Red Reposter - By the time the Reds get to Arizona, it should be spring training

by ken on Sep 22, 2009 10:08 AM EDT Comment 39 comments

Coaching changes afoot?
After questioning Dusty Baker's ridiculous use of Francisco Cordero and Nick Masset for five consecutive days, Ken Rosenthal hints that there could be changes made to the Reds' coaching staff, including our favorite whipping boy: Hitting coach Brook Jacoby, meanwhile, presides over an offense that ranks 14th in runs per game even though Great American Ballpark is one of the best hitters' parks in the majors. Yet Jacoby, too, would be little more than a scapegoat — injuries and poor roster construction helped compromise the offense. I think the question should be which hitters have developed or regressed under Jacoby's tutelage. As an outside observer it's tough to say. Has Joey Votto blossomed because or in spite of the coaching? Has Jacoby affected Jay Bruce's development?
Reds raise presence in Arizona
The Reds' Instructional League starts today in Goodyear, Arizona. Fay reports that the minor leaguers are excited about the new and improved facilities, which is great to hear because so much is riding on our prospects. This marks the beginning of the Reds presence in Arizona after spending the last 63 years in Florida.
'Stros can Cooper
Cooper has been managing the Astros since Aug. 27, 2007, and compiled a 171-170 record. As of Monday, the Astros had lost seven straight to fall to 70-79 and 16 1/2 games out of first place in the National League Central. Cooper may be a poor tactician, but it's not as if this team was going anywhere with a rotation that falls off a cliff after the first two spots. It's a strange roster in that they have a number of legitimately good players (Berkman, Lee, Pence, Rodriguez, Oswalt) and a few decent role players, but very little after that. Their failure to construct a deeper roster is hardly the fault of Cooper.
MLB Players Association considering grievance for Milton Bradley
The Cubs will first have to "officially" suspend Bradley and provide its reasons before the MLBPA can appeal. At this point it's not even clear if the suspension is without pay. Things might be bad for Bradley, but at least his mother is still in his corner: "Milton sounded fine," Charlena Rector told the Chicago Tribune from her home in Long Beach, Calif. "He was raised in a Christian home. He believes that God don't make mistakes. ... And if that door in Chicago closes for him, he thinks another one will open. It always does."
Perhaps the greatest pitching prospect in the world is about to become a free agent.
Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman is awaiting MLB's decision on his application for free agnecy. Chapman is 21, a lefty, and reportedly throws a 102 mph fastball (at this year's WBC). Everyone gather around your TV sets while your favorite team watches the teams from New York, Boston, and Los Angeles throw enormous amounts of money at him.
Obama Leaps Into Olympic Fray
President Obama presided over a White House extravaganza to promote Chicago as the site for the 2016 Olympics, putting heft behind his hometown's bid. The other major contenders are believed to be Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid. I'm a big fan of the Olympics and would love to see Chicago receive the games. It would at least be nice to make up for the shoddy Atlanta Olympics.

0 recs | Comment 39 comments

Comments

I don't know.

Some aspects of the Olympics I like, but any competition that eliminates baseball and keeps rhythmic/syncronized anything bugs me.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Sep 22, 2009 10:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the WBC more or less moots the issue. It’d be nice to have baseball back in the Olympics, but I’d rather have an international competition featuring the best players. By its timing the Olympics can never be this.

Still, that’s no excuse for synchronized diving.

by ken on Sep 22, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

really? you would rank the wbc at the same level as the olympics?

where is the fervor for all these cities vying to host the wbc?

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Sep 22, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm saying the level of competition in the WBC far exceeds that in the Olympics

because baseball pros can’t compete in the Olympics. The money involved in the WBC versus the Olympics obviously isn’t the same, but the WBC has shown that there can be intense, meaningful baseball games using the best players in the world. The Olympics can’t do that.

by ken on Sep 22, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ah

i still think the wbc sucks. i wish it didn’t exist. too many negatives for what is ultimately a meaningless contest.

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Sep 22, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Moreover

Whose decision is keeping the pros out of the Olympics? Is it just MLB?

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Sep 22, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

are you asking about other pro leagues?

or are you asking whether it is MLB or the Olympics who does not want pros playing?

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 22, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I assume it's not the IOC

though I guess it could be some world baseball board that I don’t know about. Other sports have no trouble allowing professionals to play in the Olympics, though, so I assume this is an MLB problem.

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Sep 22, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that WBC sucks

But so does baseball in the Olympics. I just don’t give a rats ass about athletes heralded as “heroes” for playing baseball “for their country.” It’s fucking baseball. We invented it. A few other counties play it now. But an Olympic sport?

by Brian B on Sep 22, 2009 3:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

yeah olympic baseball sucks too

The little league world series is where it’s at!

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Sep 22, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess

we’re gonna get a report from Slyde about the Arizona digs? He’s going to Reds Fantasy Camp there, right?

Meanwhile, Pete Abe says no way is Jeter AL MVP.

Jeter is eighth on his own team in OPS and seventh in OPS+. And spare me the "he’s great leader" stuff. Do you think Joe Mauer walks around kicking old ladies and discouraging his teammates from playing well? I’ll check to make sure, but I’m guessing he does not.

I’m going to miss Pete when he leaves NY for the Boston Globe.

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

by BubbaFan on Sep 22, 2009 12:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i guess they have to write about something

with all the playoff races all but tied up, but the thought of Jeter even being considered for MVP is laughable. no one thinks Chone Figgins is an MVP candidate.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 22, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I'm crazy busy this week, so sorry for the lack fo posting

but I had to let you know the exciting news: Willy Taveras has been reinstated from the DL! The chase for 100 SB is back on!

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Sep 22, 2009 1:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Crap.

I was not looking forward to this day.

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Sep 22, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

I’m officially off the baseball train.

Football fervor has taken hold…T-virus’s return sure did expedite that process.

Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul.

by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Sep 22, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i prefer travelocity

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Sep 22, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kayak.com is so much better than either.

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Sep 22, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Slyde

Your news saddens me sir

by wishfuldrifter on Sep 22, 2009 2:33 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Hey...

Does anyone want to meet the cast and characters of NBC’s Mercy? I know I do!

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Sep 22, 2009 2:17 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I mean, I'm glad the owner of SBNation is raking in the dough

but I honestly go to this site less because I know my eyeballs are going to be assaulted. That’s, uh, not good.

"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 22, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I use Firefox and Adblock Plus

And don’t see any ads at all here.

And I don’t even feel guilty about it. If they’re going to be obnoxious about it, expect to be blocked.

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

by BubbaFan on Sep 22, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i only block the big obnoxious one in the top right corner

i dont mind any of the others, and i’ll even sometimes click through. not because im interested, but because eventually maybe they will pay me money.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 22, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

um

Don’t they call that “click fraud”?

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

by BubbaFan on Sep 22, 2009 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they can call it what they want

im a rebel

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 22, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe so

But doing that, and worse, encouraging others to do it may get this site banned from its advertising networks.

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

by BubbaFan on Sep 22, 2009 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

where did he encourage anybody to do that

and besides, Charlie is so far from making money on this site that he practically owes money to the site.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Sep 23, 2009 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no!! wait a minute

you said that Chex Mix was complimentary!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 23, 2009 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope it was the cheddar mix or the bold mix.

If you got original, you got boned.

People always asking, 'Uncle Jemima, why you sell booze?' I say 'sell whatchu know' and I knows about booze.

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on Sep 23, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it's not my fault you don't understand the meaning of potluck

Maybe next time you’ll bring the 7-layer dip like you said you would.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Sep 23, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i brought plates and napkins

that counts

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 23, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is Wlad injured?

McD is in the lineup again tonight while both he and Bruce sit.

Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Sep 22, 2009 4:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And Taveras sits.

Crazy!

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Sep 22, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This will be three games in a row he hasn't started

which would be unsurprising if it were Bruce, Francisco and Heisey in his place. And Bruce is missing another chance to build his confidence vs. a lefties.

Taveras sitting is nice, but letting McD live the dream is Dusty’s way of making sure things don’t get too sensible.

Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Sep 22, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That bit on Arizona was heartening.

Hot meals? Weight/conditioning facilities? You mean, we’re going to treat these guys like they use their bodies for a living? Excellent!

Considering how bad the Reds minor leagues were this year (donde esta Neftali Soto?), they need it.

by Cy Schourek on Sep 22, 2009 5:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Soto really disappointed me

i thought he was a young Vlad Guerrero. turns out he’s more like Wilton Guerrero.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 22, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wilton Guerrero is top notch!

The Reds need a new manager, one like Putin.

by justin007000 on Sep 23, 2009 2:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And a former Red!

by Brendanukkah on Sep 23, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

FWIW

The average age of hitters in the FSL is 22, which is 2 years older than Soto. Also, the FSL had the lowest R/G of any league in the minors this season. He still needs to learn to take a walk, but his line drive rate actually improved this year, though he also hit more ground balls too. I wouldn’t give up on him just yet.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Sep 23, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs