I think everyone's starting to get it.

Peter Gammons wrote on ESPN.com that one National League team had ranked 62 shortstops across the major leagues in defensive ability. Keppinger, he wrote, was one of the bottom five.

They need a CF leadoff hitter with speed and a high OBP. They need a right handed power bat that that can hit at least in the .270-.280 range consistantly. This said right handed bat either needs to be a SS, LF, 1B, or C, depending on a couple things. If they think that Alonso is going to be ready really fast, then I would move Votto to left. With the catching situation, I think it would be realistic to hope for a catcher that is good defensively and with the pitchers, and is just adequate at the plate. Depending on how you fill those holes will determine what you look for at short...

There needs to be a culture change. This team definitely needs a shakeup. The management has talked about changing the culture. It will not be easy. I didn't like the Dusty hire, and when it happened, I was more caught up in the concerns of him handling the pitching staff. Now it is obvious that he is not really one to hold people accountable.

He met with Griffey and Dunn earlier in the year telling them that he needed them to be leaders. Yikes... Clearly, Griffey is not a leader. Dunn, well he just follows Griffey.

So my point is that there needs to be a culture change, first and foremost...then go forth. What is the easiest way to do that? Get a strong manager who will hold people accountable. Dusty is not that person. Last week, he made a quote saying this team was Wayne Krivsky's team, not his and Walt Jocketty's. Well, Dusty you were hired in October and you are the one who lobbied for Corey Patterson. Copout...once again, no accountability.

Hal McCoy has a blog up today that is a serious indictment on Dusty.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/cincinnatireds/

A man I have known a long time, a scout for years and years who has watched the Cincinnati Reds, asked me a question before Thursday’s game:

 

“Have you ever seen a Reds team so lifeless, so dead, so disinterested?”

 

I answered honestly: “Never. This team looks like nine mannequins, nine fire hydrants, nine pine trees at Christmas time, nine que-tips in a stand-up box"

 

And another wrinkled his nose when Brandon Phillips was mentioned.

 

“Nice talent, but I can’t stand the guy. Don’t like his attitude. He does things to make the other team mad. And I couldn’t believe the stuff he said last week about wanting to be the face of the team, the captain, the leader. Very next game he didn’t run out a ground ball. Some leader.”

 

If this is clearly evident to people outside the organization, you would think Jocketty sees it as well. Castelini is known for knee-jerk decisions, and I would say Dusty could be under fire, especially if Jocketty thinks it is a problem.

 

Leadoff hitter, SS, Catcher, and sprinkle in some guys who can fit for average.

 

A lot of things to fix. Definitely will be an interesting offseason.

I'll analyze this team. PUTRID!!

Keep Pitchers: Volquez, Cueto, Harang, Arroyo, Cordero, Burton, Lincoln, and Bray.

 

Keep Infielders:Votto, and EE as starters.

 

Keep Outfielder: Bruce

 

Utility: Hairston Jr. Keppinger, and Hopper.

 

Get rid of the rest.

Keep Pitchers: Volquez, Cueto, Harang, Arroyo, Cordero, Burton, Lincoln, and Bray.

 

Keep Infielders:Votto, and EE as starters.

 

Keep Outfielder: Bruce

 

Utility: Hairston Jr. Keppinger, and Hopper.

 

Get rid of the rest.

 

You don't like BP?

You keep Phillips, Votto, Bruce, Harang, Cueto, Volquez, Burton, & Bray. Everyone else should be handed a pink slip.

You don't like BP?

 

Great athlete who could be much better than he his. His D is awesome, maybe best in the game at his postion. But I don't want my younger players playin the game like he does. He doesn't hustle, and seems like a me guy first. So no, I don't like him.

Great athlete who could be much better than he his. His D is awesome, maybe best in the game at his position. But I don't want my younger players playing the game like he does. He doesn't hustle, and seems like a me guy first. So no, I don't like him.

Do you think over time, say the next 2-4 years, that he will "mature" some and be the leader for the Reds.

 

I've read/heard so much, about his personality and attitude, that it would be cause for concern.

 

BP has the tools, both offensively and defensively, to be an outstanding MLB player. I would like to see him adjust, so much hand/bat movement before loading at each pitch.

Do you think over time, say the next 2-4 years, that he will "mature" some and be the leader for the Reds.

 

I've read/heard so much, about his personality and attitude, that it would be cause for concern.

 

BP has the tools, both offensively and defensively, to be an outstanding MLB player. I would like to see him adjust, so much hand/bat movement before loading at each pitch.

 

 

 

S-3...I loved him when he first got here, thought he had changed from his days in Cleveland. I'm not sure if being around Jr. for awhile has made him think he doesn't have to hustle or what. I believe there are players who go out and play hard everyday in this game, even after they get paid, but then there's a few who drop it down a gear in certain aspects. On D he looks, and plays great. At the plate he has no disipline. He just isn't a smart offensive player. Yeah, he's going to get his numbers because he's such a great athlete, but he's going to do more things that make alot of fans ask why. I've said it a 100 times, NO way he should lead this Team in GIDP. Alot of those DP's would be avoided if he would hustle down the line instead of being mad he didn't hit a bomb, or one in the gap, he isn't slow. I think it was maybe tuesday, that Jermaine Dye hustled out a ground ball that almost was a DP, and kept the inning alive. Can't remember who followed him, but they hit a two run HR, and won the game.

 

To answer your question: I really don't think he can change his style.

Gonzalez hit .272 with 16 HR and 55 RBI in 110 games last year. Keppinger doesn't have anything resembling that kind of pop.

 

I know Keppinger has a much smaller sample size, but his 162 game averages aren't that much different in the HR/RBI category. Gonzo averages .248, 15/70 while Keppinger is .292, 11/60. Keppinger actually has a better fielding percentage than Gonzales, and his range factor is similar. All of that for a 10th of the price.

I'll analyze this team. PUTRID!!

 

Let's see 22nd in Runs Scored, 27th in Team Batting Average, 25th in Team ERA, 27th in Opponents Batting Average, 28th in Errors and 28th in Fielding Percentage and 29th out of 30 on this week's power ratings--I think your assesment is correct! :thumb:

 

Realistically this is not going to be fixed in a year or maybe even two. The have signifigant holes at (if Dunn isn't resigned) 4 of 8 offensive positions and until Harang proves he is going to pitch like he did before at 3 of 5 rotation spots. I think Cueto will improve and give them 3 good starters but he has to eliminate his homerun problem and that is not a given.

I really don't think there is anybody on the current Reds roster who should

be considered 'untouchable' or a lock for the future.

 

None of the Reds is doing much of anything to earn their paycheck.

Looks like management/ownership is content for folks to just 'show up'.

 

Not sure what the Bill Bavasi hiring as special assistant Friday means

for the Reds, but he, Walt Jocketty, etc. have a monstrous turnaround

project on their hands. Maybe Jocketty has gotten an eye full the last

few weeks and told Mr. Castellini "You need a lotta' help".

 

Catcher; shortstop; outfield; starting and relief pitching...is there any

aspect to the Reds currently that makes any of them a cinch to be

playing for Cincinnati in the future?

 

I think the question to ask: Who wants to keep their job and who is

going to show us that that is the case? Field manager included.

 

The 2008 Cincinnati Reds: what a big bust!

I know Keppinger has a much smaller sample size, but his 162 game averages aren't that much different in the HR/RBI category. Gonzo averages .248, 15/70 while Keppinger is .292, 11/60. Keppinger actually has a better fielding percentage than Gonzales, and his range factor is similar. All of that for a 10th of the price.

In the same hitting environment (GABP), Gonzalez has shown much more power, small sample size or not.

 

No one in baseball feels that Keppinger is a legitimate defensive shortstop. Yes, his range factor was right with Gonzalez's last year, albeit in a smaller sample size. This year, Keppinger's range factor is well below what it was last year.