Reds Caravan: Is it appropriate to yell "CONVOY?"

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jan 25, 2012 4:05 PM EST in Events

The Reds Winter Caravan gets underway tomorrow, fanning out in three Cardinal - no, how about "Compass-y?" - directions. The events at each stop are free and present a chance for fans throughout the hinterlands of Reds Country to meet and greet players, coaches, executives, broadcasters and a seemingly endless parade of mascots. The Reds will also be pedaling tickets to Game 2/Opening Night at each appearance.

Here is a partial list of Reds mascots accompanying the caravan:

Mr. Redlegs
Rosie Red
Gapper
Mr. Red
Dr. Cincinnatireds
Reds Lobster
Redrum
P&G presents: Crimson Tide
Vanessa Red-crave
Trent Reds-nor & the Downward Speier-al
The Reddleman (inspired by Thomas Hardy's Return of the Native)

The locations, personnel and other details by leg are available on the Reds' official Caravan page (there's also a custom Yahoo! map). Brandon Phillips, a fixture on the yearly tour, is probably the player with the biggest star power participating. Dusty is headed West toward Louisville (no, he's not being demoted) along with Red Reporter 2012 #3 Prospect Billy Hamilton and Todd Frazier. Marty, as I believe is customary, heads south through Thundering Herd territory and Devin Mesoraco will be snacking his way North through Columbus and Dayton.

With the team having settled with its arbitration-eligible players, the Caravan signals the last major landmark in the off season before pitchers and catchers voluntary report date on February 19. Kiss some babies, sign an underwhelming free agent (or trade for one) and then head to Arizona with the winds of an ambitious and successful winter at your back.

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Comments

Isn't Wilson Valdez not very good?

You were just a rich girl only having fun. Your worn out dresses brought stares from everyone. Hey little rich girl, where did you go wrong?

by boobs on Jan 25, 2012 4:05 PM EST reply actions

You were just a rich girl only having fun. Your worn out dresses brought stares from everyone. Hey little rich girl, where did you go wrong?

by boobs on Jan 25, 2012 4:07 PM EST up reply actions

Not good

"Aroldis Chapman is a seven course meal followed by four hours of sex on the table with a nymphomaniac model heiress who owns her own brewery." - jch24

by BK on Jan 25, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

Good enough to be a winning pitcher against the Reds last May

Yep. That guy.

by ams78 on Jan 25, 2012 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

Better than Theriot and will get less ABs than he would have received.

Fine by me. I

by FordhamRam on Jan 25, 2012 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

And he can pitch!

by chazzilla on Jan 25, 2012 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Probably just as effective as Horst!

by FordhamRam on Jan 25, 2012 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

of course

Let a man come in and do the Popcorn.
Crum-Bum Beat

by -ManBearPig on Jan 25, 2012 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

Also, keeps Willie Harris off the team (barring injuries)

Yep, okay with this.

"Aroldis Chapman is a seven course meal followed by four hours of sex on the table with a nymphomaniac model heiress who owns her own brewery." - jch24

by BK on Jan 25, 2012 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

Could be worse.

I’m assuming he’s a better defender than The Riot as well ya?

by chazzilla on Jan 25, 2012 4:18 PM EST up reply actions

A dead squirrel wearing cement shoes would be a better defender than Theriot.

by FordhamRam on Jan 25, 2012 4:19 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Fangraphs is down, but I'd assume that he is

"Aroldis Chapman is a seven course meal followed by four hours of sex on the table with a nymphomaniac model heiress who owns her own brewery." - jch24

by BK on Jan 25, 2012 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I just tried to check

Not a big deal either way. All hinges on the Cozzzz

by chazzilla on Jan 25, 2012 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

It appears Masset signed a 2 year 5.5 mil extension.

Let the outrage commence.

Let a man come in and do the Popcorn.
Crum-Bum Beat

by -ManBearPig on Jan 25, 2012 4:18 PM EST reply actions

Respect my authoritah!

by BigBadBruce on Jan 25, 2012 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

Cripes.

Leatherpants:

Reds have concerns on Cozart’s return from Tommy John surgery so Wilson Valdez gives them competition with Paul Janish if Cozart not ready

I’m pretty sure if we had questions about Cozart’s return, we would have targeted a better SS earlier.

by FordhamRam on Jan 25, 2012 4:23 PM EST reply actions

Leatherpants is dumb

I wouldn’t listen to a thing he said.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 25, 2012 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

he's the leatherpantsiest.

Tequila and pancakes, anyone?

by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Jan 25, 2012 4:28 PM EST up reply actions

I'll say this about Bob

He hasn’t been afraid to invest in Mascots over the last 7 years.

"You know when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink Orange Drink".-Bill Hicks

by Yossarian22 on Jan 25, 2012 5:16 PM EST reply actions

Anyone going to any caravan stops?

I’ll probably be at the Air Force Museum stop on Sunday. If you’ve never been to the AFM, you should go sometime, it’s a very nice place. If you go to any caravan stops, get there early.

Respect my authoritah!

by BigBadBruce on Jan 25, 2012 5:40 PM EST reply actions

I love the Air Force Museum

Last time I was there I spent like 2 hours in the vintage jet wing before it closed.

by Yossarian22 on Jan 25, 2012 6:20 PM EST up reply actions

I like that part

My favorite thing to do was check out the Presidential planes they have there, but after 9/11 the exhibit is closed and you have to reserve a tour and get checked by security ahead of time to see the planes. Stupid fucking Bin Laden! They have neat planes; I think they have the one JFK used.

The best thing there, however: Space Ice Cream!!!

Respect my authoritah!

by BigBadBruce on Jan 25, 2012 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

and it isn't all that far from

Tanks, which makes an excellent burger, solid fresh cut fries, and sports a nice beer selection, it is a nice meal to have when you visit the Air Force Museum.

I took a field trip there in college for my Military and Society history class, the professor who reminds me of Dumbledore led the trip, and he brought the University President with him. He and the President kept telling each other about the planes, but they really just raced to see who could read the plaque first and tell the other person like it is something they knew. Very weird who has the biggest dick competition.

by Yossarian22 on Jan 25, 2012 6:32 PM EST up reply actions

Tanks

I live 3 houses away. Great place

I'm ready to face any challenges that may be foolish enough to face me

by mrsmith35sg on Jan 25, 2012 11:02 PM EST up reply actions

My favorite big dick competition is when company executives argue over who gets to pay the dinner bill with their corporate AMEX

"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow

by jch24 on Jan 26, 2012 8:29 AM EST up reply actions

and then proceed to tip less than %15

/P&G’d

Let a man come in and do the Popcorn.
Crum-Bum Beat

by -ManBearPig on Jan 26, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

One of the more sitcom-y aspects of my marriage

is that my Jewish wife thinks I tip too much.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 26, 2012 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

And your catchphrase?...

How about you agree to waive the fine and I promise not to email you the remaining eighty six photos of my dog dressed as a bear.

by Fat Vegas Alan on Jan 26, 2012 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

"Oy vey!"

“What are we going to do with all of these hamburg sandwiches?”

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jan 26, 2012 4:52 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, the Jews always did think there was too much on the tip

by Brendanukkah on Jan 26, 2012 5:08 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

I'd love to hear their reasoning behind that decision

"Wait, you think I'm being mean to the pretend orangutan?" -- battlekow

by jch24 on Jan 26, 2012 8:28 AM EST up reply actions

Massett.

There is no reason that he can’t bounce back and have a decent 2012.

Scott Roland should retire tomorrow.

by Madville on Jan 26, 2012 2:43 AM EST reply actions

it'd be nice if he could get his K-rate back up

But he had the best non-intentional walk rate of his career in ‘11. If we can assume his BABIP won’t be .335 again, he should be okay in a slightly less intense role.

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

by Slyde on Jan 26, 2012 7:36 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Really, I guess I had a truthiness moment with Masset

it felt like he control was really bad last year.

by Yossarian22 on Jan 26, 2012 10:06 AM EST up reply actions

His BB/9 was the worst of his career

which is partly why BB/9 isn’t a great stat. It’s good for quick reference, but I wouldn’t use it for analysis, especially with relievers who are often asked to intentionally walk guys.

Believe it or not, his BABIP may affect his BB/9 too. Last year, he walked one more batter non-intentionally than he did in 2009, but he faced 15 more nonIBB batters. But, since less of his balls in play were turned into outs, he had fewer IP for the number of batters he faced, making his walk-rate look worse. This is why you should use BB% instead of BB/9. Here are the numbers:

     w/ IBB NonIBB nonIBB
Year   BB/9   BB/9    BB%  BABIP   BF  BB  IBB
2009    2.8    2.8   8.2%   .251  292  24    0
2010    3.9    3.5   9.4%   .295  322  33    3
2011    4.0    3.2   8.1%   .335  313  31    6

FanGraphs is down right now, so I don’t have their FIP numbers, but based on my calculations, his FIP is only about .15 higher in 2011 than 2009, and most of that can be attributed to his drop in strikeout rate (from 24% in 2009 to 20.1% in 2011).

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

by Slyde on Jan 26, 2012 11:19 AM EST up reply actions