Let's dissect the Reds and their problems. From Offensive, to Defensive, salary and talent. How many could play/start for other competitive MLB teams.

Here is a link, for Offensive and Pitching stats, as compared to other MLB teams. It surprised me, to see how many K's the Reds pitching staff has. The woeful offensive stats, are bad and so is the overall pitching.

 

Only 3 teams, with a worse batting average.

Only 4 teams, allowed more hits than the Reds pitching.

 

MLB Team Stats

 

Pitching - They have made some good acquisitions and will get better, but still have problems.

Leadoff - No one, that can assume this role and get the job done, on a consistent basis.

Catcher - Offensively, they are woeful. Defensively, I say average.

CF - Who is the answer

3B - Is E5, the answer for making the Reds competitive.

Votto, Bruce and Phillips - I like and are a solid group, to build a program around.

Keppinger - What are your thoughts.

Pitching - Who stays, who goes.

 

Let's break it down....

Their OPS is not high enough. OBP is middle of the pack but their SLG% is way too low.

 

I'm in the camp that the most important offensive stat in determining a team's ability to score runs is OPS.

If I was the Reds, I would ...

 

1. Replace Dusty Baker. The guy simply isn't a good manager, for reasons well documented. I suspect Walt Jocketty will make a change and he should be allowed to hire a manager who he works well with, as he did in St. Louis.

 

2. Revamp the lineup. Votto, Phillips and Encarnacion are back at their spots, with Bruce moving to right field. Votto has had a decent rookie year, but he needs to develop further with the bat to be an upper-half-of-the-league first baseman. A move to left field, if he could handle the position, might help.

 

Phillips needs to be in a role where he isn't counted on as the primary RBI guy. Encarnacion either has to upgrade his bat or get better in the field. A move in either direction would make him a pretty solid player.

 

Shortstop ... Keppinger isn't the answer. He's a utility player, nothing more. Alex Gonzalez is still under contract for another year, but no one knows what his situation is.

 

Outfield ... I wouldn't mind re-signing Adam Dunn, but only to a two-year or three-year deal in the $10-12M per range. I don't think he's a player that will age well, a la Travis Hafner. Otherwise, let him sign elsewhere and take the draft picks.

 

I think the Reds need to stress defense at shortstop and centerfield to help the young pitching staff continue to develop. Behind the plate, I would keep either Bako or Ross as a backup and hope to find a starter that will help out with the bat.

 

Pitching staff ... Volquez and Cueto are clearly keepers. The Reds are stuck with the contracts for Arroyo and Harang, given their recent struggles. It would be nice to have a decent lefty in the rotation.

 

Bullpen ... Cordero's contract is an albatross. Burton has a chance to be very good, and Bray is a useful lefty.

 

Biggest offseason needs:

 

1. Leadoff hitter

2. Center fielder

3. Catcher

4. Pitching, pitching, pitching

I too like some of their young guys (Votto, Bruce, Volquez, Cueto). And Phillips has become very solid and reliable. Beyond that give me Bench, Perez, Rose, Morgan, and Concepcion. :thumb:

E5 is not the answer at 3rd.

Votto, Phillips, Bruce, Dunn are guys to keep.

Like the starters IF Harang comes back healthy.

Bullpen will need some additions when you lose some pitchers this offseason. I would try and keep Lincoln.

Need a SS with Keppinger moving to 3rd.

Need a CF and a C.

Majorly need a person to set the table and get on base and another strong run producer.

E5 is not the answer at 3rd.

Votto, Phillips, Bruce, Dunn are guys to keep.

Like the starters IF Harang comes back healthy.

Bullpen will need some additions when you lose some pitchers this offseason. I would try and keep Lincoln.

Need a SS with Keppinger moving to 3rd.

Need a CF and a C.

Majorly need a person to set the table and get on base and another strong run producer.

Encarnacion is much closer to being the answer at third than Keppinger.

On a serious note: Dusty Baker was a very bad move and the wrong way for this team to try to turn the corner. He is woefully overpaid (and no, Dusty, I am not being racist - you are just not worth your salary)

 

I would trade Dunn as I think his best years are behind him, at least from a return-on-investment standpoint. His future production will not live up to his next contract. But with Junior gone, he will put some fans in the stands.

 

Build around Volquez, Cueto, and Harang (who I think will come back huge next season). Arroyo is fine for the rotation also - he is a great ambassador for the team and except for his one implosion per month his is an above .500 pitcher.

 

If Dunn could be traded for a light hitting solid defensive shortstop and a pitching prospect then take it. The Reds have plenty of guys on the DL & in the minors who can patrol the outfield next season and are way better than Dunn defensively.

CF that hits for average and speed and address the defensive side of the ball at the corners of the infield. It's time to get a decent catcher in here as well.

Very good comments and Westsider, is point on in my opinion. SF and HT, are seeing some of the same things.

 

Wouldn't a team, also build their own team around a true leader. Do the Reds have a true leader now, both on and off the field?

 

If Dunn could be traded for a light hitting solid defensive shortstop and a pitching prospect then take it. The Reds have plenty of guys on the DL & in the minors who can patrol the outfield next season and are way better than Dunn defensively.

 

Who?

As much as I like E-5 I don't see them winning a ton of game with him and Votto at the corners. They are a brutal combination.

I think the Reds could actually be 1 and 1 good starting pitcher away from having a really good starting rotation. Harrang is proven, if he can get back to form and have a guy like Arrojo as your 5th starter they could really have a great rotation. With Griffey gone that frees up some money to go get someone.

They need a power right handed bat as well. I almost forgot about that. Thats what juniors money needs to be spent on.

No way the big man lets Walt J fire Dusty.

I'll go position by position and give my opinion.

 

C - They clearly need someone better than what's on the roster. I'd like to see what Ryan Hanigan. He's batting .311 in AAA and is very solid behind the plate.

 

1B - Votto needs to improve his defense drastically, but I like what i've seen at the plate from him.

 

2B - Brandon Phillips is one of the best 2B in the league. I think he does need to improve his eye at the plate.

 

SS - I do not think Keppinger is the long term answer here anymore.

 

3B - I really like Edwin. I still think he's improving and he will only get better. I think he will become one of the better 3B in the league within 3 years.

 

LF - Adam Dunn, IMO, is in the upper portion of hitters in MLB. I don't know what the Reds will do, but I think they should resign him.

 

CF - This is a big question mark for Cincinnati right now. Simple as that.

 

RF - Jay Bruce will be fine. He was the number 1 prospect for a reason.

 

SP - This group of starters has the most potential of any Reds team in a long time. Harang, Volquez, Cueto, Thompson, Arroyo, Maloney, Bailey. Thats a pretty good group to chose from.

 

RP - I think Cordero, Burton, Bray, Lincoln, Affeldt, Majewski is a solid group of bullpen guys. I'm sure there could be an upgrade here or there but pretty solid overall.