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How are the Reds doing? Better than my fantasy team... posted on 06/04/2009

Here we are at a little over two months into the baseball season; far enough in to create speculation and make predictions, but not too far in as to be entirely right in those predictions. So far I see the predictions made about the Reds to be correct. Good pitching, but the hitting is lacking. It's better than I thought it would be, but still lacking. Votto has been amazing until he started having the dizzy spells, Nix has been a great find in left field, and it may be too early to tell, but Gomes may just be worth more than we think he is.

     None of the pre-season predictions had the Reds this close to the top at this point in the season. After the loss to the Cards tonight they are only 2.5 games out of first, behind the Brewers and the Cards, ahead of Chicago. They seem to be holding their own against these division rivals too, taking 2 of 4 from the Cards in St. Louis, although they did falter a bit against the Brew Crew last weekend. The weekend series against the Cubs will be crucial in deciding where their season goes from here.

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The Reds and Sheffield posted on 04/01/2009

The news came out today that the Reds officially have interest in Gary Sheffield. Really? Sheff was a great talent in his prime, but it seems to me like he's another Griffey right now. He has great career numbers, and still gets respect at the plate (499 career home runs) but he's been hampered by injuries the past couple seasons and hasn't been at his best. There's a reason Detroit cut him when they did.

     Although, there certainly is a hole where this guy could fit in. All winter the Reds were looking for a right handed power hitter that could play left field. He certainly fits the bill here, if he can stay healthy. Plus, with the Tigers on the hook for the majority of his salary the Reds could get by with paying him the major league minimum. Not a high risk at all. The drawback I see of signing him would be that Johnny Gomes would most likely lose the roster spot that he has worked so hard to earn this spring. He would almost certainly lose his chance, and it's possible that Dickerson would also lose playing time. While I wouldn't be fuming mad if the Reds did sign him, I think that it's time right now to see if Dickerson or Gomes can do the job in left. If we were actually thought to be contenders this year then I would definitely try to sign him. But as it is I say let the younger guys play.

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Thoughts on the WBC posted on 03/02/2009

Just a week or so ago I realized that some players would be leaving camp soon to go play for their respective countries in the World Baseball Classic. Is that really neccessary? To interrupt their spring training? True, they are going to get in shape because they are going to play whether they go play for their countries or stay in camp. But they are not playing with their own teammates, the guys that they will be around all season. I think that's one of those intangibles that many people overlook but nonetheless is important.

     Managers also need to get a good look at these players. I found out today that Cincinnati has Ramon Ramirez going off to play; he is one of the candidates for the 5th starter spot in camp, how is Dusty Baker going to know who the right guy is when he's not getting a good look at everyone? Hernandez too, because he is a new player and Baker needs to know what he can and can't do so he can manage efectively. These guys need to be in camp so that Baker can know what needs done.

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I guess that's it then... posted on 01/22/2009

In seperate interviews today with Jocketty and Castellini both said that the shopping for the offseason is over, with at least one big hole left to be filled. The payroll is at the budget limit, and unless Obama can miraculously revive this economy before baseball season and the Reds sell out their stadium with season tickets, that budget ain't changing. With no other major free agent signings, and this budget supposedly in place since the fall, it makes me wonder if they really had any intentions of going after that left fielder at all? They did take on a little salary in Hernandez, but I don't think that was more than what they were expecting to take on for the catcher they wanted (and let me reiterate that I still think that was a bad trade: we picked up an overpaid mediocre catcher. I reserve the right to take back my comment should he have a career year and be that hitter we were looking for all along). Taveras also cost a little money, but again, they knew they were going to have to spend that money all along, and should have been planning on that as well.

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could another piece to the Reds puzzle be Vizquel? posted on 01/17/2009

One of the free agent names that is still looking for a job this season is 11 time gold glove winner Omar Vizquel. I started thinking if he would be a fit with the Reds and thought why not? Right now there's still uncertainty whether Gonzalez will be able to start the season healthy, and I'm just not sold on Hairston as an everyday shortstop right now. Vizquel played 92 games with the Giants last year, a part time role, and I think he could do the same very well in Cincinnati. Start the season as the everyday guy until Gonzalez gets back and then play the role of defensive replacement or fill in when Alex needs a day off (which might be good to have since he's coming off the injury). Basically he would be insurance...a very good defensive insurance. His hitting has gone down in recent years, but he was never known as a hitter to start with. He reminds me of someone we carried for a few years named Juan Castro, anyone remember him?

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