Reds trade for Jeff Conine (@#@#&$!!!)

And I don't really care about Harris.  

Too bad he's not even that good against lefties anymore:
I Split          G   GS    PA    AB    R    H   2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  IBB  SO  HBP  SH   SF   ROE GDP  SB   CS   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS
+-+------------+----+----+-----+-----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+---+----+---+----+----+----+-- -+----+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
   vs RHP as RH 1762       5581  5028      1410 281  27 141  757  438  23  859  39    6   69   48 152           .280  .339  .431  .770
   vs LHP as RH  818       1909  1673       507  91   8  67  277  206  21  273   2    1   27   25  52           .303  .375  .487  .862

His OPS the last 2 seasons against lefties is .700 and .737.

Moeller or Harris? Hmmmm...

Why keep Chad Moeller?

Why do any of this?

Why, Wayne, why?

I just saw the crawl on ESPNEWS about this trade. My reaction was.... "NOOOOOO!" followed by me slapping my forehead.

I'm still trying to digest this, but dear god, what a horrible pickup. I don't even care about the minor-leaguers we traded, but just DFA'ing Harris? Is this a joke?

Jeff Conine will be 41 freakin years old in June. He has little power and no speed. He's doesn't walk a lot, but oh, he doesn't strike out a huge amount either. I'm sure he'll have PLENTY of productive outs. Jeez.

As for Harris, I know he isn't anything special, but I'm sure he could play first, and I think he could, given the chance, produce just as well as Conine next season as part of a first base platoon with Hatteberg. Not that I'm even advocating that scenario.

Predicted Krivksy quote: "Jeff Conine is a proven winner who will give us plenty of quality at-bats and some veteran leadership in the clubhouse."

I just checked Conine's contract: He's set to make $2 million in 07, plus $250,000 because the Phils traded him. So $2,250,000 for this stiff.

What a waste...

Wayne Krivsky:

"It happened within the last couple days. Continuing to look for that quality right-handed hitter, whether it was by trade route or free agency, we just felt like this was our best alternative. I've had him on a list of players that might be acquired by trade to fill that role that we've been looking for. We just felt like after talking to all our scouts, this was the best alternative that was available to us."

Jerry Narron:

"I'm excited about it. He's a guy that we know has had an outstanding career so far. He's very talented, can do a lot of things with the bat, play multiple positions. I've admired him and respected him a long time, just by the way he goes about his business. He plays the game the right way and can bring a lot of leadership to our club."

Jeff Conine:

"It's a little bit of a surprise, a couple days before Christmas, to get the call from Pat Gillick. I didn't have a long tenure there in Philadelphia, but I know the Reds were a very competitive ballclub last year. I'm looking forward to the challenge of making them a little bit better and competing for a playoff spot."

(also found this interesting...)

"Obviously I've played a lot with Alex Gonzalez - we won a World Series together and he's probably the best shortstop I've ever played with. I'm looking forward to watching him in action again."

Wayne Krivsky continues to build a team I just really don't like.

Seriously.. This is turning into a long winter and I think it might be an even worse spring. Ugh!

Atleast when Dan-o pulled this crap, he only spend 500k and the players were more expendible. How many 2mil+ contracts are we going to be eating come July?

I'd rather see Jay Bruce, Votto and Homer Bailey in the bigs than watch a bunch of 40-year-olds trudge on the field every other game. Conine needs a walker to play right field.

And if you're going to sign a 40-year-old that "knows how to play the game" at least go after Roger Clemens.

and i was looking forward to more of this:

I would have liked Craig Wilson because he can catch if he has to, meaning a third catcher wouldn't be needed on the 25-man roster. Then again, Hatteberg can catch if the need arises, so why bother with a third catcher at all?

When the Phillies acquired Conine last year for SS Angel Chavez, I remember thinking, "nice pick up." It's not a pennant-clincher by any means, but it's a move that gives the Reds a servicable player who can help.

And there is something to be said for playing the game the right way and being good in the clubhouse. It's not at the top of the priority list, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

I leave my desk for one freakin' hour to do some actual work, and.....wow.

Is it too late to jump on the Tigers bandwagon?

Austin Kearns
Felipe Lopez
Rayan Wagner
Javon Moran
Bradley Key

for

Gary Majewski
Bill Bray
Jeff Conine
Daryl Thompson

Clayton and now Harris are both gone...moronic.

I never thought Harris would amount to much, but it seems like just yesterday some lunatic was defending the trade saying he was destined to become a star.

When is he looking to contend?  If it's this year, adding Moeller, Crosby, Stanton and Conine is NOT going to get it done.  If it's 2008, why are you guaranteeing 2 years to mediocre 40-year olds?

I need a beer.  Anyone else?

As Slyde pointed out his few useful skills are rapidly diminishing. Here's Conine against lefties last year:
.260  .337  .400  
Here's Jose Cruz Jr, who signed for 650k and can play centerfield:
.313  .420  .522

If a 40-year old put up the same production as he did at 39 he's doing really well. Most likely he'll get worse. Like many of these Krivsky acquisitions the expected or even best case scenario isn't much, and the worst case could be horrible. And he's expensive.

Did you actually read the article?  This is what Marc said:  "So he'll probably be the starting first baseman against lefties for sure, and get plenty of time in right or left as well."

As long as Dunn walks out there for his 160 games, he's not going to get "plenty" of time in left, which means right and "starting against lefties for sure".

There are quite a few lefties in the NLC; someone stated a week or two ago that maybe 1/3 of the starters we'll face are southpaws.  So, he'll start about 54 games at 1st.  Over the past 3 years, Conine has had an OPS vs. LHP of .771; Wilson's has been .875.  Now I don't have Reds123's fancydancy spreadsheets, but 3 year's worth of AB at more than 100 points of OPS for 1/3 of the games is alot.

So he's going to get "plenty" of time in right against righties?  Great.  His OPS the past 3 years vs. RHP is .751; Wilson's is only...oh, wait - it's .795.  Well at least he'll be replacing AB by Freel - his OPS vs. RHP is only...oh, wait - it's .737, with good defense (note to those who've been around:  I stand corrected on Freel's defense) and lots of SB.

So....why was it again that we gave this guy $2.25M, when we could have paid Wilson to actually, you know, improve the team?

Click the "This" link.  It's worth it.

Arroyo    $3.80
Harang   
Milton    $9.00
Lohse   
Bray    $0.38
Coffey    $0.38
Cormier    $2.25
Majewsky    $0.38
Stanton    $2.00
Weathers    $2.25

Castro    $0.93
Conine    $2.25
Deno    $0.38
Dunn    $10.50
EE    $0.38
Freel    $2.00
Agon    $3.50
Jr    $12.50
Hatteberg    $1.50
Moeller    $0.70
BP    $0.38
Ross   
Valentin    $1.25

    $56.71


(OK, that looks like crap, but I think you can see what I mean)

So, needing a starter and a reliever, the payroll is going to be over $70M.  And not only does it look worse than last year's team to start with, it's also got 3 pitchers and 4 position players way down the back slope of their careers.

I don't know how, but for an extra $10M over last year, Krivsky has managed to make the team worse.

"After being designated for assignment yesterday, Brendan Harris told his hometown paper he expects to be traded again.

Makes sense that the Reds would try to get something for Harris, who would've been an extreme longshot to make the big-league roster this spring. If they need reinforcements at the positions he can play, they can use Olmedo or Bergolla."

Didn't Bergolla just sign with another team?  

I'm just really tired of the Reds' moves being jokes on the national level.