt]

Yes, and Yonder Alonso played more than 75% of his games in 2011 in LF. Does that mean he could really be, or ever was, a LF?

Yonder, no. Votto? Absolutely. Votto is athletic. Votto can actually run a little bit. Alonso is a hitter.

[powersackers]

Most players that debut aren't starting material though. Utility guys making their debut at any age doesn't really matter much. They aren't starters. Look at the current Reds starters and when they debuted:

Votto - 23
Phillips - 21
Frazier - 25
Cozart - 25 (only a month shy of being 26)
Mesoraco - 23
Choo - 22
Bruce - 21

Two guys debuted after age 23 and they are the two guys who catch the most flack on the team (from the starters). It is pretty similar around the league. Most guys are in the Majors by 23-24 if they are going to be long term starters.

Phil Ervin needs to debut soon then! Billy Hamilton too. Who else on the farm hasn't debuted and isn't slated to start by 23? That way we can write them off soon. That will make our prospect lists much easier to create.

[dougdirt]

Phil Ervin needs to debut soon then! Billy Hamilton too. Who else on the farm hasn't debuted and isn't slated to start by 23? That way we can write them off soon. That will make our prospect lists much easier to create.

Sigh.

[CySeymour]

Sigh.

I feel your pain.

[redsmetz]

This long running thread was started by Vottomatic and has run continually since March 2012. I had been thinking of a thread like this when he started this one. Glad we have it to remember him by.

[sdwagers]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/0...ssignment.html

This deal keeps looking good for the Redlegs.

[UK Reds Fan]

Score this trade a slam dunk win for Reds. If Grandal loses his power w/o PEDs, it would be a terrible trade by Pads. Yonder is nothing but a Scott Hatteberg II, Boxberger could be a good BP arm down the road. BUt little gain for giving up a stud pitcher that was cheap to boot (and actually spending more money by absorbing Volquez contract).


Reds
Latos 27-8, 3.48/2.93 Era last 2 years and will over 200 innings in each season ($5M salary)

Padres
-Volquez 20-21, 4.14/6.01 Era (while at Petco) and will go right at 180/140 innings each year ($9M salary over 2 years) and just DFA'd
-Yonder Alonso .726/.741 OPS, 9 and 6 Hrs, .348 OBP both years ($2M salary over 2 years)
- Yasmani Grandal .809/.693 OPS, .398/.352 OBP and the suspension for PEDs (his Slg could be vanashing) for league minimum.
-Brad Boxberge 38 innings...2.79 era.

[oneupper]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/0...ssignment.html

This deal keeps looking good for the Redlegs.

When we talk about the most frustrating losses this year (a recurring theme around here), the game Volquez shut down the REDS comes to mind. (July 30).

[OldXOhio]

When we talk about the most frustrating losses this year (a recurring theme around here), the game Volquez shut down the REDS comes to mind. (July 30).

True, but I'd say the takeaway is more about Volquez than the Reds on that one. Great stuff and with the occasional gem that keeps the brass interested.

[CySeymour]

When we talk about the most frustrating losses this year (a recurring theme around here), the game Volquez shut down the REDS comes to mind. (July 30).

For me it's still Opening Day that comes to mind.

[klw]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/96...son-homer-mark

TOKYO -- Wladimir Balentien hit two home runs Tuesday to move within five of tying Japanese baseball's single-season record of 55.

Balentien's Yakult Swallows have 33 games remaining in the regular season for him to match the record set by Sadaharu Oh in 1964 and matched by former major leaguers Tuffy Rhodes in 2001 and Alex Cabrera in 2002.

Balentien hit a three-run homer in the second inning and added a solo shot in the seventh at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. The Chunichi Dragons won the game 10-8. Balentien, a native of Curacao, played for the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds before signing with the Swallows in 2011.

He hit 31 homers in each of his first two seasons in Japan.

[oneupper]

Makes me wonder what kind of PED testing they do in Japan.