Off the top of my head ...

[M2]

Good thing none of the contenders in the NL or AL made a move for Adam Dunn. The .286, 9, 24, 1.085 August he's having sure would have put a crimp in their plans.

The Reds aren't a contender. They're the guy at your local dinner theater doing a bad Marlon Brando imitation saying "I coulda been a contender."

Guys like Jeff Keppinger make the end of the season fun. Brandon Phillips shooting for 30/30 is also a nice diversion.

Mike Stanton should have been traded last month for whatever. Now he's probably getting cut.

The mere fact that anyone in the Reds' front office thought Eddie Guardado would be able to help this season is a sure sign of lunacy.

Homer Bailey either has the most severe groin pull in history or the Reds aren't telling us something.

Aaron Harang better get a Cy Young vote or two this year.

Hopefully we get to see Brad Salmon and Marcus McBeth get more work with the Reds in September.

Have people seen enough of Phil Dumatrait yet to not want to see anymore of him?

Got to figure Johnny Cueto will get called up for a start or two after the IL playoffs. I think it's incredibly premature, but it seems there's no way around it.

The Cubs and Brewers seem helpless to keep the NL Central from the clutches of the St. Louis Cardinals.

I have no idea whether Bob Castellini intends to snatch Walt Jocketty and Tony LaRussa this offseason, but he couldn't pick better targets. LaRussa's in the midst of his best-ever coaching job and that's saying something.

[flyer85]

Originally Posted by M2

Mike Stanton should have been traded last month for whatever. Now he's probably getting cut.

If WK stays I would say he is a lock to start 2008 as a Red.

The mere fact that anyone in the Reds' front office thought Eddie Guardado would be able to help this season is a sure sign of lunacy.

The real lunacy is that they are evaluating him to determine if they should pick up his option.

[Caveat Emperor]

Off the top of MY head...

I think the Reds would be insane not to pick up Adam Dunn's option for 2008, and I think the team has finally realized that as well...

There's also this kid named Jay Bruce that apparently can play a little bit. Dunn, Griffey, Hamilton, and Bruce -- makes me wonder if this team is forever cursed to have one more outfielder than they can play...

Jeff Keppinger is fun to watch, but I'll still be upset when the team inevitably moves a player to make room for him in the everyday eight...

Is there any player less-likely to be a Red in 2008 than Edwin Encarnacion?

This rotation is overloaded with 5th starter talent...

If this is the real Bill Bray and this is the real Jared Burton, then maybe the bullpen has a chance to be not awful next season...

When the rosters expand, if I'm WK, I'm taking a long look at anyone who throws late innings at any level of the organization...

Brandon Phillips should be the new face of this franchise...

Nothing suggests that the NL Central will be any better next year than this year...

[RBA]

Usually when a team is overloaded with OF'ers, they put one at first base.

[TOBTTReds]

Originally Posted by RBA

Usually when a team is overloaded with OF'ers, they put one at first base.

Yeah, but two of them are awful OF'ers and it is no fun to play 1B so they are going to refuse to go there.

[BCubb2003]

Can I play too?

When Davey Concepcion threw out the first pitch, I expected him to bounce it off the turf.

It's not every day that the guy catching the first pitch is a Hall of Famer.

The more Cy Young votes Aaron Harang gets, the more expensive he'll be.

The '99 team got off to a bad start and had even worse starting pitching.

Reds fans to Astros fans: Our interim manager is better than yours.

Brandon Phillips is what Pokey Reese sees when he dreams.

Jeff Keppinger rocks. If he were president, he'd be Rockingham Lincoln.

[WVRedsFan]

Originally Posted by M2

Good thing none of the contenders in the NL or AL made a move for Adam Dunn. The .286, 9, 24, 1.085 August he's having sure would have put a crimp in their plans.

Yep. And what drives me nuts is that so few Reds fans see his value. No player who has ever hit 40 HR and driven in 100 runs has received less love anywhere in my memory.

The Reds aren't a contender. They're the guy at your local dinner theater doing a bad Marlon Brando imitation saying "I coulda been a contender."

Yep. But it's been fun, no? The sad part is many will think this club is just (or was just) a managerial change from being a winner. The reality will set in soon, but I'm going to ride this feeling for awhile and pretend.

Guys like Jeff Keppinger make the end of the season fun. Brandon Phillips shooting for 30/30 is also a nice diversion.

Yep. And Kepp, as much as he brings to the table, is fool's gold. He will be a great bench player. Phillips appears to be the real thing. Enjoy it while you can Reds fans because when the club has to negoitiate with him via arbitration or LTC, and he starts making what he's worth, he'll become public enemy #1 among Reds fans. We don't need no high priced players regardless of how good they are, right?

Mike Stanton should have been traded last month for whatever. Now he's probably getting cut.

Stanton is untradeable. No other club but the Reds would have given him a multi-year contract. And mark this one down. If Krivsky stays, Stanton stays. Krivsky has much love for old players.

The mere fact that anyone in the Reds' front office thought Eddie Guardado would be able to help this season is a sure sign of lunacy.

Krivsky loves Eddie and is willing to do most anything to make sure he succeeds. The lunacy will continue IMHO.

Homer Bailey either has the most severe groin pull in history or the Reds aren't telling us something.

Yep. The secrecy of this club amazes me. If he's hurt, he's hurt and tell us. At least keep us posted. It almost like everything is a top secret with this organization. It need not be.

Aaron Harang better get a Cy Young vote or two this year.

Maybe a couple. When Brad Penny's pitching like he is, you never know. And besides Aaron's not the kind of guy to say "notice me". And the PR department doesn't do enough to push him.

Hopefully we get to see Brad Salmon and Marcus McBeth get more work with the Reds in September.

Not if Stanton and Guardado are available. Remember, Wayne signed them. He's praying they come around.

Have people seen enough of Phil Dumatrait yet to not want to see anymore of him?

Yep to the thousanth power.

Got to figure Johnny Cueto will get called up for a start or two after the IL playoffs. I think it's incredibly premature, but it seems there's no way around it.

The way around it is to not bring him up. Wait a minute. Who brought him here (I forget). It will all depend on that.

The Cubs and Brewers seem helpless to keep the NL Central from the clutches of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Truer words were never spoken. And they'll probably win the Series again.

I have no idea whether Bob Castellini intends to snatch Walt Jocketty and Tony LaRussa this offseason, but he couldn't pick better targets. LaRussa's in the midst of his best-ever coaching job and that's saying something.

Be careful. LaRussa is the anti-Christ among Reds fans, but I agree. Give me guys who have won something. But guys who do that cost money and, you know, we're a small market team and can't afford that. And if we do, there's hell to pay for it.

[camisadelgolf]

Defense may win some championships, but at this rate, Keppinger's and Valentin's bats are going to give you a much better chance.
When Harang and Arroyo aren't starting, would it be possible for the Reds to sabotage their own stadium in an effort to get the games postponed?
It would cost millions of dollars to bring LaRussa to the Reds: Would you rather spend that money on LaRussa or a mediocre, over-priced pitcher?
Did Pete Rose ever bet on dog-fighting?
If the Reds play better without pressure, maybe they should trade Harang so no one ever thinks they have a chance to compete.
Can the Reds trade Chris Dickerson to the Bengals for draft picks?
So let me get this straight: Homer Bailey has hardly pitched lately because he has "personal" and "groin" problems? I wonder if he's really been itching to play . . .

[Hoosier Red]

Originally Posted by BCubb2003

Can I play too?

It seems you've touched on a familiar genre of post before.

[Benihana]

Off the top of my head, Wayne has brought in:

Brandon Phillips
Josh Hamilton
Bronson Arroyo
Bill Bray
Jorge Cantu
Daryl Thompson
Matt Maloney
David Ross
Jeff Keppinger
Jared Burton
Scott Hatteberg
Alex Gonzalez

While giving up:

Austin Kearns
Felipe Lopez
Wily Mo Pena
Brendan Harris
Zach Ward
and a whole lot of nothing

He also signed Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo to below market long term extensions (well below in Harang's case)

Yes, he did also bring in Rheal Cormier, Mike Stanton, Gary Majewski and a few other stinkers, and (especially in hindsight) he did call up Homer Bailey way too early. But in my opinion, those follies are not nearly enough to wipe out the good he has done. Put me in favor of keeping Krivsky around for at least another year.

[Rojo]

AGon/Kepp/EdE? Do we have to solve it now? What's wrong with going into spring training with a little depth and a whole lot of competition?

Votto's far from a slam dunk.

If you pick up the options for Hatte and Weathers, you pick up Dunn's.

Assuming we do pick up all the options, Javy, Dunn, Ross, Hatte, Jr, Stanton and Weathers will all be in walk years. That could make next July better than this one.

Speaking of team options, WK sure digs them. That's good, I like them too.

I KNEW the problem with the bullpen was Narron.

[Joseph]

Originally Posted by BCubb2003

It's not every day that the guy catching the first pitch is a Hall of Famer.

Not completely on the topic as set forth by M2, but I can say I've seen JB catch a ceremonial first pitch probably 3 or 4 times the past couple seasons. He did one for Seaver last year I know for sure, and I confident I've seen others 'recently' too.

[SunDeck]

Did Pete Rose ever bet on dog-fighting?

There was a lot of dog fighting in the tri-state back in the 80's. Pete wouldn't have missed out on the action.
He'd bet against gravity if the odds were right.

[Roy Tucker]

Originally Posted by M2

Homer Bailey either has the most severe groin pull in history or the Reds aren't telling us something.

You never know. Young men are known for pulling their groin severely.

[RedLegSuperStar]

Off the top of my head..

Brandon Phillips is on pace for 30 HR's / 30 SB's while coming close to driving in 100 Runs. He has a multi hit game in his last 5 games (11-20) while batting .550. Oh yeah.. he's playing Gold Glove defense.