plus, no way the Dodgers are trading him.

I agree that most of the potential LFer’s we’d trade for have no better numbers than a platoon of Nix/Gomes, yet they would add a ton of payroll and cost us minor leaguers. I’m not crazy about trading for any OFers unless the price isn’t that much, including Holiday. Although, I think Holiday back in the NL and hitting in GABP would improve his numbers drastically. Also, he’d be hitting with Votto, Phillips, and Bruce around him, and would be less of the focus of opposing pitchers. So, I’m still interested in Holiday, but hate that he’s a rental and we’d give up our farm system, which I believe is what makes this team a contender in the coming years.

I agree about shedding some salaries like Arroyo, Harang and Cordero. Cordero has a no-trade clause, but would he waive it to go to a big time contender? Arroyo is screwing up his trade value by announcing in the newspaper he is considering carpal tunnel surgery in the offseason. Thanks Bronson. Harang might be the most valuable trade bait and relief of salary we have. I just see starting pitching coming through the minors and think we could get some prospects for these guys and free up salary to fill other positions of need. Arroyo and Harang are more like #3 pitchers than 1 and 2’s.

I also agree that we need to acquire some quality future SS prospects.

They need to stick Todd Frazier back to playing 3B instead of LF.

Are CF and SS. Problem is, I think we’re stuck with the T-Virus, and Stubbs deserves the shot in CF. As for SS, are there any good-hitting shortstops available?

My guess is the Reds are trying to get Holliday, or perhaps Garrett Atkins.

It’s still so early yet. Most teams still haven’t given up hope. (Heck, even the Reds still think they have a chance. ;-)

If a deal happens, I have to think it will be with a team like Cleveland – one of the few that are already looking to next year.

Either that, or it will be a player who is major league ready, but is blocked here.

And are they reliable?

if your source was talking about Roenicke for DeRosa.

but for one year, it seems silly to waste a prospect, when the reds have some talent in the system.

then suggest we acquire………….Jermaine Dye? Explain that one to me.

5 games back in a weak division. It’s unlikely but Kenny Williams doesn’t throw in the towel easily.

but he’d be a half-season rent whose asking price would take a little chunk of our potential future playoff team away.

He seems like a real prick, egocentric and narcissistic to boot…the perfect makeup for a #1 in the re’s rotation. His stuff is just coming into focus and when (not if any more) Homer’s ‘tude is going get nasty.
can’t wait.

He’s had more than two starts in the majors. His 2007 and 2008 numbers are pretty bad as well.

That’s because he was 21 years old in 2007, and 22 in 2008. Here’s a little game.

Pitcher A (Rookie season, 21 years old): 4-2, 5.76 ERA in 45.1 IP
Pitcher B (Rookie season, 20 years old): 2-4, 5.52 ERA in 31 IP

Pitcher A (2nd season, 22 years old): 0-6, 7.93 ERA in 36.1 IP
Pitcher B (2nd season, 21 years old): 6-14, 5.61 ERA in 155.2 IP

You can probably guess that Pitcher A is Homer Bailey. And the numbers are similar enough that you’d want to give up on Pitcher B if he was on your team too, aren’t they? Based on these, you would make the assumption that he can’t pitch that the major league level. Well, you’d be missing out on Greg Maddux, a unanimous hall-of-famer. My point is, that young pitchers take time to develop, just like BLee’s example above with Volquez. You can’t just give up on young pitchers with great stuff without giving them time to adjust to the level at they’re pitching at.

If youa re fine with having a AAA all star on you team, then great. But I personally would rather have someone who performs at the major league level.

I’ll take the AAA All-Star when he has stuff like Bailey does. Anyone with eyes has seen what he’s capable of, and he’s performed just fine against major league hitters in Spring Training this year. When you have a young team, you have to let them get their licks a little bit. Nobody becomes a top of the rotation starter overnight.

He may have great stuff, but if he can never control it on the major league level, then there is no point in having him.

You’re using the word “never” for a 23-year old pitcher. If he was still at this level at 27, I’d agree with you, but give him some time to develop as a major leaguer.

He reminds me of Daniel Cabrera. Every time I have seen him pitch, which has been in the majors, he sucks. AAA numbers don’t mean shit.

Yeah, except Daniel Cabrera was a 23-year old rookie who’s in his 6th major league season. Come talk to me in 6 years about comparing Bailey and Cabrera.

If the Reds make the playoffs, there will be more people in attendance, barring an unforeseen economic disaster. People aren’t coming to GABP now because they aren’t a fun team to watch right now.

If the Reds make the playoffs this year, it may bump up next years attendance slightly, but it won’t be sellouts like you’re predicting. They’re not the Bengals, who can put a shitty product on the field and still sell out home games. One playoff appearance isn’t going to pack the house on weeknights.

Their pitchers throw great games and their offense can’t do shit. I for one enjoy going to baseball games where my team gets hits with men on base.

You’re preaching to the choir. For that big bat to be effective, however, men need to be on base. Getting a big bat won’t change that.

Jocketty has often said that we need a bat to contend and I fully agree with him. Our pitching and bullpen is top 5 in the major leagues. Our defense is also excellent. What’s been holding this team back is offense.

True, but he hasn’t said we only need a bat. This team is more than one bat away from contending. A competent center fielder and manager would help. And you’re overvaluing our pitching a little bit, but I’m wondering who you plan to put in the rotation over Bailey right now. Is there anyone better for the job? I challenge you to name someone better.

Our lineup has some good hitters, but there isn’t enough protection for them to make the offense potent enough. Brandon Phillips is a good guy to have at the plate when there are men in scoring position. If the players in front of him can’t get on base, then there is no sense in giving him anything to hit. A slugger like Jay Bruce would also benefit from more men on base. An extra bat would provide us with that.

An extra bat would not provide us with more men on base. Yes, it would likely let Bruce and Votto see better pitches, but I’d say that getting rid of Willy Taveras should be higher on our list than getting rid of Homer Bailey. That would solve your problem, not trading Bailey and the entire farm system for Matt Holliday.

I was surprised by this today. Would you have guessed the Reds are only down 273 fans per game from last year?

what?

if it had claws (it’s previous owner declawed it), it might have killed my whole family by now.