Sunday Things to Talk About

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 21, 2008 12:26 PM EST in News

Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year for all you Reds fans out there in the Northern Hemisphere. It's also the first night of Hanukkah, for all you 'nukkahs out there. As Christmas approaches, things really slow down in the baseball in the world. But we here at Red Reporter never stop. Here's a few things up for discussion today:

Ty Wigginton is being courted by a number of teams, our Reds chief among them. The Indians, Pirates, and Giants are also in the running. According to Nick Cafardo, the Reds would like to use him as a super-sub, a-la the recently departed Ryan Freel. This begs the question: if the Reds like Wiggy as a utility guy and we end up signing him, does this affect the Jerry Hairston Jr situation?

Norris Hopper is doing his darnedest to get ready for Spring Training. Is anyone seriously entertaining the idea of him being anything more than defensive reserve/pinch runner?

Doug has an update for us on Juan Francisco and his conquest of the Dominican Winter League. Superlatives are failing me.

Justin released his review of the 2008 season for the Reds. In case you forgot, they didn't do very well. It's a pretty bleak affair, especially if you were hoping a few tweaks and improvements here or there could vault this team into playoff contention. Merry Christmas indeed.

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Comments

First!

Norris Hopper is the best bunter in baseball history. If that’s not enough to make him the leadoff hitter for this team, then I don’t get it.

I have discovered in 20 years of moving around a ballpark, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. - Bill Veeck

by PeteyHendrix on Dec 21, 2008 12:54 PM EST reply actions

Now now

It was in the history of sports1one!!.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Dec 21, 2008 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I am usually a very optimistic Reds fan

But after reading the Chone projections and Justin’s review of last, combined with management’s patient/stagant style…….i am getting depressed.

by Dave from Louisville on Dec 21, 2008 1:11 PM EST reply actions

NoHo

I think it’s questionable whether he’ll even make the team.

The Fay said the reason they non-tendered him was that it allowed them to cut his salary. He was making minimum wage for a big league player, so they must have offered him a contract that paid him much less if he ends up in Louisville. And he took it, even though he could have chosen free agency. That tells me even Norris Hopper doesn’t expect Norris Hopper to be more than a defensive replacement/pinch runner.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Dec 21, 2008 2:09 PM EST reply actions

Astute.

I have discovered in 20 years of moving around a ballpark, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. - Bill Veeck

by PeteyHendrix on Dec 21, 2008 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

Bleakness

I’ve said it before but the lineup is anemic. When I think of a playoff caliber ballclub I envision 2 star positional players combined with 3-4 above average positional players.

I dont have the tool belt to calculate league average stats for each position, but my eyeballs think only BP exceeded the norms. Bruce will, imho, in the very near future. Votto is a talented ballplayer but his production isnt going to net any All Star appearances, the 1B pool is too deep. Ditto EE.

2009 is going to be ugly….

by obc2 on Dec 21, 2008 2:10 PM EST reply actions

I posted this previously

but for qualified players at each position:
Votto ranked 7th in wOBA out of 22 firstbasemen, 12th in OPS+, which is park/league adjusted
BP ranked 10th out of 15 secondbasemen, 11th in OPS+
EdE ranked 7th out of 15 thirdbasemen, 12th in OPS+

No other current players qualified for the batting title last year, but Bruce would have been 10th of 14 in OPS+ for RF. Compared to their positions, the Reds kinda look like shit. However, if everybody on the team was average for their position, that would still be a good offense. The problem is that these are the team’s 4 best hitters.

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

by Slyde on Dec 21, 2008 2:36 PM EST up reply actions

agreed

BP gains points for Gold Glove defense, and EE loses points for Iron Gloveness.

the rest of the lineup is DECIDELY below average.

by obc2 on Dec 21, 2008 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

We have a good shot to be average at catcher

Last year’s average for the NL was 255/328/387.

by ken on Dec 21, 2008 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

And I expect average to above average production from Votto.

OPS around 860.

I have discovered in 20 years of moving around a ballpark, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. - Bill Veeck

by PeteyHendrix on Dec 21, 2008 8:44 PM EST up reply actions

that's better than last year! so it's an upgrade!

Yes We Did!

by Daedalus on Dec 22, 2008 11:12 AM EST up reply actions

Geez Louise,

Juan Francisco is starting to look like Peter Francisco

also, Peter Francisco is just about the coolest story to come out of the Revolutionary War, so its worth it to check that link.

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Dec 21, 2008 4:50 PM EST reply actions

Maybe he help the Reds burn Atlanta in a couple of years.

Figuratively speaking, of course.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Dec 22, 2008 8:30 AM EST up reply actions

Juan Francisco

I’d be more excited if Melky Cabrera wasn’t OBPing .408 in Dominican Winter League. Melky, whose OBP was .301 in the big leagues this year.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Dec 21, 2008 4:55 PM EST reply actions

I don't know what you're implying about the Dominicans

But it’s probably racist.

by Brendanukkah on Dec 21, 2008 4:58 PM EST up reply actions

Actually...

…I think it’s more small sample size than level of competition. I seem to recall Bubba playing winter ball and batting .400. You know I love the guy, but Ted Williams, he ain’t.

It just seems like every year, we get glowing reports about how players did in winter ball…and it doesn’t have any bearing on how they play when the regular season starts.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Dec 21, 2008 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

i dont put much stock in winter league stats either

but i would much rather he be murderizing the ball than not.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 21, 2008 7:24 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed.

Anderson Hernandez is a winter league all-star. Fabled Reds 2007 Rule 5 pick Sergio Valenzuela was, too. With all things equal, however, I feel better discussing what a great winter Francisco is having rather than lamenting a .214 batting average or some such stat.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Dec 22, 2008 8:40 AM EST up reply actions

A very Brendanukkah Hanukkah

Happy Holidays everyone! And a merry Saturnalia to all you slaves, who this one day are permitted to switch places with your masters.

by Brendanukkah on Dec 21, 2008 5:29 PM EST reply actions

Chag Chanuka Sameach!

from the town we apparently run.

I have discovered in 20 years of moving around a ballpark, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. - Bill Veeck

by PeteyHendrix on Dec 21, 2008 8:49 PM EST up reply actions

Aaron Fultz signed to a minor league deal

via Sheldon. he’s been a pretty effective LOGGY (sic) over his career, with a .652 OPS against lefties. he was great for the Indians in ‘07, with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in 37 innings (49 appearances). he was released by the Indians in ST last year and bounced around the minors, indy leagues, and ended up in Taiwan. im not sure what his sitch is, as he seemed to be just fine from ’05-’07. how one can go from that to the indy leagues in less than a year is precisely why long-term contracts for relievers is a bad idea. i like minor league deals better.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 21, 2008 10:25 PM EST reply actions

I'm amazed the Indians gave up a Type A

draft choice for Fultz and another for Roberto Hernandez a couple of years back.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Dec 22, 2008 8:32 AM EST up reply actions

Is tonight the night we light a candle for Dustbrai?

He’s gonna need some help, big time.

No CF
No LF
No SS
A questionable 3B

Not much of a bench
Dick Pole
Mark Berry
P -Doc
sMarty
Clownboy
Dr. T-Check MRI

Happy Holidays Dusty

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

Sir Winston Churchill

by Madville on Dec 21, 2008 10:57 PM EST reply actions

Ave, ave, ave

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Dec 21, 2008 11:26 PM EST up reply actions

One move I would not be against

If the Yanks acquire Teixeira, then they would have an abundance OF/DH/1B types with Teix, Matsui, Cabera, Damon, Swisher, and Nady.

I would love to acquire Swisher or Nady. I think they both would be great fits. I consider Swish a big time buy low. But I doubt the Yanks want to trade these guys, given they have not been on the team that long, and they tend to not like prospects……we could throw Weathers in a trade to make it interesting!!!!

by Dave from Louisville on Dec 22, 2008 1:07 AM EST reply actions

Good point.

I was hoping a similar situation would lead to us signing Juan Rivera, who broke his leg and has been forgotten behind Vladdy, Garrett Anderson, and Torii Hunter, and sometimes Willits (world’s only white Reggie). Also, Swisher is from Columbus, I believe, though it would obviously not be up to him whether he was traded here or not.

He sits alone...Reds are not home.

by Gapper on Dec 22, 2008 2:05 AM EST up reply actions

While Swisher played at Ohio State,

he’s from Parkersburg, W.Va., where he played for Parkersburg HIgh School. PHS’s nickname — the BIg Reds.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Dec 22, 2008 8:35 AM EST up reply actions

yeah i remember the news coverage on WTAP when he was in high school

he’s a few years older than me, but one of my brother’s friends faced him a few times. he struck him out twice and popped him up. to this day he still cant believe how major league hitters cant catch on that the way to get Swisher out is to pitch him up and in.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 22, 2008 10:09 AM EST up reply actions

*major league pitchers

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 22, 2008 10:10 AM EST up reply actions

He works out in the offseason near Columbus,

old school style.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/24/sports/baseball/24swisher.html

by ken on Dec 22, 2008 8:50 AM EST up reply actions

I don't think the Yankees are serious about Tex

I think they are trying to drive his price up.

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

by Slyde on Dec 22, 2008 7:51 AM EST up reply actions

I think you're right about that

It’s not like the Sox haven’t done the same to the Yanks.

I think the Yanks might sign Manny if the price drops low enough. Then they might be willing to trade Swisher or Nady.

The Yankees do like prospects. Especially pitchers. I doubt they’d be interested in Weathers. They’re looking for lefties. They’ve got a ton of right-handed pitching prospects, but not much in the way of lefties.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Dec 22, 2008 8:02 AM EST up reply actions

Maloney for Nady?

i’d prefer Swisher, but i think if they are going to trade anyone it would be Nady.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 22, 2008 8:14 AM EST up reply actions

I agree

I don’t think they’re going to trade Swisher, especially since they just gave up a bunch of guys to get him, but if Manny or Tex happens, I’d have to think Nady is on the table. Unless of course, they go to the Nationals 7-man outfield approach.

I don’t know if Maloney would be enough to get it done, but I think Billy Boy could be a decent haul for him. With the recent signings, I don’t think the Yankees would be looking to add back-of-the-rotation potential starters, and the Reds have a glut of relievers in the pipeline as it is (Roenicke, Herrera, Fisher, etc.).

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

by BK on Dec 22, 2008 8:30 AM EST up reply actions

Wigginton could be a tough sign as a super-utility guy

when he could start for SF or Cleveland. He already stated he has little interest in returning to Pittsburgh. The Giants have Ryan Rohlinger and 2008 draft choice Connor Gillaspie vying for the 3B job. In Cleveland, Wiggy only has to beat out Andy Marte.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Dec 22, 2008 8:43 AM EST reply actions