Reds Sign Rhodes?
According to Ken Rosenthal, the deal is close to being done.
"12:01 p.m. — Reds close to signing Rhodes
The Reds have reached a preliminary agreement with free-agent left-hander Arthur Rhodes to a two-year, $4 million contract. The deal is pending a physical, which the 39-year-old Rhodes will take Friday.
Rhodes appeared in 61 games last season — 36 for the Mariners, 25 for the Marlins — and had a combined record of 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA."
I personally only think a one year deal was the right thing here, but he's our LOOGY, it looks like. Thoughts on the money?
UPDATE from Slyde: Too many years and too much money for a guy that only pitched 35 innings last year. Also, the Reds took David Patton in the Rule 5 Draft today...
UPDATE from BK: ...and traded him to the Cubs for cash. (Teh Fay)
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Bullpen
Cordero
Weathers
Burton
Rhodes
Bray
Lincoln
Thats 6 pretty much guaranteed. That will leave one spot for: Roenicke, Belisle, Majewski, Masset, Herrera, Patton, and four others (whoever loses the number 5 starting competition) between Bailey, Owings, Thompson, Maloney, and Ramirez.
Sounds like we will be making a couple trades
Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle
I'd guess that Bray is taking over the Affeldt spot
with Rhodes being a LOOGY. It’s not a bad bullpen, but I’d rather see Roenicke than Weathers. Gawd I hope they don’t sign Weathers to a 2-year deal.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
Yeah I think as many as 3 or 4 of those arms above will be traded
We have zero depth on the posional side of things on the 40-Man.
Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle
What about Patton?
I assume if he doesn’t cut the mustard in ST, the Reds will send him back, but doesn’t this give him the inside track on Roenicke’s spot?
by Pops Daniels on Dec 11, 2008 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
I'm a little worried about Bray
I think his low ERA was a product of luck, he had a WHIP over 1.5. That is never good.
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 2:26 PM EST up reply actions
unless of course you strike out 10+ batters per nine innings
and you are hampered by a weak defense behind you. Bray got the least help from the defense for any of the pitchers who threw more than 40 innings with the Reds last year.
I don’t think he’s a shutdown guy, but I’m confident he can post an ERA around 3.50.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
eh
Slyde is right, its too many years. i can think of better ways to spend 4 mil, but he should be a solid LOOGY and it will free up Bray to become more of a stud. not a good contract, but it probably could be worse.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 11, 2008 12:37 PM EST reply actions
do you have that much faith in dusty
i bet you rhodes is used for more than one out and bray continues on in that role to some extent
"I never should have given up the animation rights."
no i think Dusty gets LOOGYs
Affeldt was an all-purpose guy last year, and i think he gets that Rhodes is only effective against lefties. i dont have much faith in Dusty, but i think he gets this.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 11, 2008 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
i agree that a multi year deal is a concern
I wish the organization would have learned it’s lesson after Cormier, Stanton, etc…
The bottom could fall out for Rhodes next year, and the Reds would still be on the hook for his remaining salary. I don’t know why Fay seems to think 4 million for Rhodes is better than $8M for Affeldt. With Affeldt we had a guy who had great stuff, and could get both lefties and righties out. He was okay as the 7th inning guy, or the setup man when Burton wasn’t available. He was also a good guy to use in close games when the Reds needed to hold a deficit to keep it close. Plus he only received a $1million pay raise over what he made in Cincinnati last year.
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
So the Reds went ahead and filled the Mike Stanton Memorial Chair
All Mickey Mouse films are founded on the motif of leaving home in order to learn what fear is.
Future Reliever Emeritus
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
after all this we have 24 pitchers
On the 40 man. Whats the Over/Under on How many of them are going to the White Sox for Dye?
Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle
Great signing
And, he singed under the market value (which is 4 million/season), so the extra year was probably required. He will add so much flexibility to the bullpen for Bray. I would have preferred Beimel, but he was probably too pricey.
a 39-year old who's thrown 35 innings over the last 2 seasons?
he’s worth a year plus an option at best. And I don’t see how you get that he’s worth $4 million a year as a LOOGY.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
This sort of thinking on market value...
Is what resulted in the subprime loan crisis.
Hey Dusty...Are you sure you're OK? You might need an MRI.
by Paul Householder on Dec 11, 2008 3:00 PM EST up reply actions
Slyde,
What I meant was that the market this off-season says decent middle relievers are worth 4 million/season. Given his age and limited use, 4 would be hard to get, so he and the Reds added a year.
While you are unimpressed with 35 innings, I am happy to note it was 60+ appearances, meaning the guy pitches every other day and gets Chase Utley and Prince Fielder out. A second decent lefty is necessary for almost any good team.
Who else would they get for that pittance (relative to MLB salaries)?
my problem is less with the money
though I will say that Arthur Rhodes and Jeremy Affeldt are not worth the same amount of money.
My real problem is with 2 guaranteed years. The purpose of pointing out 35 innings over the last 2 seasons is that the Reds are basing a 2-year contract off of a very small sample. Guaranteeing 2 years to a guy that age is the kind of mistake the Reds have been making for too long now. Look at his ERA for the last 5 seasons in the Majors (he didn’t pitch at all in 2007) – 2.04, 5.32, 2.08, 5.12, 4.17. Granted, some of that is the natural volatility of ERA, but the guy hasn’t shown enough consistency to justify guaranteeing that second year. If he comes out and posts another 5+ ERA, are you going to be satisfied that he’s under contract for 2010 as well?
It’s not a major deal – and by no means is Arthur Rhodes the signal for the end of times – but it’s little mistakes like this that keep the Reds from making any major push forward.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
are you saying this is not the Rhode to success?
by jacob brumfield on Dec 11, 2008 1:07 PM EST up reply actions
i see what you did there
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
How many Rhodes...
Must a man walk down, before you can call him a man?
Hey Dusty...Are you sure you're OK? You might need an MRI.
by Paul Householder on Dec 11, 2008 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, 'n' how many blown saves will it take till he knows
That too many runners have scored ?
Nobody listens to Andrew
by nlt-andrew68 on Dec 11, 2008 10:07 PM EST up reply actions
Or,
This could signal more willingness to spend…so, they money given to Rhodes doesn’t mean that the Reds won’t also look into, say Abreu or Crede or some other temporary solution. Or does it?
Oh, I don't think the money spent is going to prevent other moves
but I will point out that in the past they have had the money to give second years on Mike Stanton and Rheal Cormier. Just because it’s not a lot of money doesn’t mean it’s smartly spent.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
The Shack
Would be nice if we’d held on to Shackleford, who was a perfect LOOGY.
Otherwise, it appears as though the price for a situational lefty is high this year.
He was perfect
if the situation you are referring to is a possibly criminal sexual encounter.
by Pops Daniels on Dec 11, 2008 1:16 PM EST up reply actions
I'm not so sure it is yet
what other LOOGYs have signed so far?
Scott Eyre signed for 1yr/$2M.
Jeremy Affeldt is not a LOOGY.
Have any other lefty relievers signed at this point? I’m sure I’m missing somebody, but I don’t think we know that the market for LOOGYs is high right now.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
If someone else was driving his price up
then I think there are plenty of other options out there – Beimel, Reyes, Ohman to name a few.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
I feel like I'm bitching about this too much
I like signing Rhodes for 2009. I don’t like having 2010 locked in right now. Personally, I’d rather have Jeremy Affeldt than Rhodes (and it ain’t even close), but I think Art will do a fine job – hopefully.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
Unless Rhodes tanks
we should have the option of trading him before the second year, should circumstances dictate. The contract, while perhaps not perfectly priced, IS below league average.
Slyde says one year, then hit the Rhode.

"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
by PeteyHendrix on Dec 11, 2008 2:03 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah,
I would have liked to have seen that kind of money thrown at Beimel or Reyes. We have seen enough 40ish lefties implode recently. Stanton, Merker, Cormier… Too much money for a guy who had trouble finding work prior to last season. Demand for him could not have been that great.
by Joe Nolan's Glasses on Dec 11, 2008 1:00 PM EST reply actions
It's ok by me
I think it’s a fine way to shore up the bullpen, which was a legitimate strength last year (finally)> Looks to be again, along with what I believe will be improved SP—a bounce back year from Harang, solid year by Arroyo, advances by Cueto and Volquez, and many candidates for the 5th starter. Now, if they can just get EdE into LF and solid defense at 3B, we might be able to score a few runs and shore up our defense a bit…
I see a lot of question marks in the bullpen
Coco-Average to above average closer, gets the job down enough to be effective.
Burton-Miss almost 2 months with a shoulder injury last year, and after he came back he put up an ERA of 7.84 with a WHIP of 1.68, 8 K’s and 8 BB’s in 10.3 innings. I won’t call him a sure bet for next year until May, if he puts together a solid April.
Mike Lincoln- The guy has undergone multiple arm surgeries since 2004. He has a glass arm that could blow out at any time. In the month of July he did not allow an earned run, but in August his ERA was 10.97 with 7 K’s and 4 BB’s in 10.6 innings and a WHIP of 1.97. I am curious as to what his BABIP was for that month, because he gave up 17 hits, so maybe he was just a little unlucky. I also don’t know if somebody who is a member of fan graph is privileged to see a month by month break down of a pitchers velocity, which could also tell us a story. It should be noted that he had an ERA of 3.52 in September, a WHIP of 1.17, while striking out 5, but walking 6 (which is higher than it should be) in 7.6 innings. Plus he only allowed runs in one of his 10 appearances in September, I am also curious to his BABIP for that month because it seems that he might have been really lucky.
Weathers- The guy is a ticking time bomb who is just a small drop off in stuff away from being a crafty ground ball artist, to being the equivalent to a batting practice pitcher. Despite only one trip to the D.L. in his time with the Reds and making 70 appearances a year, Weathers has had some minor durability issues. In 2006 he hurt his shoulder, should have been DL’ed instead was hid away in the bullpen for a week, and was shelled for a while after that. He hurt his elbow last year, and any pitcher with his kinda mileage health is a concern. Plus he has suffered some nagging muscular injuries, which is shocking given his great physique.
Bray-Had a very high WHIP, but struck out a lot of hitters. Slyde suggests above that Bray’s WHIP is somewhat attributed to the defense behind him.
Rhodes- I feel like he is in the same boat as Weathers.
Beyond that the Reds do have some depth behind those 6 guys, so if they need to DFA or D.L. Rhodes, Lincoln, Corrdero, and/or Weathers, or demote Bray due to ineffectiveness they have guys they can turn to. Roenicke, Herra, Viola, Fisher, etc the guys who do not make the rotation out of Bailey, Thompson, Ramirez, and Owings, perhaps even Maloney (who’s future I see in the bullpen given his mediocre stuff). That is all the more reason the Rhodes move leaves me puzzled. It is not as if this team is a LOGGY away from a division title. With all of these young pitchers, with a few of them having “impact arms” why not give them the chance, instead of creating a logjam. When it comes to the bullpen I tend to believe that cheap youth with good stuff is better than expensive veterans. Relief pitchers are about the hardest commodity in baseball to predict year in and year out. It seems like just about every staff will have a Mike Lincoln (a guy who was a non-roster invitee who surprises everyone; makes the team and is solid) but expensive “proven commodities” will also fall through almost as frequently.
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
According to C. Trent
Patton is on his way to the Cubs
"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands
Hasn't said yet.
All I’ve got is this little blurb on his blog.
Also, the Reds selected RHP Dave Pattonof the Rockies, but he will be traded to the Cubs.
"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands
by BK on Dec 11, 2008 1:05 PM EST up reply actions
Not that I've come to expect more but
If he’s going to post that bit of info, he really should say why he has reached that conclusion. We could have some fun filling in the blanks. Like “He will be traded to the Cubs, because I had 12 cheeseburgers today instead of my usual 11. That means Patton will be a Cubbie”
by Pops Daniels on Dec 11, 2008 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
Do I assume too much
that this information is from an unnamed source close to the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity? When it’s not a named source, I automatically attribute it to this kind of source.
"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
by PeteyHendrix on Dec 11, 2008 2:06 PM EST up reply actions
Good.
I can like Patton even less, now. And it probably nets the Reds $100,000 or so.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Dec 11, 2008 1:21 PM EST up reply actions
Or Carlos Zambrano
either one, I’d be fine with it
"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands
by BK on Dec 11, 2008 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
I'm disappointed we won't be able to break out Patton quotes all year
“Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a game by sacrificing to advance a baserunner. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard sacrifice for his baserunner.”
by Red Menace on Dec 11, 2008 3:04 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Wait, isn't this guy 39?
I don’t get it.
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
These guys get it.


"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands
by BK on Dec 11, 2008 1:18 PM EST up reply actions
DAMNIT!
WE ALREADY TRADED PATTON??? Goodness gracious, this is literally the only instance in this site’s history that I could have offered actually independent and useful analysis, as I saw every damn one of Patton’s relief appearances in 2006 when I was a groundskeeper for the Colorado Low-A team. Well that’s all shot to shit now. I was all excited and everything. Oh well..
uh, you could go to Bleed Cubbie Blue
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
editied
It is rare I have actualbaseball-relatedcontributions here.
Sorry couldn’t help myself, I’m an ass.
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
that's not so bad
I actually wrote it your way first before adding “baseball related” to make myself look better
Ease up on the guy
He didn’t do anything wrong, no need to punish him like that
"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands
by BK on Dec 11, 2008 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
I don't see much to be excited about when a Rule V pick is that old
and still posting a WHIP of around 1.4 in Single-A.
That’s too big a WHIP.

"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
by PeteyHendrix on Dec 11, 2008 2:13 PM EST up reply actions
you mean Cool wHip?
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 3:00 PM EST up reply actions
wow, cool
Is it hard to get a job as a groundskeeper? How much does it pay?
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Heh
Minor league groundskeeping teams are usually run by the city or county parks and rec division. The head guy will have a turf management degree. The rest (me included) were drones. And it only paid well because all off the overtime. as a college freshman at the time, I wasn’t complaining.
Are you Scottish?

"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 10:33 PM EST up reply actions
i almost went to Scotland my junior year
what University are you going to be at? What is your major? What stateside University do you go to? Why am I asking so many questions?
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
A'ight, here's my academic life in a nutshell
1. Edinburgh
2. History with a Middle Eastern foreign policy focus
3. Davidson, as per the profile pic of our school’s messiah
4. Probably because I’m such an interesting guy
Alright, so looking at the transactions so far...
The Reds have increased salary by 5 million and added Arthur Rhodes and Ramon Hernandez… I dunno, that just seems like completely wasted money to me unless we go crazy and hook Hardy and/or Beltre in a trade (my fantasy at this point).
If Jocketty were to trade for the Hardy Boy
maybe he could solve the mystery of Why ‘Nukkah Can’t Stand Up Just Right Now.
by Brendanukkah on Dec 11, 2008 1:33 PM EST up reply actions
What, could you think of a better use for the money?
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
Well, maybe I'm stupid
But I just think that status quo signings like this are essentially meaningless and thus a waste of money without some larger plan in place. Maybe Jocketty’s got one, I dunno.
He's filled two obvious needs
and the Reds haven’t gotten demonstrably worse at either position than they were in 2008.
He didn’t get suckered in on the early market for Jermaine Dye and has talked to the agents of three right-handed outfielders who could make a positive difference for the club in 2009.
The bullpen in basically done at this point, so he’s set up a major pitching competition for the Spring and has given himself a fair amount of pitching to deal in order to bring home 2 or 3 more position players.
All this before the third week of December. I’m inclined to say so far, so good.
All Mickey Mouse films are founded on the motif of leaving home in order to learn what fear is.
by Man Mountain on Dec 11, 2008 2:20 PM EST up reply actions
"and the Reds haven’t gotten demonstrably worse at either position than they were in 2008."
Who needs progress when you have 70ish win seasons?
...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield
The Nationals would pay $140 million to one player
for 70ish win seasons.
by Brendanukkah on Dec 11, 2008 5:15 PM EST up reply actions
I appreciate the joke
but seriously, the least you can ask of your GM for is to replace talent at each position and improve where possible. The last 3 GMs have not done that.
All Mickey Mouse films are founded on the motif of leaving home in order to learn what fear is.
by Man Mountain on Dec 11, 2008 8:52 PM EST up reply actions
Wouldn't you agree that needs have been filled
with those two acquisitions though, however unexciting and despite budgetary market inefficiencies?
I got to go down to the stadium and whip batteries at the players on both teams. - Philly Boy Roy
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Dec 11, 2008 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
boring
I got to go down to the stadium and whip batteries at the players on both teams. - Philly Boy Roy
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Dec 11, 2008 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
Nice
This means the bullpen for ‘10 the Reds have guaranteed $14.5M to three relievers whose combined age will be 110, and that doesn’t include the inevitable 2/$7M for then-40 year old David Weathers.
Often wrong, never uncertain.
well
there goes that idea. and Jesus, that’s a hefty contract for a utility guy.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 11, 2008 1:45 PM EST reply actions
I'm down with Slyde
In that I’m not down with the 2-yr deal. It is, however, nice to have a set bullpen this early in the off-season. Can Roenicke play the OF?
Youth wins games; veteran presence wins championships!
I'm gonna credit GregD (who used to post around here some)
with this comment at Redleg Nation:
I’d compare this to what Reyes is asking for. Both Rhodes and Reyes are LOOGYs (aka left-handed pitchers who come in to face only left-handed batters)
Reyes wants $4M/year for 3 years. They’re likely to put up similar numbers in the short-term (2009). If Rhodes has two years in him, then you just got him at a great bargain without the risk of the third year. If he only has one year in him, then you still got that 1 year at $4M market value.
I don’t believe that Reyes will get $4 million a year, but if he does, then Greg has talked me into this deal. I am now imagining this is a 1yr/$4 million deal with a free option for 2010. I’m much happier with that deal. :)
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
His strategy is effective
I just imagined the Freel trade as a trade for Adrian Beltre instead of Ramon Hernandez, and I feel lots better about it.
"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands
by BK on Dec 11, 2008 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I just imagined that the Reds were the American Dreams from Baseball Stars
and suddenly I feel invincible!
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
I always had more fun
using the Ninja Black Sox myself.
You went full retard. No one ever comes back from that. - Sgt. Osiris
by cesarhernandez on Dec 11, 2008 2:36 PM EST up reply actions
being a history major
i always played as the World Powers. of course, i had to switch the lineup all around, because Zeus and Brutus had to play. no need to sit their power on the bench. there was always something special about watching Wilbur and Orville Wright hit back-to-back jacks.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 11, 2008 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
what did you do with your history major after you grew up?
or have you grown up yet?
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 11:23 PM EST up reply actions
well
nothing. i double-majored in history and philosophy and then got my masters in phil. im now a manager at a university bookstore and i teach as an adjunct.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 12, 2008 9:45 AM EST up reply actions
I had a buddy in Dayton
Who got a degree in philosophy. He later got his law degree. He drives a truck for a living.
"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
by PeteyHendrix on Dec 12, 2008 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
I have a degree in philosophy
so choose your words wisely, my friend.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
stories like that kinda scare me
because I hope to get a Ph.D in history, and teach at the college level.
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 12, 2008 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
He tried teaching
One day of first grade and he fled screaming.
"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
by PeteyHendrix on Dec 12, 2008 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
yeah its a tough world out there
but you know that already.
as for me, im doing fine. i make (almost) enough money and i live happily and comfortably with my beautiful wife. i knew full well when i got a masters in philosophy that there was only a slim chance it would pay itself off. but i dont care. i got to live in England for a year and i know that with such a degree i will never starve. i probably wont get fat and rich, but i wont starve.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 12, 2008 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
Fat and rich is overrated
But I recommend it.
"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
by PeteyHendrix on Dec 12, 2008 4:14 PM EST up reply actions
I agree with GregD
and props to Slyde for staying open-minded, even when initially perturbed by a move.
That’s large.
![]()
"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
by PeteyHendrix on Dec 11, 2008 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
$20M+ bullpen
With Cordero’s $12M, Weathers’ ~$4M, Rhodes’ $2M, Lincoln’s $1.5M, plus Bray, Burton, and possible one more, you’re looking at a bullpen for more than $20M!
And I’m really not convinced it’s a very good bullpen. I like Burton and Cordero and Bray is pretty good, but Weathers is getting older, as is Rhodes, and I’ve never been sold on Lincoln. That’s a lot of money to be spent on what looks like a question mark to me.
"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey
FWIW
It looks like Adrian Beltre is available. No idea if the Reds are inquiring.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
I never noticed before
but commenters there seem a bit Fay-blogish.
by Pops Daniels on Dec 11, 2008 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
I just noticed
that there may be a reason why. Look at the name of the 5th commenter (who makes a surprisingly good point). Later on in the thread he writes a typical 12 page manifesto which I refuse to read, but it’s probably about Carl Crawford.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
was he banned
or did he just stop coming ’round these parts?
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 6:04 PM EST up reply actions
I never banned him
but he was pre new format, so he may just not have wanted to re-register.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
that is why i like this blog
hardly anybody gets banned, and there aren’t too many rules, you let the market run the community.
So many other SB blogs have so many rules, like fucking tribe time, and bleedcubbieblue.
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 6:28 PM EST up reply actions
we're like the Hedley Lamarr posse
...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield
by Cy Schourek on Dec 11, 2008 6:49 PM EST up reply actions 10 recs
That limited n/t question is interesting
If players can freely swap out or add teams to their partial no-trade clause, why do such clauses exist?
Of course, maybe Beltre doesn’t want to play on turf. Or doesn’t want any part of the Minnesota small ball.
The clause exists to give players bargaining power.
Or maybe players just like to feel important, and being asked about any trade in advance fulfills that.
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
They had better fucking be looking at him
Christ on a fuccking Hubcap..we could use Adrian at 3B big time. EdE can go play left field or something.
While we’re at has Jocko signed Dye yet?
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.
Sir Winston Churchill
Theory only:
Perhaps Beltre’s contract limits him from being traded to 8-to-10 teams, and he gets to name those teams each offseason.
If I was a player, I’d love to have this stipulation.
"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
he gets to block 8 teams
the question is how often he gets to update that list. Seems like if he can update it on the fly, then he really has a full no trade clause, not just 8 teams.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
Must be a block list updated annually, then.
My three-pound brain can’t conceive of any other scenario, so there must not be one.
"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
by PeteyHendrix on Dec 11, 2008 6:12 PM EST up reply actions
Not sure if it's been mentioned
But ESPN just reported tyhat Kerry Wood is going to CLE for 2 years, $20 million.
"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."
you know after the new year the Cleveland Brown Show is taking King of the Hill's time slot?
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 8:37 PM EST up reply actions
What time slot?
7:00 every third or fourth Sunday, maybe?
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
10 per for Kerry?
Are they gonna use him as a starter? Or is that the going rate for mediocre closers…
oh wait, sorry, CoCo just texted me. Nevermind.
...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield
So finally RR's tagline doesn't suck
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
but I thought there are right-handed bats in louisville?
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
An intervention ... it's a surprise party....
for people who have addictions.
We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.
Throwing it out there......Gary Sheffield
He will require no prospects of worth, and hits right handed.
by Dave from Louisville on Dec 11, 2008 9:12 PM EST reply actions
and he is medicaid eligable as of Spring Training
saving the Reds a fortune in his medical costs.
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 9:15 PM EST up reply actions
Is he poor, blind, or disabled?
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
shit, medicare
fucking LBJ, giving these programs similar names.
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 11:13 PM EST up reply actions
sexually emotionally?
I don’t think Gary will have any love in the club(house)
...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield
if he is blind or disabled would that make him a Reds beat writer?
Ba-dum ching
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 11:13 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Some of the Reds beat writers are pretty poor too
People Don't Kill People. Burning Couches Kill People.
you know
some kid i went to elementary school with mom died in a couch fire, after her sister set fire to it.
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 11:22 PM EST up reply actions
i'm going periodically ad on to this story.
So far it is all true though, it is what happens when you come from Hamilton! OH..
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 11:42 PM EST up reply actions
you see what I did there Dave?
I just turned Lemons into Lemonade. I set that up, intentionally wrote the wrong program, knowing Slyde would be an ass and drop all his facts on me, and I could that make that little zinger?
Pretty clever
Eh?
Eh?
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 11:21 PM EST up reply actions
Dave Weathers for Gary Sheffield
It could happen. Would probably be a net 10-11 mill salary add.
by Dave from Louisville on Dec 11, 2008 11:00 PM EST up reply actions
Gary Sheffield can blow me.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.
Sir Winston Churchill
by Madville on Dec 12, 2008 12:44 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Any post that makes me laugh out loud at work is rec'd
"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands
by BK on Dec 12, 2008 8:15 AM EST up reply actions
some how i'm guessing he would choose to not
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 12, 2008 8:35 AM EST up reply actions
I'd prefer Milton Bradley to Sheffield
if we’re going after a head case…
"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
by PeteyHendrix on Dec 12, 2008 3:04 PM EST up reply actions
head case?
are you saying that Bradley will blow Madville?
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
somebody has to
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 12, 2008 4:54 PM EST up reply actions
why?
Think of me what you will...I gotta little space to fill
by chandrathan on Dec 12, 2008 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
Because Brendan's Mom's busy.
"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
by PeteyHendrix on Dec 12, 2008 4:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
he will just explode if somebody doesn't
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 12, 2008 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
Pretty interesting discussion/disagreement about Juan Rivera at Redszone
mostly between dougdirt and poster “Cyclone.”
I’ve linked it starting at page 8: http://www.redszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73017&page=8
Well worth the read.
All Mickey Mouse films are founded on the motif of leaving home in order to learn what fear is.
Bold prediction
Walt, being the skilled executive that he is, will do the following in the next few weeks.
Begin talking to FAs Burrel, Riveria, the guy with the genetic disorder, and maybe even Manny. But what you don’t know is that he’s not doing this because he wants to sign them, he’s doing this to lower KW’s asking price for Dye. Maybe we end up signing a FA, but it won’t be soon because Walt knows that there are more big bats than teams right now.
Walt wants Dye and will probably get him, but I doubt we will overpay for him.
by Dave from Louisville on Dec 11, 2008 10:48 PM EST reply actions
yeah
Walt doesn’t have a history of over paying for veterans or anything like that…
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 11:11 PM EST up reply actions
Without that one really really big mistake - you know what I am talking about
Name another one.
by Dave from Louisville on Dec 11, 2008 11:13 PM EST up reply actions
i concede your point
i just looked over his trade history, and he does have a strong track record of trading nothing for something. Eric Ludwick, TJ Mathews, Blake Stein for McGwire just to name one, he traded Kent Botenfield and Adam Kennedy for Jim Edmonds.
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 11:18 PM EST up reply actions
Ibanez is off the table
3/$30 with Philly. The curse of Burrell begins.
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillies_zone/Ibanez_Is_Aboard.html
I was thinking about this yesterday
but if for some strange reason, the Reds sign Burrell and already have Ramon, I can hear sMarty railing already. Part of me is hoping that Burrell doesn’t happen so that little fucker has to focus all of his bile at EdE.
by Pops Daniels on Dec 12, 2008 9:38 AM EST up reply actions
I'm thinking about the opposite
I kind of have a soft spot for EdE. If we sign Burrell, it will give Marty a target to focus his crotchety old man rage, and he stays away from EdE.
"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands
by BK on Dec 12, 2008 9:50 AM EST up reply actions
seems high
Beyond The Boxscore’s Two Monkeys spreadsheet puts his 3yr deal worth $9.1 – which also seems low. I’d probably say something more like $20M if it’s a 3yr deal.
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
Even from a non-sabr perspective I don't get this
They really wanted a RHB. They’re letting Burrell go bc of his fielding. Ibanez makes no sense.
Amaro isn’t off to a great start. They could have kept Moyer for a relatively cheap year, but now they might have to promise a second year or lose him. Yesterday they traded from their catching depth for another catcher.
i think this is good news for us
if Ibanez gets 3/30, then we could definitely sign a FA LF for 10 mil a year, right? we dont have to trade for Dye, right? right?
by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 12, 2008 9:49 AM EST up reply actions
Furcal?
I’m sure this has been discussed, but why aren’t the Reds pursuing Furcal? Seems to help with a few of our needs (leadoff hitter, righty, shortstop). Also seems like the kind of guy Dusty would like (doesn’t clog the bases, sounds good in batting practice). I’ve heard he’s looking for 3-4 years at 10 million per. Is that out of our range? What am I missing?
Bruce Bonser? Boone Bonser? Boot Bonser? BOOSE BONZER?
The front office just really seems to be dragging its feet on admitting that shortstop is an area that needs to be upgraded
It sounds like they want to stick with Gonzalez, although who knows if he can play or how well. Furcal does have a bit of a dicky back, but I certainly would be happy to sign him.
by Brendanukkah on Dec 12, 2008 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
Never heard dicky use that way, but I can dig it
Seems strange to me that they want to stick with AGon. He hardly played last year and didn’t light the world on fire the year before that. Furcal would be a huge upgrade IMO. Seems like a case of looking at what they’re paying Gonzalez instead of his production.
Bruce Bonser? Boone Bonser? Boot Bonser? BOOSE BONZER?
I think that's exactly the case
Also, by “hardly played,” you mean “Never played” last year. I think they’d like to get younger at shortstop, but Furcal is the same age as Gonzalez, so that shouldn’t really be a factor. All I know is that Jeff Keppinger should never be considered as a starting shortstop.
by Brendanukkah on Dec 12, 2008 10:25 AM EST up reply actions
You think Jocko
looks at advanced defensive metrics?
by Pops Daniels on Dec 12, 2008 6:49 PM EST up reply actions
Pops I ran across this memo from Bob to Jocko:
Memo to Jocko from Bob;
Walt: Please read this note re advanced defensive metric and discuss w/Dusty. I sat down with Mike Brown and Katie Blackburn and got some pretty useful information regarding sabremetrics: I’ve simplified it a bit so that Dusty can better implement it.
Thanks
Bob.
To be useful, advance defensive (dynamic) metrics should provide a concise, yet informative, summary of different aspects of the functional utility of individual and team defensive. By concise, I mean that a small number of numeric values should be enough to summarize the behavior. For example, a complete profile of a player’s defense metric need not be a concisely applied metric; whereas the fact that 95% of program execution is accounted for by 5%(sample size) of the player’s historical defensive statistics is a concise enough metric. This means that the metric must measure some programable characteristic of relevance to compilers and developers of sabremetric programs (E.G. how the ball sounds coming off the bat, if the player is tall or short, or African American or Beaner), and the program metrics should differentiate between players with different defensive correlations (positions). For example, computing the ratio of number of lines of code to number of lines of comments does not capture anything about program behavior, and is not an informative metric, for our purposes.
In order to get a good overview of individual player’s defensive abilities and history, compilers and runtime systems developers must first study the typical dynamic characteristics reported in the local newspapers presented over the last several years in the key baseball blogs (E.G. Red Reporter, Church of Baseball etc) at the appropriate league level. Although we did find many interesting experiments that suggest potential dynamic metrics, we also found that many summaries of benchmarks and results focused on static program measurements (#lines of code, # of methods, # loops transformed, # methods that are inlinable ( such as "playing the game the right way"), # number of locations pointed to at dereference sites, and so on). Based on our own experiences, we suggest implementing this focus on static rather than dynamic, metrics is because the static metrics are much easier to compute. Therefore we’ll use whatever data that has been historically used to compute defense and leave it at that.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.
Sir Winston Churchill
by Madville on Dec 12, 2008 9:24 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Funny shit
but did you really write “African American or Beaner”? Wow.
by Pops Daniels on Dec 13, 2008 9:38 AM EST up reply actions
Bob did it Pops - Don't kill the messenger.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.
Sir Winston Churchill
One of the BP guys suggested Cincinnati as a possible destination for Ben Sheets
Any interest?
"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands
yes
Think of me what you will...I gotta little space to fill
by chandrathan on Dec 12, 2008 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
unless it is a contract as Slyde describes above, I have no interest
a small market team can’t afford to throw resources at a guy who may or may not pitch 100 innings next year. Besides the habitual trips to the D.L. I feel like it is only a matter of time before he blows out his shoulder or something, and will lose the description of “we’ll he’s really good when he’s on the mound,” because he won’t have the stuff.
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 12, 2008 3:35 PM EST up reply actions
An update from mlbtraderumors
The Yanks just dropped 80 Mill + on A.J. Burnett (what recession?) and the inimitable DeWayne Wise has been tendered by the ChiSox for 550K.
It is going to be so awesome when these contracts become the next Giambi/Brown type deals
by Dave from Louisville on Dec 12, 2008 7:05 PM EST up reply actions
Although those bust deals did little to slow The Evil Empire down...
"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
by PeteyHendrix on Dec 12, 2008 7:52 PM EST up reply actions
What do you mean?
they haven’t won a World Series since 2000. GASP!
We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches
cue bubbafan
"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack
by justin007000 on Dec 12, 2008 8:07 PM EST up reply actions
you rang?
Actually, most fans don’t think of Giambi as a bust. I personally wasn’t keen on signing him, but he wasn’t the disaster Kevin Brown was.
The Yankees nontendered RHP Chris Britton and OFer Justin Christian today. Britton was a fan favorite, but the Yankees just didn’t seem to like him. They didn’t give him much of a shot.
Justin Christian played CF for the Yanks for awhile, when Melky was in the doghouse. He has great speed. And was a Triple A all-star. Didn’t really strike me as being a particularly smart baserunner, though. (Based on a very small sample size, admittedly.)
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
What the fuck are Yankee fans doing on this site
Go hang out with Lebron James.
by Dave from Louisville on Dec 13, 2008 10:53 AM EST up reply actions
i hope that was in jest
Bubba brings goods, insight, and flavor. Besides LBJ can’t negotiate the stripe and Bubba is 90%
And Bubba Crosby is a former Red.
Once a Red, always a Red…unless you don’t show up at RedsFest to sign autographs.
"So how do like the Reds owner, Marge Schott?" - Dave Letterman
"What - she's my boss. You want me to say something bad about her?" - Chris Sabo
by PeteyHendrix on Dec 13, 2008 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

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