I think it will be the Yankees. The've got both the payroll and the need to sign Choo.
I think it will be the Yankees. The've got both the payroll and the need to sign Choo.
This thread title should have been "Who will Choo-choo-choose Choo?"
"Lemonade requires a significant amount of sugar. Otherwise, you've just made lemon juice."
*BaseClogger* (11-20-2013),camisadelgolf (11-22-2013),meigsred (11-18-2013)
It definitely isn't ideal, but neither option is good. You're choosing between likely paying for a guy's decline years and likely letting your 2nd best hitter walk for nothing. I totally get the economic case against bringing him back, but if Choo isn't a Red the 2014 offense looks considerably worse than the 2013 offense did. That step backwards is more important to me in the big picture than how handcuffed we are or aren't moving forward financially.
I think the Reds should sacrifice Choo and pick up multiple pieces in an effort to have a balanced offensive attack.
I understand how valuable Choo is.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
I don't know what it's going to take to get Choo. I have a sneaking suspicion a fair number of teams that should want him won't be willing to part with a draft pick. Also it looks like more than a few organizations are filling up on appetizers in the free agent buffet, which means they might be skipping the main course. Dependent on how all that shakes out, Choo might find himself thinking that making lots of money for the Reds and chasing a World Series title isn't such a bad option.
My general take on the Reds right now is they need to add two offensively capable starting OFs. I've got no problem with turning Ludwick into a bench player. I'd also like to see the team find a SS upgrade and turn Cozart into a supersub, though outside of a deal for Profar I'm not sure it can be done.
Main thing is I'd like the Reds to have a strong top 6 in the lineup. Right now Cozart and the catcher own the 7 and 8 slots.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
BEETTLEBUG (11-22-2013),Edd Roush (11-22-2013)
Hamilton has more minor league at bats than Bruce, Heisey, Cozazt, Mesoraco and Frazier. Ryan Hanigain was in the reds minor league system roughly fore-ever and Hamilton has more at bats than Ryan. In a quick look the only product of the reds farm system with more minor league at bats than Billy Hamilton is Joey Votto. I guess Neftali Soto and Henry Rodriguez, but then they've kind of fallen off the prospect tract by now haven't they?
That said....I don't think it would stunt Hamilton's growth to stick him in Louisville. I don't think it would be terrible for the team, but if you plan on sending BH down, then you have a very awkward sized hole to fill in center field.
While it may not stunt Hamilton's growth if you send him down, it may not be what's best for the franchise. I don't know that Billy Hamilton becomes a better major league hitter by facing AAAA pitchers and defenses every day. He seems to adjust his game to the play around him. Allow him to adjust to the majors now.
I would roll the dice on the kid and hope that I found my leadoff hitter.
...well....I mean if Choo wants to come back and I can afford him......yeah...but I.just.don't.think.it's.gonna.happen.
"Even a bad day at the ballpark beats the snot out of most other good days. I'll take my scorecard and pencil and beer and hot dog and rage at the dips and cheer at the highs, but I'm not ever going to stop loving this game and this team and nobody will ever take that away from me." Roy Tucker October 2010
I don't really care about that. Frazier, Cozart and Heisey came from college ball, so you'd expect them to spend less time in the minors. Bruce had a meteoric rise. Can't remember if Mes was a bit dinged up in the minors at times or if they rode him lightly because he was a catcher. Either way, he played in AAA at Hamilton's current age.
Anyway, Hamilton shouldn't stop getting minor league ABs until he can show himself capable of hitting AAA pitching. I'd be willing to promote once he gets his bat working, but in the meantime the Reds should be trying to win a World Series.
I'd worry about that if he were 29. He just turned 23. Hamilton's legs will be around for the rest of this decade.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
Edd Roush (11-25-2013),mth123 (11-22-2013),RiverRat13 (11-22-2013)
I think the wheeling and dealing by the Reds will continue shortly. December 2 is the tender/non-tender deadline and I think the Reds will likely try to make deals involving arb players sooner rather than later.
While we all like to think the usage of players like Chapman, Hamilton, Ludwick, etc., is decided by some grand design, probably circumstances determine this more than anything.
Like last year I think Chapman relieved mostly because the Reds didn't trade a starter and seemed stronger in the rotation. So Aroldis was deemed more important in the pen.
This year the possible trades for Phillips (and Hanigan and maybe others) and the free agent situation with Choo will likely determine how many of the players are used. Reds will see what the roster looks like after the dealing is done. Bailey's status will likely impact Chapman's role.
Probably Walt Jocketty can't tell you now if Chapman is in the rotation, if Hamilton is in the majors, etc. First he has to see how he can improve the offense and the players acquired and lost will make clear what the needs are.
Last edited by Kc61; 11-22-2013 at 08:10 PM.
The Prince Fielder trade shows that the Rangers are getting creative in their offseason quest for bats, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com writes. Texas is hesitant to forfeit a first-round draft pick to sign a player such as Jacoby Ellsbury, as the team will already be limited on the international side of the amateur talent market after greatly exceeding their bonus pool this past summer.
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