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From: HTP on 26 Apr 2010 12:30
On Apr 26, 8:35 am, RJA <agentvau...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> On Apr 25, 10:36 pm, "David Short"
>
>
>
>
>
> <David.No.Sh...(a)Spam.Wright.Please.Edu> wrote:
> > Well, it isn't quite 20 games, but tommorrow is an offday.
>
> > They're 3 games below 500 in 19 games. That's not good. The sweep by the
> > Pirates really stings. Good teams don't get swept by the Pirates....so after
> > 19 games it is revealed that this isn't a good team.
>
> > The starting pitching was supposed to be the strength. How's that working
> > out for you?
>
> > The only red starter with an ERA below 5.5 is Leake. The good news
> > is....Matt Maloney was pitching well in Louisville before he went on the DL
> > with blister problems again. I don't know that I've ever seen a prospect get
> > buried as fast as Maloney got buried this spring. I would love to know what
> > happened.
>
> > While Logan Ondrusek couldn't get anybody out. The big story in the pen is
> > Nick Masset. Masset was going to be the 8th inning guy and when Cordero left
> > he was going to be the closer. Isn't this exactly what happened to Jarred
> > Burton? Boy thats an important role.
>
> > Orlando Cabrera is not getting it done with the leather. There's no nice way
> > to say it. Dusty really needs to start using Janish more.
>
> > A great deal of the preseason hope around the reds was that their young
> > talent could explode. Jay Bruse is at 180. Drew Stubbs is at 170. Jonny
> > Gomes is at 213. If your starting pitchers all have ERA's north of 5.5 and
> > non of your starting outfield is hitting above 220. You lose. That's pretty
> > simple isn't it?
>
> > You can't cash them all in. You have to keep running them out there and hope
> > they turn around. but if you were a member of the front office....don't you
> > think you would have to start asking yourself how many at bats can you sink
> > into Jay Bruce?
>
> > I know....the defense is good, but if Paul Janish can't get a starting job
> > because he's gonna hit 200 as a shortstop.....how long can you let Jay Bruce
> > hit 220? I know he was "best prospect in baseball" and all that, but.....how
> > long can you let him hit 220?
> > Can you send him to Louisville?
>
> > I know the short answer is you keep running him out there till he turns it
> > around, but....well what if he doesn't?
>
> > What would you do?
>
> > dfs
>
> Two things.  First, if we win 2 of 3 against the Pirates, we're over .
> 500.  That series was a bit strange because Rolen missed the whole
> thing and then Votto had the flu or something one night and couldn't
> play.  There was at least one close game in that series that could
> have tipped as a result.
>
> Second, I don't think Jay Bruce is doing as badly as many think.
> Early in the year, he was smoking the ball and hitting it right at
> guys.  They've been falling in for him of late and his numbers have
> been on the rise.  I can't see writing this guy off yet at age 23.
> His patience seems to be improving and that should help.
>
> I read that we're 5th in the NL in runs scored.  The ineffectiveness
> of the starting pitching and the toll that it's taking on the bullpen
> is the main problem.  Several of the hitters and pitchers will come
> back to their career averages and that should only help.  Not too
> worried yet.
>
> I do think that Hanigan needs to replace Hernandez.  Janish looks
> better at the plate but it's a small sample.  He seems to hit the ball
> hard though.  If Cabrera continues with his current percentages, you
> can't keep running Harang, Cabrera and Hernandez out there unless
> payroll is making the decisions.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I'm concurring with RJA on all this stuff. Sort of a weird beginning
to this season. Well, actually its typical in that weird stuff happens
over the short run. No way is this pitching staff so bad that it will
post a 5.00+ era over the course of the season, and certainly not
approaching 6.00. Currently at 6.02.

Offensively, the Reds have put up thier share of runs so far - 4.58/
game. Even thats not likely to continue. Seems a bit high to me. Thats
about 0.5/g better than last season.


In the NL central, only the Cards have a winning record. That actually
does seem normal.

NL central R/G

Brewers 5.61
Cubs 4.68
Reds 4.58
Cards 4.33
Bucs 3.44
Astros 3.33

imagine that. The Reds are outscoring the cards.

The Reds are about middle of the pack in terms of run production, but
near the bottom in almost every main offensive catagory except HR. In
thier defense, Reds hitters never get the opportunity to pad thier
stats by hitting off of Reds pitchers (and vice versa) :).

Obviously the reds numbers should return to a point closer to what we
expected. The pitching results will get much better. The offense will
be about the same but the r/g will tail off a bit.

Call me stupid for always looking for ways to negate the negatives but
it is still early. Look at how some of the other teams that were
supposed to be better are faring.

Dodgers 8-10
White Sox 8-11
Braves 8-10

oh, and the

red Sox 8-11

If Reds fans are pissed, red sox fans must be foaming at the mouth and
eating thier young.


On the opposite spectrum,

nationals 10-9
Padres 11-7

No way do either of those teams finish anywhere near those kind of
winning percentages.

-----------------

Should be a fun time down in Houston. If this series is a repeat of
Pittsburgh, well, then maybe it will be a long season.

I'm predicting a 3-3 road trip.
From: john smith on 26 Apr 2010 12:31
Well Stubbs sure is a nice player defensively. I guess we don't know
notice this, especially when a guy does things so effortlessly. But as
one wise baseball man once said, it is extremely hard to find good
hitters, on the other hand you can shake a tree and a whole bunch of
gloves will fall out. My motto is you always can improve defensively
with hard work. You might not become a great defender but you can become
more than adequate. On the other hand you can never teach anybody to be
a great hitter. I have seen enough of Stubbs swing to see he will never
amount to more than an average hitter. Comparing him to Geronimo maybe
pre-mature. Have you forgotten about Eddie Milner? He had he best range
of any Red's outfielder I ever saw.

Just watching visually every pitcher on the team, I would say Nick
Massett has the most ball movement hands down. His failures boggle my
mind. Baker says he has tremendous stuff.

From: David Short on 26 Apr 2010 13:40
On 4/26/2010 12:31 PM, john smith wrote:
> Well Stubbs sure is a nice player defensively. I guess we don't know
> notice this, especially when a guy does things so effortlessly.

and there is no visible effort at all. He glides across the field.

> But as
> one wise baseball man once said, it is extremely hard to find good
> hitters, on the other hand you can shake a tree and a whole bunch of
> gloves will fall out.

....hey. that's MY line.

> My motto is you always can improve defensively
> with hard work. You might not become a great defender but you can become
> more than adequate. On the other hand you can never teach anybody to be
> a great hitter. I have seen enough of Stubbs swing to see he will never
> amount to more than an average hitter.

If Stubbs can become an average hitter and play center like that, he'll
have a 10 year career.

> Comparing him to Geronimo maybe
> pre-mature. Have you forgotten about Eddie Milner? He had he best range
> of any Red's outfielder I ever saw.

hmmm. I don't remember Milner. I was out of town and w/out tv during
those years.

> Just watching visually every pitcher on the team, I would say Nick
> Massett has the most ball movement hands down. His failures boggle my
> mind. Baker says he has tremendous stuff.

So did Burton.

dfs
From: HTP on 26 Apr 2010 13:49
On Apr 26, 9:31 am, eddyg...(a)msn.com (john smith) wrote:
> Well Stubbs sure is a nice player defensively. I guess we don't know
> notice this, especially when a guy does things so effortlessly. But as
> one wise baseball man once said, it is extremely hard to find good
> hitters, on the other hand  you can shake a tree and a whole bunch of
> gloves will fall out. My motto is you always can improve defensively
> with hard work. You might not become a great defender but you can become
> more than adequate. On the other hand you can never teach anybody to be

Remember 5 years ago when the Reds had a stacked lineup and more good
hitters on the bench. But they had very few good defenders and they
were getting killed on the field.

Most of those guys never had a chance to become good defenders because
they werent very mobile. Thier legs were past thier prime or elese
never had one.

You cant teach speed.

A veteran like Cabrera isnt likely to get any better in the field no
matter how much he works. The speed and quickness in his legs is
disappearing. Thats range going bye bye.

I dont think that Gomes could turn into Stubbs in centerfield no
matter how hard he worked at it. The wheels simply arent there. I do
however believe that Stubbs can hit as well as Gomes someday.

That would make Stubbs into another Mike Cameron. I can see that
happening. Theres nothing wrong in that.

> a great hitter. I have seen enough of Stubbs swing to see he will never
> amount to more than an average hitter. Comparing him to Geronimo maybe
> pre-mature. Have you forgotten about Eddie Milner? He had he best range
> of any Red's outfielder I ever saw.

I've heard that from other sources too.


>
> Just watching visually every pitcher on the team, I would say Nick
> Massett has the most ball movement hands down. His failures boggle my
> mind. Baker says he has tremendous stuff.

location, location, location...

I think thats defintely Harangs problem. Too many pitches up in the
zone and over the plate.

From: john smith on 26 Apr 2010 14:17
You can't teach speed, that maybe true but more importantly you can't
teach good jumps, see the fast guy Willy T on that one.

A line-up of nine George Brett's will always beat a line-up of nine
Ozzie Smiths. My point being if you can just hold our own defensively
and hit well rather than be a defensive player with a weak stick, you
are much better off.

Of course you can't teach an older player like Cabrera to have more
range at this point of his career. The basic skills must be there, age
has deteriorated his skills and SS is a prime defensive position. You
can always teach defense better than hitting.

Joey Votto was a below average fielder who is now average except for
leading a pitcher to first base. He is constantly improving defensively.
Votto couldn't scoop up a ball when he first came up. Little things can
help a fielder much more than a hitter, generally speaking of course.
Joey Votto will never be a gold glover but in time, more than adequate.

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