August 4, 200818 yr Encarnacion is much closer to being the answer at third than Keppinger. Sunday's Enquirer looked at 3B in the ML's and Encarnacion was the worst in the majors if I remember right.
August 4, 200818 yr Pitching - They have made some good acquisitions and will get better, but still have problems. I agree here and will add what everyone knows and that is you can NEVER have enough pitching. Improved...yes, needing more....Yes Leadoff - This imo is a problem area and deinately nees to be addressed. Maybe others have some ideas on this but we need a solid leadoff man and not a revolving door in that slot. Catcher - Offensively= Very bad Defensively= also very bad.....The needs need a solid (good)catcher in the worst way imo. CF - Who is the answer = I don't know but we need a solid CF as well. 3B - Is E5, the answer for making the Reds competitive. = No, I don't think that E5 is the answer Votto, Bruce and Phillips - I like and are a solid group, to build a program around. = I agree, these three are solid baseball players. Bruce needs to stay in RF, imo Keppinger - What are your thoughts. Maybe if not at SS then at 3B, I like Keppinger, can hit for average and seems to be a team guy. Pitching - Who stays, who goes. = Volquez, Queto, Harrang (unless the arm trouble continues). Those three imo stay and I will add that Queto although shows promise and has a good arm, he needs to learn to "pitch" and not just throw. Bailey goes, has a terrible attitude and just has not developed into the pitcher that we thought that he may be. I obviously don't have the answers and on't know who does but the Reds are a BAD baseball team that coud use improvement practically everywhere.
August 4, 200818 yr 1st Base- Votto is the long term answer. HE is improving both with the glove and with the bat. HE has arguably the 2nd best rookie year in the NL behind Soto. 2nd Base- Brandon Phillips. Enough said. Even though I do not think he is a 4 hole hitter. 3rd Base- Edwin is improving. HE has a really good glove, but his arm is the trouble. He has improved his power numbers, he just needs to improve his average a lot. Short Stop- Janish?? Keppinger?? Hairston?? Gonzalez?? None of these are the long term answer. Go after a young talented SS in the offseason or sign a SS with the money saved by getting rid of Griffey. Right Field- Jay Bruce. Center Field- Hopper?? Hairston?? Patterson?? They need to sign a CF in the offseason that can also be a good lead off man. Which means speed and average with patience at the plate, what Hairston has done this year just he can't keep it up going on his career stats. Left Field- I think they need to sign Dunn back. 40+ home runs, 100+ RBIs, 100+ runs, 100+ walks. His average is shaky at best and his defense is ehh, not really all that good. Dunn being Dunn you can say on some of the plays. You can't get that production from anyone in the free agent market, KEEP HIM! Catcher- Bako and Ross are both back up catchers at best. I like Hannigan. But I would sign another in the off season. Pitching- The Rotation of Harang, Volquez, Cueto, Arroyo and ?(Bailey, Fogg, sign a pitcher in the off season) is good. I would replace the question mark with a good young arm or a veteran who will win you 12-15 games. The bull pen of Cordero, Bray, Burton, Lincoln, and Affeldt, and the guy they traded for in the Griffey trade would be a good core. I would add 2 or 3 bull pen pitchers and another starter in the off season. I like the direction the team is heading in with the young players, butthey still have a way to go.
August 4, 200818 yr How far can the Reds payroll budget go? Junior's deal did have a lot of money tied up, but if Cincinnati needs a leadoff hitter; center fielder; shortstop; maybe a third baseman; and a regular catcher; and a pitcher or two, something's gotta' give. Can't fill all of those needs with Junior's money and still re-sign Dunn. Not to say Reds can't cough up more money... And the needs noted in the previous posts are all pretty reaslistic, but that's a lot of holes to fill and I just don't see how the frugal Reds can do it in one off-season (which is great, but they can't lose any games in the off-season) How do the Minnesota Twins do it, seemingly so consistently?:argue:
August 4, 200818 yr Author How far can the Reds payroll budget go? Junior's deal did have a lot of money tied up, but if Cincinnati needs a leadoff hitter; center fielder; shortstop; maybe a third baseman; and a regular catcher; and a pitcher or two, something's gotta' give. Can't fill all of those needs with Junior's money and still re-sign Dunn. Not to say Reds can't cough up more money... And the needs noted in the previous posts are all pretty reaslistic, but that's a lot of holes to fill and I just don't see how the frugal Reds can do it in one off-season (which is great, but they can't lose any games in the off-season) How do the Minnesota Twins do it, seemingly so consistently?:argue: Reds are 74.3 mil and Twins are 62.2 mil. The Reds are 18th, out of 30th on the highest payroll. I've stated it several times, but for the Reds to become competitive again, it's going to take MLB quality pitching. You've just asked the key question, will they and can they afford, to get better players.
August 5, 200818 yr Can someone explain why the Reds are better than 500 against teams with a record over 500,and way under 500 against teams under 500? Edited August 5, 200818 yr by STRIKE3
August 5, 200818 yr The Reds have no leaders. We are good to go at 1rst, 2nd, LF, RF. What do you all think about signing Pudge Rodriguez for 2 yrs. Than our 1rst round pick (Devin Mesoraco) should be close. Pudge would give this team a strong backbone. The next hole would have to be centerfield. Speed and leadoff would be ideal but who is out there? At SS I think Gonzalez will be there next year if healthy. After the last couple of years with his son and his injury he should have a renewed will to play the game. E5 scares me. Keppinger has a lot to prove as far as I'm concerned. As for pitching, when was the last time we had 6 or 7 guys that could break 95 mph ? That is improving and I think Rodriguez would do wonders with Volquez & Cueto. My opinion Cueto is Da Man in 2 or 3 more years. Yes I'm crazy but I see a Cy Young Award in his future !!
August 5, 200818 yr Author Can someone explain why the Reds are better than 500 against teams with a record over 500,and way under 500 against teams under 500?Without looking at the pitching matchups and so on, I would imagine often the Reds may be facing some other teams with #3, #4 and #5 starters. Plain and simple, the Reds #3-#6 and fill-ins, are not very good. As for the over .500, perhaps the match-ups are better. I've not studied who pitched, so if Harang, Arroyo and Volquez are the ones struggling, against under .500 teams, than overlook this post....
August 5, 200818 yr If Dunn leaves via free agency, I wonder if the Reds will look at moving Votto to the outfield and Encarnacion to first base while looking at bringing in a third baseman. There are questions about Votto's defense in left field, but Encarnacion's bat could take off with such a move.
August 5, 200818 yr The Reds have no leaders. We are good to go at 1rst, 2nd, LF, RF. What do you all think about signing Pudge Rodriguez for 2 yrs. Than our 1rst round pick (Devin Mesoraco) should be close. Pudge would give this team a strong backbone. The next hole would have to be centerfield. Speed and leadoff would be ideal but who is out there? At SS I think Gonzalez will be there next year if healthy. After the last couple of years with his son and his injury he should have a renewed will to play the game. E5 scares me. Keppinger has a lot to prove as far as I'm concerned. As for pitching, when was the last time we had 6 or 7 guys that could break 95 mph ? That is improving and I think Rodriguez would do wonders with Volquez & Cueto. My opinion Cueto is Da Man in 2 or 3 more years. Yes I'm crazy but I see a Cy Young Award in his future !! Pudge is considered a liability in the clubhouse by some, and he's clearly on the downside of his career. He's not considered a very good handler of pitchers, although his arm is still very good. It sounds as if he'll stay with the Yankees.
August 5, 200818 yr The Reds have no leaders. We are good to go at 1rst, 2nd, LF, RF. What do you all think about signing Pudge Rodriguez for 2 yrs. Than our 1rst round pick (Devin Mesoraco) should be close. ! The catcher will not be ready by 2011.
August 5, 200818 yr If Dunn leaves via free agency, I wonder if the Reds will look at moving Votto to the outfield and Encarnacion to first base while looking at bringing in a third baseman. There are questions about Votto's defense in left field, but Encarnacion's bat could take off with such a move. What 3rd basemen would be available in the off season? I can't think of any right off hand that I would be too high on.
August 5, 200818 yr What 3rd basemen would be available in the off season? I can't think of any right off hand that I would be too high on.They can always trade for one ...
August 5, 200818 yr They can always trade for one ... I realize that, but what 3rd baseman do you feel might be on the trade market? I think Billy Hall could be had, but he's pretty much a clone of E-5.
August 5, 200818 yr Author I realize that, but what 3rd baseman do you feel might be on the trade market? I think Billy Hall could be had, but he's pretty much a clone of E-5.That they could might afford, Reynolds or Blalock.
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