Reds Insider: Spring preview preview

Friday, February 8, 2008

Spring preview preview

OK, I'll try again: This link gets you to the spring preview stuff. Sorry about the technical glitch in the previous post.

68 Comments:

at 2:44 PM

Anonymous said...

The Yankees signed Cano, who has only 2 years MLB exp., to a 4 year 30 Mil deal.

Are the Reds working on something similar for Phillips? Factoring in Phillips defense, he has to be worth more that the Yankess paid Cano.

at 2:52 PM

John Fay said...

I've called Phillips agent a couple of times. Haven't heard back. Based on what Phillips has said I think something is going on.

at 3:10 PM

Anonymous said...

WAKE UP CINCY KEEP KRIVSKY!!

at 3:11 PM

Anonymous said...

John,

Do you know whether Alex Gonzalez's son's health has improved/resolved? I can't imagine trying to focus on anything while going through that with your child.

Tom
Richmond, VA

at 3:14 PM

mrtonyb40 said...

bailey/cueto and votto for blanton?
no freaking way!!! that being said i would like to see blanton in a reds uniform but not at that price.if bruce wins cf job who bats leadoff ? phillips OBP ain't gonna cut it.

at 3:29 PM

Anonymous said...

I hope so. I agree with building process used by the Reds. If the Reds are ever going to contend as a develop young players and avoid bad (Milton) contracts team, the Reds must sign and maintain their assets. I realize the Reds may not be able to keep everyone, but for every Dunn the Reds may let go, they need to sign a Phillips.

Pay him Bob and Wayne. Pay Phillips!!!

at 4:14 PM

reaganspad said...

mrtonyb40. Phillips bat is so quick, he is our best 2 strike hitter. absolutely wears out the other guys pitchers in his AB's.

Now that he has hit 30 HR's, look for him to press less, trust his abilities and not chase. That will improve his OBP, along with the intention walks he will start getting

at 4:32 PM

jdeezman said...

WAKE UP JOHN FAY DELETE ANONYMOUS BLOGGERS!!

LOL!

Almost time for P & C to report... thank God!

at 5:29 PM

Anonymous said...

Can Scott Hatteberg still catch? I know he hasn't played the position since 2001, but if Votto can handle it at 1st, might Hatty wear the gear?

at 5:51 PM

Anonymous said...

Folks: Lets get serious ...Mercker??I was hoping this type of thing would be over with Walt running the show,maybe he feels obligated to allow W.K. to do these crazy things! Only Cluless would think this is a good idea!I hope are pitching is better than this....WAKE UP CINCY FIRE KRIVSKY
COACH

at 6:03 PM

Anonymous said...

John,

Just read about Mercker. Can you explain what a "minor league contract" entails? What does it cost the Reds to bring someone in on a minor league deal in terms of money and committment?

Bill in VB

at 7:11 PM

Anonymous said...

How a minor league signing causes someone to go off the deep end is truly beyond me. WAKE UP ANON 5:51 P.M. THE SHORT YELLOW BUS IS HERE TO PICK YOU UP & THEY GOT A NEW PADDED HELMET FOR YOU!!

at 7:20 PM

Anonymous said...

Doubtful Mercker will make the team. It's a minor league deal so really nothing really to worry about.

But maybe he can go back to doing the questions with Reds players on the big screen between innings. He has a pretty good knack for it.

at 7:22 PM

John Fay said...

Minor league deals are not guaranteed, thus noriek. A guy like Mercker will likely go home if he doesn't make the team.

at 7:29 PM

Anonymous said...

John,

So, does Mercker get paid anything for "trying out"? Expenses? Some minimum dollar amount?

Bill in VB

at 8:19 PM

jdeezman said...

Bill in VB... does that VB stand for Virginia Beach?
That's where I live, just wondering...
Th erotation should be an interesting battle this spring, whther we add anyone else or not.
Will the young guns make the starting rotation?
Will Bruce be the Opening Day CF?
Will Votto send Hatteberg to the bench?
Will Ross and Valentin merge and become one decent catcher?
Will EE reach his full potential?
Will people get to see AGon at his best defensively?
Will Dunn finally learn to hit with RISP before or after the trade dealine?
Will Griffey be healthy and break the 600 barrier?
Will Dusty burnout Baily/Cueto/Volquez before the All-Star break?

Will anyone EVER be able to replace The Old Lefthander?

NO!!!

Inquiring minds want to know!!!

at 8:44 PM

Anonymous said...

jdeezman ... right, VABEACH! Thanks to MLB.com and the blogs have reconnected with Reds over the last few years and am enjoying tremendously. I get up to Cincy a couple of times in the summer when the Reds are in town; and up to DC now, too. Looking to go up to see the new stadium when Reds get there in August.

Bill in VB

at 9:24 PM

Anonymous said...

This Blanton thing drives me nuts. Driving home I heard Doc and some of his callers calling this a 'no-brainer'. If this deal is made sending away Homer or Cueto in a package deal then it will have been made by someone with NO BRAIN. First of all, these Red studs have already defied the odds to pitch effective games in AAA without ever being put under the knife. Previous Red prospects succumbed to surgery during or after rookie league, A ball or A+ ball. It's far less risky to project HB & JC now than ever. The most development risk for them has already passed. Secondly, I like to compare the development record of Red studs to the target pitcher's (Blanton) development. Blanton was only pitching A ball at 22. At 23 he gave up 199 hits in 176 innings in AAA. I'm not ready to give Red studs who have developed at a better pace than that. No one has a crystal ball, maybe these guys will never approach Blanton's MLB career. The Red studs may get injured but no more so than Blanton could. Blanton pitched 201 innings and won 12 games his first MLB year at 24 but so could the Red studs.

at 10:53 PM

Anonymous said...

BART:

There is a reason HATTEBERG hasn't played CATCHER since 2001. I'm sure he can catch the ball but the problem is that he throws like the MAYOR of CINCINNATI.

If VOTTO gets traded then HATTEBERG will be the obvious choice at 1B and BAKO will be in with a shot to make the squad as a defensive C (hopefully he never picks up a bat, he make LARUE look like TED WILLIAMS) with JAVY picking up PH duties. If VOTTO stays then HATTEBERG is the LH PH, JAVY is the backup at C and BAKO will be in AAA or sleeping with the fishes.

at 11:13 PM

Mr. Redlegs said...

Redfuture, you're talking about two kids who haven't won boo yet compared to an established starter who slots into the No. 2 spot of a terrible rotation.

It's not quite the same--Hope and Prayer vs. Tried and True.

at 12:32 AM

Anonymous said...

'Tried and True'...Doesn't experience at all minor levels account for nothing? Blanton came through the minor ranks, as did Harang, without much fan fare and neither was ever mentioned as the minors best talent. Ours have. Boston wouldn't let either Lester or Bucholz go for the greatest pitcher in the universe, and I've read numerous scouting reports who favor Bailey and Cueto. These guys are ready, and trading for a number 3 is not prudent. I'll place my bets that at least one of our two will be a dominate number one or two, versus a 'tried and true' number three who has hit the ceiling. Trust the scouts! I'm sure you trust the scouts with Bruce, so why not with Bailey and Cueto? Let them pitch!

at 2:03 AM

unblogger said...

Mr. Redlegs, stop smoking whatever you are smoking, it is killing your brain cells.
Blanton is in no way a #2 starting pitcher outside of pitching for Oakland. In GABP he will be a #4 maybe a below average #3. He will give lots of innings, but a ton of hits, which is a very bad thing with the Reds defense, and is projected to have a 4.50-5.00 ERA.
I am positive that the Reds #3 starter, be it Belisle, Bailey, Volquez, Affledt or Cueto, will be able to match that.
The only advantage he gives is innings, so he is worth something, just not Bailey, Cueto or Votto and definitely not two of the three.

at 8:07 AM

Anonymous said...

The Reds ..hopefully..will grow and improve to .500 this upcoming season

Its very important to stay with the program and let the young players develop

If you start trading our young players in an effort to win it all this year we will never get outta the rut we have been in for the past 7 years

Furthermore..Blanton does not automatically "slot in" as a number 2 pitcher anywhere.

Mr Redlegs ..will you please quit pretending to be a sportswriter..you did the same on our Bengals blog before Joe kicked you out

at 9:02 AM

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, Belisle and Affeldt are Blanton's equal...LMFAO!

Talk about smoking! Your blood must be brown sludge (from all the THC).

Belisle and Affeldt are not remotely in the same class as Blanton, and neither are going to be effective starters for the Reds.

8-9 with a 5.32 ERA last year was Belisle's contribution to one of the worst teams in baseball. Have you forgotten already?

And Affeldt is an experiment. So at this point, we have the enormously overrated Arroyo followed by lousy Belisle and wishful thinking Affeldt--better hope Volquez and Cueto step up, and better hope the Reds get Blanton.

Otherwise, it's going to be another losing season.

at 9:33 AM

Mr. Redlegs said...

Well, folks, there's an enormous difference between success in the minors and the big leagues. Scouts do have this ceiling called "AAAA" for players who have nothing to accomplish in the minors but aren't quite good enough for the big leagues.

AAAA happens more than the success stories. It also happens to Top 100 prospects. A lot.

In the minors, there's a difference in strike zones, a difference in the stadiums, a difference in the lighting, a difference in the infields, a difference in quality of opponents, a difference in every imaginable way.

Cueto has never pitched an inning in the big leagues; Bailey 45 innings and Votto 84 at-bats.

If you're building the Reds' season on those numbers, and speculation, you're bonkers.

Blanton might be a No. 3 on most teams, but on the Reds he's a No. 2. You'll be hard-pressed to find anyone in MLB who thinks Arroyo is a true No. 2 but because of the Reds' woeful lack of starting pitching, Arroyo automatically was slotted No. 2 after being a swing for the Red Sox.

STOP putting so much weight on PROJECTIONS. They mean ZERO except to fantasy-leaguers sorting out their draft.

There's not a manager alive who makes out his roster based on projections, so why do you? Projections are just speculation and hyperbole.

If baseball lived by speculations, there would be no use for spring training, regular-season games, or the players union.

Hmmm, come to think of it. . . .

at 10:13 AM

Anonymous said...

Read the Spring Training Q & A with Krivsky, it has to be painfully dull interview. Ever put a mirror under his nose to make sure he's breathing and not just a robot?

Mercker signing is what it is, a minor league deal that probably will be forgotten about on April 1st.

I wouldn't mind seeing Blanton if the price is right. But I would also like to watch the two highly rated prospects actually pitch for us. I would like to find out if we really can develop some quality pitching.

Based on his September, I would also like to see a full year of Votto. I am not expecting these guys to be hall of fame material,but I do expet to be very talented major leaguers.

Jdeezman has given us great food for thought. Can I add a few to the list?
Will the bullpen be vastly improved?
Will Krivsky get an extension?
What callup/pickup will win the Reds fans over?
Will Phillips match he 30/30 or go beyond it?

at 12:12 PM

Mr. Redlegs said...

Jack, will you please quit pretending to be Jack in Blue Ash, then "J," then "Rod," then two variations of anonymous?

You're so transparent it's absurd. I've got your ears pinned so far back you look like a Doberman.

Look at the thread for "Projecting the 25-Man Roster" and see how many posts contain "Jack's" monotonous themes, punctuation trait (..), mixed uses of upper- and lower-cased letters with articles, prepositions and proper nouns, and worse, the shameless self-congratulations.

In one instance he actually agrees with himself by posting under another name.

So, seriously, your calling someone with 32 years in the sports journalism business a phony has all the credibility of Rafael Palmeiro on the witness stand.

at 12:34 PM

Anonymous said...

Reds sign Kent Merker, while the teams that want to contend, sign the Bedards and Blanton's of the Baseball world. Same old Same 5th or 4th place finish for the Reds in 2008.

at 1:10 PM

Cheviot Sports Authority said...

"Know it alls" like Mr Redlegs are particularly annoying to those of us who do know it all. I can get a more intelligent discussion from Smither Man.

at 1:21 PM

24/7 said...

funny people say dusty got lucky by walking into wood, prior and zambrano. looks like the reds have harang, bailey, and volquez/cueto. not that i'm saying it's gonna play out that way, but it's an interesting dynamic to think about.

especially if you're thinkin' about trading one for a mid-ceiling blanton type.

and no, trading volquez for blanton is NOT like trading hamilton. it negates the purpose of the rangers deal. the reds dealt a high ceiling center fielder for a high ceiling pitcher because the braintrust thought he could be as dynamic on the mound as hamilton was in the box and in center when he was healthy. you know, equal value?

the reds trade volquez and they go from having the rights to both high ceiling players within 3 months time to having neither, just beane's OTHER guy...

so i ask, with your logic, is blanton as good a pitcher as hamilton is a power hitting center fielder?

at 1:26 PM

Anonymous said...

Braun, Pence, and a bunch of other NL rookies did great last year. Bruce and Votto should do just fine.

Without Blanton, the Reds starting rotation is a mess.

Unless Bailey, Cueto, Volquez, and other kids make a big leap.

I agree that some kids are AAAA players but some kids are so talented that the minors are a waste of time for them (like Zimmerman on the Nats).

Anyway, get Blanton. Or get out (Wayne). I'm sick of waiting for a winning season. And we have a ton of offensive prospects and not many legit pitching prospects.

Don't the A's want Junior? Wouldn't a Junior and prospects for Blanton deal be great?

at 1:28 PM

Mr. Redlegs said...

I can get a more intelligent discussion from Smither Man.

Spoken by another multi-ID blogger who admits he sits at a bar for his sports stimuli, but comes onto a newspaper site and blog to be informed by the very people who write the information for him.

Priceless.

at 1:31 PM

Mr. Redlegs said...

Zimmerman was a college player and was older and more experienced when he was drafted, so he didn't need as much minors time. Not the same as a high school kid like Bailey, regardless of the talent.

Remember, a year ago Bruce was still in A-ball. . . .

at 1:43 PM

unblogger said...

Mr. Redlegs,

Managers do not use projections, but ALL GM"S DO ALL THE TIME!!! That is all they do. When trying to figure out who to acquire and who to trade, GM"s base all of that on projections!
They figure out how will player A fit on my team? How will he perform for my team. They don't consider what they have done in the past, only what will they do in the future.
The projection for Blanton is that he will AT BEST post a 4.25 ERA in GABP. That is not worth top young talent.
Speaking of the top young talent, Bailey is not a top 100 prospect, he is a top 10 prospect in all of the majors. In the last four years, here are the pitchers who were also top 10 prospects in the majors.
K-Rod, Kazmir, Hammels, Adam Miller, Felix Hernandez, Jeff Francis, Chad Billingsley and Liriano.
That is what you are giving up if you trade Bailey, not a AAAA pitcher, but a likely all star.
Again, Blanton would be a big help to the Reds since they are so starting pitching poor, but he is just not worth trading what the A's are asking for.

at 1:44 PM

mrtonyb40 said...

Dear anonymous 1:26,
you know absolutely nothing about baseball. the A's are a small market team that gets rid of their talent when they become to expensive. so why would they want an old expensive junior for blanton? think before you type.

at 1:48 PM

Cheviot Sports Authority said...

Any Junior trade would be great. But it ain't gonna happen. There are no takers for Junior.

at 1:57 PM

REddlegg in Colorado said...

Mr.Pinklegs,

If you were really a writer;I would think that you would have deadlines & a job to do.Instead your on here everyday blasting people for their poor spelling & punctuation , their OPINIONS on the reds, & like a few other on these blogs,you just have a need to feel big by putting people down for whatever reason!!!! I think you have a little to much time on your hands(Or something else real small);with all those (worthless stats) you throw around,the elite smug attuide that comes through with your words, & you just seem like you have NO friends.

Here's an idea;Go to your local pub,buy a beer(,Or in your case a wimpdrink like cran & vodka) Watch a game with real(Cincy sports) fans that care nothing about stats & proper english ,(Fans that care about winning & Real life) & see how far that
smug know -it- all sports knowledge will get ya!!!!

Or even better,get away from your computer,go get some excercise, go ride a bike,throw a baseball with someone,whatever just go do something positive, & maybe then you might not be such a A-HOLE(Because your stress will be worked out & then you will not feel the need to be a A-HOLE ALL THE TIME)

Disclaimer:I could care less about my spelling & punctuation on here.I'm here to talk sports, not english class.I think the fans that want to talk sports,Know what I'm saying.

Reddlegg in Co, exit stage Up a ski lift !!!

Lets go REDS,!!!!

at 2:12 PM

REddlegg in Colorado said...

Now that I'm done wiping my hands with pinkstockings,Lets talk baseball!!!

Reds are in dire need of a bonafined LH pitcher,So many RH pitchers in the stables.Now more talks for another RH.I'm not sold on JA as the sole LH in the rotation.I just think a different look would be good for the rotation,especially on a 3 game stand.RH,LH,RH.Throw the other team for a loop.

KM,LOL.I'm not even going waste my time on this subject.Another(Wasteful) pickup from the abyss of scrap heap pitchers.

John Fay,
What ever happen to developing EZ Ramiriez???Not a lot of talk with his name these days.I always thought he had the talent to do some good stuff,just needed the right coaching.

at 2:23 PM

REddlegg in Colorado said...

Why do my post's take so long to post.John are you trying to censor me.I see other posts come up,but mine still nothng.Come on John, this is the USA.Not China

at 2:24 PM

Anonymous said...

Please MR. Redlegs: Get off Jack...he is calling it the way it has been!Why should loyal fans bindly think things are good with the reds?? We( like you) hope so,but remember the Nats. won more games last yr. than we did.Until proven on the field we are a poor team!! BTW...WAKE UP CINCY FIRE KRIVSKY (COACH NOT JACK)

at 2:31 PM

John Fay said...

E.Z. Left as free agent. He signed with Texas.

at 2:42 PM

John Fay said...

I rarely reject any posts. But I have to moderate them. I try to keep up the best I can, but life gets in the way.

We're going to a new system shortly where you'll be able to post instantly.

at 2:53 PM

Anonymous said...

I'm probably leaving out somebody but I just wanted to send out props to a few guys: 24/7, unblogger, redsfanwoody, john fay and a few anonymous posters. I enjoy your thinking, your posts and your attitudes. I even enjoy the 'fanaticism' displayed by posters from the other side of the coin too.

at 3:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Mr Redlegs,

I dont post under any nick than my own. I just think that many on this blog are tired of your charade .

You claimed to be a freelance sportswriter on two blogs that I know of..MSN and The Bengals Blog..and i know the moderator on the Bengals blog would not allow you to participate because all you did was fight with people

at 3:08 PM

Cheviot Sports Authority said...

Mr Redlegs: I wasn't sure that writing an article for the Jr High School Newspaper qualified you as a 'professional' but thank you for clearing that up.

Just out of curiosity, Mr Redlegs, what other IDs do I post under? I'm having trouble keeping track.

at 3:22 PM

Anonymous said...

redfuture you hurt my feelings..what about me ?

at 6:19 PM

Anonymous said...

Okay so I get that Oakland is a small market franchise but they did take a flyer on Frank Thomas in 2006 when he was a huge question mark. Junior has the 700 home-run chase to offer plus DH-ing might be attractive at some point...so yeah, maybe the A's wouldn't give up much for Junior but it would be better to get Blanton for Junior and 2 prospects than 3 prospects. And as for a projection of 4.25 ERA in GABP...well that's a load of BS.

Blanton is a much better pitcher than that. He'd be the co-Ace of this otherwise lousy pitching staff.

It would be sad to see Votto go, though. He may still be a raw talent but he looks like he'll be a great player.

at 6:40 PM

docproc said...

Okay, folks, let's stop the personal attacks. And John, as long as you're moderating the blog, you'll want to consider dumping anything that comes from reddlegg in colorado (we saw him last year on CTR's blog and it got ugly).

at 12:00 AM

Hugh D. Pohl said...

I agree with Docproc. And Mr. Redlegs does seem to have a pretty good head on his shoulders if you ask me. I like his curmudgeonly personality even if I occasionally disagree with him. He is on target more often than not.

On Blanton, he would be a good acquisition for this team but it would be a huge risk to give up too much for him. An for whoever said "would you trade Hamilton for Blanton"...duh, OF COURSE. If we treaded Hamilton for a unestablished prospect, then why not for an established big league starting pitcher?

at 7:51 AM

Anonymous said...

docproc...You have not been made moderator..I dont think anyone is really that upset..I see no profanity.

I sorta like Mr Redlegs even though he truly is not capable of responsibly evaluating this team from 800 miles away and he certainly is not a professional sportswriter

dont you think your critique on Redlegg is a personal attack..by the way?

at 12:16 PM

docproc said...

Jack:

I didn't claim I was the moderator. That's why I was appealing to John.

If you saw no profanity, that means you weren't reading when reddlegg called Mr. R. an A-HOLE twice.

And no, mine was not a PERSONAL attack--it was a call for civility.

at 1:32 PM

24/7 said...

thanks redfuture. its a few ppl on here that seem to have a clue about baseball and the reds. add mr. r and thats about everybody...

i'm with you on the blanton thing. honestly i'd rather see bailey or cueto flame out than see them rise to ace status somewhere else. some people think it's impossible for a prospect to come in and be good. 3.8-4.2 era good. hamels, kazmir, billingsley and lincecum (though he played college) all did it. gallardo was damn good in 110 innings of 3.7 ball. why can't that be cueto?

at 4:18 PM

Anonymous said...

24/7 many of us have a clue..some, like yourself are in denial .. it is you that does not have a clue

the offseason in sports is a wonderful time of the year, hope runs high..and I certainly wish everyone the best

yet, the Reds have been miserable for seven years straight.. we have had these identical discussions every one of those offseasons in various formats and blogs

and its is you that don't get it..this simply has not been , nor is , a very good franchise.

nor do I need some dude like Mr Redlegs, living 800 miles away , a person that never takes in a reds game and is pretending to be a sportswriter on multiple blogs lecturing me

I don't need to know baseball to realize the history of the past 7 seasons..it sorta is right in front of you dude

I hope there will be some improvement this year

To get to .500 would be remarkable

at 5:12 PM

Anonymous said...

Jack in Blue Ash, got an original thought or do you just have that rant on a Save/Get key?

You've got all the range of Cheviot Sports Authority. In fact, almost identical words. Could it be two boring knuckleheads could actually be one?

Likely.

at 5:32 PM

24/7 said...

jack, you're just mad because redfuture didn't show you any love...probably because you don't deserve any.

you repeat the same ol tired lines like we weren't around to see the reds flop around the past few years. but you are a selective analyst. you don't have any faith that the real world tilts toward the middle. not quite a death sentence, and not quite a champagne bottle. i am optimistic the reds will be playing for a pennant in september, but i'm also a realist. they have 2 glaring weaknesses that can hold them back. a solid 180 inning 4 era pitcher and a catcher. your 7 year nonsense is NOT one of them.

this team is better than 07's squad. is it a playoff team? ask me in june. but to say i'm in denial because i see both sides of the spectrum is ignorant and uninspiring when considering your baseball acumen, among others.

say something credible that makes sense in february of 2008, not 07, 06 or 04. do that or do us all a good one and stop all of the attention seeking foolish talk.

at 6:55 PM

Anonymous said...

by the way..and I am sorry I forgot to include this...but ask yourself how this team would do if Harang got hurt in April?

The margin on this team is very small at this point in time. We could easily finish 20 games under 500 if he got hurt

have a nice evening

at 7:20 PM

24/7 said...

how would the cubs do without zambrano? mets without johan? astros without oswalt? how bout beckett? a-rod? pujols?

the answer is not as good.

and whomever you want the reds to sign, draft, or trade for can get hurt too.

at 7:49 PM

Anonymous said...

I saw jack In Denial and he was on the public square wearing his wake up cincy fire krivsky hoodie all the while screaming at everybody that the earth is flat and you'll fall off if you go to far out in the ocean.
#1 Fan Of jack In Denial's Hilarious Rants About Nothing That Resembles Common Sense

at 12:38 AM

reaganspad said...

Jack, other end of your spectrum. What if Griffey and Dunn both hit 50 HR's this year. They are capable. And Phillips between them hits 40. And Belisle wins 18 games.

Sure Harrang could get hurt, just like Jay Bruce can be Rookie of the Year

at 7:49 AM

Anonymous said...

24/7 reaganspad you still defend mediocrity..until this season is played and the results are in..this franchise has seven straight years of losing, it went backwards WKs second year and aside from signing a closer and a very average reliever..the faces are the same

only two people in denial are you two

both of you sound like children that possess very immature reasoning processes
..

In Fact..I think last year Dunn did very well, as did Griffey, as did Phillips.. and what did we do?....we regressed from the previous year...we got worse

Again..what was our record last year and what has been our record the past 7 years?

Hopefully this team will climb back up to .500

at 8:25 AM

Anonymous said...

reaganspad..sorry I forgot your last point.. I cant comment on what other teams would do if they lost a significant player like Harang.. Yet..I can generalize.

very good teams will continue to move forward and win, as will good teams to a lessor degree... conversely bad teams will not

my point being ..is that this team..right now..is not as good as all you optimists may feel.And when you consider our lack of pitching.. an injury to Harang will kill us

Reganspad 24/7 ..I dont quite understand your fascination with me..maybe I hurt your feelings..but I simply refuse to debate either of you in the future.. Both of you are apologists,make excuses and embrace mediocrity have fun

at 12:05 PM

reaganspad said...

Jack, I am not 24/7. but I am upset that 24 was canceled due to the writers strike.
I do not apologize for the Reds 5th starter last year. That spot was 7-16 with a 7 plus ERA.
I have said that Cordero is better than Milton/Saarloos/Dumatrait/Ramirez.

I understand guys can have bad years that you don't project. I never would have projected Coffey's 07 year after his 06. I also understand that not every player you acquire will have the lights turn on for you (Loshe, Saarloos)

I have not apologized for either of those moves. I understand making them, they didn't work.

Jerry Narron didn't get the job done and was fired. I agree with that move. I did think Pete did a very good job

I am sorry that you mistate what other people write to fit your lame last 7 years rant

at 12:46 PM

Anonymous said...

reaganspad..

Perhaps rather than attacking my mentioning the record of the Cincinnati Reds for the past 7 years..you just might want to direct your anger where it really belongs

direct it to the cincinnati reds .. the team that has actually given you the lame record

aside from Cordero,,the Reds really have not done anything

people assume that our pitiful middle relief will be better because weathers has been moved back.. that remains to be seen

aside from Harang..and as much as I like Arroyo..we have absolutely no consistent starting pitcher

we have no catcher

we traded away one of the best defensive center fielders in the game and hamilton also provided some pop offensively
..
its best not to have discussion on predictions and/or results until August or september

at 1:02 PM

24/7 said...

jack,

i asked you to leave your 7 year crap at home and bring a vaild argument. what did you do? bring up the last 7 years.

i said i err toward the middle. you call me an overt optimist.

nobody's fascinated with you. disgusted, maybe, but not fascinated. i was responding to redfuture and YOU interjected yourself with insults and silly theories.

i'd be more than happy if you let me be. my feelings are and will not be hurt.

at 1:13 PM

Anonymous said...

raganspad .. please

why would anyone be disgusted at a blogger that tells the truth?

perhaps you all are disgusted at the record of the Reds..don"t shoot the messenger

dude I have no theories..read my posts

7 year losing record

inconsistent starting pitching behind harang

lousy middle relief

no catcher

those are facts and it appears that anyone disrupting the fantasy of you apologists on this blog get attacked

at 7:53 PM

reaganspad said...

Jack. 24/7 said disgusted, not me.
I actually agree with you on Hamilton. I hated to see him go, but as you say, we need pitching.
Granted the rule 5 draftee did not bring us back Santana, but maybe you have noticed the cost of pitching?
You make trades like Guillen for Harrang because you project something and cannot afford the price of Mulder.

at 7:47 AM

Anonymous said...

reganspad.. I met josh hamilton and his wife great people.. We actually went to the games to see him play.. I dont know where he will settle at offensively whether it be .275 or .310 ..but defensively this guy was tremendous

I dont think this was a good deal. I would have loved to see a team with Dunn in left..Hamilton in center..Bruce in right and Votto on first base

at 11:51 AM

reaganspad said...

I agree with that Jack. While I hope that we have another Aaron Harrang trade, I was sorry to see Hamilton go.

That bat is soooo quick

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