all three OF spots are question marks. The Reds "new" SS was last a good offensive player in 2003. The oft-injured 35 year old 3B had a bounce back season in 2009 but has a long history of knee and back problems combined with declining performance. The C was last a good offensive player in 2006.
The Reds have a chance to be an abysmal offensive team and whole lot of things have to go right for them to be above average.
Not a single significant upgrade on offense in 2 years as GM, and the team's best player was drafted by JimBo.
Dubito Ergo Cogito Ergo Sum.
A lot of our discussions are opinion.
Opinion, not fact.
But you are right. That could have happened. But Harang and Arroyo would have left pre-2009, which is only last year. Cueto was already up and Bailey as well. I don't see how that would have cnaged the timeline. And Cincy could have just gotten a vet to take their places, no one is saying that they would have had to rush youngsters.
I have repeatedly said that the Hamilton/Volquez series of moves, at this time, has been extremely overrated. Getting them for nothing was obviously a great move and should be done 100 times out of 100 if you have the chance, but there are two things which distort the perception of the situation:
- The Hamilton "story"
- Edinson's first half of 2008
Volquez was an absolute stud pre ASB 2008 and, since then, has been somewhat middle of the road. Still an asset, but not a TOR starter like he appeared to be when he first arrived. And now, after surgery, who knows? TJ is becoming more routine than it has historically been, but you never know. So, at this point, that tremendous series of moves has netter Cincy 90ish somewhat productive games from Hamilton, one great half from Volquez and 1+ middle of the road half from him as well. At this point, it has been beneficial due to what was given up (nothing) but overall it is highly overrated.
Noted.
When your best argument in favor of a GM is that he didn't do anything crazy while producing yet another losing season it's not exactly inspiring.
Wait...er...uh...Walt's got an impressive track record in total as a GM. His performance whilst at the helm of the Reds. Not so much.
The market tanked at the end of 2009, not 2008. He'd been with the Reds in some capacity for over a year, most of that as GM, and the man isn't an idiot. (and no one is making him out to be one.) The free agent list after the 2008 season had some names on it. there were moves to be made, and prospect wise, the Reds had a damn fine system. And the Reds didn't need young talent, they needed a bat or three. They had young talent to deal, something every GM wanted.
Admittedly Walt did this when he acquired Rolen. He traded from strength, but he traded for his GM blind spot. Just as you have said Arroyo was Krivsky's, Rolen certainly is Walt's.
Dubito Ergo Cogito Ergo Sum.
The collapse was underway in 2008. The investment bank crisis was happening in Sept of 08. IIRC the FA market collapse happened right around Jan 09. I remember Jeremy Afeldt and his agent getting some criticism for signing with the Giants so early in free agency only to come out on top with what now is an above market contract for a RP.
Abreu begs to differThe market tanked at the end of 2009, not 2008.
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