Then you're probably left hoping that Heisey can kick start the offense. Given the fact that Mesoraco seems to be doing better handling pitchers this season I would give himaa month as the regular catcher and see if he flashes some of that middle of the order potential that he has. For what it is worth I would trade Cingrani and Hamilton in a minute. You only get so many chances to win World Series. Cingrani and Hamilton have some serious flaws in their games. With Stanton the offense would be set. I'm watching the Pirates postgame show. They are very interested in Stanton as well.

 

You make a pretty good argument but I don't think this current model of business is sustainable for the future of the Reds.

Then you're probably left hoping that Heisey can kick start the offense. Given the fact that Mesoraco seems to be doing better handling pitchers this season I would give himaa month as the regular catcher and see if he flashes some of that middle of the order potential that he has. For what it is worth I would trade Cingrani and Hamilton in a minute. You only get so many chances to win World Series. Cingrani and Hamilton have some serious flaws in their games. With Stanton the offense would be set. I'm watching the Pirates postgame show. They are very interested in Stanton as well.

 

Agreed. While I think Hamilton will be a solid player, I don't see him ever being a team's top 2-3 player. He's the kind of guy that could be great if surrounded by a bunch of other talent, but it's not at all a guarantee. Everyone keeps saying that Cingrani needs to develop another pitch, but what if he can't? He can try, but if he's not successful at it, I can't see him being more than a middle reliever or low-end of the rotation guy in the end.

 

Stanton is about as close to a guaranteed (if healthy) 40 HRs there is in baseball...Dude would make that lineup deadly.

Then you're probably left hoping that Heisey can kick start the offense. Given the fact that Mesoraco seems to be doing better handling pitchers this season I would give himaa month as the regular catcher and see if he flashes some of that middle of the order potential that he has. For what it is worth I would trade Cingrani and Hamilton in a minute. You only get so many chances to win World Series. Cingrani and Hamilton have some serious flaws in their games. With Stanton the offense would be set. I'm watching the Pirates postgame show. They are very interested in Stanton as well.

 

 

If the Reds had any pitching depth at all it would make it easier to make that deal, but all of their top pitching prospects are at the lower levels. The Reds traded away a promising young LH last year, and we see how he's pitching now for the Cubs. I'm sure the Reds will allow Arroyo to walk at the end of the year given the year he's having, and the money he will command. The Reds simply can't afford to trade away another very promising young LH at this point.

If the Reds had any pitching depth at all it would make it easier to make that deal, but all of their top pitching prospects are at the lower levels. The Reds traded away a promising young LH last year, and we see how he's pitching now for the Cubs. I'm sure the Reds will allow Arroyo to walk at the end of the year given the year he's having, and the money he will command. The Reds simply can't afford to trade away another very promising young LH at this point.

 

Here's why I say you do it, regardless. Say Hamilton turns into the next Vince Coleman (he was pretty darn good, right?) and Cingrani develops another pitch and becomes a Cole Hamels/Cliff Lee type. That may be 3-4 years down the road. Stanton comes in, and in that 3-4 years it takes those two to develop, the Reds win a WS title....Worth it, right?

 

Say they don't develop, or only one of them does, and it gets the Reds to a WS, but they fall short of winning, still worth it? I say yes.

 

Of course, the losing situation is those two turn into studs, and Stanton becomes an injury machine and it's a total nightmare, but of the three scenarios, I'd say that one is without question, the least likely.

Here's why I say you do it, regardless. Say Hamilton turns into the next Vince Coleman (he was pretty darn good, right?) and Cingrani develops another pitch and becomes a Cole Hamels/Cliff Lee type. That may be 3-4 years down the road. Stanton comes in, and in that 3-4 years it takes those two to develop, the Reds win a WS title....Worth it, right?

 

Say they don't develop, or only one of them does, and it gets the Reds to a WS, but they fall short of winning, still worth it? I say yes.

 

Of course, the losing situation is those two turn into studs, and Stanton becomes an injury machine and it's a total nightmare, but of the three scenarios, I'd say that one is without question, the least likely.

 

 

I still say the Reds have a chance to win the World Series without Stanton. I don't trade away a young pitching prospect, a lefty at that, when there is no pitching depth for the next couple years. If Arroyo walks, and then you have only 1 injury to any of the other rotation guys we're back to the days of filling the rotation with the likes of Steve Paris , Jimmy Anderson, Jose Acevedo.

I still say the Reds have a chance to win the World Series without Stanton. I don't trade away a young pitching prospect, a lefty at that, when there is no pitching depth for the next couple years. If Arroyo walks, and then you have only 1 injury to any of the other rotation guys we're back to the days of filling the rotation with the likes of Steve Paris , Jimmy Anderson, Jose Acevedo.

 

They don't have the offense to win it as currently constructed.

 

They don't have the offense to win it as currently constructed.

 

I disagree. Now the offense needs to be more productive, and I believe it will, especially when Ludwick returns, but pitching wins you championships.

I disagree. Now the offense needs to be more productive, and I believe it will, especially when Ludwick returns, but pitching wins you championships.

 

Maybe, if Ludwick even returns this year. He said a couple weeks ago it'd be at least mid-August before he could start baseball activity.

 

Maybe, if Ludwick even returns this year. He said a couple weeks ago it'd be at least mid-August before he could start baseball activity.

 

Unless I misread the target return date was arond the 1st of August.

Unless I misread the target return date was arond the 1st of August.

 

I had thought I read (and maybe I misunderstood) that Dusty said he hoped it was August, but that Ludwick had said he wouldn't be able to start baseball activity at all until then.

 

Either way, are you willing to pin your postseason hopes on a guys shoulders who has had all of 2 PA's all season?

I had thought I read (and maybe I misunderstood) that Dusty said he hoped it was August, but that Ludwick had said he wouldn't be able to start baseball activity at all until then.

 

Either way, are you willing to pin your postseason hopes on a guys shoulders who has had all of 2 PA's all season?

 

 

No my post season hopes are on the 5 arms they run out there every week.

No my post season hopes are on the 5 arms they run out there every week.

 

Doesn't matter how good they pitch, if they can't score.

Doesn't matter how good they pitch, if they can't score.

 

 

Doesn't matter how many they score if they can't pitch. Just ask the Rangers.

Doesn't matter how many they score if they can't pitch. Just ask the Rangers.

 

Right, but they have the starting pitching already. They don't have the offense.

 

Come postseason, they'll go to a 3 man rotation, maybe 4. Either way, one of their starters is going to be a key cog out of the bullpen, and we have to assume Marshall will be back. They'll have plenty of pitching, same can't be said of the offense.

Right, but they have the starting pitching already. They don't have the offense.

 

Come postseason, they'll go to a 3 man rotation, maybe 4. Either way, one of their starters is going to be a key cog out of the bullpen, and we have to assume Marshall will be back. They'll have plenty of pitching, same can't be said of the offense.

 

 

I would be more than comfortable with the Reds offense with Ludwick in the lineup.