Red Reposter - 4/8/09

by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 8, 2009 11:17 AM EDT in News

John Fay gives us an update on the Jonny Gomes situation. Which is to say, we dont really know anything new. Jocketty says he is giving him one more day. He also says the Reds are not currently pursuing newly released outfielders Geoff Jenkins and Frank Catalanotto. Personally, I think Catalanotto would be an upgrade over Laynce Nix.
RedlegNation Podcasts their thoughts on Opening Day.
Alex Gonzalez was very happy to be playing on Monday, having sat out the last year and a half or so. Here's a pretty interesting quote from his keystone mate Brandon Phillips:

"It's all about Alex," he said. "He motivates us and keeps us in place. He thinks of things about defense I never even think about.

"He's the best shortstop I ever played with, and I played with Omar Vizquel. He talks to everybody and he is like a teacher out there."

Yesterday, the Reds and MLB honored the receipients of the Beacon Awards, which recognize individuals whose lives are emblematic of the spirit of the civil rights movement. The honorees were Bill Cosby, Hank Aaron, and Muhammad Ali. The Civil Rights Game this year will be June 20th against the White Sox.
Doug gives us the preliminary rosters for AA Carolina and A+ Sarasota. No real surprises, but it sure is going to be exciting to see Red Reporter's top two prospects, Yonder Alonso and Neftali Soto, hitting back-to-back in the Sarasota lineup.
Now let's take a look at what's happening around the NL Central:
Cubs manager Lou Pinella is being customarily tight-lipped about comments from the Yankees Hal Steinbrenner, who a few days ago said he'd like to see Sweet Lou come back to the NY as a consultant or something. Right now, Pinella is only concerned about the Cubs. And the dangers of the gum disease gingivitis.
In Milwaukee, Rickie Weeks is working on being the All-Star many had hoped he would become. I, for one, would love to have this guy in a Reds uniform.
Speaking of potential, the Pirates' Andy LaRoche is under the microscope already. He's 0-6 with 3 errors afield in the first two games.
The Cardinals are hoping former Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter can play a full, healthy, and effective season. Bernie Miklasz doesnt have much hope for the team otherwise.
Former Red Jeff Keppinger flat-out delievered a bases-loaded single in the 10th inning for the Astros last night to walk-off against the Cubs.

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Comments

I've been a Weeks-believer for WEEKS!

Rickie can do him some HAVOC. Plus, with a “Laynce”, an occasional “Wily”, why not a “Rickie-don’t-call-me-Ricky”??
Thoughts on how we’d fit him in here, Charlie? Are you thinking of (SHUDDER) moving Brandon Phillips to shortstop? Blasphemer!

"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"

by "Red" Moskau on Apr 8, 2009 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

My solution to that would be

Forget snagging Weeks and moving BP. Focus instead on just getting the Brewer’s shortstop. JJ Hardy is the Brewers middle infielder that gets all my affection. Outside of Ryan Braun, he’s the one Brew Crew player I want most on my team.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 8, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

What? No love for Jason Kendall??

Can you believe that guy still has a job? Remember how great he was before the leg injury?

JJ Hardy is an interesting solution to the “Who’s the Future SS?” question.

"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"

by "Red" Moskau on Apr 8, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Bill Hall is upset to not be at the top of this list

for retaliation, he plans to hit .800 against the Reds this year with 2 walkoff singles

"I can eat mayonnaise with a spoon." - Jeff Brantley

by BK on Apr 8, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, that should just about lock up the 2009 Red Reporter Most Valuable Poster for me

For keeping Bill Hall to only 2 walkoff singles. You’re welcome, Reds fans.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 8, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I like him too

As I mused in my preview, Hardy is their guy most likely to be traded because they have a stud prospect at SS. But we’d have to give up something of value. Johnny for JJ?

by ken on Apr 8, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Cueto? I don't know about that

I might be willing to give up one of either Frazier or Valaika for him though. And maybe toss in Sea Bass and some cash to cover them for the rest of the year, if they wanted.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 8, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I was thinking they'd want a SP for the stretch run, like last year.

Figure Bronson and Adam are priced out, so that leaves Edinson and Johnny. Not saying I’d trade Cueto for Hardy, but I’d think about it.

by ken on Apr 8, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I would give them Micah Owings for Hardy

by Brendanukkah on Apr 8, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Diamond Mind

The NY Times has an article about the Diamond Mind baseball simulation game:

Game Simulations Answer Baseball’s What-Ifs

Using computer simulations to explore in-game and other baseball strategies is by no means new. As early as 1958, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology programmed a behemoth I.B.M. 704 mainframe to investigate whether the sacrifice bunt was a smart play. (More on that later.) Simulators have since grown so complex that the most sophisticated one available to the public, called Diamond Mind, not only runs lickety-split on laptops but even considers minutiae like the effects of wind in individual ballparks.

Under what conditions is bunting advantageous? When does trying to steal make sense, and when does it decrease the chances of scoring? Questions like these turn out to be ideally suited to computer programs through which millions of iterations can smooth out the peaks and valleys of randomness, and converge toward a reliable approximation.

They ran through 100 seasons to come up with answers to questions like how much the lineup matters, whether a IBB makes sense, is a sacrifice bunt worth it, etc.

Note to Dusty: the computer says havoc doesn’t work.

The stolen base. Advancing from first to second puts the runner in scoring position, but he — and the rest of your hitters — will have a hard time scoring if he gets thrown out. Mr. Kraemer looked at a recent team that ran wild (the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays) and one that barely stole at all (the 2005 Oakland A’s) and switched their mind-sets to see what happened. The A’s scored 20 runs fewer, which probably says more about their players’ inability to run in the first place. But when the speedy Rays stole sparingly, they increased their scoring by 47 runs per season — suggesting that perhaps the Rays were running too often in real life.

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

by BubbaFan on Apr 8, 2009 12:07 PM EDT reply actions

we're not going to have to worry about stolen bases

because no one’s gonna get on base

Blessed be baseball!

by Daedalus on Apr 8, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

um....

Yay?

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

by BubbaFan on Apr 8, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I would've guessed Yonder and Soto would've started at AA

"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey

by JJ on Apr 8, 2009 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

Not Soto

he played in Dayton last year and is blocked by Francisco and Frazier. Plus, he’s still just 20 years old.

I am surprised that Alonso isn’t going to Carolina though. He’s only 5 days younger than Jay Bruce. Why are they dragging their feet????

By the way, today is Alonso’s 22nd birthday. Happy Birthday Yonder!

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 8, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Frazier is in LF now

"I've actually never had a drink before, tonight I might try it out. We'll see."
—Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, on turning 21

by obc2 on Apr 8, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

nice

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 8, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

A little disappointed to see that

I’d rather not move a guy down the defensive spectrum unless we have to. I don’t know if it’s worthy playing Cozart over Frazier at SS, but even if it is stick Frazier at 2B.

I’m assuming Yonder will be up to Zebulon fairly soon, which should be fine.

by ken on Apr 8, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Cozart is definitely the better SS

and i think Frazier is too big for 2B. so one of them had to move. i think they moved the wrong one though. Francisco is huge, and looks to grow even bigger. i cant remember where i read it, but someone compared him to a young Dmitri Young in terms of build. i have a feeling he is going to outgrow 3B and pretty soon at that.

but his arm is better than Frazier’s. and that probably is the one reason the Reds have for keeping Francisco at 3B over Frazier. Frazier is more athletic and probably has better range (and Francisco’s range will likely diminish some in the future) so i wholeheartedly believe that Frazier will make the better major league 3B. i would have moved Francisco to the OF, probably RF to better take advantage of his cannon. i really dont like keeping Francisco at 3B over Frazier.

My millions are unconventional!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 8, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

We're certain that El Nino Destructor didn't eat Tom Browning's kid

and that’s the reason he stopped paying child support, right?

by Brendanukkah on Apr 8, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Big 2Bs are the new market inefficiency

so I read. I can see Frazier in the OF some day, I just don’t see any reason to do it now if 2B is open. With our 3B/LF logjam we may have to trade some of these guys, and by moving him now we’ll depress Frazier’s trade value.

by ken on Apr 8, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah i read that too

i dont know if i completely buy it. i agree that players are pigeonholed because of their size, but im not so sure it’s unwarranted.

and another thing: Frazier is by far the better hitter at this point. Francisco has monster power, but a good bit of that is still potential. his OBP last year was .308. that is awful. Frazier makes better contact and more often, and could be in the majors as soon as September. hopefully Frazier is moved back to the infield once he earns his late-May promotion to AAA.

My millions are unconventional!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 8, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed on Frazier

There’s going to be some serious shuffling to make the talent fit the available positions.

Yonder pushing Jo-eh to LF;
Francisco/Frazier pushing Bruce to CF (or LF if Stubbs is the CF);
“Fralaika” pushing EdE to another team; Only to have Soto push them out, in turn;
not to mention “Danny Duran” or “Yorman Rosales” itching to make space for themselves.

It’s good to be excited about the pipeline— it’s a new feeling, but a good one.

"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"

by "Red" Moskau on Apr 8, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

they may not want to overwhelm him

but at the same time they are fighting the 40 man clock because he is on a major league contract. I am guessing they hope he destroys single a pitching, and they can quickly move him to AA.

"Oedipus ruined a great sex life by asking too many questions!"- Dr. Stephen T. Colbert DFA.

by justin007000 on Apr 8, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

i think Soto is good at A+

he spent last year in Low A Dayton, so that is normal progression. as for Alonso, he really could have gone either way i think. im alright starting him in A+, but AA is where i would have had him. hopefully he gets a quick promotion.

My millions are unconventional!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 8, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Kepp's hit was ugly

He practically fell down as he swung and broke his bat in the process. Hit a worm burner that was just past the SS. But he gets to play Joe Randa for a day, so good for him.

by ken on Apr 8, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

any word on whether t-virus is still suffering from a virus?

"I never should have given up the animation rights."

by BobbyO on Apr 8, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

what I mean to ask

is whether he will be in the lineup tonight?

"I never should have given up the animation rights."

by BobbyO on Apr 8, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

the word was that he was healthy enough to play on Monday

so, I’d guess he’ll be in the lineup tonight.

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 8, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

The Fay

has some discussion of payroll today.

Tonight’s the night we find out what the seasonticket base is. The Reds don’t announce that, but they’ve said it’s down. A Wednesday night, early in the year, isn’t likely to be part of any package but a full-season package.

I’d bet they break the alltime low for Great Ameridan Ball Park. The record low is 11,987, set April 3 last year.

…The drop in season-ticket renewals is my guess is why the Reds held the line on player payroll.

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

by BubbaFan on Apr 8, 2009 2:42 PM EDT reply actions