05 wasn't that great either. Almost a 4 era. His mechanics had been dwindling since Peterson had been gone. I'm saying he didn't deserve that contract for the stats he has put up over the last couple of years.

 

The goal in MLB is to score 4 runs. If you don't give up four runs, you win those games. Seems pretty simple to me. If a guy doesn't allow teams to score 4 runs a game...pay him a lot and win more games. IMO win/loss record is meaningless.

I am shocked at the move to the Giants. Just shows you that most of these players go where there is more money than the chance to win a world series ring. I know that these players want to set up their families for the rest of their lives but a few extra million does always buy happiness.

He's not worth that much.

He's not worth that much.

You don't think he's 63% better than Gil Meche?

What is up with the rapid inflation in pitching premiums?

The more and more the baseball offseason moves on, the more and more it looks less like the Reds will win 75 games this season.

The more and more the baseball offseason moves on, the more and more it looks less like the Reds will win 75 games this season.

Because they didn't overspend and set the franchise back another few years? Good...

Because they didn't overspend and set the franchise back another few years? Good...

Because they can't afford to get the players they need to be competitive. Same end result as your post but different way of getting there. More and more it is become increasingly harder for teams like the Reds to truly compete.

 

If I remember correctly, Steinbrenner paid close to the same amount in luxury tax as the Reds payroll was this season. At least within 10 million of each other.

 

The Reds are to the point they have to rely on Krivisky making ALL the right moves and the players having career years to have a chance at the playoffs. They have done little to nothing to improve their pitching performance or an offense that disappeared at times over the season. Crucial times.

Because they can't afford to get the players they need to be competitive. Same end result as your post but different way of getting there. More and more it is become increasingly harder for teams like the Reds to truly compete.

 

If I remember correctly, Steinbrenner paid close to the same amount in luxury tax as the Reds payroll was this season. At least within 10 million of each other.

 

The Reds are to the point they have to rely on Krivisky making ALL the right moves and the players having career years to have a chance at the playoffs. They have done little to nothing to improve their pitching performance or an offense that disappeared at times over the season. Crucial times.

Who would you have overpaid to make that happen???

Who would you have overpaid to make that happen???

I think either A)you are missing my point or B)you are missing my point. The system is getting more and more to where the small teams have to be perfect in ALL of their moves.

 

Yes, the Reds would have had to overpay to get Zito. Would he have made their team better and a possible pennant contender? Yes, but they could not afford to do it and was smart in not.

 

So now they have to rely on Milton having a career year, Arroyo doing better than last year, Loshe having a career year and whatever they put in the 5th spot having a good year, not to mention what in the world is going to happen in the bullpen.

 

Any obvious answers they cannot afford to do. They have to hope that their moves on the 2nd/3rd/4th level play out. Reminds me of the moves of Leatherpants.

 

Have they made any move this offseason that makes you feel comfortable with them challenging the Cardinals next year?

The best move I think they could have made is to stay out of this mess. Stanton is solid in the pen, and can pick up where Mercker left off working with the young arms. Conine is a good bench righty that can play three positions and should see his numbers improve from playing in the AL East for a majority of last year. Closer is still a concern, but there wasn't much that could be done about that this off season. The infield is very solid defensively, and that can only help the pitching. Outfield D is a big concern, but there isn't much they can do there with Junior and Dunn on the roster. LaRue is gone, so that helps. They have four solid MLB starters, and a hole at #5. That's an issue for most teams at this point. I don't think there were many answers out there this season, and I'm glad they realized that before the opened the vault. The cavalry is a year closer to being ready...

The best move I think they could have made is to stay out of this mess. Stanton is solid in the pen, and can pick up where Mercker left off working with the young arms. Conine is a good bench righty that can play three positions and should see his numbers improve from playing in the AL East for a majority of last year. Closer is still a concern, but there wasn't much that could be done about that this off season. The infield is very solid defensively, and that can only help the pitching. Outfield D is a big concern, but there isn't much they can do there with Junior and Dunn on the roster. LaRue is gone, so that helps. They have four solid MLB starters, and a hole at #5. That's an issue for most teams at this point. I don't think there were many answers out there this season, and I'm glad they realized that before the opened the vault. The cavalry is a year closer to being ready...

I agree with what you say, but in improving the defense, the offense that went through major and crucial struggles got worse instead of better.

 

Mercker wasn't solid in the bp and Stanton as you say is a pickup and continuation of him.

 

Closer is a huge, huge hole and as you indicated nothing out there for them without morgaging the future or overpaying.

 

While I agree, not sure that many on here will say that Milton is a "solid MLB starter" and wasn't Loshe pretty much dropped by the Twins?

 

There will be MAJOR pressure on them to not way on HO...the calvary for another year.