Red Reposter - 5/15/09
- The Hardball Times wonders outloud whether or not Micah Owings should be moved to the outfield and breaks it down sabermetrically. What do you think? Is it better to have a decent, league-average innings-eater or does this dude have the potential to be a real slugger? Better the devil you know?
- Mark Sheldon of MLB.com is re-opening his mailbag and asks for your questions.
- Brandon Phillips pulled a prank on a nearly-blind elderly man. This team IS loose.
- John Fay is optimistic about the team so far, even though Dusty Baker sees room for improvement.
- Baker also had this to say after the sweep of the DBacks: “We’ve got to get as far away from .500 as we can and take our chances,” Baker said. “We’ve got a long way to go. We’ve looked pretty good but we have a long way to go.”
- In case you missed the FanShot, MixFMKyle passes on the news that Billy Bray will have season-ending Tommy John Surgery on his elbow soon. I was really hoping Bray would continue the fine work he put in last year, but the dude just cant stay healthy. Good luck on a speedy recovery Bill.
- Another FanShot: Slyde passes on a link to Red Hot Mama who links us to a cool optical illusion that explains the break of a curveball.
- Dougdirt gives a scouting report on Juan Carlos Sulbaran from his game last week against the Michigan White Caps.
- Justin (nee Jinaz) has changed his website from the boring "On Baseball and the Reds" to "Basement Dwellers". Whatever you wanna call it, it's still quality stuff.
- The Reds have moved up to 12th in Ted Keith's power rankings over at SI.
- Dont forget to vote for your favorite Reds for the All-Star Team. Joey Votto has been the Reds MVP so far this season, but it'll be tough for him to beat out the stalwarts like Pujols, Berkman, and Howard. Jay Bruce has been pretty redonculous too though, and the race for the OF should be much more competitive. Hell, just vote for the Reds starting eight! It's 1957 all over again!
0 recs |
43 comments
Comments
Here's my All-Star ballot:
AL
1B – Carlos Pena, TB
2B – Aaron Hill, TOR
3B – Evan Longoria, TB
SS – Jason Bartlett, TB
C – Victor Martinez, CLE
OF – Jason Bay, BOS
OF – Torii Hunter, LAA
OF – Adam Jones, BAL
NL
1B – Joey Votto, CIN
2B – Brandon Phillips, CIN
3B – Ryan Zimmerman, WAS
SS – Hanley Ramirez, FLA
C – Bengie Molina, SF
OF – Jay Bruce, CIN
OF – Adam Dunn, WAS
OF – Carlos Beltran, NYM
by Brendanukkah on May 15, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll play
AL
1B – Carlos Pena, TB
2B – Ian Kinsler
3B – Evan Longoria, TB
SS – Jason Bartlett, TB
C – Victor Martinez, CLE
OF – Jason Bay, BOS
OF – Torii Hunter, LAA
OF – Adam Jones, BAL
NL
1B – Pujols
2B – Utley
3B – Ryan Zimmerman, WAS
SS – Hanley Ramirez, FLA
C – McCann
OF – Braun
OF – Adam Dunn, WAS
OF – Carlos Beltran, NYM
Man, that’s a weak SS field in the AL.
by ken on May 15, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BOOOO!!!!!!!
No Reds????
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on May 15, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was posted under a rare moment of neutrality
Naturally, my online ballots will have BP, Votto and Bruce. Though it would be nice to wine an AS game one of these years.
by ken on May 15, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure I'll vote for BP
and not because of my history with him, but because I’m a super-huge fan of Utley.
But Bruce and Votto will get my vote.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on May 15, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's pretty good at stealing my heart too

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on May 15, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m wishing you would vote for Cancer
by Brendanukkah on May 15, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you are not a very nice person
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on May 15, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And I have no problem with people voting for BP
I encourage it even. I just have a total mancrush on Utley that I can’t quit.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on May 15, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I tried to argue last year
to my non-sabermetric friends that his combo of speed, BA, power, and defense makes him one of the top 3 players in the game. They did not like it, but most of them are AL fans so what the hell do they know.
All I know is if Chase Utley asked for a night alone with the wife, I would readily agree, hoping for a future Chase, Jr.
PS the support payments would be nice too.
by timb116 on May 15, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
FredEx
Utley was introduced to his wife by Freddie Mitchell, who was a receiver at UCLA around the same time Chase was there. They were in a class together and Utley made a comment about his future wife. Freddie pretended to know her and introduced Utley. So, I guess I’m saying if you can find Freddie Mitchell, your decent proposal may come true.
by ken on May 15, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How about if I let the opportunity come to me
rather than go search for it. She’s not exactly a baseball fan and it may take a few drinks and the Baseball Prospectus book to sway it.
“Look at his VORP, honey! No, that’s not a VORP. VOPR’s in the book….remember the book? Honey? Where’d you go?
I don’t want to be Woody Harrelson
by timb116 on May 15, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mine is balnk, since six weeks is too soon to know
by timb116 on May 15, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is that how spell blank, genius? Jesus, you're stupid
by timb116 on May 15, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
attack the idea
not the person
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on May 15, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have to take the high ground when I attack myself?
Man, this is complicated. If I can’t direct ad hominems at myself, then I’m going to be very sad.
by timb116 on May 15, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You'll go blind if you keep doing that
by Brendanukkah on May 15, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully, it'll be before the Reds lose 12 of 20 in August and break my heart
by timb116 on May 15, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now you're saying blind people don't have feelings ?(!?)
Yikes.
Everybody's a jerk. You. Me. This jerk.
by andromache on May 15, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Edwin
Anyone have an injury update? MLB.com reports “Will start on May 15 after passing tests”
Anyone trust that?
Gimme da scoop!
by saltybiscuits on May 15, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As far as I know, he hasn't even started any kind of rehab
He’s definitely not starting tonight.
by Brendanukkah on May 15, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not likely
he’s been wearing a splint for a few weeks after they took off his hard cast. he’s reportedly working on his fielding and throws, but i dont think he’s swinging the bat yet. he’ll likely have an extended minor league rehab assignment.
go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls
by Charlie Scrabbles on May 15, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hrmm
Maybe they mean starting Rehab if he passes tests.
MLB.com — reliability delivered.
by saltybiscuits on May 15, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you got a link?
go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls
by Charlie Scrabbles on May 15, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My source
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/wsfb/news/injuries.jsp
Reds at bottom.
by saltybiscuits on May 15, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ahhh spoke to soon.
thanky.
go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls
by Charlie Scrabbles on May 15, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bob Miller said his chat last week
that EdE will be doing a rehab stint in Louisville. Given that his bat wasn’t exactly on when he went on the DL, I’d imagine that they really want to give him time to get into “playing shape”.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on May 15, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah i remember that
those chats are pr’ cool.
go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls
by Charlie Scrabbles on May 15, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Hardball Times and Owings
As long as he has the stuff he has now, a million times better to have a league average or so SP with his bat, than try and convert him to the OF and hope his bat holds.
When not lurking here, the sportsfrog is where I am.
by membengal on May 15, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Didn't he have a bum shoulder at the end of last year?
That would distort his stats. He looked pretty good when the Brewers played him, definitely not what I would call league average. Seems to me like he has the potential to be a good #3 or 4.
by ol Pete on May 15, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
with 5-man staffs
wouldn’t 3 or 4 be league average?
I’m having a tough time finding the link, but I remember seeing Micah saying that he doesn’t even like talking about his hitting, he thinks of himself as a pitcher first and foremost. So until he’s hurting the team with his pitching — which he sure ain’t doing now — I’d let him be the 5th starter.
Ali Boombaye
by Cy Schourek on May 15, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Average is one of those amorphous terms
so the answer is yes or no. Regardless, at least what I’ve seen he’s pretty good.
by ol Pete on May 15, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, a bad shoulder prevented him from pitching when we acquired him last year
The shoulder throws off his ’08 numbers. If you look at his ’07 and early ’08 he actually looks like a good #3.
by ken on May 15, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yup, bad shoulder...
…that’s why I caveat’d with “as long as he has the stuff he has now”…
Hard to find league average pitchers who can chew innings. And his bat adds value to his arm, making him able to “make up”, if you will, in some games for runs he gives up.
If his shoulder were ever to end his career as a pitcher? Then he should def try the Ankiel approach in the minors for a year or two, and see what comes of it.
When not lurking here, the sportsfrog is where I am.
by membengal on May 15, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
re: Hardball Times
I think the article is forgetting a major factor. It is not Owings the Pitcher v. Owings the Position player. It should be looked upon as Owings the Pitcher & bench bat vs. Owings the Position player. In this regard the obvious choice is P&PH over OF.
by jacob brumfield on May 15, 2009 5:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
is it really so impossible
to have him start in the field a couple of days a week? If he’s pitching on day 5, then maybe he plays in the outfield on days 2 and 3?
mebbe it is — I really don’t know.
by bbjones on May 15, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's better as a weapon off the bench
Who else has proved to be a clutch pinch hitter?
And it probably is better for his pitching if he’s not playing as much. But for some, I imagine, it could be good. So, what do I know? I last pitched in 8th grade. I remember a 9th grader hitting a nearby supermarket off one of my “fastballs.”
by RedConn on May 15, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if he is in the outfield and running down fly balls it may start to take a toll on his legs
which will take a toll on his pitching.
Bloop
by justin007000 on May 16, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
























