ESPN 2020 Simulation with Bauer getting 44 starts

[Crosley68]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/sto...team-signs-him

Spoiler, Bauer goes 25-7, Castillo 17-8, Gray 17-8, Reds run away with division

I found this very eye-opening

[BillDoran]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/sto...team-signs-him

Spoiler, Bauer goes 25-7, Castillo 17-8, Gray 17-8, Reds run away with division

I found this very eye-opening

It was really good roster. You can make good arguments the bats would have come around in a full season (as the simulation does) or that Bell simply didn't get much out of the team, but no matter how you look at it, that 2020 team was built to compete. It's a real bummer that COVID robbed us of a full season and also what was likely the best team we'll see in a while underachieved to such a degree.

[Old school 1983]

The team was just hitting its stride. I have no doubt they run away with the division in a normal year.

[CaiGuy]

It was really good roster. You can make good arguments the bats would have come around in a full season (as the simulation does) or that Bell simply didn't get much out of the team, but no matter how you look at it, that 2020 team was built to compete. It's a real bummer that COVID robbed us of a full season and also what was likely the best team we'll see in a while underachieved to such a degree.

Bauer, Castillo, Gray, Malhe, Miley is a heck of a rotation.

[BillDoran]

Bauer, Castillo, Gray, Malhe, Miley is a heck of a rotation.

Suarez, Castellanos, Winker, Moustakus, Senzel, Akiyama, Votto and Galvis ain't chopped liver either.

[WrongVerb]

I would take adding Bauer over adding a FA or expensive Story for SS. Is that even possible?

[bing]

Suarez, Castellanos, Winker, Moustakus, Senzel, Akiyama, Votto and Galvis ain't chopped liver either.

Scoring 0 runs in the playoffs...and generally being the worst offense in baseball says otherwise...

[savafan]

I would take adding Bauer over adding a FA or expensive Story for SS. Is that even possible?

I'm leaning in this direction as well. Ride or die with Garcia

[BillDoran]

Scoring 0 runs in the playoffs...and generally being the worst offense in baseball says otherwise...

I mean, that's kinda the point of the simulation. It shows us either there was lots of bad luck (and they were due for a bounce back) or something went awry. On paper, it made a lot of sense.

[Ron Madden]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/sto...team-signs-him

Spoiler, Bauer goes 25-7, Castillo 17-8, Gray 17-8, Reds run away with division

I found this very eye-opening

Jeff Passan
@JeffPassan
This is pretty fascinating. Brad gamed out what a full season of Bauer going on three days’ rest regularly would look like. He’d get 44 starts, and the Nos. 2-4 pitchers really wouldn’t have much of a negative effect at all. His starts would come from the No. 5 slot.

[UPRedsFan]

I would take adding Bauer over adding a FA or expensive Story for SS. Is that even possible?

Absolutely. Take another run with Bauer, Castillo, Gray, Miley, Mahle.
Go get Galvis or Jordy Mercer and mixmatch with Farmer. Adding Stephenson helps the lineup and Shogo was certainly coming on strong in September. It'll be a better offense in 2021 with new Shogo, and old Suarez. Good enough to win with that rotation.

But how to outbid LA?

[Kc61]

I would take adding Bauer over adding a FA or expensive Story for SS. Is that even possible?

There’s no question, agree. Bauer is the most significant player Reds have had since Votto joined the team. I doubt Reds can add anyone at shortstop likely to have as much impact.

Wonderful article for those who subscribe. Very complimentary to Reds and pitching coach Johnson. I particularly liked the discussion how Reds’ rotation as a whole would function with Bauer starting on three days’ rest.

If Bauer leaves, he’ll be missed, always tied to Reds as their first Cy Young winner.

[Bob Sheed]

It was fun watching Bauer pitch as a Red. Just filthy stuff and the swagger was amusing too.

[Kingspoint]

Why only 44 Starts? Why not 162 Starts?

[mth123]

Why only 44 Starts? Why not 162 Starts?

Yeah. If we are going to make a simulation with unrealistic assumptions, just go for it.