3rd or RF? You're talking about two of the KEY defensive positions on the field and you want to put a bad defender there?

 

I was just throwing stuff out there. I'd give it some time to see if I could find somewhere for him unless someone offers a top starting pitcher.

Get Chapman to being a starter again. I know it's nice having a guy like him in the bullpen, however it would be nice having a guy like him as a starter too. The Phillies and Giants have shown, when you have a great rotation with shut down pitchers then you can win a lot of games. A rotation of Chapman, Cueto, Leake, Willis, and Volquez would be a great rotation IMO. Then could try to trade Homer, and Wood and someone else for a position player that could really help. Or something I wouldn't mind seeing is the Reds trying to make Homer a closer instead of Chapman.

I'd make a hard decision on Votto. If I am correct, he has 2 years left on his contract. I start figuring out if he wants to be a Red long-term. If not, I move him while he's very valuable.

 

That decision also answers the Alonso issue. If you're keeping JV long-term you ship Alonso. If not, move JV and put Alonso at 1B for a few years.

Exactly

1. I bring up Francisco and rotate he and Frazier to see if either can be the everyday 3B next year.

 

2. I get rid of Janish and see if Edgar will come back as the backup SS behind Cozart.

 

3. I tell Lewis to take a hike, and try to trade Heisey or Stubbs for solid pitching either starting or relief. I let Sapplet and Alonso fight over the LF job in the spring. Whichever of Heisey/Stubbs I don't trade is the CF.

 

4. I revamp the pen. Coco goes away. I tell Masset and Ondrusek they can go suck somewhere else, and I get Arrendondo out as quickly as I can. I hold on to Bray and LeCure and go out and try to get somebody like a Heath Bell at the back end of the pen.

 

5. I move Chapman into the rotation. I go with Cueto, Chapman, Arroyo, Bailey, & Leake to start with. I try to see if I can get any type of solid bat for the likes of Willis, Wood, or Volquez.

 

6. I pick up BP's option.

 

7. I agree with taking the hard stance of Joey. If he wants to be here, sign a long-term deal, if not, let him know they're moving him. If they could really potentially get Joey Bats for Votto, I jump on it in the offseason, as it solves LF and allows them to have a young 1B.

Since we can all agree that the Reds are done this year, I thought it would be a good idea to see what everyone thinks the Reds should do the rest of the season as far as call ups, and then what they do over the winter. Some of you have been critical of GM Walt Jocketty, so here is your chance to play GM, and show us how smart, or dumb you just may be.

If I'm Jocketty I call up Anthopoulos and work out the Votto for Bats trade.

Some things to consider.

 

1. If Sappelt shows he can hit in the majors, do you name him the everyday LF, and lead off man.

 

If they think that Sappelt projects as an everyday player he should be plugged into CF imo. Stubbs could play left field and with Sappelt and Bruce defensively this team would appear on paper to be as good if not better than any outfield trio in the majors as well as the youngest.

 

2. Do you try to so sign Phillips to an extension. If you can't, do you pick up his option, and try to move him for some top prospects?

 

Only sign him to an extension if it comes at a reduced price. They can't afford him at $12m + long term. Phillips is an important part of this team but @ 30 years of age will probably start to decline some toward the end of a long contract. His power and SB numbers are already showing signs of that.

 

 

3. Try to move Ramon the next couple of weeks, and bring up Mesoraco, and let him play?

 

Absolutely the right move or they risk losing him for nothing in return. Frisco is in dire need of him and is probably ready to pull the trigger if he can clear waivers to make the move.

 

 

4. See if Alonso can play 3B in winter ball. If he can't, do you trade him?

 

Disagree entirely with this as they have spent a full year trying to make an outfielder out of him and trying to make him into a 3rd baseman quickly could mess with his mind and affect his hitting. They have Francisco who has shown the ability to hit and that has been his primary position. I think Votto is gone as I don't see the Reds going $20m+ for him in an extended contract.

 

 

5. Name Chapman as the closer? I am undecided on this. While I have faith that he could be a dominant closer I am undecided on whether he could develop enough other stuff to be a dominant starter.

 

 

6. Is Scott Rolen going to be healthy? Do you try to trade him, and go with Francisco who also seems to be injury prone? Put Alonso's bat into the lineup and live with his defense at 3B, or is the job Frazier's to lose?

 

If Scott Rolen doesn't retire at the end of the year I'd be surprised. If they plan on Francisco being the heir apparent get him up here before September and see what he can do defensively. As for Frazier I see him as the heir to Cairo, he can play a lot of positions and would be a very valuable player to this team but then again he is only 25 and maybe too good to fill that role. I'd hate to see him get stereotyped as a role player when maybe he is the answer at third. Maybe trade Francisco to an American league team.

 

6. Then comes the hard part. Trying to figure out what the rotation will look like next year. Do you try and sign Willis to a 2 or 3 year contract? That would be a big risk given his history. Is Volquez part of your future? If not, ( and I really think he is) what do you look for in a trade? Where does Travis Wood fit into your plans? I still think he has the stuff to a quality pitcher in the majors.

 

Willis may have trade value if you think Wood is ever going to pan out. Wood is 24 and Willis 29 but Willis hasn't seen a lot of action the last few years so still has something left. The last start he showed 91 and 92 on the gun which could help him if he can do that on a regular basis with his offspeed stuff. Then again 2 lefties is not a bad thing. I still don't give up on Volquez because of his stuff unless somebody is willing to give you a nice player in return.

 

 

Alright all you young GM's out there. Let's see what you got.

 

See above.

Get Chapman to being a starter again. I know it's nice having a guy like him in the bullpen, however it would be nice having a guy like him as a starter too. The Phillies and Giants have shown, when you have a great rotation with shut down pitchers then you can win a lot of games. A rotation of Chapman, Cueto, Leake, Willis, and Volquez would be a great rotation IMO. Then could try to trade Homer, and Wood and someone else for a position player that could really help. Or something I wouldn't mind seeing is the Reds trying to make Homer a closer instead of Chapman.

 

I'd like to see what Homer could do as a closer as well.

I'd like to see what Homer could do as a closer as well.

 

I question whether he has the mental to be a closer. He is just now starting to show the mental makeup of a starter and that was a tough task for him to handle.

I'd like to see what Homer could do as a closer as well.

 

I've actually thought about both Homer or LeCure as a closer. Both seem to have that "no-fear" closer mentality IMO.

I've actually thought about both Homer or LeCure as a closer. Both seem to have that "no-fear" closer mentality IMO.

 

You're not serious are you? Homer's mental is just starting to show positive signs and Lecure doesn't have good enough stuff to be a closer. If Lecure gets taken out of his current role you will find that out, he is too hittable.

You're not serious are you? Homer's mental is just starting to show positive signs and Lecure doesn't have good enough stuff to be a closer. If Lecure gets taken out of his current role you will find that out, he is too hittable.

 

It seems to me, most good closers are the ones that are somewhat "crazy". I think Homer fits that bill. I'm a big fan of LeCure. He's a hard as nails kinda guy who if asked for one inning is pretty tough. It's when he has too face a lineup 2-3 times that he starts to have problems. JMO.

I'd get Phillips signed.

I don't think Votto is staying, so think about moving him, Hernadez and a couple of arms for a #1 starter.

Chapman goes to the rotation.

Figure out LF.

Get the bull pen straigtened out. If Chapman is starting, you have some real liability in the pen.

Get the young guys on the field.

1st base: Alonso

2nd Phillips

SS: Cozart:

3rd: Fransisco

OF: Bruce, Stubbs, Heisey, Sapplet, and whoever they can bring in.

C: Mesaraco/Hannigan

Utility: Frazier/Renteria

Francisco has a career .313 OBP in the minors, a career strikeout-to-walk ratio of 6-1 and has made no progress on that front. He's not ready.

 

At this point, Frazier might be the best third-base option they have, but even he is probably someone like the Cardinals' David Freese, a guy that can hold the spot for a couple of years or so.

Francisco has a career .313 OBP in the minors, a career strikeout-to-walk ratio of 6-1 and has made no progress on that front. He's not ready.

 

At this point, Frazier is the best third-base option they have, but even he is probably someone like the Cardinals' David Freese, a guy that can hold the spot for a couple of years or so.

 

And that would be fine. Rolen needs to go.

And that would be fine. Rolen needs to go.

He's still getting paid next year, however, and I don't see much of a trade market for him.

Edited August 8, 201115 yr by westsider