Offseason 2009 Checklist
by fifawcs on Sep 13, 2009 8:39 PM EDT
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PrintI was wondering what everyone thinks the Reds should do this offseason to prepare for next season. Jocketty has stated that 2010 was the year he planned on fielding a contender. He also said that we were one bat away from contending. This I do not agree with. Here is what I think the Reds should do this offseason:
Acquire a Shortstop: I think the Reds need a shortstop badly. Janish doesn't seem to cut it and a solid shortstop would solidify the Reds' infield as one of the best in MLB. Marco Scutaro, Orlando Cabrera, and Adam Everett are some of the available free agents this offseason.
Acquire a Catcher: As you all know, Ramon will be a free agent next season. Whether or not he will settle for less, I don't know. If we can't retain him, there are a few options on the market. Hanigan isn't consistent enough to become the everyday starting catcher. Thus, I believe a 1 or 2 year contract would be wise. Rod Barajas is a good defensive Catcher who cost 2.5 million in 2009. That's not that unreasonable especially since you would be getting similar production from the 8 mill that Ramon costs. Miguel Olivo is also a good alternative at 2.7 million in 2009.
Organize the Outfield: The Reds have way too many outfielders. Since I believe acquiring a catcher and shortstop will probably use up all available funds, the Reds are going to need to make some decisions. I believe Stubbs should be the starting Center Fielder in 2010. He has prove his worth in limited time much more than Willy Taveras has, although that isn't saying much. Jay Bruce will stay in Right Field, as he should. So the Reds need to decide who should play left field. Gomes, Nix, Dickerson, and Taveras are options. Gomes and Nix are a fine platoon, but I see them as more useful pinch hitting and playing occasional outfield. Taveras is one of the worst players in MLB since he can only really run. It would be a shame to waste the 4 million that he is getting paid, but he would be more useful as a late innings defensive sub/ pinch runner, at least until he can prove his worth. Dickerson plays great defense, but will his bat be able to come through on a consistent basis to warrant starting him? If we were to base the opening day starter on performance this season, I would say Gomes deserves LF since he has hit for power and has been the most clutch red offensively.
Keep our young pitchers: The Reds' pitching staff and bullpen were the one positive of this season. If we achieve everything else listed on the checklist, Reds starters will get the offense and defense necessary to win games.
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Catcher
I’m not a fan of either Barajas or Olivo. Barajas will be 34 and is a mediocre hitter, even for a catcher. He’s also got a questionable reputation defensively and as a handler of pitchers. He was signed by Philly in ’07 to be the starter, but by the end of the season he had played his way out of the lineup without facing stiff competition. Olivo is an all-strikeout, no-walk machine.
Both are much, much worse than Hanigan. I think shortstop would be a better place to invest.
I voted catcher
I don’t like Barajas or Olivo, either, and I like Hanigan, but now I am wondering if Hanigan can stay healthy. At the very least, we need a backup.
Unfortunately, that might have to be a Chad Moeller or Paul Bako type. The problem at catcher is that there really isn’t a lot available there. Everyone’s looking for catchers.
I think the problem is the same at SS. There’s not a lot available there, and the Reds would probably have to pay a lot in money and/or contract length to land an A-Gon type. Not worth it. Let Janish or Valaika play next year; Cozart will be in Cincinnati by September.
While I agree the Reds could use a power bat, they have so many outfielders, I’m not sure I’d spend money there. As it is, the outfield is going to be crowded, with Stubbs, Heisey, Bruce, Dickerson, Taveras, and maybe Gomes or Nix, too.
You can never have enough pitching, but that’s probably not a priority for the Reds this year.
Given the economy and all, I would not be surprised to see the Reds keep the team more or less as is. Unless they manage to trade some of their big contracts.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Whatever they get, it'll probably be a trade
One of the Nix-Dickerson-Stubbs is expendable (or Gomes, if you want to lurv yourself some outfield D and see Brendanukkah spontaneously combust).
So the Reds have Frazier/Francisco, an OF, and probably some pitching that they can trade for an outfield bat…it would be interesting to see how that plays out.
I voted for SS, because a top-caliber SS is probably the most valuable thing you can get, but I feel morecomfotrable having this front office trade for an outfielder than a shortstop.
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
Were you aware that there is a Jessica Gomes?
And the rest, I leave to Madville.
by Brendanukkah on Sep 13, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
There's a Jessica Gomes?
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
by Cy Schourek on Sep 13, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Toone Town Favorite real girl
http://revart.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/bunny_rabbit_jessica.jpg
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin
Nix
Isn’t he a free agent after this year? They didn’t sign him to a multi-year contract, did they?
I don’t think Dickerson or Stubbs is going to be enough to get a top-caliber SS.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
They are
but I think both are still arb eligible. I know for sure that Gomes is still arb eligible, but I think Nix is too.
Definitely a good argument.
Cot's says Nix has 3.07 years of service time
and he’s been on the roster all year, so that puts him at 4 years of service time going into the winter, right?
by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 15, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
oh yeah
my uncertainly was because i wasnt sure how Cot’s calculated the service time. i think the number they list is as of the beginning of the current season, right? i dont think they update in real time.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 15, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Next Season the best move the Red should make is to eat Baker's contract and hire a young and innovative manager
But they will do none of the above suggestions.
Maybe they’ll get involved in the Prince fielder sweepstakes and move Joey to LF.
I don’t see them picking up a shortstop..but maybe a pitcher.
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin
by Madville on Sep 14, 2009 7:58 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Rec.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Sep 14, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
I think if the Reds have another season like this year Dusty is out
Castillini is an impatient man, if the Reds start slow would anyone be surprised if he is fired in April al la Krivksy.
Bloop
by justin007000 on Sep 14, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
So we're hiring LaRussa as a consultant this November?
by Brendanukkah on Sep 14, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
nah it will be somebody much better
Ladies and gentleman I introduce to you, the final picks to replace Dusty in 2010.
or
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/baylor_don0705.jpg
or
All big name managers who know how to play the game the right way.
Bloop
by justin007000 on Sep 14, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
That picture is like Ninja Turtles: the Golden Years.
Everybody's a jerk. You. Me. This jerk.
by andromache on Sep 14, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
New manager is #1 on my checklist
First time I shot her, shot her in the side.
Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died...
by btcoop71 on Sep 14, 2009 9:28 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Rec.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Sep 14, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Sadly it is the option most likely to picked by ownership.
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin
How the fuck is Adam Everett an upgrade over Paul Janish?
They are the same player, but one of them will make much more money.
He fixes the cable?
yeah, I'd rather have Janish than any of the 3 listed
"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander
Jannish is a ,200 hitter with a great glove and a golden arm
at one point I thought he was going to take off and grab the SS job by the balls…but as the season winds down so does my enthusiasm for a SS with absolutely no offense.
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin
Reds will suck again next year because........
1. Castellini wasn’t going to lose anymore and fired Krivsky, BUT has no problem losing with his buds Dusty Baker and Walt Jocketty.
2. The list of available free agent SS’s and Catchers is pathetic.
3. Willy Tavares will again start in CF and bring this team down, down, down
4. Jay Bruce will hit 35 HR’s and .198 reminding us more and more of Adam Dunn but will get a pass because he has a cannon.
5. There is no payroll flexibility.
you're wrong
Jay Bruce will never remind me of Adam Dunn. Unless of course he starts taking a ridiculous number of walks and decides to suck at defense.
Definitely a good argument.
but...but...
the home runs!! the pedestrian batting average!! it’s like they were separated at birth!
by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 14, 2009 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions
you're right
Jay Bruce will never walk much and his OBP will hover around .300 unlike Dunn’s. But of course, he will get a pass on his offensive struggles because he has a cannon for an arm.
He did continue to lead our team in homers for like a month after he was hurt
You decide what that says about him and about our team.
by Brendanukkah on Sep 15, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Definitely a good argument.
Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul.
by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Sep 15, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Dear Walt
You get us an OF bat that’s Dunn-esque, and I’ll forgive The Dusty for starting Janish @ SS.
Deal?
voted pitching
because I’d like to see them trade cordero, and find a replacement, which would free up enough money so they could find a SS.
where's the option to vote "boobs" ...
no vote from me …
"Some times you get lucky; some times you get Willy Taveras." - Teh Fay
Is this what you want?
The Reds need a new manager, one like Putin.
by justin007000 on Sep 15, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Uh, no.
No, thank you.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Sep 15, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't see much in the boob department there
by Highlifeman21 on Sep 15, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions
back right has potential, jus' sayin'
"I'm going to become rich and famous after I invent a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet"
I think as Slyde's recent treatise on the #1 and #2 slots in the batting order shows
this team would be greatly improved by having cheap, adequate players replace PAs given to the likes of Taveras, Rosales, McDonald and A-Gon. The second, and less consequential part seems to be having Dusty Baker learn how to put people that can get on base in front of the heart of the order, which will be Votto, Bruce, Gomes, Phillips and Rolen.
I don’t have much faith that either of these things will happen, but if the mgmt were to wise up, they’d cut Taveras and have an outfield stable of Gomes, Dickerson, Bruce and 2 out of three of: Stubbs, Balentien and Heisey, with the odd man out being traded.
I would be hopeful Dickerson or Stubbs could get on base at .350+ clip and occupy the leadoff spot. Hanigan could hit second.
At short, Janish figures to be the weakest hitter in the league next year. It seems to be a consensus here that Hardy is the best prize out there if he can be had in a trade. Failing that, I can’t escape the fact that you have to move BP over and look at Frazier, Sutton of a mid-level free agent like Felipe Lopez for 2B. The SS FAs are overpriced, including Scutaro – who seems destined to snap back. I’m not sure the money’s even there to bring someone in failing a salary-clearing trade.
But for little to no cost, this team can be improved by putting major leaguers in CF, SS and banking on the very real possibility that Bruce and Votto are going to have big years.
As for pitching, it seems like a complete crapshoot. The bullpen will be good, especially is Burton bounces back and Bray returns. The starting rotation figures to be only the same or worse if Arroyo or Harang are dealt for a bat, barring big years from Cueto and Bailey in their absence. I see those two guys as the Bruce and Votto of the pitching staff. I would give Owings, Wood, Maloney and Lehr auditions for the 5 spot.
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Sep 15, 2009 6:19 PM EDT reply actions
A sober assessment.
Wear something sexy to my funeral.
by Pops Daniels on Sep 16, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Janish is showing flashes of adequacy at the plate
If you can’t get Hardy, perhaps Janish (ss) and BP (2b) would be about the same in WAR as BP (ss) and Frazier/Sutton (2b), though I still think acquiring Felipe Lopez – if you could bury the hatchet, might be a shrewd move.
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Sep 16, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Burying the hatchet
Pretty much everyone who was here when Lopez was traded, including the manager and GM, is gone. That might soothe some of the acrimony.
by Brendanukkah on Sep 16, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Top on the checklist, get a new Manager. Reds never had good complete game starting pitchers. Knowing how to handle pitchers, understanding when to bail them out like Captain Hook used to is a must. No favours and everyone is equal; stars or rookies. Teach good fundamentals. Heads up base running. Hit the relay men on throws. There must be better hitting and pitching coaches than Jacoby and Pole,
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