Hatteberg signed

[Falls City Beer]

Ballast.

The Return of the Curse of Bowden's Ghost.

Come on, Wayne, bring home the next Jimmy Haynes.

[westofyou]

Do other teams worry about ballast as much as the Reds, and after 5 years of mud pies is it going to really hurt to try something that is slightly different than the last 5 years?

[Falls City Beer]

Originally Posted by westofyou

Do other teams worry about ballast as much as the Reds, and after 5 years of mud pies is it going to really hurt to try something that is slightly different than the last 5 years?

No, but it's not going to help.

And I'd submit both Joe Randa and Jon Vanderwal as exhibit A & B in the ballast continuity project. Dirtpile sifting. And not particularly good sifting.

[westofyou]

And I'd submit both Joe Randa and Jon Vanderwal as exhibit A & B in the ballast continuity project. Dirtpile sifting. And not particularly good sifting.

And I'll submit 2003 Freel and 2001 Brady Clark as positive sifting.

[Falls City Beer]

Originally Posted by westofyou

And I'll submit 2003 Freel and 2001 Brady Clark as positive sifting.

Sure. There is such as a thing as good sifting. I'm not saying that--I'm saying this is bad sifting--guy at the end of his string sifting, a la DanO.

Are they looking to build a VFW Hall or make a bench?

[LvJ]

Ohhh, this is a signing that I rly like. Good job. :dancingco

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

Sure. There is such as a thing as good sifting. I'm not saying that--I'm saying this is bad sifting--guy at the end of his string sifting, a la DanO.

Are they looking to build a VFW Hall or make a bench?

Well considering that the majority of the starters are under 30 then I don't see the big problem right now, in fact I'd say it's safe to say that most of the bench ballast being picked up over the past 5 years over the age of 35 has been more for other things aside from hitting.

Womack, Aurilia, Griffey and now Hattenberg are the only Reds over the age of 32.. not really a VFW hall just yet.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
SEASON
2001-2005
Non P
AGE >= 35
AT BATS < 200
AGE displayed only--not a sorting criteria

OPS                           YEAR     DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE     AB       AGE    
1    Fred McGriff             2001     .162     .942     .780      170       37   
2    Todd Pratt               2003     .093     .864     .771      125       36   
3    Andres Galarraga         2001     .084     .863     .780      156       40   
4    Julio Franco             2003     .053     .824     .771      197       44   
5    Ron Gant                 2001     .033     .813     .780      171       36   
6    Jeff Cirillo             2005     .033     .800     .767      185       35   
7    Shawon Dunston           2001     .024     .804     .780      186       38   
8    Lenny Harris             2002     .004     .766     .763      197       37   
9    Kenny Lofton             2002    -.004     .758     .763      180       35   
10   Eric Young               2005    -.030     .737     .767      142       38   
11   Barry Larkin             2001    -.035     .745     .780      156       37   
12   Todd Pratt               2005    -.041     .726     .767      175       38   
13   Matt Williams            2003    -.041     .730     .771      134       37   
14   Chad Kreuter             2001    -.048     .732     .780      191       36   
15   Robin Ventura            2004    -.079     .699     .778      152       36   
16   Orlando Palmeiro         2004    -.088     .690     .778      133       35   
17   Ken Caminiti             2001    -.094     .686     .780      171       38   
18   Carlos Baerga            2005    -.113     .653     .767      158       36   
19   Jose Vizcaino            2003    -.125     .646     .771      189       35   
20   Jose Vizcaino            2005    -.131     .636     .767      187       37   
21   Bobby Bonilla            2001    -.133     .647     .780      174       38   
22   Eddie Perez              2004    -.139     .639     .778      170       36   
23   Eric Davis               2001    -.145     .634     .780      156       39   
24   Darryl Hamilton          2001    -.148     .632     .780      126       36   
25   Jose Valentin            2005    -.175     .591     .767      147       35

[captainmorgan07]

gets us a backup first basemen left handed bat and bench guy as was stated alerady good clubhouse guy good signing

[Falls City Beer]

Originally Posted by captainmorgan07

gets us a backup first basemen left handed bat and bench guy as was stated alerady good clubhouse guy good signing

This team needed a backup firstbaseman like I need a mercury milkshake.

[KronoRed]

Hmm..Mercury

[Reds Nd2]

Maybe it's just me, but I find it hard to get excited over signing a guy who was worth -3.6 above replacement level last season.

[Betterread]

I like Hatteberg as a PH and 1b backup more than Cruz and $750,000 isn't much to pay him.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

This team needed a backup firstbaseman like I need a mercury milkshake.

Really?

I think a b/u 1st baseman this season isn't a bad idea, it ain't sexy and there ain't any blood to satisify the masses, but it's not as cut and dried as you paint it either.

[RFS62]

Gives him some flexibility to move one of the outfielders too, without having to worry about a quick fix at first.

[traderumor]

Originally Posted by westofyou

Really?

I think a b/u 1st baseman this season isn't a bad idea, it ain't sexy and there ain't any blood to satisify the masses, but it's not as cut and dried as you paint it either.

This is a signing if viewed in isolation would seem to be a bleh move, but my first thought is that this move is anticipating some turnover in the outfield that will move the first baseman back to the outfield.