SoCalRed
05-26-2002, 02:46 AM
First and foremost, Adam Dunn is quickly developing into a complete baseball superstar. His plate discipline for someone his age is uncanny. Bonds didn't have it at the same stage. Not even close. Dunn's power may be unequaled at the ML level right now. Not in total distance but in force/velocity. Pitchers are clearly afraid of throwing something hard down the middle against him. You could see it in the ninth inning.
The ball he hit against Marquis in the middle innings was quite possibly one of the hardest hit bombs I've ever seen. My father was at the game and he said the only person he'd ever seen hit the ball that hard was Richie Allen. I watched it replayed on my TIVO a number of times and it was just amazing. And the word is starting to get around that you don't run on the kid no matter what. He has a canon, and he also has incredible accuracy--just ask Chipper.
I never thought I'd say this, but if the Reds trade Juan E it will be akin to when they let Frank Robinson get away. I know he's never done anything to show that he'll continue this kind of play over a full major league season, but I gotta tell y'all-- he is a different hitter now. He use to get hung out to dry on curveballs. Not anymore. He's keeping his hands and hips in check all through the power zone. Balls he gets fooled on he hits hard and through the middle.
He has blazing speed and he really seems to be giving his all. His defense is awesome and he's taking charge in the outfield. In my mind there is no reason to take him out of centerfield anytime soon. Move Junior to leftfield. He's only 26 years old and just coming into his own. I'd love to see the Reds sign this dude to a two year contract. If he falters they can trade him or just go with another five tooler they have stockpiled in the minors. He surely provides the Reds with a lot of
It is past time to move Sean Casey. Listen folks, I love the guy. He means so much to the Queen City. He is a loveable, blue collar, big fat dude who happens to hit line drives everywhere and will be a no doubt career .300+ hitter. But he doesn't hit homeruns and resultingly doesn't drive in enough runs. How in the world does it make any sense to have a lefthanded hitting first baseman with no power when your team is entering into a new stadium with a 302' "short porch" right field fence? It doesn't. Plain and simple.
So for all the great things Sean does at the plate and in the clubhouse, the Reds will be a better team with Adam Dunn at first, Juan E playing everyday alongside Kearns,Junior and of course the starting pitcher they'll get for Casey. Can anybody really prove that keeping Casey is the logical thing to do?(not counting his contract as a factor).
Pitching...Pitching....Pitching. When are the Reds going to get Jimmy Haynes out of their rotation? Surely Brian Reith is better than this guy. OK, he won today, but dude is serving up gophers. He is getting by on smoke and mirrors. The Reds have far too much quality bully depth to not go out and get another decent starting pitcher. What is Bowden waiting for?
The only thing I can think is that this "EOD" experiment with Junior over the next week or so is a smokescreen to eventually make a bigtime trade getting some starting arms. With Williamson and Pineda in the bully, is Danny Graves really needed as the closer? No. Where does Jeff Shaw fit into the equation. He's coming and soon.
Speaking of Graves, is it not worth at least trying him as a starter? As good a groundball pitcher as he is, why not give him a shot?
Well I'm falling asleep as I type this. My prediction tomorrow is that the Reds hammer Greg Maddux. Don't know why, but just have a suspicion.
Everyone's thoughts?
SCR
The ball he hit against Marquis in the middle innings was quite possibly one of the hardest hit bombs I've ever seen. My father was at the game and he said the only person he'd ever seen hit the ball that hard was Richie Allen. I watched it replayed on my TIVO a number of times and it was just amazing. And the word is starting to get around that you don't run on the kid no matter what. He has a canon, and he also has incredible accuracy--just ask Chipper.
I never thought I'd say this, but if the Reds trade Juan E it will be akin to when they let Frank Robinson get away. I know he's never done anything to show that he'll continue this kind of play over a full major league season, but I gotta tell y'all-- he is a different hitter now. He use to get hung out to dry on curveballs. Not anymore. He's keeping his hands and hips in check all through the power zone. Balls he gets fooled on he hits hard and through the middle.
He has blazing speed and he really seems to be giving his all. His defense is awesome and he's taking charge in the outfield. In my mind there is no reason to take him out of centerfield anytime soon. Move Junior to leftfield. He's only 26 years old and just coming into his own. I'd love to see the Reds sign this dude to a two year contract. If he falters they can trade him or just go with another five tooler they have stockpiled in the minors. He surely provides the Reds with a lot of
It is past time to move Sean Casey. Listen folks, I love the guy. He means so much to the Queen City. He is a loveable, blue collar, big fat dude who happens to hit line drives everywhere and will be a no doubt career .300+ hitter. But he doesn't hit homeruns and resultingly doesn't drive in enough runs. How in the world does it make any sense to have a lefthanded hitting first baseman with no power when your team is entering into a new stadium with a 302' "short porch" right field fence? It doesn't. Plain and simple.
So for all the great things Sean does at the plate and in the clubhouse, the Reds will be a better team with Adam Dunn at first, Juan E playing everyday alongside Kearns,Junior and of course the starting pitcher they'll get for Casey. Can anybody really prove that keeping Casey is the logical thing to do?(not counting his contract as a factor).
Pitching...Pitching....Pitching. When are the Reds going to get Jimmy Haynes out of their rotation? Surely Brian Reith is better than this guy. OK, he won today, but dude is serving up gophers. He is getting by on smoke and mirrors. The Reds have far too much quality bully depth to not go out and get another decent starting pitcher. What is Bowden waiting for?
The only thing I can think is that this "EOD" experiment with Junior over the next week or so is a smokescreen to eventually make a bigtime trade getting some starting arms. With Williamson and Pineda in the bully, is Danny Graves really needed as the closer? No. Where does Jeff Shaw fit into the equation. He's coming and soon.
Speaking of Graves, is it not worth at least trying him as a starter? As good a groundball pitcher as he is, why not give him a shot?
Well I'm falling asleep as I type this. My prediction tomorrow is that the Reds hammer Greg Maddux. Don't know why, but just have a suspicion.
Everyone's thoughts?
SCR