Tuesday Quick Hits - Is It Something About The Name Michael?

by JD Arney on Mar 6, 2007 5:28 AM EST in News Comment 13 comments

Edwin Encarnacion

Congrats to JinAz for the second day in a row, this time for being published in the Hardball Times 2007 Season Preview (which you can order here). JinAz wrote all of the Reds stuff, so I'm sure it'll be a good buy, and I'll be picking up a copy. It certainly can't hurt to have a Baseball Prospectus competitor out there when it comes to preseason annuals, and I think this qualifies. I've never bought one of the Hardball Times season wrap ups, possibly because I'm not usually in the mood to relive a Reds season once it's finished, so I'm glad to see them starting a preseason guide.
Five sleepers for the 2007 Cy Young Award, with no mention of Aaron Harang or Bronson Arroyo. I'll give the guy the benefit of the doubt and assume those two wouldn't qualify as sleepers, but I'd include Harang on a list like that just because nobody outside of Cincinnati seems to know who he is. That makes him a sleeper to me, and he's a hell of a lot better than any of the five pitchers that Beyond the Box Score lists. I do like Clay Hensley though.
Remember Rob Bell? Things haven't worked out so well for him.
I'm sure you've all seen Daugherty's column on Homer Bailey by now, but I just love this quote:
The difference between pitchers and throwers, Bailey explained patiently to a hopeless scribe, is "finding your weaknesses and trying to make them strengths. You always hear the greatest pitchers (being) students of the game. I'll be the first to tell you I'm not,'' said Bailey. "But I will do whatever it takes to be the best at what I do, whether it's learning how to command a changeup or breaking ball (or) making adjustments like getting the fastball down in the stretch.''

Sky's pretty much the limit for Bailey at this point. I don't think the hype can get any louder. I've gone back and forth and back and forth on the issue, but I wouldn't mind seeing him make the team out of spring training at this point. And if he doesn't then I' love to see him up by the All Star break.
I try not to read the MLB.com mailbag, but for some reason I clicked earlier, and saw this:
With Ryan Freel and Juan Castro (in my opinion, two of the best utility guys in the game right now), should the Reds really be starting Edwin Encarnacion at third base?
-- Michael B, Sharonville, Ohio

Really. That was a real question. The fact that someone that dumb is nonetheless smart enough to type out an email and send it off to Mark Sheldon really impresses me.
I like to pretend that fans like Michael B. don't exist, that Cincinnati fans are a somewhat savvy bunch. So,you know, I'm going to go ahead and do my best to avoid mailbags in the future. I should know better.

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As a resident of Sharonville

I apologize to everyone, and will make it my mission to hunt down Michael B. and knock some sense into him with the RCB if Bobcat will let me borrow it.

Reds fandom: A study in futility and masochism.

by Ash on Mar 6, 2007 7:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sharonville = Popcorned beer

You find him, you got it.

The leading candidates for the '07 bat are Jeff Conine and Mark Bellhorn.

And I listen, to the voice inside my head...nothing, I'll do this one myself. "State of Love and Trust"

by ohiobobcat on Mar 6, 2007 7:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

utility guys

Anyone else hear Thom and Marty annoit TSF Juan Castro as the "best utility infielder" of all-time over the weekend?

Marty did qualify the statement by adding Manos excelled equally defensively @ SS, 2B and 3B. I gotta admit he's the best I've seen defensively at those three positions combined.

But a good manager limits him to no more than 150 AB/season.

And I listen, to the voice inside my head...nothing, I'll do this one myself. "State of Love and Trust"

by ohiobobcat on Mar 6, 2007 7:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Come on

"Michael B"??? You have to know that he thinks Freel and Castro have more saavy than EE.

just....wow.

by sidnancy on Mar 6, 2007 8:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Points for trying Jerry

...but even your emails smell like Skoal.

by manhands on Mar 6, 2007 9:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

and how did sheldon respond to the EdE comment?

i hope the word "nitwit" was included in there somewhere.

and that's sweet, jinaz, congrats!

Still haven't found what I'm looking for.

by Daedalus on Mar 6, 2007 9:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

"Without a doubt, yes. Encarnacion can be a good middle of the order hitter and key run producer. He frequently works counts and can get on base. That's pretty good for someone who is all of 24 and still developing at the big league level. Obviously, Encarnacion's defense hadn't caught up yet. His throws were all over the place last year, and the 25 errors didn't help. But he worked hard and seemed to be getting better by the late season. He is expected to improve some more by playing with guys like Castro, Alex Gonzalez and Brandon Phillips."

Don't mind me...just thinking positive and pitching to contact, that's all...

by Paul Householder on Mar 6, 2007 10:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sheldon only answers stupid questions

I have submitted dozens of reasonably intelligent questions and never received a response in the Mailbag.

So then I also have sent two dumbed down questions and yes, both were answered. One was after Mark transferred from Minnesota, I put something stupid like 'How can the Reds achieve success like the Twins?'

Then when all the hype was over the gyroball Japanese dude, I submitted a question on if the Reds would get him. (clearly no) I disguised myself as a Japanese Reds fan. And I think I used the name of a city on my map as my name.

I don't know if it is Sheldon's policy or MLBs to have the mailbag on a 3rd grade level, but it is sad there is never anything enlightning there. Only substance to help slide through the winter. Funny thing is when Sheldon does post an intelligent question, he usually dumbs it down with his answer.

by rose2hall on Mar 6, 2007 12:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

10/23/06 here's one of them

Will the Reds try to sign Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Seibu Lions? He pitches with much poise and determination, adding him could stabilize the rotation.
-- Kohei L., Fukui, Japan

The latest sensation from Japan, Matsuzaka wowed everyone during the World Baseball Classic and could potentially be on the market soon. If the Reds want in on the bidding, they better be prepared to open the wallet, the safe and the mint. Interested teams will have to offer the highest bid just for the negotiating rights to the right-hander, and that should be in the eight-figure range before they even get to talking salary and contract, obviously for several million additional dollars. Guess who that usually favors? Think Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and Dodgers among the large markets. Then there are the Seattle Mariners, who have Japanese ownership, a large Japanese-American community and have already imported several Japanese stars -- namely Ichiro Suzuki.

by rose2hall on Mar 6, 2007 12:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Kohei sez:

I'm disrespectful to dirt! Can you see I am serious! Get out of my way, all of you! This is no place for loafers. Join me or die. Can you do any less?

For lucky best wash, use Mr. Sparkle.

by Brendanukkah on Mar 6, 2007 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Here's one 12/19/05

You covered the Twins, a small-market team that was fairly successful. What can the Reds learn from the Twins and other successful small-market teams?
-- Rob H., Nashville, Tenn.

Many other small- and mid-market teams have copied the Twins' blueprint lately and have started to show signs of success, too. During some really bleak years for Minnesota in the late 1990s, the organization realized it couldn't prevail in a spending war with teams from larger markets. Instead, it devoted its focus and resources to scouting and development and held firm (despite complaints from fans and media) in not dealing prospects for established talent meant to win right away. That commitment to scouting also yielded trades for other organization's younger players in exchange for high-priced and low-production veterans.

There's also been continuity in the front office and coaching staff. General manager Terry Ryan has held his post since 1994, and most of his inner circle has been around as long or longer. The club has also had only two field managers in 20 years, including Tom Kelly for 15 of those years. Most of the players came up in the system together, learning an approach to the game that places on emphasis on details and doing the little things right.

Finally, there was a strong focus on winning through pitching, defense and small-ball offense. The Twins don't have all answers, though. They were rewarded with three straight American League Central division championships from 2002-04, but their approach isn't foolproof. They still haven't figured out how to get to the next level, and they missed the playoffs altogether in 2005.

Did you notice he didn't even answer the question? Even fails to mention Cincinnati or the Reds in the answer.

by rose2hall on Mar 6, 2007 12:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs