It could be worse...

by Gray on Aug 1, 2008 11:44 AM EDT Comment 18 comments

Sure, I'm not incredibly happy with the general managing of the team this year, but it could be worse. Like, say, over at the Astros.

From the Sporting News trade rundown linked from the front page post:

The Astros and general manager Ed Wade continue to amaze and astound. They started Thursday a half-game out of the NL Central cellar, 13 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cubs and 9 1/2 games out of the wild-card lead. And yet, they traded Cusick, a young mid-level prospect -- who was a South Atlantic League All-Star this year -- from an almost already barren farm system for a 35-year-old reliever [LaTroy Hawkins] who had been designated for assignment by the Yankees after posting a 5.71 ERA in 2008.

...

This on the heels of trading for veteran lefthanded starter Randy Wolf, who is on the verge of reaching contract incentives that could leave the Astros on the hook for as much as $3 million for the rest of the season. Neither deal makes much sense, but both players have at least one thing in common -- they were targeted by the Astros as free agents last offseason.

Wade told The Chronicle that he was happy to make the deals because the pitchers had spurned the Astros' offers in the offseason. And now, both pitchers were bad enough this season that they were almost given away in a trade market filled with teams desperate for pitching help. So, basically, when the pitchers had free will, they chose to stay far away from Houston -- in Wolf's case, he took a lower offer to go to San Diego -- so Wade went about other routes to acquire them despite their struggles this season.

Amazing.

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Couldn't Ed Wade have wanted Weathers?

I realize he’s pitched mostly effectively, but it’s always a case where you hold your breath when he comes in. I guess now we just hope that he pitches well enough to boost his standing as a free agent, but we’d only get draft picks if we offer him arbitration and he refuses. What if he accepts? He’ll turn 39 this offseason, and I don’t think anyone feels good about the possibility of him coming back next year. Why can we move Griffey but not him?

by Brendanukkah on Aug 1, 2008 11:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it is odd.

The Yankees are paying “a significant portion” of his remaining salary, too. Perhaps the Astros were unwilling to deal a prospect to a division rival, but it seems pretty obvious that Weathers > Hawkins, at least for this year—and of course neither is signed beyond this year.

Then again, the Reds might have been asking for a bit more than a 22 year old second baseman with an OPS of .818 in A ball.

I'm not having even a mediocre year.

by Gray on Aug 1, 2008 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weathers and arb

i was upset last night that he wasnt dealt because i keep thinking he is a day away from completely losing it. but ive felt that way for the last 2 years. im a little more optimistic right now that he will be just good enough through the rest of the year to decline arbitration and get a 2 year offer from some hard-up and hard-headed team like the Giants or Astros. Affeldt im not so sure about. but it would be cool if we got a few draft picks from these guys.

please dont shit on my dreams. i dont want shit on my dreams.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Aug 1, 2008 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd at least be willing to keep Affeldt next season (price willing)

He’s been a mostly valuable part of the bullpen, and seems to be the guy that Dusty turns to when you absolutely need an appearance by a reliever.

by Brendanukkah on Aug 1, 2008 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he certainly is worth the money

but i wouldnt give him a contract any more than 2 years at 3.5 apiece. if he’s type A (not likely, but who really knows?) i’d take the picks, but if he’s type B i’d rather try to keep him around.

please dont shit on my dreams. i dont want shit on my dreams.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Aug 1, 2008 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This whole Frickin Organization needs an enema

We were told that the “way of thinking” was going to change. Yet we see the same old same old.

There needs to be a demand for perfection from the top down. Stop accepting dumbass baserunning mistakes….lameass throws into the dugout from third base and lineups that are drawn up by the managers son.

Jocko or some player/leader in the clubhouse needs to step up and call out the players on their less than adequate effort to improve and maybe we’ll see some change.

The fact is, we won with crap in 1999. There was just leadership that called out stupidity and laziness, Now that Griff is gone, someone in that clubhouse better step up and grab some people by the nads and show them the right way to play. God I miss Greg Vaughn. There had to be a reason that Steve Paris won 19 that year. I can say with confidence that it was not talent.

If I am wrong, you guys are smart and will put me in my place. I am just so tired of Cincinnati acceting mediocrity and calling it rebuilding or retooling. The fact is we did retool…..with a bunch of TOOLS that have little desire to get better.

1st Cincinnati Reds Player: These guys don't look so tough.
2nd Cincinnati Reds Player: Yeah, that's what Custer said when the Indians took the field.

-Eight Men Out

by Willie Mays Hayes on Aug 1, 2008 2:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you know

i never really bought the whole argument about leadership. the problem with this team is not that Jack McKeon and Sparky Anderson havent yelled at them or Greg Vaughn hasnt broken a bat over his knee, its about a lack of talent and poor managerial decisions.

they make defensive mistakes because they just arent very good at defense. EdE is a good ballplayer and i think he has the potential to be really great, but he just cant hack it at 3B. same with Dunn in LF. and Kepp at SS. and so on and so on. the defense as a whole is just bad.

now as for the boneheaded base running mistakes, i think that is all Dusty’s doing. his stress on aggressive base running (and aggressive hitting, and just flat out aggressiveness) has really backfired. sure BP and Freel are fast, but that doesnt mean they need to try to take third every time they get to second.

and we all know the story on the bunting issue. these guys cant bunt (Votto, Bruce, EdE, Dunn, et al) because they shouldnt have to. i agree it is an organizational problem, but only in the respect that they need to get a clue and recognize the talent they have and utilize it properly instead of trying to force something that isnt there.

please dont shit on my dreams. i dont want shit on my dreams.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Aug 1, 2008 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you that this isn't about lack of effort...

But I disagree about the fielding a bit. I don’t think EdE is a lost case at 3B; it’s fairly clear what he needs to work on, and he makes some amazing plays in the meantime. But his flaws are nothing compared to the gaping hole at SS. But some sort of pep talk clearly isn’t going to make Keppinger into an average hitter.

And Dunn is an average, even slightly above average, left fielder this season. Seriously.

But the baserunning and bunting are not the players’ fault; those should be placed right at Dusty’s feet, since his idiocy is leading to all of those outs.

And of course even when it’s been clear who isn’t talented at all, the lineups and batting orders haven’t reflected that. Again, Dusty’s fault—but it’s not a lack of leadership, just crappy choices being made by the manager we have.

I'm not having even a mediocre year.

by Gray on Aug 1, 2008 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Parris went 11-4 in '99.

I don’t really mean to call you out, Willie. And I could take or leave the whole of Steve’s career but I remember a bit about him because of this game... 50,000+ fans watching Reds’ October baseball in Cincinnati.

sniff.

BTW, the only time Parris ever won more than that was the next year when he won 12. With 17 losses.

"Being a human cannonball is not just a job, Pee Wee. It's a career."

by Fat Vegas Alan on Aug 1, 2008 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not going to click on your link

But I will say, fucking Al Leiter!

by Brendanukkah on Aug 1, 2008 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay. Here.

Click on this.

"Being a human cannonball is not just a job, Pee Wee. It's a career."

by Fat Vegas Alan on Aug 1, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is this your daughter's first toy?

I want to buy your book on parenting when the time comes.

by Brendanukkah on Aug 1, 2008 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hate that game

I was living/working in Lexington at that time and called in “sick” the night before so i could drive up and stand in line for tickets at Thriftway.
I got my seats, only to break down on the interstate on the way to pick my friend up. Stranded with no cell phone I walked to the nearest exit and called for help, but by the time alternate transportation was found it was too late to go to the game. In a way I’m glad I didn’t make it and see fucking Al Leiter.

How can such a good looking man be so bad at getting to first base?

by jch24 on Aug 1, 2008 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

God

thats the worst ‘99 story ive ever heard.

please dont shit on my dreams. i dont want shit on my dreams.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Aug 1, 2008 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not a call out

I was writing from the seat of my pants out of frustration. I may have some misplaced facts….Sorry.

1st Cincinnati Reds Player: These guys don't look so tough.
2nd Cincinnati Reds Player: Yeah, that's what Custer said when the Indians took the field.

-Eight Men Out

by Willie Mays Hayes on Aug 1, 2008 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nevermind...

Frickin’ Daughtery is agreeing with me on the leadership. There has to be something wrong with my thinking. I put myself in timeout. Bad Willie

1st Cincinnati Reds Player: These guys don't look so tough.
2nd Cincinnati Reds Player: Yeah, that's what Custer said when the Indians took the field.

-Eight Men Out

by Willie Mays Hayes on Aug 1, 2008 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've been banned from Bleed Cubbie Blue

They do not love their Gaylord and Savior, so on the day of judgement, they and all others who deny my gay divinity will eternally feel like this:

I heart Man Mounting.

by Gay Jesus on Aug 2, 2008 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mark Patrick

had what I think is a pretty interesting take on the Astros’ situation.

He said that because the Astros have made odd moves like this under both Tim Purpura and now Ed Wade, it suggests that the problem might be ownership rather than management.

He believes that the Astros’ somewhat flukey turn around in ‘05 led ownership to believe that the team is always a few minor pieces away from making a run into the playoffs.

Something to think about if Jocketty starts to pull the same shit as Krivsky.

Kentuck Arts Festival: October 18th.
Details at Sinful Savage Tigers on MySpace.

by Man Mountain on Aug 3, 2008 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs