What’s most frustrating is that this team is bad in such a predictable way!

(courtesy of Sic)

His .907 stolen base percentage in 2008 was the highest by a Major League player, with a minium of 60 stolen bases, since those statistics have been compiled (since 1920 in the American League, since 1951 in the National League). The previous stolen base percentage record of .896 was established by the Pirates’ Tony Womack in 1997 (60-for-67).

“With the addition of Willy Taveras and Ramon Hernandez, along with Alex Gonzalez and Brandon Phillips, our defense substantially improves up the middle,” said Jocketty.

Um, Walt? Does anyone really believe that Ramon Hernandez and Alex Gonzalez are “substantial” improvements, defensively? All the metrics I’ve seen say that Hernandez is a pretty godawful defensive catcher, and while Gonzalez might be an improvement at shortstop, it’s only because Keppinger played the position with all the range of the Venus de Milo. At this point, coming off a broken kneecap and missing an entire season, Gonzalez has to be viewed as a huge question mark, and whatever was true about his defensive reputation has to be entirely re-earned.

(Looking on the bright side, looking on the bright side…)

Hey, a Tony Womack comparison!

AGon – Royce McClayton

Wily – Quentin McCrappen

Ramon – LaWhiff

Bottom line: “They’re still shitty”

that WT will be used as a 4th outfielder off the bench / bunting specialist / pinchrunner while people like Bruce, Baldelli, and maybe Burrell man the outfield the rest of the time…y’know…guys that can actually hit and stuff.

1) i think we all knew that signing Willy Taveras was a foregone conclusion, but TWO YEARS?!
2) the argument was made that even though the Reds hit lefties better than righties, we needed a RH bat to “Dusty-proof” the lineup. this assures that such a thing is now completely beyond the realm of possibility.
3) there is still the possibility that i wont hate this deal. he made 2 mil last year, and as long they didnt give him a raise over that there is the possibility that he could be worth a bit more than that. that doesnt make it ok, but maybe i wont hate it.
4) i hate saying “maybe i wont hate it” with this team all the fucking time.

I am back home for the holidays. I told my brother that the Reds signed Willy Taveras, and my mom, who was sitting nearby, asked if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I told her that he didn’t hit very much, and that only 18 of his 120 hits last year went for extra bases.

“So why do they want him?”

Because he’s fast. They’ll use him as a leadoff man, even though good leadoff men should get on base 40% of the time, and he only gets on 30% of the time.

“What is with the Reds?”

Smart woman, my mother.

Somebody must have been naughty. Probably Chandrathan.

If Taveras is our big free agent signing this winter, what does that do for our chances of bringing back Cherry Hudson, Jr.?

I’d like to bring Cherry back. I do like his versatility, he won’t kill you on the field or at the dish, and Taveras might help keep him on the bench (wow). But I’m less encouraged if Walt is throwing around multiyear contracts to suspect guys. Maybe getting into this is a topic for another thread, but what do you think? Does Taveras signal the end of the Cherry Hudson era?

isnt Taveras basically a more expensive Norris Hopper? dammit…

if taveras doesnt hit but he keeps starting/hitting leadoff

To what degree does T-bone’s 68 steals offset his inability to hit a double?

this signing was inevitable, but at least we held off on trading for him, and didn’t have to give up anything useful.

That’s what I think. Again. It’s a continuing theme with this team. I’m tiring of hoping someone will have a career year or will revert to his form of three years ago, or will be the lightning in a bottle guy, or will pan out because he’s turning 27 in April, or any number of such scenarios.

I know it’s not the 1970s, but my gosh it was fun when the Reds acquired Tom Seaver and the rest of the baseball world was irate. It was fun when the Reds traded for Vida Blue and the other teams had a hissy fit (although the deal was overturned by Bowie Kuhn). Just once I’d love to see the Reds make a deal or a signing that causes me to say, “wow, that’s a huge move.”

as long as his OBP stays above .350 and he can steal bases without getting thrown out. However, I’m fearful that it won’t and he’ll end up leading off all season because Dusty’s a moron and the team’s offense will suffer because of it. Call it a hunch.

I wish we had enough money to take out a one page add in the Cincinnati Enquirer and write an open letter to the Reds.

I posted this in Caleb’s “If the season started tomorrow….”

Sorry but here it is again:

CF Taveras

LF Hopper

RF Bruce

2B Phillips

1B Votto

3B Encarnacion

SS Gonzalez

C Hernandez

I wouldn’t put it past Dustballs to use this lineup for ‘small ball’…damn it is a long time ‘til 2010. I can’t get remotely excited about this acquisition. Despite decent pitching for next season (hopefully) the offense, which was meager has been dealt a near death blow…it is hard to win games if you don’t score runs WALT.

Its stunned its the 7th story on the main page of espn.com. I agree with Slyde. Taveras will make the Reds a little bit better than they were yesterday, but its nothing to get excited about. The outfield defensive would be very much above average, with three individuals who have manned centerfield recently. Yup, that’s about the best spin I can create. I have my fingers crossed that Stubbs is ready for a midsummer call up and takes some of those AB’s from Wily T.

This takes the Reds from a 70 win to a 72 win ballclub.

I’m ok with him…..if he bats ninth.

Unfortunately, we can count on 600 at-bats (if he stays healthy) of this suckiness from the lead-off spot.

to see what was going on and I saw this. I don’t know what to say. This is the genius Walt Jocketty, huh? It is sad to have another losing season. It is sadder to do it while trying the same thing, over and over again.

OOOOOOOOOOO!

“I don’t care what Taveras’ on base percentage is, his job is to, uh, ……” Breaks into Kahns commercial.

“We’d like to add another hitter, but if we don’t, we have good pitching and defense and speed.”
— Reds GM Walt Jocketty

Bwahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

newsflash . . . a HITTER is going to cost you some cash. If you’re not going to sign the best one, who was actually on your team for the last 6 years, then why are you even trying to fool everybody?

Jocketty is a jack ass.

I don’t hate Taveras. It’s not his fault he’s not what we want. I hope he has a great year, steals 60 bases, gathers 180+ hits, and plays 140 games hitting leadoff. Even if he walks 20 times (worst case). I don’t have that same sinking feeling as when Patterson was signed. Taveras has something to show and can be a productive teammate. I’m hoping for the best.

But Walt’s putting together a crappy team: With Hernandez and [second baseman] Brandon Phillips and if [shortstop] Alex Gonzalez is back healthy, we’ve really improved our defense up the middle," Jocketty said. Way to dig for a positive, Walt.

He says “Damnit, you guys got Willy.”

I had hoped that Walt was smarter than this but apparently he was as much as product of La Russa as Dusty was of Bonds. Until Dusty is gone, this is the same junk we’re going to see year after year…

I can only draw 2 positives here:

1. He’s young enough to possibly become a better player but I’d only give it a 10% chance. (I unfortunately thought the same of Patterson…)

1. Now that the Cinci media and general fan base will have their fetish for hustle sated(with the speedy, defensive, pitching team) perhaps they’ll finally realize that this type of gameplay will not bring us winning baseball anymore than grip and rip… but no doubt they’ll blame EdE and Bruce instead.

we have to be better in centerfield in 09 than we were in 08

My first time there. As a museum person, I was really impressed with the way they blend artifacts and interactives, as well as the number and quality of interactives. I tested my pitching ability, and barely topped 50 mph. I asked my brother to throw a few, thinking he’d blow me away, but he only touched 40. That was nice for the ol’ ego, sort of.

There was an exhibition on Joe Nuxhall, and it made me miss the ol’ Lefthander something fierce. It’s worth revisiting what a truly amazing individual he was. But I was most surprised to learn that the Banana Phone actually does look like a banana.

Naturally the Big Red Machine is featured quite prominently, and I’ve made up my mind that I definitely want to pick up the DVD box set of the 1975 World Series. Ironically, I’ve seen that box set in a couple of DC Borders stores, but it wasn’t in the one in Dayton.

To sum up, if you’ve never been to the Hall of Fame and Museum, it is absolutely worth the effort to go. It’s a great balm for the Reds fan’s soul. Even though it didn’t look like the Freel shirts were discounted at all. Walking up to Great American Ball Park, I was really distraught that I don’t get to go there more often for games. Take it from an outsider, it’s really a beautiful park.

also interviewed Jocketty.

On whether this signifies a change in the Reds’ philosophy, going with a speed guy and not really replacing some of the big bats that left: “It’s more of what was available for us and what we had to do to improve the club. Our goal was to build on our pitching and improve our defense which helps our pitching. We feel if we had some offense with speed and it’ll generate enough runs to win some games.”

On Taveras’ terrible 07: “I think last year was the aberration, I base that a lot on Jamie Quirk who was with Willy the last two years. He saw him in ‘07 and he changed his approach. He has to use his speed to get on base and create havoc.”

Jocketty said he thought Taveras “was trying to change his approach in Coors Field. He did not bunt as much last year.”

With Bruce in right, Taveras in center, what about left: “At the present it’s Dickerson and Hopper and whatever else we end up doing.”

He also has stuff about Pat Burrell, Cherry, Nady and Swisher, and Baldelli.

Sosa and Bonds are not being considered.

Willy Taveras helps a good team much more than he helps a bad team. That is because Taveras is not good enough to lead off. Good teams presumably have good players at the top of their order already, so they can punt one spot in their lineup in order to get Taveras’s positives into the lineup—SB and defense. But a bad team can’t afford to punt ANY lineup spots, especially in the NL. And a championship caliber team would put Taveras where he belongs—on the bench to serve as a defensive replacement and pinch runner in high-leverage situations. I’d LOVE to have Taveras in that role. But alas, the Reds are not a championship caliber club, and this move doesn’t bring them anywhere close to respectability.

but I simply offer my comment from the late August series between the Reds and Rockies. Isn’t it amazing when you can see the future 4 months in advance (although we thankfully didn’t have to give up players in this farce)???

Oh shit

Willy Taveras has 60 SBs… Dusty’d probably trade Voltron for Taveras straight up. No way he isn’t in a Reds uni next season (our big offseason trade, get excited!!!!)

Is seeing so many RR’s back on line…missed you guys

Much like my view of the Patterson signing last year, on the face of it this isn’t that bad. Taveras can play some defense, and has shown the ability in the past to get on base. Further, right now he’s the 3rd OF on the roster, so the need is obvious.

BUT then you have the way Dusty used Patterson the beginning of last year, and there is great fear in my heart. I sure hope Willy’s good, because I can see him playing come hell or high water.

so I’m just going to shortstop y’all.

I don’t think I’m gonna get too emotionally involved in the Reds this year. It just doesn’t seem worth my while, it’s not going to end well. Unless they actually get some real hitters or something, I’m just going to be making snarky comments all season.

Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll be right there with y’all at spring training.

doesn’t understand why so many fans want the Nats to sign Dunn. He strikes out a lot, you know.

This guy thinks Reds fans should be angry.

Reds fans should be irate if Catcher Ramon Hernandez and Center fielder Willy Taveras end up being the team’s marquee acquisitions this winter. With all due respect to GM Walt Jocketty, who won six division titles, two N.L. Championships and one World Series during a distinguished 13-year reign in St. Louis, Cincinnati has had one of the most disappointing offseasons in all of baseball. After being linked to talents like Pat Burrell, Jeremy Hermida and Jermaine Dye, they’ve had to settle for a beat up, overpriced, soon-to-be 33-year-old catcher in Ramon Hernandez, as well as a punch-and-judy-hitting speedster in Willy Taveras.

He thinks Jocketty should have gotten Dye. And Chad Moeller instead of Hernandez.

no offense BRM – but LaLoser would be equally as bad as Dustballs…he’s as far ‘left’ as Dusty is far ‘right’.

Plus he’s really an unpleasant looking person

the Detroit Lions went 0-16. Holy guacamole. They’ve come close before, but this is a record. The only time an NFL team has been winless.

I didn’t think it was possible. “Any given Sunday,” and all that. But they did it.

The number one draft pick is theirs. Sam Bradford must be so happy.
 

when are we going to get contract specs on this deal? im tired of holding back my angst.

always reminded me of Marty Short as the paranoid Nathan Thurm.

Dickerson hit .304 in 31 late-season games, including six homers in 91 at-bats, before a stress fracture in his ankle ended his season — another in a long line of injuries to the 26-year-old, which could concern the Reds about his durability.

what is this “long line of injuries”? i checked back through Dickerson’s minor league stats. the fewest ABs he’s had in full season ball is 359 in ’04, which was his first season in full season ball. he has never missed significant playing time in a season, playing ~120 games every year. this bullshit is obviously a motivating factor behind the Taveras signing, but i cant for the life of me figure out where its coming from. has he had small but nagging injuries throughout his career? what is going on?