In Dusty's 5th season the team is off to another lackluster start sitting at 3-4 and scoring 21 runs in 7 games. The pitching staff has been unable to go past 6 innings but once and pitchers just don't seem ready. In the 4 years prior to this year they have been nothing better than a mediocre team at best. In 2008 they were 9-12 in April and finished 74-88. In 2009 they were 11-10 in April and finished 78-84. In 2010 they finally made the playoffs and finished 91-71 after starting 12-11 and last year they started 14-13 and finished 79-83. This leads me to wonder are they just not ready to start the season when they leave spring training? In this the 5th season under the "toothpick" we are seeing the same old thing. Pitchers run the pitch counts up and can't go beyond 5 or 6 innings, hitters looked over matched and the bullpen gets overworked. Can we throw the blame on Dusty and the staff for these slow starts? This is a contract year for old Johnnie B. and I just don't think he is the man for the job. What's your thoughts?

I thought they looked awful in Spring Training, I love my Reds but I've not really been looking forward to this season. Hopefully they can turn it around but early on they're just not looking good at all.

Have never been a fan of Dusty Baker managing the Reds.

The Lizard needs to go !!! Kept that awful Alfredo whatever his name is who was released by the Orioles and sent down Todd Frazier who hit over 300 and had 15 RBI's in the spring. Idiots

I'm not a big Dusty fan at all. However I think the problem is without any additions they will be below average offensively at 3B, LF, CF, and C. Cozart looks good at short but will he produce average or above average offensively for the position? He's awfully young to count on to keep this up. BP being hurt or if Bruce or Votto miss any significant time they will struggle because they have 3 out of 8 better than average to great players for their positions in the league.

^I agree. I also wonder when they're going to throw in the towel on the "Drew Stubbs Experiement". Guy just isn't an everyday MLB caliber hitter.

Stubbs' defense in CF makes him valuable ... if the Reds are going to land another big bat, it needs to be LF or 3B.

Stubbs' defense in CF makes him valuable ... if the Reds are going to land another big bat, it needs to be LF or 3B.

 

Shockingly, I disagree. :lol: Stubbs gets terrible breaks on most balls. He's able to make up for it with his speed, but I'd be very hesitant to say his defense is anything more than adequate.

Shockingly, I disagree. :lol: Stubbs gets terrible breaks on most balls. He's able to make up for it with his speed, but I'd be very hesitant to say his defense is anything more than adequate.

Again, though, if you're going to get more offense, it has to come from LF or 3B.

I had always held out hope we would somehow have Davey Johnson back in the dugout for the Reds. Instead, we get the washed up veteran loving, poor bullpen managing toothpick muncher.

Shockingly, I disagree. :lol: Stubbs gets terrible breaks on most balls. He's able to make up for it with his speed, but I'd be very hesitant to say his defense is anything more than adequate.

 

Marty frequently talks about how Stubbs gets great jumps on balls. I have heard others say it as well. Sorry but I would take the HOFer's word over yours. He has been calling baseball longer than we have been alive.

Marty frequently talks about how Stubbs gets great jumps on balls. I have heard others say it as well. Sorry but I would take the HOFer's word over yours. He has been calling baseball longer than we have been alive.

 

:lol: That's fine. He wears glasses for a reason though.

The Lizard needs to go !!! Kept that awful Alfredo whatever his name is who was released by the Orioles and sent down Todd Frazier who hit over 300 and had 15 RBI's in the spring. Idiots[/quote

 

In fairness Frazier isn't exactly cleaning it up down on the farm. The only thing I will blame on Baker and this may not even be his fault, is the fact that Chapman is being wasted in the 8th inning role. The way he is pitching along with the way the rest of the staff isn't he needs to be starting.

^I agree. I also wonder when they're going to throw in the towel on the "Drew Stubbs Experiement". Guy just isn't an everyday MLB caliber hitter.

 

Of his 4 hits I think 2 have been bunts which is an improvement but now he can't hit the ball hard. No extra base hits and zero steals. He's frustrating.

Bigger issue with Stubbs is this....who replaces him?