Water Cooler Wednesday

by BK on Dec 17, 2008 10:03 AM EST in Off-season Comment 45 comments

What are Reds fans discussing at the water cooler on a Wednesday morning in December? Use this as an open thread for today. If you haven't listened to the Hot Stove league thing in obc's diary, it's worth checking out, if only because Marty kind of comes off as a blowhard and cream-of-the-crap Reds fans are calling in suggesting that Roger Clemens and David Eckstein are the answers to the Reds problems.

A few links:

Fay has an article up about the free agents that the Reds are/should be pursuing. Nothing new there, but it's kind of a primer on what the Reds may be up to. Names mentioned: Jerry Hairston Jr., Willy Taveras, Ty Wigginton, Pat Burrell, Milton Bradley, Rocco Baldelli, and Gabe Kapler.
Doug has a good article up on RML about the future of the Reds LF. Also, the Hawaiian Winter League is no more.
JinAZ has a detailed look at the Freel/Hernandez trade (linking it a little late, I know, but it's worth checking out).
C. Trent has a Dominican Winter League update from Rob Butcher on his blog today.

Juan Francisco has 9 home runs for Cibao, a new Dominican Winter League record for a lefthanded batter. The previous record for HR by a LH batter in the DWL was 8, established by Rafael Batista in 1974 and tied by Batista in 1975.

Unfortunately, the Reds have been pretty quiet this week. A few other non-Reds related links:

Ken posted this anecdote about Pat Burrell (the one at the bottom). After reading this, I would love to have this guy in Cincinnati.
Brendan posted a crazy story involving Brian Giles. Let's hope that isn't true.
Soccer news! Columbus Crew stadium is hosting the home leg of a USA v. Mexico World Cup Qualifying match. In February. Smart move by the US Soccer Federation.

If you guys see anything else worth posting, feel free to post them in the comments.

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Here's the link to that JinAZ article

Link

by Brendanukkah on Dec 17, 2008 10:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Whoops.

Fixed it.

"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands

by BK on Dec 17, 2008 10:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

From CTR

Could Drew Carey be any less excited? How would you like to be this lady who bid within $500 and lost.

We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches

by Slyde on Dec 17, 2008 10:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Drew Carey not showing excitment?

Thats like Jeff Keppinger not killing Alpacas with his bare hands. It just doesn’t make sense.

by jacob brumfield on Dec 17, 2008 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

She seemed to take it well

by Red Menace on Dec 17, 2008 2:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to put a plug in for the World Cup Qualifying match

I know I talk about soccer a lot on a baseball site, but if you’re at all curious as to why I keep harping on it, this would be a great chance to experience for yourselves a great sporting atmosphere. The American and Mexican teams hate each other. I can’t emphasize that strongly enough. And it’s even more galling to El Tri (Mexico’s national team) that they can’t beat us in America. They pride themselves on playing a better brand of soccer, but they haven’t beaten us on US soil in forever. The last two times they’ve played us with World Cup Qualifying on the line were also at Columbus, and they lost both times, 2-0. We’ve started to get into their heads that they can’t beat us in Columbus, and they don’t like playing there in the cold.

I was at the match in 2005, and there’s a good chance I’ll go to this one as well. Columbus is really close for most of you, so come on out and support the USA. The game is Feb. 11.

by Brendanukkah on Dec 17, 2008 11:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

if i can get tickets

i’ll be there.

jingle bells Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
the Batmobile lost its wheel
and the Joker got away

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 17, 2008 11:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No word on when they go on sale yet

I’m probably in as well.

"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands

by BK on Dec 17, 2008 11:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The last USA-Mexico qualifying match in Columbus...

my brother got us the Huntington Bank luxury box (he works there). I’m expecting he’ll be able to swing that again. If so you’re all welcome. We can go inside and warm up whenever we want.

by Red Menace on Dec 17, 2008 2:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would like to RSVP

by Brendanukkah on Dec 17, 2008 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

RSVP'd

awwwwwwwsome

jingle bells Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
the Batmobile lost its wheel
and the Joker got away

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 17, 2008 5:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also RSVP'd

"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands

by BK on Dec 17, 2008 6:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

think twice about Wiggy

he may be more expensive than you think. the Twins think he is looking for a better deal than Casey Blake got, and Blake got 3/17.5. i wouldnt mind the AAS, but there is no way im giving 3 years to him.

jingle bells Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
the Batmobile lost its wheel
and the Joker got away

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 17, 2008 11:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

You can blame the Dodgers for that one

Blake is a reasonable comp for Wigginton, but Wigginton’s younger

All Mickey Mouse films are founded on the motif of leaving home in order to learn what fear is.

by Man Mountain on Dec 17, 2008 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

right

but i still wouldnt give him 3 years.

jingle bells Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
the Batmobile lost its wheel
and the Joker got away

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 17, 2008 12:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Any interest in Felix Pie?

The Cubs just signed Gaithright, so Pie might be had for cheap. His MLB performance is not exciting, but his minor league line is interesting: .299/.353/.470. Looks like he’s a plus defender as well. Could he be had for a midlevel prospect or two?

We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches

by Slyde on Dec 17, 2008 12:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'd sign him

to an irrational number of years.

by ken on Dec 17, 2008 1:05 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

nerd rec

We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches

by Slyde on Dec 17, 2008 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Um, it's pronounced "Pee-ay"

Nice try, Dr. Dork.

by Brendanukkah on Dec 17, 2008 2:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think that his style of play is the kind

that really transcends the numbers.

Everybody's a jerk. You. Me. This jerk.

by andromache on Dec 17, 2008 3:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

nerd nerd rec

I tried to come up with a worthy response, but I couldn’t find the solution (to any rational polynomial.)

See, I told you so.

by bbjones on Dec 18, 2008 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by Slyde on Dec 17, 2008 12:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by Slyde on Dec 17, 2008 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

chromium picoffofbase?

Think of me what you will...I gotta little space to fill

by chandrathan on Dec 17, 2008 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

nope

just flat-out chrome

jingle bells Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
the Batmobile lost its wheel
and the Joker got away

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 17, 2008 5:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ah yes

i just flat out forgot

Think of me what you will...I gotta little space to fill

by chandrathan on Dec 17, 2008 9:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so Slyde is now head blogger

boobs and alan are out, and Charlie got promoted to be a mod?

"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 17, 2008 9:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

thats right

new sheriff in town

jingle bells Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
the Batmobile lost its wheel
and the Joker got away

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 17, 2008 10:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to thunderdome, Charlie

You think you can keep those spurs from jingling and jangling, new sheriff?

"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands

by BK on Dec 17, 2008 11:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by Slyde on Dec 18, 2008 8:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

There will be a formal announcement soon, but the times they are achangin’.

We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches

by Slyde on Dec 18, 2008 8:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you're just knocking people off left and right

"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 18, 2008 8:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a reluctant leader on this one

I’ve been avoiding the official title for a while now because it’s like a noose around your neck at this place. I give myself a month before I disappear now.

We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches

by Slyde on Dec 18, 2008 8:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs