Nick Krall Weighing SS Options

[REDREAD]

The rotation is undoubtedly going to take a massive hit at the top, yet the fifth starter could negate some of that by being better than replacement level. (Miley and DeSclafani were horrid in their 40+ IP.) The pen is unfinished, IMO, and a total crapshoot.

Completely agree. The Reds last year were counting on Miley to be that BOR that could win about half his starts. Instead, he only started 4 times and was 0-3. I would hope the plan for 2021 is to have Miley be a mop up guy out of the pen.
Assuming Lorenzen is already in the rotation with Mahle, Gray and Castillo.. there's still a big hole in that #5 spot.
Maybe Antone takes that spot, but that leaves a huge hole in the pen that already needs reinforcing.

I think the best way for the Reds to improve the team is to add a decent starting pitcher. The second best thing to do is to reinforce the bullpen. SS could be backfilled by a cheap veteran or even Farmer. Sure it would be great to add a front line SS, but assuming the Reds have limited funds, I am not sure that spending most of their payflex on a SS is the way to go.

As others have said, we are counting on the 7 non-SS position players to be healthy and work better as an offensive unit next year. (In 2020, they ranked 28th in runs scored per game). If that doesn't happen, then adding Simmons or Didi really isn't going to matter, IMO..

[Bourgeois Zee]

Completely agree. The Reds last year were counting on Miley to be that BOR that could win about half his starts. Instead, he only started 4 times and was 0-3. I would hope the plan for 2021 is to have Miley be a mop up guy out of the pen.
Assuming Lorenzen is already in the rotation with Mahle, Gray and Castillo.. there's still a big hole in that #5 spot.
Maybe Antone takes that spot, but that leaves a huge hole in the pen that already needs reinforcing.

I think the best way for the Reds to improve the team is to add a decent starting pitcher. The second best thing to do is to reinforce the bullpen. SS could be backfilled by a cheap veteran or even Farmer. Sure it would be great to add a front line SS, but assuming the Reds have limited funds, I am not sure that spending most of their payflex on a SS is the way to go.

As others have said, we are counting on the 7 non-SS position players to be healthy and work better as an offensive unit next year. (In 2020, they ranked 28th in runs scored per game). If that doesn't happen, then adding Simmons or Didi really isn't going to matter, IMO..

Finding a good SS would be far easier and more likely to pay off than a fifth pitcher.

Besides, Miley should be better, and Antone showed promise.

I reject the line of thinking that the Reds are or should skimp on a SS in the hopes the other players will be healthier and work better as an offense. Krall has denied your take as well, fwiw. Moose, Catellanos, and Suarez should be improved. Akiyama probably will as well. Winker and Votto should be about the same or slightly worse. Barnhart's not good either way. Senzel has upside. Among them, Krall is expecting a small improvement. The majority of the improvement, though, likely comes from the spot where the Reds were replacement level last season. That's SS.

[bing]

Finding a good SS would be far easier and more likely to pay off than a fifth pitcher.

Besides, Miley should be better, and Antone showed promise.

I reject the line of thinking that the Reds are or should skimp on a SS in the hopes the other players will be healthier and work better as an offense. Krall has denied your take as well, fwiw. Moose, Catellanos, and Suarez should be improved. Akiyama probably will as well. Winker and Votto should be about the same or slightly worse. Barnhart's not good either way. Senzel has upside. Among them, Krall is expecting a small improvement. The majority of the improvement, though, likely comes from the spot where the Reds were replacement level last season. That's SS.

Could just pay Bauer. Get a 1st pitcher instead He's easy to find and would pay off.

[REDREAD]

Finding a good SS would be far easier and more likely to pay off than a fifth pitcher.

Besides, Miley should be better, and Antone showed promise.

I reject the line of thinking that the Reds are or should skimp on a SS in the hopes the other players will be healthier and work better as an offense. Krall has denied your take as well, fwiw. Moose, Catellanos, and Suarez should be improved. Akiyama probably will as well. Winker and Votto should be about the same or slightly worse. Barnhart's not good either way. Senzel has upside. Among them, Krall is expecting a small improvement. The majority of the improvement, though, likely comes from the spot where the Reds were replacement level last season. That's SS.

Yea, I know Krall and the majority of the forum disagrees with me, but the Reds were below replacement level at the 5th starter and some bullpen guys last year too.
If the Reds offense rebounds as much as we hope, we can carry a 700 OPS bat at SS. It's not optimal, I would like a better SS, but funds are limited. Hopefully it all works out.. Either Miley or someone else gets us the improvement in the back of the rotation.

I just remember Krall/Williams saying the offense was the problem last offseason. Well, they added some bats, and the offense still underperformed. I have an open mind, but Krall has to show me that he knows how to build a team. I know there's debate over how much Krall did and how much Williams did, but even if you start Krall off with a clean slate when Williams quit, he has not been impressive yet.. Note, I am saying there will probably be more moves this offseason, I am just waiting for a good one.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Yea, I know Krall and the majority of the forum disagrees with me, but the Reds were below replacement level at the 5th starter and some bullpen guys last year too.

They have "replacement" fifth starters who already project to be substantially better than the fifth starters last season.

They have no one at shortstop.

As far as I now, you can't play with ghost men at the major league level.

[Big Klu]

They have "replacement" fifth starters who already project to be substantially better than the fifth starters last season.

They have no one at shortstop.

As far as I now, you can't play with ghost men at the major league level.

Except in extra innings.

[WrongVerb]

Nine evaluators rank shortstops Didi Gregorius, Marcus Semien, Andrelton Simmons

Shortstop survey says
Didi Gregorius -- 36 (5)
Marcus Semien -- 27 (3)
Andrelton Simmons -- 18 (1)

[Redsfan6272]

Krall failed his assignment, DiDi will go back to Phiily before even thinking of signing to play for the Reds now..

[Reds Freak]

Krall failed his assignment, DiDi will go back to Phiily before even thinking of signing to play for the Reds now..

DiDi won't come here now? Maybe he won't end up a Red, but why would other SS signing elsewhere impact him coming here?

[membengal]

Must be tough for Bob to walk the tightrope between being cheap and not being perceived as being cheap...

This is still so on point and so damn good. Should be on a t-shirt.

[membengal]

This is what they should be doing. The iron is hot. Strike.

They should be doing the same thing the Padres are doing, asking "why not us?"

(Channeling Rorschach...)

BobC: And I shall whisper, no.

[MikeS21]

It’s always easy to spend someone else’s money ...

[Bourgeois Zee]

It’s always easy to spend someone else’s money ...

When he's not spending it?

When you're one of the guys who's giving him the cash?

Look, it's certainly a choice for him to pocket the extra $20 million he jettisoned from not really paying his players for 2020 when raking in millions himself that he refuses to divulge. But he's cutting off his nose to spite his face if he does.

[Z-Fly]

It’s always easy to spend someone else’s money ...

I usually agree with this, but the team is expected to contend for the division, and there isn't a SS on the team. I think it's worth a question or two.

[Benihana]

It’s always easy to spend someone else’s money ...

If you don’t want random customers pining to spend your money, don’t buy a professional sports team.

Castellini’s finances are hurting, both in the Reds division and in his core business. The pandemic changed a lot of people’s situations. If he can no longer make the spending commitment that is necessary to field a contending team, he should sell the team, and do it now while there is still a solid core that could contend. The city deserves better.

On the flip side, my fear is he is now forced to overpay/overcommit to DiDi, and sign him up to a 3 or 4 year deal that the rest of the team cannot afford, and as a result is forced to jettison good players in the next 12 months (ie the Moustakas/Castellanos signings all over again). A one year deal for a SS was so obviously the right move last year and this year. And the Reds had ample opportunities to get it done, as DiDi, Semien and Simmons all accepted one year deals during that timeframe.