Red Reposter - Disquiet in dis offseason

by ken on Oct 4, 2011 8:00 AM EDT in News

The empathetic Mets organization cut their fans a break in the game's final season, modifying the smoking ban to "smoke 'em if you got 'em."

BP will be the first Reds batter of 2012
After setting career highs in AVG and OBP, keeping Brandon Phillips at the top of the batting order is an easy decision. Or is it? Jocketty: "Yeah, I think he is (the leadoff man) - until we find someone better. He's demonstrated that he can handle it well." For his part, Phillips is happy to lead off: "I'm going into the offseason to get ready to be the leadoff man. I was happy with the year I had, especially after I started hitting leadoff. I did it to help out the team. That's what I want to do."
BtB named its Post-2011 NL Central All Star Team
There's a fairly even representation of every team in the Central aside from Houston, though the lack of any Cincinnati pitcher is telling. The selected 2B, Brandon Phillips, finished the year with an even 6.0 fWAR. This may shed some light on El Beeperino's decision to sit out game 162. You wouldn't want an error or oh-fer to knock that figure down. Players work hard to achieve statistical milestones over the course of a long regular season, and I don't have any particular problem with them sitting out of a meaningless game for the sake of said milestones. Actually, I agree with Hal that Phillips sat out because of a legitimate injury. Also, check out Hal's story about Griffey Sr. and the lost batting title of bicentennial season, if you're into that sort of thing.
Breaking news on Brandon Phillips: BP appears at Greenwich Village "Fan Cave"
During the segment, BP said about the season: "It's been totally different. I didn't think the season was really going to go the way it did this year, but all you can do is adapt and learn from this year and just take it into next year." Will he re-sign with the Reds? "I hope so. I hope so. If not, I just got to go where I need to go ...."
If you think you saw a lot of bad baseball this year, you're right
As calculated by Flip Flop Fly Ball, the Reds played more baseball by total time than any team aside from NYY and BOS. This surprised me, but maybe it shouldn't have. The high-scoring Reds had the second most PAs in the NL and were towards the top in total runs allowed and innings pitched. I suspect that the Reds also had more reliever appearances and outings than most teams. HT to Slyde.
The fallout from the end of the regular season has come
The first victim was Terry Francona, who resigned/was fired from Boston. It was rumored this weekend that Theo Epstein could be next on the chopping block. Here, Rob Neyer speculates that Epstein may "simply [be] ready for a change. I've had two great jobs in my life -- before this one, I mean -- but at some point it's just time to try something different. And what else, really, is there left for Theo Epstein in Boston?" The oddsmakers put an Epstein move at 50/50 "for the right situation." Eeps. Epstein controlling the ship of the wealthiest franchise in our division scares me.
The fallout is less pronounced in Atlanta, which has only canned hitting coach Larry Parrish so far.
Angels GM Tony Reagins also resigned, so there could be a game of musical GM chairs this winter.
Votto looks to defend his Hank Aaron Award
While the Reds' record puts Joey Votto out of contention to win a consecutive MVP, he still has an outside shot at the Hank Aaron Award. The Hank is awarded based on ~~a formula considering only offensive statistics, as well as~~ the votes of fans and select HOFers [the formula was apparently canned years ago]. In a perfect world, the best position player would win the Hank, the best pitcher the Cy, and the voters could do whatever they want with the MVP. You can vote here.

OMGreds reviews ESPN's ‘Catching Hell’ documentary
Which goes into some detail about the Steve Bartman game. I'd forgotten Dusty's quip after the game - "The only words I have is, maybe he was a Marlins fan." May as well add this to the DVR queue for this winter.
Doug at Reds Minor Leagues has a few notes
Among them, ~~Bakersfield~~ Dayton's 2011 catcher Tucker Barnhart was named the Minor League Catcher Gold Glove Award Winner. This is a big honor because the award covers the entire minor leagues, so kudos to Barnhart. He had a .998 fielding percentage as well as a 47% caught stealing rate against.
There's a lot of mediocre beer at stake in the PHL-STL series
The cities' mayors have made one of those non-monetary bets on the series outcome, with this one focusing on beer. The St. Louis mayor has offered Budweiser, while the Philly mayor is cobbling together a number of microbrews. If you think this is bad, wait until the Cards-Brewers NLCS.
New episodes and movie for Arrested Development announced
Sweetness! With the potential for a new generation of memes, it's reported that there will be a new season of AD as well as the long-rumored movie in 2013. Paul Janish (Milford Acad., '98) was spotted, but could not be heard for comment.

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Comments

Wasn't Francona a former Red?

Oh and can we have him instead of Dusty? Come’on Jocketty….. Dusty deserves to be fired just as much as any other coach.

by EODRed on Oct 4, 2011 8:25 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, in '87 he put up a Janishian line of 227/266/295

but as a backup outfielder.

What’s given me pause about canning Dusty is the lack of a better alternative, but I can get on the bandwagon if Francona’s the new sheriff.

by ken on Oct 4, 2011 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Fire Dusty!

"the only place they lost was the scoreboard"

by Ewok on Oct 4, 2011 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions

the only way tito makes it into a reds uniform is if dusty gets run part way through the season

even then it will probably be rick sweet (which i’m ok with) if he is still the coach of louisville.

my question is this …. if the Phills have a strong postseason push this year, does my boy Pete Mackanin get another shot as a manager somewhere?

Individuality: Always remember that you are unique. Just like everybody else.

by joshuar9476 on Oct 4, 2011 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Olney says

the Red Sox are considering Mackanin to replace Francona.

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

by BubbaFan on Oct 4, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions

That's interesting

I would have guessed they want a bigger name. And more of a red-ass.

by ken on Oct 4, 2011 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe after last season they are looking for a low key guy.

I mean Francona was about as big as it can get. You don’t see a lot of coaches with enough balls to just get up and leave from a job like that.

You had me at meat tornado. ~ Ron Swanson

by BigBabyBruce on Oct 4, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

the Catching Hell documentary was interesting, but flawed

There definitely was too much Buckner, but I found the Buckner redemption footage at Fenway was the most powerful of the show.

I think the reactions of the fans at wrigley that night warrant a deeper study. The security team did a good job protecting Bartman, but its pretty ridiculous fellow fanatics put his physical safety in jeopardy. I give Steve credit for never cashing in on the sudden fame. But I do think the Cubs organization and baseball icons could have done a little more to reduce the backlash immediately after the event happened.

I hope steve has found peace and love. And Buffett!

"the only place they lost was the scoreboard"

by Ewok on Oct 4, 2011 8:39 AM EDT reply actions

That incident would be a footnote if the Cubs had the right Alex Gonzalez

by ken on Oct 4, 2011 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions

There is no right Alex Gonzalez

Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds today!

by Slyde on Oct 4, 2011 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

No, they're all right

Because they play the infield. Can’t throw lefty as a SS.

Mgr., Red Reporter

"Every office I've been in, there has been a guy with weird scars that he needs to explain to you—'it was one of those old Xerox machines, with a lot of razors in it'... or a pale person with a novel of supernatural erotica that keeps getting left on the printer. Major League lineups need those guys, too." - David Roth

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 4, 2011 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

x

by The 25314 on Oct 5, 2011 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Wrigley Field, ladies and gentlemen!

It feels so nice to be back to normal

by nycredsfan on Oct 4, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

you should have seen South Milwaukee Night @ GABP

Slyde was gonna get jacked up, dudes didn’t care they were outnumbered 20-4.

And, yes, I’m counting their ladies in the rumble count. They were Travelode’s!

"the only place they lost was the scoreboard"

by Ewok on Oct 4, 2011 1:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Glad to see "El Beeperino" creeping into the nickname conversation

But wait, what’s this about Epstein having cancer and only his slightly overweight buddy can help him through it?

"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."

by Cy Schourek on Oct 4, 2011 9:33 AM EDT reply actions

Dusty is Bratkowski

it’s not that he never had merit, just that he can’t evolve and doesn’t properly know how to fit to his players instead of making his players fit to him.

CP09 wrote pee-now app for babies so they know when their diaper is being taken off.

DysfunctionalOffense-09-05 + 14 = SeeminglyCopacetic

by supergrover on Oct 4, 2011 9:42 AM EDT reply actions

well, that brings up a quandry.

If BP is to be the full time leadoff Beeperino, that means that one of Stubbs/Rolen/Mesoraco is going to have to be the “big” righty bat in the middle of the lineup…one of Dusty’s “RBI guys” who presumably will bat 4/5 to break up Joey, Jay, and Yonder.

Yoos guys comfortable with any of those options? Yes, I know it really shouldn’t matter because each of thos lefties hit lhp good enough, but it’s Dusty…you know he’ll put a righty in there.

Tequila and pancakes, anyone?

by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Oct 4, 2011 9:58 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

only if the other team has a lot of lefties in their bullpen

Dusty’s been willing to bat three lefties in a row if the opposing team doesn’t have a lot of lefties in the pen.

I think I’d trust the newly roto-rootered Rolen to bat cleanup. But if END ends up getting a lot of starts at 3B, which I suspect he will, that’s a whole lotta lefties in the lineup.

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

by BubbaFan on Oct 4, 2011 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

and a lot of righties on the bench...

Frazier, Cairo, Heisey, Hanigan, Janish?

Tequila and pancakes, anyone?

by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Oct 4, 2011 10:17 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Not a lot of pop in those bats

Bart: "Dad, what's a Muppet?"
Homer: "Well, it's not quite a mop, not quite a puppet, but man... (laughs, then pauses) So, to answer you question, I don't know."

by ChiDa on Oct 4, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Frazier and Heisey have plenty of pop. A lot more than your typical bench bat.

It feels so nice to be back to normal

by nycredsfan on Oct 4, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Well I'll be damned

Didn’t realize Frazier had some pop

Bart: "Dad, what's a Muppet?"
Homer: "Well, it's not quite a mop, not quite a puppet, but man... (laughs, then pauses) So, to answer you question, I don't know."

by ChiDa on Oct 4, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

although logistically speaking

Frazier wouldn’t be on the bench in this scenario…one of Rolen or END would be, and I suppose either one of them would be considered pop off the bench, if you will.

Tequila and pancakes, anyone?

by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Oct 4, 2011 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup, definitely

Bart: "Dad, what's a Muppet?"
Homer: "Well, it's not quite a mop, not quite a puppet, but man... (laughs, then pauses) So, to answer you question, I don't know."

by ChiDa on Oct 4, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

or in Rolen and Cairo's cases

Grand-pop off the bench.

Tequila and pancakes, anyone?

by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Oct 4, 2011 1:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 4 recs

Janish

It’s unclear what his fate will be. It’s tough to find a similar arb case for SS coming off a Janish-style season because most of the time, they’re non-tendered. The Reds still need SS depth in the upper minors, but I think that’s more likely to mean he’s back on a minor league or split contract.

Mgr., Red Reporter

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 4, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

I could see him getting a small bump up in pay.

Like up to 600k-700k. I’d think they would give him a tiny raise just out of pity.

You had me at meat tornado. ~ Ron Swanson

by BigBabyBruce on Oct 4, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I think he'd probably be happy to get a big league deal at all

They might try to non-tender him, then re-sign him to a minor league deal. I seem to recall them doing that with other players in the past. That would also give him the opportunity to seek a better deal elsewhere.

If they offer him a split contract, he’ll probably make decent money even in the minors ($60,000-80,000). If he ends up taking a garden-variety minor league deal, he’d make more money flipping burgers at McDonald’s.

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

by BubbaFan on Oct 4, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions