Track The Reds: Offseason Edition

[SSC]

No. 3 hitter with his skills needs to drive in more than 73. Joey's "I'll always take a walk" attitude works when the No. 4 guy is hitting, but doesn't work when Brandon Phillips drives in just two or three runs the entire month of September. Dusty should have batted Votto second the second half of the season. Why not? Carlos Beltran batted second much of the season for Cards.

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a walk in any situation. Votto already K's a ton and people want him to swing at more pitches? Makes no sense. If they can get two high OBP guys to hit in front of him before next year great if not hit him 2nd and Bruce 4th. Not that difficult.

[LOOGY]

Joey could be a triple crown winner if he wasn't so dang patient. When a guy like Choo is infront of you, you should have more than 70 RBI. Ted Williams approach worked great because he was in an era when their top pitchers would be average today. Ted would see 2 or 3 pitches an at bat that he could hit. Now it's only 1 or 2. Joey missed those pitches a lot this season, he definitely needs to retool the approach.

[LOOGY]

1) Figure Votto out. I think there is still something wrong with the knee which makes him uncomfortable rotating with the backside and driving a pitch. Could explain the change in philosophy.

 

He's always been that way. The difference is that maybe the injury hurt his swing and he's missing pitches he's hit in the past

[Randy Parker]

Votto is a great hitter, but I've been saying (along with others) that he should be batting 2nd.

[stickymitts]

From LRCW: BP and Chapman for Jose Bautista.

 

My reply: Bautista would hit 100 HR's at GABP.

[nkuclubbaseball19]

He's always been that way. The difference is that maybe the injury hurt his swing and he's missing pitches he's hit in the past

 

His walks (non-intentional) are higher than ever. So are his strikeouts.

 

His doubles are the lowest they've been since he made the bigs full time. So are his homeruns (not counting 2012 when he missed due to the knee).

 

I always remember in the past he would jump on a first pitch and drive it into a gap somewhere. It seems this year he would take that first pitch more times than not (I don't know where to find stats for this). Every time he is hitting it seems like its 2 strikes. Never was that way in the past.

[SSC]

I like Choo and what he gave them but I wouldn't come close to giving him what he will want. Hamilton has to play center next year.

[malachicrunch]

I like Choo and what he gave them but I wouldn't come close to giving him what he will want. Hamilton has to play center next year.

 

Awful risky, unless they do something in LF.

[Twotoplace]

1) Figure Votto out. I think there is still something wrong with the knee which makes him uncomfortable rotating with the backside and driving a pitch.

I agree. Votto's problem might indeed be physical. When he came back from the injury last year, there certainly was a noticeable decline in his extra-base-hit production.

[UKMustangFan]

From LRCW: BP and Chapman for Jose Bautista.

 

My reply: Bautista would hit 100 HR's at GABP.

 

I would offer to drive them both in a heartbeat.

[UKMustangFan]

The first call I'd make is to Miami. Ask them what, in addition to Chapman, it'll take to get Stanton, and then make it happen.

 

 

You'd have:

 

CF Hamilton

1B Votto

LF Stanton

RF Bruce

2B Phillips

3B Frazier

SS Cozart

C Mesoraco

 

And the staff would be intact with:

 

Latos

Bailey

Leake

Cingrani

Cueto

[LOOGY]

^ trade BP, Chapman, and a prospect for Stanton. Sign Omar Infante in the off season.

 

Hamilton

Infante

Votto

Stanton

Bruce

Frazier

Cozart

Mesoraco

[8th Region Warrior]

I agree. Votto's problem might indeed be physical. When he came back from the injury last year, there certainly was a noticeable decline in his extra-base-hit production.

 

1. Chapman, Cingranni, Latos, Cueto, Bailey/Leake have to be your starters next season, we pay Chapman starter money and it is why we signed him. When he is off 3 days in a row he was nasty this year. Bailey or Leake has to be traded to get an outfielder or third basemen. Both are young pitchers, I think Bailey has the most trade value. Bailey is a party guy and does not take it serious at all. When he was with Bats they would lie so he could miss starts about stomach flu etc , and he was just hung over from night before.

 

2. We need a winning manager!! Dusty cost the Cubs their only chance because he can not manage pitchers, cost the Giants when he took out a starter who was unhittable and blew 5 run lead, cost the Reds last year. Enough said, it needs to be a Larussa type, who by the way I hate! But when the Cards won it a couple years back, I watched him go visit Carpenter who was getting squeezed by the Umpire and struggling to throw strikes, he never talked to Carpenter, he waited on the ump to break up mound visit and he ripped him in a "nice way", ump completely changed strike zone and Carpenter threw complete game! That's managing!! Great visit by old Dusty last night!

 

3. Brandon and Joey have a hard time liking each other, trust me! Time for BP to go, while we can get something from him.

4. Bat Votto 2nd

5. Arroyo gone, hopefully that will allow you to re-sign Choo and play him in left, Hamilton in CF, use Ludwick against lefties.

 

Without Choo next season they will struggle, so if you dont resign him you better get someone who can hit

[HammerTime]

The first call I'd make is to Miami. Ask them what, in addition to Chapman, it'll take to get Stanton, and then make it happen.

 

 

You'd have:

 

CF Hamilton

1B Votto

LF Stanton

RF Bruce

2B Phillips

3B Frazier

SS Cozart

C Mesoraco

 

And the staff would be intact with:

 

Latos

Bailey

Leake

Cingrani

Cueto

 

 

I like that plan a lot.

[plantmanky]

Because he's the most average player in baseball, makes a boatload of money, doesn't hustle, and has an attitude...

 

Could say the same for his counterpart on that side of the infield.