It's that time again. The members of the Reds blogosphere got together a few days ago and had a chat concerning the Reds offseason and what we have to look forward to in 2006.
The participants:
The Big Red Mechanic
Cincinnati Reds blog
The Cutting Edge
Red Hot Mama
Reds (and Blues)
We Heart the Reds
And the previous parts of the chat (make sure to read these first, or the flow of things won't really make a ton of sense ... actually it might not make a ton of sense even if you read the previous parts, but humor me. Plus these sites deserve the traffic so check them out. And thus ends the longest parenthetical aside in the history of this blog. Hurray!):
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
And now Part 7:
Red Hot Mama: Predictions?
Doc Scott: .500
Shawn: Same here...81-81
Doc Scott: of course, I predicted that last year
JDArney: 63-67 wins
Doc Scott: OW
Doc Scott: dang, JD
Shawn: More realistic
JDArney: I foresee a firesale
Shawn: I'm still a fan
Shawn: Who's to sell?
JDArney: Krivsky is going to want to make this team his own
BRM: Reds surprise a lot of people by coming out of the gate solidly and holding their own. They aren't a juggernaut by they stay in playoff contention until deep into the season.
JDArney: An outfielder
JDArney: Old relievers
Doc Scott: they don't have a prayer against St.
Louis or Houston
Shawn: Griffey?
JDArney: catchers
Shawn: Aurilia?
Doc Scott: or even the Cubs, really
Shawn: LaRue?
Shawn: Not much of a sale
BRM: Edwin Encarnacion will be a rookie of the year candidate.
Shawn: The Cubs are going down fast
Doc Scott: Milwaukee will be a contender
Shawn: Encarnacion is not eligible for Rookie honors
Doc Scott: EE isn't going to be eligible, yeah
Doc Scott: too many ABs
BRM: Everyone is talking about Milwaukee. I don't see it, sorry.
Shawn: Milwaukee is a year or two away from being good
BRM: They even lost Overbay who was great for em
Doc Scott: that was a great trade
Shawn: It will take a year or two for Weeks and Fielder to get going
BRM: EE is eligible!
Shawn: They will be really good in 2008
Doc Scott: they got some pitching for him, and they have Prince Fielder about to become the new Albert Belle
JDArney: Maybe not much of a sale, but it'll still cause a few more losses
Doc Scott: Fielder's ready
BRM: Are you sure about EE not being eligible?
JDArney: And I think this is a 75 win team at best, combine that with a fire sale and you have my prediction
BRM: he played less than half a season!
JDArney: And I think Milwaukee could win the division
BRM: Milwaukee...LOL
BRM: Sheets isn't even throwing yet...and is a major question mark
Shawn: Encarnacion had 211 AB last year. 102 is the limit for Rookie consideration
BRM: ok didnt know that, Shawn..thanks for the info.
Doc Scott: they were .500 last year without Sheets
JDArney: Milwaukee was a .500 team last year
BRM: Its between the Cubs, Cards, and Stros... but I dont think anyone will run away with it like last year.
JDArney: I don't see how its out of the question to get 7-10 games better with the youth that they have
Shawn: Sheets was 10-9 last year
Shawn: Cardinals and Astros on top.
Shawn: Pittsburgh will surprise
JDArney: The Astros are done
Shawn: We could easily finish last
JDArney: Unless Clemens comes back
JDArney: And even if he does it wont be till May
Shawn: Keeps his arm fresh
Shawn: He'll need the break after the World Cup, or whatever it's called
JDArney: My finish: 1) Milwaukee 2) St. Louis 3) Chicago 4) Houston 5) Pittsburgh 6) Cincinnati
Red Hot Mama: Come on guys. Where's your romantic sides? You don't dream that our new ownership can usher in an era of winning this very year?
Doc Scott: I still think we'll beat Pittsburgh
Shawn: Switch Milwaukee to 4th, and you have my prediction
JDArney: I'm willing to give them a year or two
BRM: My money would be on the Cubs, but I am still hoping like hell the Reds pull off a miracle.
Shawn: I still believe in miracles
Doc Scott: and the 3-6 teams won't be separated by a large amount, maybe 6-8 games total
Red Hot Mama: Good for you!