Reds Preview at Bucs Dugout

by Charlie on Mar 2, 2008 3:56 PM EST Comment 17 comments

Hey Reds fans,

My name's Charlie and I run Bucs Dugout, the SBN site about the Pittsburgh Pirates. I'm doing previews of each NL Central team and I thought you might be interested in checking out my preview of the Reds.

I'm sure I don't know a tenth of what you do about the team, but it can still be interesting to get an outsider's perspective, and I'd appreciate your feedback. Please let me know if I made any mistakes or have any misconceptions.

Cheers, and have a good season.

Charlie

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impressive Charlie

The bit of info I saw missing was the high probability of young ace Johnny Cueto joining the Reds mid-season. Also I was surprised you realized Encarnacion is poised to break out.

One note: you brought up Krivsky's tendency to bring in small-ball guys to fill his bench. That is not a problem, the main problem is that Dusty insists on starting these guys. So be prepared in Pittsburgh for Norris Hopper and his sneaky drag bunts to litter PNC's infield.

Montana. It's everything Colorado thinks it is.

by jacob brumfield on Mar 2, 2008 4:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, Jacob.

Haven't seen you in, what, 12 years? You're right about Cueto. The post is updated to include a mention. Unfortunately, you're also right to worry about Hopper and Freel and Castro all winding up in the starting lineup somehow.

I feel like I have been waiting forever for Encarnacion to break out. This is the year!

by Charlie on Mar 2, 2008 4:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it will be 12 years this spring.

I enjoyed my time with the Bucs, but my loyalty stands where I made my debut.

Main reason I wanted you to include Cueto is that the rumblings from some scouts project him higher than Bailey or Volquez. His only knock being that he falls below the six foot line.

Montana. It's everything Colorado thinks it is.

by jacob brumfield on Mar 2, 2008 4:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

why don't you think

Jared Burton will do well this year? He's a stud!

I agree Weathers will probably drop of some, if for no other reason than he lost the closer's job, even though he did nothing wrong (in his mind).

I also have high hopes for Coffey to bounce back in a big way. And Roenicke may open your eyes before the season is half over.

Reds fan for 40 years!

by gejoe on Mar 2, 2008 6:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

nice

"God help the Reds if Juan Castro wins the job instead."

Amen.

Best non-Reds fan preview of the Reds I've ever read.

2008 NL Central Champs!

by Daedalus on Mar 2, 2008 7:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Charlie

And good luck to you guys too. I mean, I don't want you to win, but hopefully your boys will have a competitive season here soon. If any group of fans deserves it, it's you guys.

Don't talk back to Darth Vader or he'll getcha!

by Slyde on Mar 2, 2008 7:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think that from time to time

Then I remember most of them are probably Steelers fans. Eww.

by Red Menace on Mar 2, 2008 9:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It is unfortunately reassuring that

Charlie's take on Dusty Baker is in line with the RR faithful's view. With all the emerging talent that the Red have for '08, Drainopants (AKA Dustbag) seems to be one of the worst choices possible to manage them.

Excellent preview.
thanks for taking the time to share it.

Core dude - Dustbag's core is not the core that is the core.

by Madville on Mar 2, 2008 9:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bucs Dugout

Nice summary of our team. There's no way I could do anything like that for your team.

I had my youngest son at Duquesne (in Pitts., for those of you who don't know) today for an open house. During one of the presentations, they were discussing "fringe benefits" of attending the school. First, they showed a Steelers' helmet, and stated that probably everyone was familiar with the team. Then they showed a Peguin, and said they had an exciting NHL hockey team. And then they showed an empty PNC Park, and said, after a lengthy pause, "Well, we can always hope." There was quite a chuckle from the crowd.

Reds fan for 40 years!

by gejoe on Mar 2, 2008 10:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Geez.

When even Duquesne University is making fun of the Pirates, they've clearly got a problem.

Thanks for the kind words and comments, all.

by Charlie on Mar 3, 2008 12:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Juan Castro will have a break out year

he will hit .271 1HR and 10RBI with 3Es!!!

Those projections are coming from the heart btw...not logic

I Misremember lots of things

by Zach K on Mar 3, 2008 8:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well done

I have slightly higher hopes for the bullpen this year, but I'd say otherwise you nailed it.

Bruce Bonser? Boone Bonser? Boot Bonser?BOOSE BONZER?

by Lakeman on Mar 3, 2008 1:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nice work.

Well-researched and generally reasonable.

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Mar 3, 2008 11:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Much more so than the Reds Brain Trust

Core dude - Dustbag's core is not the core that is the core.

by Madville on Mar 4, 2008 9:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

That may be the most informed, objective, and balanced review of the Reds chances this year that I've read so far from a non-Reds source. Good work.

by ctnyc on Mar 4, 2008 8:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Loved

the picture of Dunn bunting. A riot and quite apt as a Krivsky/Sweatband reference.

Where have you gone Alex Trevino?

by Pops Daniels on Mar 5, 2008 3:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

this is terrific

i would echo questions about the bullpen; i think with the additions of cordero and (hopefully) fogg, the roles of burton, weathers and bray will be considerably easier. that leaves only 2 or three other guys, and todd coffey is likely to have a much better season this year. Add the potential of seeing Josh Roenicke or johnny cueto in the pen, and i think it could actually be a strength for us.

also, i think edwin has finally secured his role at third base (keppinger didnt take much of his pt after edwin was called up last season), so i doubt highly kepp will start much at third if he rakes and gonzalez comes back. more likely, he'll platoon at first and rest each of the other infielders on occasion, playing 4 or 5 games a week.

overall it's really excellent analysis. thanks for it.

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples. - Brendan's ukkah

by boobs on Mar 6, 2008 9:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs