I guess I'll point out that OBP correlates better with scoring runs than any stat, but I'm preaching to the choir here. That John Fay article yesterday really worried me. I don't care what "type" of team we have if they're winning, but I'd like a GM who knows certain things, such as how Ks come with power for some types of hitters. Let's hope the Dunn trade is good, because he's gone. Let's also hope we can develop some Santanas and Lirianos because Minnesota wouldn't get very far without them.

although Castro was brought in, I believe, more for late inning "D" and to help assimilate the younger Latin players.

I rememember a BP comment once on the Juan Castro type of player. Can't find the actual quote, nut i think it was originally about Wilton Guerrero.

Goes something like " If your GM gives a guarateed contract at anything more than the major league minimum to (player like castro), then go down to his office and politely ask for $500,000, because he's obviously just giving it away"

Signing Juan Castro to a two ytear contract is, unfortunately, a sign that Krivsky does not understand the market for players. Did he think we were gonna lose Juan Castro on the open market? A competant organization should be able to shake a no-hit good glove infielder out of the trees for next to nothing. The minor leagues are full of young men who deserve to hit clean baseballs in bp a lot more than a proven mediocrity like juan castro.

MLBtraderumors.com has an item about the folly of trading Dunn.

The comments people added are interesting, bordering on humorous, as to the proposals teams might make to acquire Dunn. They're full of rag-armed middle relievers and bags of used batting practice balls. Maybe the Washington trade sparks that kind of thinking, but I can't see Dunn dealt without a quality SP coming back.

Although, the Albers-Pence offer from Houston made me pause for a minute or two.

cares about OBP nearly as much as he does about making this team "his". That to me is the biggest problem.

Kriv seems to be thinking "hey, the White Sox won in 2005 without any OBP and the Tigers are about to do the same in 2006!" That may be true, but those teams have many things the Reds don't have:

1) SLG all throughout the lineup. With guys like Ross, Phillips, and Aurilia, you can make the argument that the Reds still have this. But Ross is unlikely to duplicate his season, Aurilia is probably gone, and Griffey looks to be washed up to boot. Kearns certainly would help too, but Lopez was a product of GABP.

SLG is vitally important on a team with mediocre OBP because rallys will be tougher to come by. Such teams must be able to score runs by hitting the ball out of the park at any time.

2. Four quality starters. The Reds currently have two, but Homer Bailey is on the way and maybe Castellini will shell out for a free agent. But the fact remains that they still only have two! You can't just dismiss OBP if you don't have the solid starting pitching to keep you in the game while the offense waits for a home run.
3. A deep, flexible bullpen. Do I even have to say anything?
4. Good defense. Chicago finished 2nd in the majors in defensive efficiency in 2005 and Detroit finished in 2nd in 2006. The Reds finished 28th last year and 21st this year.

So yeah, high OBP isn't a pre-requisite to winning, but you sure as hell better have those other 4 things if you're going to go about it that way. The Reds have one and a half.

Thumbs down, Wayne.

can hang a gigantic garbage bag over the right field wall.  That should help us win, right?

Postponed due to rain, to be played on Tuesday.

Advantage Mets, because their bullpen is more tired, and Glavine, their only legitimate starter, does not do well in the postseason on short rest.