You guys know how I would rate Dusty ... the man is a poor manager, regardless of whether or not his team is meeting expectations. You guys have seen enough of that to make your own judgment.

 

The most interesting grade debate, I suppose, would be for Jocketty ...

You guys know how I would rate Dusty ... the man is a poor manager, regardless of whether or not his team is meeting expectations. You guys have seen enough of that to make your own judgment.

 

The most interesting grade debate, I suppose, would be for Jocketty ...

Good question. Wonder how much flexibilty he has when it comes to getting in Banana Bob's wallet? Two pretty large salaries went away last year. Have they reinvested that money or is there some penny pinching going on?

On Jocketty:

 

Pros ...

 

His patience and commitment to the development of the Reds' young talent, even with a manager that has a track record of being reluctant to do so in the past.

 

Not making rash moves when injuries hit a team that was hanging around in semi-contention.

 

Getting rid of a dead-weight contract (Freel) for a player (Hernandez) that helped fill a roster need.

 

Acquiring players (Owings, Masset) with some potential long-term value when dumping the Dunn and Griffey contracts on contenders last season.

 

A track record of previous success that could easily carry over to Cincinnati.

 

And ... while I can't prove it, I suspect his directives have had a positive impact on some aspects of Dusty's handling of the pitching staff.

 

Cons ...

 

First and foremost, the Taveras signing.

 

Not taking action to pursue and/or sign a big hitter for LF (Abreu, Dunn) when some were available this winter for short-term deals at prices that were well below market standards and could have put this team in the thick of the playoff race.

 

Not providing a decent backup plan for 1B when Votto went down ... no team should have to use a light-hitting catcher as their primary backup 1B.

I would rate the pitching a C+

 

The hitting a D.

 

Dusty would get a C-

 

Jocketty I'd give a C

 

So the Reds get a C

 

I still trust Walt. He will get more accomplished with Castellini than anyone else. Just a guess but it wouldn't surprise me if we are sellers at the end of July and Dusty is gone at the end of the year.

On Jocketty:

 

Pros ...

 

His patience and commitment to the development of the Reds' young talent, even with a manager that has a track record of being reluctant to do so in the past.

Not making rash moves when injuries hit a team that was hanging around in semi-contention.

 

Getting rid of a dead-weight contract (Freel) for a player (Hernandez) that helped fill a roster need.

 

Acquiring players (Owings, Masset) with some potential long-term value when dumping the Dunn and Griffey contracts on contenders last season.

 

A track record of previous success that could easily carry over to Cincinnati.

 

And ... while I can't prove it, I suspect his directives have had a positive impact on some aspects of Dusty's handling of the pitching staff.

 

Cons ...

 

First and foremost, the Taveras signing.

 

Not taking action to pursue and/or sign a big hitter for LF (Abreu, Dunn) when some were available this winter for short-term deals at prices that were well below market standards and could have put this team in the thick of the playoff race.

 

Not providing a decent backup plan for 1B when Votto went down ... no team should have to use a light-hitting catcher as their primary backup 1B.

 

Not exactly the MO he followed in St. Louis. Where's that guy now?

Not exactly the MO he followed in St. Louis. Where's that guy now?

Meaning?

Meaning?

 

The Cards succeeded in getting players from outside their system.

The Cards succeeded in getting players from outside their system.

He's already brought in Masset and Owings, who have some long-term potential, and I don't know that the Reds yet have a farm system that allows them to make those kinds of deals.

 

Jocketty's only been in charge for a little over a year, and it isn't like he inherited a contender, and every situation is different. There is something to be said for evaluating the young talent on hand and then addressing some needs. It will be interesting to see what Jocketty does in the offseason.

He's already brought in Masset and Owings, who have some long-term potential, and I don't know that the Reds yet have a farm system that allows them to make those kinds of deals.

 

Jocketty's only been in charge for a little over a year, and it isn't like he inherited a contender, and every situation is different. There is something to be said for evaluating the young talent on hand and then addressing some needs. It will be interesting to see what Jocketty does in the offseason.

 

Don't disagree, but he wasn't known for building from within at St. Louis. Big Mac. Larry Walker Jim Edmunds etc. How many guys on the 2006 were home grown guys. I can't think of too many, besides Pujols. Bolded: that's what everyone was saying last fall, with the two giant salaries gone.

I think I predicted something like 76-86, so I'd say B-.

Don't disagree, but he wasn't known for building from within at St. Louis. Big Mac. Larry Walker Jim Edmunds etc. How many guys on the 2006 were home grown guys. I can't think of too many, besides Pujols. Bolded: that's what everyone was saying last fall, with the two giant salaries gone.

There wasn't much of a farm system to work with in St. Louis at times, to be honest, and that is one of the downsides of his record.

 

On the other hand, Jocketty turned some of the products of the Cardinals' organization into McGwire and Edmonds. Three pitchers went to Oakland in the McGwire deal and Adam Kennedy was part of the price paid for Edmonds. Walker was only a Cardinal for a little over one season.

 

Of the current Cardinals, several of their key players — Pujols, Molina, Schumaker, Rasmus — came up in the St. Louis system, and all of them were signed during Jocketty's tenure.

The Reds will never win with Dusty at the helm. He manages by the seat of his pants. No rhyme or reason for what he does. Some days he goes righty vs lefty the next day he doesnt. I like a manager to gamble a bit but he is so unpredictabe.

They are an average team so give them an average grade of C.

 

The offense is D-. Votto makes it not an F.

On Jocketty:

 

Pros ...

 

His patience and commitment to the development of the Reds' young talent, even with a manager that has a track record of being reluctant to do so in the past.

 

Not making rash moves when injuries hit a team that was hanging around in semi-contention.

 

Getting rid of a dead-weight contract (Freel) for a player (Hernandez) that helped fill a roster need.

 

Acquiring players (Owings, Masset) with some potential long-term value when dumping the Dunn and Griffey contracts on contenders last season.

 

A track record of previous success that could easily carry over to Cincinnati.

 

And ... while I can't prove it, I suspect his directives have had a positive impact on some aspects of Dusty's handling of the pitching staff.

 

Cons ...

 

First and foremost, the Taveras signing.

 

Not taking action to pursue and/or sign a big hitter for LF (Abreu, Dunn) when some were available this winter for short-term deals at prices that were well below market standards and could have put this team in the thick of the playoff race.

 

Not providing a decent backup plan for 1B when Votto went down ... no team should have to use a light-hitting catcher as their primary backup 1B.

 

Pretty good breakdown.

 

I wish that he would have pursued Abreu or another big time hitting corner outfielder. But signing Nix & Gomes has worked out pretty well & has been very cheap.

 

I thought Hernandez filled in pretty well at first base. I was disappointed that it took Gomes so long to get to the big league level after he played well (and first base) in the Spring.

 

I liked taking a chance on Taveras. It hasn't worked out well, but I liked the move.

 

All in all I'd be tempted to give Jocketty an A. He got rid of Dunn & Griffey's contracts & got some quality arms in return.

 

I think it's too early to really rate the GM though, as he seems to be building for the future and the next 4-5 seasons will really show the value of his moves. And, like you said, he didn't inherit much.

I give them a C at best.