Bruce, Votto, Cueto & Bailey

[RedEye]

I know this has been discussed before in various places, but I wanted to raise the issue one more time:

Circa 2007, the Reds had four blue chip prospects awaiting callups: Jay Bruce, Homer Bailey, Joey Votto and Johnny Cueto. I, for one, was very excited to see them play -- but I certainly did not expect all four of them to pan out as they have.

As we sit on the verge of the second playoff appearance driven by this talented quartet of players developed in-house, I want to reflect on the rarity of what we have all just seen. Not only did the team have four tip-top prospects (a feat in itself) but ALL of them have to date become above-average contributors to the major league team. It is also worth nothing the following three names on the list -- Stubbs, Mesoraco, Frazier -- are still with the team as well, making positive contributions in some regard.

What are the comparable groups to this historically on the Reds? On other teams? What are their chances of prolonging a window of winning into the current decade?

[RedEye]

I suppose a comparable crop would the the 2009-10 Royals with Moustakas, Hosmer, Myers and Crow?

[BCubb2003]

Going by drafts, the 1969 draft of Gullett, Eastwick, Griffey and Grimsley is not too shabby. But Gullett went right to the bigs and the others came later.

[Superdude]

Amazing how far Cueto and Votto have come. It seems like inflated scouting reports always leave me a little underwhelmed when most guys hit the pros, but those two have exceeded anyone's wildest imagination and then some. If you'd have said Votto would be a 1.000 OPS bat and Cueto would be a Cy Young type pitcher five years ago, you would've been laughed at.

[Steve4192]

Originally Posted by RedEye

It is also worth nothing the following three names on the list -- Stubbs, Mesoraco, Frazier -- are still with the team as well, making positive contributions in some regard.

You could also argue that Francisco and Roenicke are contributing to the team as well, with Francisco being flipped for JJ Hoover and Roenicke being part of the package that brought Scott Rolen.

[Steve4192]

As far as similar Reds prospect classes, I'd say the 1984/1985 classes would rank up there. Eric Davis got his first cup of coffee in 1984, Barry Larkin was drafted 4th overall in 1985, Tom Browning had his 20 win rookie season in 1985, Paul O'Neill got a sip of coffee in 1985, and Rob Dibble, Chris Sabo & Joe Oliver were bouncing around in the minors as recent early draft picks. Kurt Stillwell was also a big prospect for the Reds at the time, and he was eventually flipped for Danny Jackson.

[Steve4192]

Originally Posted by BCubb2003

Going by drafts, the 1969 draft of Gullett, Eastwick, Griffey and Grimsley is not too shabby. But Gullett went right to the bigs and the others came later.

The 1983 draft class was pretty damn solid.

Kurt Stillwell (traded for Danny Jackson )
Chris Sabo
Joe Oliver
Mike Montgomery (traded for Van Snider )
Rob Dibble

[Big Klu]

Originally Posted by Steve4192

The 1983 draft class was pretty damn solid.

Kurt Stillwell (traded for Danny Jackson )
Chris Sabo
Joe Oliver
Mike Montgomery (traded for Van Snider )
Rob Dibble

However, Van Snider was later included in the trade with the Yankees for Hal Morris.

[RedEye]

I suppose the "Crown Jewels" of the mid-1980s were comparable -- Davis, Larkin, Stillwell, O'Neill, Jones, Daniels, etc. The problem was that they didn't really have any good pitching to speak of... and I don't think they could be called "blue chip" prospects all at the same time. I guess my point is that the Reds had/have a pretty rare circumstance with these four guys all emerging at the same time.

[Steve4192]

Originally Posted by RedEye

I suppose the "Crown Jewels" of the mid-1980s were comparable -- Davis, Larkin, Stillwell, O'Neill, Jones, Daniels, etc. The problem was that they didn't really have any good pitching to speak of

While they didn't draft-and-develop any blue chip arms, they did a fantastic job of flipping extraneous bats for blue-chip arms. Getting Rijo and Jackson for an over-the-hill Dave Parker and Kurt Stillwell was a stroke of genius.

... and I don't think they could be called "blue chip" prospects all at the same time.

I won't argue with that. In hindsight, those guys were all good major leaguers, but many of them were considered disappointments as minor leaguers and didn't blossom until after they hit the majors.

[westofyou]

1970 Reds

CINCINNATI REDS
SEASON
1970
AGE <= 27
AGE displayed only--not a sorting criteria

GAMES                            G       AGE    
1    Johnny Bench                158       22   
2    Lee May                     153       27   
3    Bobby Tolan                 152       24   
4    Bernie Carbo                125       22   
5    Dave Concepcion             101       22   
6    Woody Woodward              100       27   
7    Hal McRae                    70       24   
8    Wayne Granger                67       26   
9    Angel Bravo                  65       27   
10   Darrel Chaney                57       22   
11   Don Gullett                  44       19   
12   Gary Nolan                   37       22   
T13  Jim McGlothlin               35       26   
T13  Jim Merritt                  35       26   
15   Wayne Simpson                27       21   
16   Pedro Borbon                 12       23   
17   John Noriega                  8       26   
18   Frank Duffy                   6       23   
T19  Mel Behney                    5       22   
T19  Milt Wilcox                   5       20   
21   Bill Plummer                  4       23

1925 A's

GAMES                       G       AGE    
Al Simmons                  153       23   
Mickey Cochrane             134       22   
Max Bishop                  105       25   
Eddie Rommel                 52       27   
Lefty Grove                  45       25    
Jimmie Foxx                  10       17

[Dan]

Originally Posted by westofyou

1970 Reds

CINCINNATI REDS
SEASON
1970
AGE <= 27
AGE displayed only--not a sorting criteria

GAMES                            G       AGE    
1    Johnny Bench                158       22   
2    Lee May                     153       27   
3    Bobby Tolan                 152       24   
4    Bernie Carbo                125       22   
5    Dave Concepcion             101       22   
6    Woody Woodward              100       27   
7    Hal McRae                    70       24   
8    Wayne Granger                67       26   
9    Angel Bravo                  65       27   
10   Darrel Chaney                57       22   
11   Don Gullett                  44       19   
12   Gary Nolan                   37       22   
T13  Jim McGlothlin               35       26   
T13  Jim Merritt                  35       26   
15   Wayne Simpson                27       21   
16   Pedro Borbon                 12       23   
17   John Noriega                  8       26   
18   Frank Duffy                   6       23   
T19  Mel Behney                    5       22   
T19  Milt Wilcox                   5       20   
21   Bill Plummer                  4       23

Wilcox was a key member of the 1983 Tigers WS team pitching staff.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Dan

Wilcox was a key member of the 1983 Tigers WS team pitching staff.

1984, but yes

[Dan]

Originally Posted by mth123

1984, but yes

Oops. Yeah, 1984.

[Tom Servo]

I wasn't a big Krivsky fan but big ups to him for not trading away these guys for Erik Bedard, Joe Blanton, or any other schmuck that would have set us back several years.