Nm
Last edited by Benihana; 08-05-2021 at 05:07 PM.
Go BLUE!!!
Benihana (08-05-2021),New Fever (08-05-2021),RedTeamGo! (08-05-2021)
Edd Roush (08-06-2021),Mitri (08-06-2021),RiverRat13 (08-06-2021)
Love the production this year from the top of this list.
Hendrick has gotten his OPS up to 800 after a pitiful start. He’s doing it with a 404 OBP so showing a solid approach. I think the hits will come the more he plays.
Are witnessing the minor league system make a turn for the better in development?
India and Stephenson have both been very good rookies. Barrero keeps taking steps forward and looks great. Lodolo and Greene continue to meet lofty expectations.
Ashcraft has come out of nowhere to become an interesting prospect. There are a lot of guys, including the recent first rounders Hendrick and McClain, that it's still too early to tell, but there are enough of them to remain optimistic.
Not sure if it's the surprising success of both India or Stephenson, but it's got me optimistic about the future of the club. It seemed like for ages, guys sputtered or got injured or whatever on a pretty regular basis. Between India, Stephenson, Barrero, Lodolo and Greene, it feels like the Reds might have developed five first division starters. Incalculably important for a perpetually cash-strapped organization.
*BaseClogger* (08-06-2021),Benihana (08-06-2021)
It doesn’t even have to be that the development is great. Sometimes it’s just the fact that they didn’t screw the pooch when drafting in the top 10, Barrero aside. That’s not intended to be a backhanded compliment - it’s so important to nail those high picks when you have them and not get cute.
Griffey012 (08-06-2021)
But the point is, they've botched this for years. There was a well-researched 2019 Baseball America article that said the Reds were the worst draft-and-develop team in all of baseball.
Feel free to chalk it up to the absence of something. I'm open to the idea that the post-Jocketty focus on development may be paying dividends. There's no way of saying what it is now, but it feels like there's a critical mass of talent in the minors, and the last time that happened was the mini-run in the early 2010s.
Also, let Reds fans have a little optimism, you know, as a treat.
*BaseClogger* (08-06-2021),Griffey012 (08-06-2021),RedTeamGo! (08-06-2021)
I don’t know if “let Reds fans have a little optimism was directed at me,” but I digress.
I do think the Reds development has ascended off of abysmal levels. I am very happy with things as they stand today - as an aside in Boddy’s AMA he mentioned his contract expires after this year and his 2022 status is TBD.
But look at the 2018 MLB draft and India, arguably the most valuable of the players you mentioned.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018...Baseball_draft
If the draft were re-held today, I’d argue India would be pick #2, behind Kelenic, of course that’s a moving target and I’m not so sure India wouldn’t go #1 given his performance. The Reds were both fortuitous and wise with their pick.
So I don’t think it’s a chicken or the egg thing in regards to drafting and development, but rather a bit of both. You gotta have the opportunity to, and pick the right player. I just don’t want that aspect glossed over.
Last edited by kaldaniels; 08-06-2021 at 03:10 PM.
And to think that a lot of us were not happy the Reds selected Jonathan India ...
“I think I throw the ball as hard as anyone. The ball just doesn't get there as fast.” — Eddie Bane
“We know we're better than this ... but we can't prove it.” — Tony Gwynn
Tom Servo (08-06-2021)
Hinds is a stud I've got him 8th just behind Santillan and Ashcraft. Although Santillan will likely fall off that list after he is on the roster for 45 days and no longer qualifies as a rookie.
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