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View Full Version : My opening day Roster and why, 1/29/03



geo_j
01-29-2003, 08:03 PM
Asuuming no major trades are yet to happen and the 25 man roster will have to come from players currently uunder the Reds control here is who I see go north,

Pitching--- Rotation---

Graves, will be opening day pitcher.
Dempster, Will be the number two man in spite of a poor spring
Haynes, the Reds are committed to him with that dumb players option.
Wilson equally dumb back loaded contract.
Harnish--- This years Portugal but will make it out of Spring Training.

BULLPEN

Williamson--- will be named closer and will keep it as long as he finds the plate.

Reidling--- Will give Willy run for his money, but will be the set up man unless willy's can't keep the plate

Reitsma---Not enough consistancy to start will flurish in the Pen, might become an excellen closer.

Rijo--- Will make it as the long-mop up man

Chen-- One of two lefty's will be used in longer situations.


Heridia-- Will be the Lefty specialist.

The Reds IMHO will carry just 11 pitchers out of ST, however will probablly go to 12 early.


CATCHER

Larue Will be the starter

Stinnet--- His contract makes him Unlikely to be traded.


Infield

Casey--- If healthy the everyday first baseman.

Boone--Will suprise everyone with his fielding at second, also will get off to a good start.

Larkin--- I think has one last all star year in him will have excellent season.

Larson--- the Reds are committed to him as opening day third baseman.

Castro--- Untradable, will be the back up middle infielder.

Dawkins-- Out of options, will stick as second back up infielder and speed off the bench.

Backup corner infielder,,, This has me stumped Ideally this spot calls for some one who can play first and third both. Which would be Branyon, However he will start out on the DL. The Reds might Keep Lopez, but I think he is best served but playing everyday. Danny Leon signed elsewhere. This is the Spot that might be sacrified if we carry 12 pitchers. This Blanco that we picked up from Boston might fill this role if he comes out hot in ST.

OUTFIELD.

Griffey--If healthy he is the everyday Center fielder.

Kearns--Another no Brainer.

Dunn-- Is Starting Left fielder unless Casey was traded.

Taylor--- Better then alot think, If he learned to bunt in the instructional league could of great value as number four OF. Also the only true centerfield back up.

Mateo-- Out of Options will be #5 OF unless included in a trade.



Notable Missing men---

Popokec--- DL
Davis-AAA standing by for a failuer in lefty relief or rotation.
Acevado---AAA-- First callup when starter fails
Basham---Top big a jump from A to the majors.
Merker--Nothing left
White---Too expensive for too little, will be traded.
Sullivan---see White


Miller--Has options doomed to AAA. Will see time when injury happens.

Sardinha---AA-- Hopefully willl do well, will be out of options next year, which might doom Miller to AAA again.


Lopez. See above will be best serve by starting every day in AAA, If Larkin goes down or Boone goes back to third look for Lopes to start.

Branyon DL. Will be on DL first month of season and rehab. If Larson doing well he might end up being traded, other wise platoon with Brandon.


Pena--- DL until the Augest, rehab until the end of the month Active for only September.

Guelian-- Non Garenteed contract seals his fait, will be cut at the end of the spring.

Boss-Hog
01-29-2003, 08:44 PM
I believe Blanco hit something like .210 in A ball last year. He has absolutely 0 chance to make the roster, no matter how hot a spring he has, IMO.

Greenhills Pioneer
01-29-2003, 09:51 PM
IMO signing Haynes was a bad move. By signing Haynes, either Reitsma or Chen, who are better, must go to the bullpen to make room for the lesser, more expensive veteran. I don't know if it makes much sense to take your best starter from last season(Reitsma) and make him a middle reliever.

But I guess Haynes is here to stay, so here is my rotation:

Dempster
Graves
Wilson
Chen/Reitsma
Haynes

Harnisch will have to earn his spot. I'm a big fan of his, but the rotation is overcrowded as it is.

Gabe and Sully stay because they Reds won't unload their contracts.

I would rather keep Merker than Rijo. Sorry Jose, you gotta earn your spot. If Merker can get LH hitters out, he stays if there is room. I don't know if there will be. Does Chen have options?

Kc61
01-29-2003, 11:19 PM
My two problems with your roster are Rijo and Dawkins/Castro. Keep Sullivan or White and let Rijo retire. Sell, trade or waive either Dawkins or Castro.

Boss-Hog
01-30-2003, 12:00 AM
I don't know if it makes much sense to take your best starter from last season(Reitsma) and make him a middle reliever.

I think Dessens was our best starter last year.

But I agree with you that Reitsma should be a starter unless Williamson proves he can't handle the closer's role. Reitsma would be my second choice to close if Willy can't...in that case, they switch roles.

Also, I'm agreement with somehow dumping Castro (preferably) or Dawkins (get what you can now - he ain't gonna get any better riding the pine). Rijo, as incredible a story as his comeback has been, should also have to earn his spot on the team.

Boss

icehole3
01-30-2003, 06:50 PM
Before its all said and done I think Branyan will have a breakout year.He and Kearns have the most upside on this club IMO.

Rojo
01-30-2003, 07:05 PM
Eat Castro's contract. Lopez has to come north and I'm still not ready to give up Gookie for nothing (ok, I'm an idiot).

guernsey
02-10-2003, 08:23 AM
Mateo-- Out of Options will be #5 OF unless included in a trade.


I know I've been stating that Ruben is out of options since late last season, but that is wrong. In yesterday's Enquirer it was written that Ruben could be an odd man out because he still has options, so I decided to check.

Ruben was first called up to Texas in 1999, played for a month, and then basically spent the rest of the season on the DL, so he wasn't optioned after his call up.

In 2000, he started the year with Texas, played for two months, and then broke his leg and was out for the rest of the season. So he wan't optioned that year, eigher.

So, the only two years he has been optioned are '01 and '02. That leaves him with an option for '03. With Wily Mo starting the year on the DL, Ruben may make the Reds out of spring training if he can beat out Guillen. But when/if Wily Mo has to be activated, look for Ruben to head down to Louisville.

RollyInRaleigh
02-10-2003, 08:33 AM
As usual, good info, guernsey.:thumbup: