trading for an expensive catcher, while sending over the hill AAAA superstars Crosby and Church to the d-bags? Don’t they already have, like, 3 average catchers?

This just makes me think of the Matt Morriss mid-season acquisition they made a few years ago…god that was hilarious.

Lets keep what we have. Sure if we can get bullpen help without giving up A level prospects then sure.

Look at the young starters we have: Volquez, Cueto, Leake, Wood, Chapman, Bailey. That is a very dangerous group. Cueto should win over 15 games this year and will only get better. Volquez should return to his former self next year (if not better). Leake should win atleast 10+ games next year in a full season. There is no reason to think Wood doesn’t have the same potential. We know Chapman and Bailey have enough talent.

We have enough young pitching to go on a run an win the Central for the next few years. I’m not ready to give up this year. Chapman coming to a pen that has been looking better and better, outside of Cordero. It will be a close race to the end. With our schedule we will atleast ‘hang around’. It may come down to how we play heads up against the Cards! What more could you ask for this year? Especially when you have put together the young talent to compete for the next 5+ years!

I’m not sure we have what it takes to necessarily win in the playoffs as far as starting pitching, at least on paper- (granted, as we’ve discussed, the playoffs can turn into a total crapshoot), but I think we’re worried that the price to improve ourselves a little bit this year might be steep enough that it could seriously hurt our chances at competing next year. I think we’re also looking at most of our late-season improvements coming from within the organization.

but if it would have bankrupted the farm, then no.

The 1999 team was a fun fluke. Many of the big time contributors this year (outside of CMM and Rolen) are young talented players who will probably get better.

Chapman is going to become a star. He can be that ace of the staff, with a nice rotation around him with guys like Leake, Wood, Cueto, Volquez, etc around him.

The bullpen with a core of Masset, Ondrusek, and Smith will get better.

Plus some nice position players to boot.

Its not worth overpaying for marginal players for half a year. When you have the young players to compete for the next 5 years.

Trading END is acceptable because well, I don’t think he will become anything special.

But trading guys like Wood, Cozart, etc could hurt this team for years to come.

I actually like Nix, Janish, Heisey, and the two headed catching monster. Hell even Cairo has worked out pretty well.

The bullpen has gotten better, but I guess Chad Qualls was out there to be gotten.

he has played plus CF with wOBA 353 for his 454 PA- which is the exact opposite of terrible its actually pretty awesome.
He was obviously hurt to start this year- he is driving the ball right now and definitely deserves starts with the Reds.
Gomes is terrible. Stubbs has been not very good. Bruce you just have to stick with and pray he turns it around.

is a fireable offense. Dusty is also determined to start OCAB every game until he breaks down again.
You would think Dusty would have noticed how much better OCAB played after the all-star break and understand he needs some time off during the season.

However, I really think Kearns was derailed by the neck injury from slamming into the wall, followed by the shoulder injury from Ray King’s Fat Ass, and then the broken wrist from the bean ball. (I think that was the order) Hopefully Bruce will have a little more good luck.

that or naked monkey pictures

Even with no farm system they managed to pull off a trade for the pitcher they need.

And while Westbrook is no great shakes he only has to be their 4th best starter and better than Blake Hawksworth.

They better just hope Jon Jay doesn’t turn into a pumpkin

the back end of their rotation is garbage, but he still is no great shakes. Plus he is in his first post opt season, so there is a huge question mark as to what he will do down the stretch.

it reminded me of 2002 when the Reds tried to get Bartolo Colon but ownership wouldn’t accept his contract, so they got Ryan Dempster instead.

The Cards tried to get Lee, they talked about Haren, and they were in on Oswalt, and swung and missed three times. All three of those pitchers are clearly superior to Jake Westbrook.

Maybe Rolen will only play half a game.

2B-Phillips
C-Hanigan
LF-Votto
3B-Rolen
CF-Hesiey
C-Hernandez
RF-Nix
SS-Janish
P-Arroyo

He don’t skerrr me much.

but while it goes, and they need pitching, he’s a suitable sub

Someone said that we had just traded Kearns, Lopez and Wagner to the Nats. I was sure we had picked up Soriano. When I saw the return scroll across the bottom of the screen I almost shat myself.

And Bob showed he was willing to take on some salary with the Lee attempt.

I could see a reliever or bench bat coming over for little return because the trading team gets salary relief, a la us w/ Weathers and Gonzo last year. Hopefully whoever we get doesn’t suck like that, though.

We’ll only bring JHjr back if either Janish or OCrap are involved in the Marlins trade.

now i want the cherry deal to be true

Who else… Ovaltien?

And why can’t Alonso catch a flight after the game? It’s kinda a day game.