Reds' roster in shambles - should they go after Liriano?

ESPN's Christina Kahrl thoroughly examines the plethora of problems facing our Reds this year. Everywhere you look (except RF/1B/C), guys are either under performing or injured. I think this is not a bad list of potential moves/fixes.

1) Drop Gomes
2) Call up Coz
3) Find an ace
4) Deal a catcher, call up Mesoraco - deal from depth

I don't know if I yet agree with 4, because I don't think Monie will bring a huge return despite how hot he's been.

12 months ago jsl413 17 comments 0 recs |

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Liriano is an ace?

Forgive me, but we have 5 guys on the roster who can put up these numbers.
So let’s go find an ace.
Start by defining one and it ain’t Liriano.

The repairs this writer suggests will do little to make the Reds a better team.

I do a lot of stupid shit, but I'm not an idiot. - JCH24

by johnu1 on May 28, 2011 2:41 PM EDT reply actions

You're the second person I've seen comment on this story and get caught up on Liriano.

The points she makes are good – LF, SS, SP are all problems.

by jsl413 on May 28, 2011 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

There is no epiphany there ...

LF and SS were problems on Opening Day and have been up till now.
SP can’t be fixed as easily as waving a magic wand, finding somebody who might be available and calling him an “ace.”
Dropping Gomes and calling up Cozart are easily done but how does it fix anything?
Trading off a catcher for a left fielder is next to the dumbest thing you can do.

The baby under the basket is a very powerful talisman, only to be used in times of great distress.

by johnu1 on May 28, 2011 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I do want to add that your headline, and that of the writer's ...

both make it clear that the “ace” is the thrust of the story. So if I was caught up by that, forgive me but if you wanted it to be about something else, try to avoid the pea-thimble approach.

The baby under the basket is a very powerful talisman, only to be used in times of great distress.

by johnu1 on May 28, 2011 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm hesitant on calling up Cozart

05/27/2011 Status Change Louisville Bats placed SS Zack Cozart on the 7-Day disabled list retroactive to May 25, 2011. right ankle sprain

This is why I hate national writers suggesting roster moves. They don’t even know the status of players, let alone the actual abilities of minor leaguers.

by FordhamRam on May 28, 2011 3:37 PM EDT reply actions

Again, I think this is nit-picky.

Coz is on fire and should be called up as soon as he is healthy, while Renteria should be DFA’d with Jonny Gomes. Instead of taking her so literally, take a step back and think about the suggestion realistically. Is there any reason to keep those 2 non-producers on the team? They’ve been abjectly horrible.

by jsl413 on May 28, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

It's not nit-picky.

Cozart is injured. Injured players cannot play. Ergo, Cozart cannot play and therefore is not an option at SS for the time being. Half her article is premised on the injuries to current players on the 25 man-roster and suggesting to make moves that contradict that premise are factually inconsistent. She’s either too lazy to look at anything other than player stats when writing an article or she simply does not give a damn about possible alternatives.

by FordhamRam on May 28, 2011 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Or she's a spy for the Brewers.

"People don't kill people. Burning oreo packages kill people."

by crolfer on May 29, 2011 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Hey you bug you, when he writes about the Brewers he routinely gets confused who is even on the roster. Christopher Kahrl, new bouffant or not has been calling for the Brewers to blow up the team for about a decade.

by ol Pete on May 30, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Cozart

His minor league OPS is almost identical to Janish’s. (.733 vs .738)

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

by BubbaFan on May 29, 2011 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Except maybe - just maybe - he's learned how to hit lately.

Would he OPS 1.000 in the MLB? Obviously, hell no. But Janish has been figured out (although he’ll probably rebound a bit, because that’s baseball)… at least Cozart has some pop and could be a useful second option (which Renteria is not.)

by jsl413 on May 29, 2011 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that's a big assumption

And likely incorrect. Cozart couldn’t hit his way out of a paper bag earlier this season. As you say, it’s just baseball. There are hot streaks and cold streaks. Janish was hitting very well when he was first called up (I think he was leading the league in doubles – or was second, can’t remember), but that didn’t mean it translated to the big leagues.

Cozart might be the answer in the future, but I don’t think he’s the answer now. If he is called up, it probably won’t be Renteria getting the boot. It will be Janish optioned down.

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

by BubbaFan on Jun 1, 2011 6:32 AM EDT up reply actions

I would prefer the Reds did not panic and make a bunch of moves based on some recent bad luck

by pack_fan on May 29, 2011 1:48 AM EDT reply actions

Do you disagree that Jonny Gomes and Renteria are wastes of roster space?

And that there’s a lot of depth that could be used to acquire a big piece? Remember when the Cardinals went out and got Holliday? There’s no way you can really believe that the Reds are in good shape for a post-season run right now, the way things are going. Sure, it’s early, but this is one hell of a slide – and it wasn’t even a west-Coast trip.

by jsl413 on May 29, 2011 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I won't dispute any of what you said

but if they panic and deal that depth to get only marginal upgrades because they were a need at the time of the deal, then it does nothing to help them in the postseason. Making a deal for a Holliday is not a move out of panic. You said it yourself: it’s early. No its not a good slide but they’re still at .500 and within striking distance,both things we should be pretty happy about given the teams recent bad luck. I don’t think this is the true level of play this team is capable of, they will recover at least some.

by pack_fan on May 30, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

And I think all the suggestions except getting an ace are marginal upgrades at best.

I do like the idea of Heisey instead of Gomes, simply because I think defense matters, even in left field. Especially in the short post-season. Sometimes it does make sense to sacrifice defense for a great bat, but Gomes isn’t a great bat. But Heisey sure isn’t making his case. He hits so much better as a pinch-hitter.

And defense and offense are fine. The real problem with this team is starting pitching. While their injured and sucky pitchers will likely get better, none of them are aces, at least not this year. A good power pitcher (or two) is key in the post-season.

Unfortunately, it’s not like there are a lot of aces out there to be had. Not sure I like the idea of giving up so much for Liriano. Janish, Hanigan, one of our young starting pitchers, another young prospect, and Todd Frazier? Eek. Now I remember why even Brian Cashman wanted to grow his own pitchers.

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

by BubbaFan on Jun 1, 2011 6:41 AM EDT up reply actions