Dayn Perry Doesn't Like The Cordero Signing

that Cueto or Bailey would be successful in the bullpen?

...is that it might have to do with development, value (SP vs RP), and service time.

Mostly though, do we really need a "5 worst signings" article in Mid-December? And though many of my concerns abotu the Cordero signing coincide with Perry's, it kind of seems like he just strung together some hip moneyball thoughts that half the world already thinks about it. Lazy basically, is what I'm getting at.

He just saw the contract numbers (4/46) and declared it a bad contract.  If he looked a little further he would have seen....

A.  With a thin market, any decent reliever who demands four years will receive it.
B.  The Reds did not just throw the number 46 out there, they had to beat the Brewers offer (42 i think)
C.  The Reds largest flaw last year was their bullpen.  Mainly the 8th inning because their setup man was closing games all season.

Funny how Perry ranks this as one of the worst, while a more respected journalist declares this signing as a step towards the
World Series.

...I bought your Christmas Present.

Hope you like.

but i kinda like his idea that its a good move because it shows the reds arent working under an "imaginary salary cap." moneyball folks are always working under the assumption that small-market teams can be nothing but just that, but imagine if a team goes from a payroll of $70 million to one of $110 million in one offseason. That's a lot of added talent. I'm not saying we'll do that, but we could realistically add $20 million in payroll and we'll get quite a bit better. instead of asserting that a 4/46 contract is going to squeeze us, maybe we can assume that it's just going to raise our payroll.

Bob Howsam's is too.

Cordero has all the earmarks of Bob C. wanting to get a winner on the field NOW.

The difference here is that this is a small-market team paying more than $11 million per annum for 65 innings or so. That's not a wise use of resources, particularly considering the Reds' payroll limitations.

How does he know the "Reds' payroll limitations"?  When has Castellini or Krivsky said "We can't afford this guy" or "We made this move to save money down the road"?  Never.

The Tigers' payroll last year was over $93M; this year, it'll be somewhere over $115M (and possibly over $120M).  Are their resources that much greater than Cinci's?

Marge Schott, for all of her other faults, never shied away from player payroll, and the team was successful; Lindner just wasn't interested in the Reds that much, didn't open the pocketbook, and the team suffered.  But just because Uncle Carl was cheap doesn't mean the present owner is.

I like using rookies who profile as starters out of the bullpen, but only under very specific circumstances in a very specific role.  I do NOT like putting them in the back of the bullpen as a set-up man or a closer.  The preparation and the way you pitch are entirely different, especially in high-leverage innings.  A kid like Homer would have a tendency to rely solely on his fastball and curve in high-leverage situations, and wouldn't develop his changeup.  You'd be hindering his long-term development for a quick fix that may or may not help you short-term.

I love the way the Twins started Johan Santana.  They brought him in as a long-reliever/spot starter to develop him.  That gave him a chance to refine his stuff in low-leverage situations, allowing him to develop all his pitches, limited the innings he pitched at a young age, and kept him in the starter mindset.  I would be absolutely fine with this.

That said, if you don't have 5 better options in the rotation for Opening Day, bring on the rookies.

a bad idea.  as BLee said, you can rely on one or two pitches and be very effective.  that can be a tough habit to break when its time to graduate to the rotation.  with Chamberlain last year, the Yanks were in a pennant race and desperately needed the arms.  i dont think it was for Joba's development as much as it was about putting the best team out there.  I think its a much better idea to let the kid mature in the AAA rotation for a while until he's ready.  Santana was an usual case; rule 5 picks cant marinate in AAA.  as long as you dont absolutely need them, I think its best to let the kids start games in AAA than to pitch out of the major league pen.

...this guy thinks it's a great idea:

Why Cordero Makes Cincinnati an Instant Contender

Your starting pitcher has just given you six quality innings and your team either has the lead or is tied heading into the seventh. How often do you expect your bullpen to pull out a victory? If you are the 2007 Boston Red Sox, you'll win 90% of the time. If you are the Cincinnati Reds, it's only 67% of the time. Here is the kicker. Boston was ahead or tied after 6 innings 95 times in 2007. Cincinnati was in the same boat 94 times. The difference in success and mediocrity came down to the bullpen. This is the case all over baseball. This is why three quality arms in your pen will win you games.