Mr. Inconsistency is still in the rotation, complete with his 4-10 record and 4.77 ERA. I guess I'm a fair-weather Kyle Lohse fan because it's hard to be anything else. I like him when he's effective, but mostly, he's not.
What I don't get is how so many people are afraid of how much Kyle Lohse will cost next season. In a year and a half with the Reds, he's only shown flashes of brilliance amid several mediocre starts and absolute shellings.
What I also don't get is how the Reds can keep running Lohse and Belisle to the mound when Bobby Livingston is flat out getting it done in AAA. Phil Dumatrait is no slouch either, and can't be any worse than Belisle has been lately.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Monday, July 2, 2007
Narron replaced with "random lineup generator" machine to no noticeable difference.
One of these organizations has been run really well and one hasn't. Let's see if you can guess which one is which.
Cincinnati Reds managers, 1991-present: Lou Piniella*, Tony Perez, Davey Johnson*, Ray Knight, Jack McKeon*, Bob Boone, Ray Knight (redux), Dave Miley, Jerry Narron, Pete Mackanin
Atlanta Braves managers, 1991-present: Bobby Cox
(* = won "Manager of the Year" with a different club)
Cincinnati Reds managers, 1991-present: Lou Piniella*, Tony Perez, Davey Johnson*, Ray Knight, Jack McKeon*, Bob Boone, Ray Knight (redux), Dave Miley, Jerry Narron, Pete Mackanin
Atlanta Braves managers, 1991-present: Bobby Cox
(* = won "Manager of the Year" with a different club)
Friday, June 8, 2007
For Fuck's Sake.
I'm not a professional neurologist but this seriously can't be good.
To reiterate: Ryan Freel has had nine or ten concussions. Hell, knowing a bit about Ryan, that's probably a low end estimate.
I love watching Freel but, for fuck's sake, somebody has to stop him from playing again. He's pretty much guaranteed Alzheimer's at this point.
At the very least, Dr. Kremchek should make him wear some sort of helmet when he's out in the field- maybe one that's a midpoint between what John Olerud wore and the ones they strap on retarded kids.
"I know it was a concussion," Freel said in his first public comments since the incident. "I've had them before and know what it is. I was knocked out. Every other time I've had concussions, I've been knocked out. None of them have been like this. I never had the lingering affects. This is totally different than what I had before."
Freel estimated that he's possibly had "nine or ten concussions."
To reiterate: Ryan Freel has had nine or ten concussions. Hell, knowing a bit about Ryan, that's probably a low end estimate.
I love watching Freel but, for fuck's sake, somebody has to stop him from playing again. He's pretty much guaranteed Alzheimer's at this point.
At the very least, Dr. Kremchek should make him wear some sort of helmet when he's out in the field- maybe one that's a midpoint between what John Olerud wore and the ones they strap on retarded kids.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Reds Killers
There are three types of Reds killers.
You know them well:
1) Unknowns who kill Reds pitching and Reds pitching only, or shut down the Reds offense and look like Cy Young for a night. Anthony Reyes is a good example. Brett Tomko is not.
2) Former Reds: This category has two subcategories:
a) Oh Yeah, I'm a Baseball Player: Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez, Ryan Franklin, Rick White, and on and on and on -- guys that couldn't get it together in a Reds uniform, but upon donning someone else's, suddenly remember how to play the game...but only against the Reds.
b) Whew! No More Pressure To Be As Good As I Am: Let's face it. Reds history is littered with players who had unrealized potential in a Reds uniform, or guys that never got a chance because Reds scouts are dumb mother fuckers, and as soon as they left, suddenly, baseball immortality. I'll grant you Paul O'Neill was good in a Reds uniform, but when he went to New York, suddenly his bat was as wide as a surfboard and his batting average jumped 110 points. One can only assume that if Eric Milton or Ken Griffey, Jr. ever leave Cincinnati, Milton will become a Cy Young candidate and Griffey will not suffer another injury of any kind in his life. He'll also be able to hit with the bases loaded and not only surpass Hank Aaron, but Sadaharu Oh and Jesus Christ for most homers. Those are examples of unrealized potential. Guys that never got a chance include Trevor Hoffman, Paul Konerko, Jeff Montgomery, and Brendan Harris to name a few. Idiotic sportswriters will look at the current Reds roster and ask dumb questions like "Where would he play?" as if that question really needs a response. For a team with no closer, a platoon at first base, and a combination of no offense from Juan Castro and 9 errors on Alex Gonzalez (more than he made all of last season), I have some ideas. At the very least, if they had no place to play here, the GM could've gotten something in return.
3) People the Reds really should start walking, but simply don't, because Boone/Miley/Narron is a genius. Lance Berkman (39 career homers), Albert Pujols (29 career homers), and Bill Hall (14 career homers) are examples of star players whose Christlike ability is somehow magnified even more vs. Cincinnati in all offensive categories -- mainly because the Reds are stupid and can't follow statistics closely enough to see patterns -- simple ones such as "Albert Pujols kills us every time" or "We make Bill Hall look like Babe Ruth."
Let's open this up and see if anyone is actually reading this blog. Reds killers. Name some.
You know them well:
1) Unknowns who kill Reds pitching and Reds pitching only, or shut down the Reds offense and look like Cy Young for a night. Anthony Reyes is a good example. Brett Tomko is not.
2) Former Reds: This category has two subcategories:
a) Oh Yeah, I'm a Baseball Player: Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez, Ryan Franklin, Rick White, and on and on and on -- guys that couldn't get it together in a Reds uniform, but upon donning someone else's, suddenly remember how to play the game...but only against the Reds.
b) Whew! No More Pressure To Be As Good As I Am: Let's face it. Reds history is littered with players who had unrealized potential in a Reds uniform, or guys that never got a chance because Reds scouts are dumb mother fuckers, and as soon as they left, suddenly, baseball immortality. I'll grant you Paul O'Neill was good in a Reds uniform, but when he went to New York, suddenly his bat was as wide as a surfboard and his batting average jumped 110 points. One can only assume that if Eric Milton or Ken Griffey, Jr. ever leave Cincinnati, Milton will become a Cy Young candidate and Griffey will not suffer another injury of any kind in his life. He'll also be able to hit with the bases loaded and not only surpass Hank Aaron, but Sadaharu Oh and Jesus Christ for most homers. Those are examples of unrealized potential. Guys that never got a chance include Trevor Hoffman, Paul Konerko, Jeff Montgomery, and Brendan Harris to name a few. Idiotic sportswriters will look at the current Reds roster and ask dumb questions like "Where would he play?" as if that question really needs a response. For a team with no closer, a platoon at first base, and a combination of no offense from Juan Castro and 9 errors on Alex Gonzalez (more than he made all of last season), I have some ideas. At the very least, if they had no place to play here, the GM could've gotten something in return.
3) People the Reds really should start walking, but simply don't, because Boone/Miley/Narron is a genius. Lance Berkman (39 career homers), Albert Pujols (29 career homers), and Bill Hall (14 career homers) are examples of star players whose Christlike ability is somehow magnified even more vs. Cincinnati in all offensive categories -- mainly because the Reds are stupid and can't follow statistics closely enough to see patterns -- simple ones such as "Albert Pujols kills us every time" or "We make Bill Hall look like Babe Ruth."
Let's open this up and see if anyone is actually reading this blog. Reds killers. Name some.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Fair Weather Fans
I've always considered "fair weather fans" annoying, mostly because they're not around for the losing, when the rest of us are miserable, but still here.
So imagine my surprise when I was called a fair weather fan over at C. Trent's blog.
Fair weather fan? I've been around through the dismantling of the Big Red Machine, Marge Schott's ridiculous reign as owner, Pete Rose's gambling, the injury calamity of 1989, the Jim Bowden three-ring circus and his parade of 5-tool washouts and pitching retreads, Carl Lindner's nearly-as-ridiculous-ownership, and now, what appears to be the Reds' seventh consecutive losing season.
In fact, the only time I really "went away" was during college, when I didn't have time to follow the games every day. While I was away, they won a pennant in 1995 and made a run in 1999. Fair weather fan, indeed.
No, that's not it. Call me passionate, question my knowledge of the game, call me flat out wrong -- but fair weather fan? That's not gonna cut it.
The context of this came during a debate about why Reds fans boo. Well, lots of fans boo when they're pissed, and in Cincinnati, they have every right to be pissed. I mean, just re-read my third paragraph. It ain't like Cincinnati has a legendary level of positivity. The franchise has been a laughing stock for years.
And guess who's still here.
People are quick to blame the fans for not being supportive. That's just bunk. Give fans something to support besides a parade of incompetent owners, general managers, managers, and players. Give fans something besides racial insults and gambling scandals. Give them something to get behind.
If you want their fandom, you need only exist in a baseball town. People will come. James Earl Jones said so.
But if you want their money, you need to build a winner and commit to winning. You can't just provide the same lip service that previous regimes provided, with the same result. Fans see through that. You can't blame them for complaining.
That's not "fair weather" fandom. That's just capitalism at work. Surely a town crawling with so many conservatives understands basic business. You can't expect fans to line up all smiles for miles to watch a last place team. Won't happen. That shit only works in Chicago, and that's only because of beer and WGN, and the inexplicable notion that it's cool to like the Cubs.
So what do you call a passionate baseball fan who doesn't go away but refuses to attend another game or give the organization another dime until it commits to winning -- really commits to winning? What do we call that?
Can we call that a fan? Sure.
Can we call that a die-hard fan? Why not?
Can we call it a savvy consumer who doesn't want to get duped for a $7 beer and a sunburn? Oh hell yes.
Just don't call it a fair weather fan. Because that doesn't make any sense. Especially in a town like Cincinnati, where there hasn't been any fair weather in years.
So imagine my surprise when I was called a fair weather fan over at C. Trent's blog.
Fair weather fan? I've been around through the dismantling of the Big Red Machine, Marge Schott's ridiculous reign as owner, Pete Rose's gambling, the injury calamity of 1989, the Jim Bowden three-ring circus and his parade of 5-tool washouts and pitching retreads, Carl Lindner's nearly-as-ridiculous-ownership, and now, what appears to be the Reds' seventh consecutive losing season.
In fact, the only time I really "went away" was during college, when I didn't have time to follow the games every day. While I was away, they won a pennant in 1995 and made a run in 1999. Fair weather fan, indeed.
No, that's not it. Call me passionate, question my knowledge of the game, call me flat out wrong -- but fair weather fan? That's not gonna cut it.
The context of this came during a debate about why Reds fans boo. Well, lots of fans boo when they're pissed, and in Cincinnati, they have every right to be pissed. I mean, just re-read my third paragraph. It ain't like Cincinnati has a legendary level of positivity. The franchise has been a laughing stock for years.
And guess who's still here.
People are quick to blame the fans for not being supportive. That's just bunk. Give fans something to support besides a parade of incompetent owners, general managers, managers, and players. Give fans something besides racial insults and gambling scandals. Give them something to get behind.
If you want their fandom, you need only exist in a baseball town. People will come. James Earl Jones said so.
But if you want their money, you need to build a winner and commit to winning. You can't just provide the same lip service that previous regimes provided, with the same result. Fans see through that. You can't blame them for complaining.
That's not "fair weather" fandom. That's just capitalism at work. Surely a town crawling with so many conservatives understands basic business. You can't expect fans to line up all smiles for miles to watch a last place team. Won't happen. That shit only works in Chicago, and that's only because of beer and WGN, and the inexplicable notion that it's cool to like the Cubs.
So what do you call a passionate baseball fan who doesn't go away but refuses to attend another game or give the organization another dime until it commits to winning -- really commits to winning? What do we call that?
Can we call that a fan? Sure.
Can we call that a die-hard fan? Why not?
Can we call it a savvy consumer who doesn't want to get duped for a $7 beer and a sunburn? Oh hell yes.
Just don't call it a fair weather fan. Because that doesn't make any sense. Especially in a town like Cincinnati, where there hasn't been any fair weather in years.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Fire Sale?
Fans are calling for yet another one...but will that solve the problem?
2003
July 30, 2003: Traded Scott Williamson to the Boston Red Sox. Received Phil Dumatrait (minors). Traded Jose Guillen to the Oakland Athletics. Received Aaron Harang, Joe Valentine, and Jeff Bruksch (minors).
July 31, 2003: Traded Aaron Boone to the New York Yankees. Received Brandon Claussen, Charlie Manning (minors), and cash. Sent Gabe White to the New York Yankees as part of a conditional deal.
August 12, 2003: Traded Kent Mercker to the Atlanta Braves. Received a player to be named later. The Atlanta Braves sent Matt Belisle (August 14, 2003) to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade.
August 21, 2003: Traded Scott Sullivan to the Chicago White Sox. Received Tim Hummel and cash.
August 31, 2003: Traded Kelly Stinnett to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Eric Valent.
Of the above, Dumatrait, Harang, and Belisle remain in the organization. Harang is now the ace (in a slump), Belisle is a .500 pitcher in the rotation, and Dumatrait might see a Reds uniform this year. Maybe.
2004
July 30, 2004: Traded Todd Jones and Brad Correll (minors) to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Josh Hancock and Andy Machado.
August 9, 2004: Traded Cory Lidle to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received a player to be named later, Javon Moran (minors), and Joe Wilson (minors). The Philadelphia Phillies sent Elizardo Ramirez (August 11, 2004) to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade.
This wasn't a "fire sale" even though fans were calling for one. This was a "rebuilding year" in which Harang and Belisle and other young players got thrown into the pool to see if they could really swim.
Of the above, only Elizardo Ramirez and Anderson Machado have surfaced in a Reds uniform. One is hurt, and one probably won't be back unless the entire infield goes on the DL. Maybe not even then.
2005
July 23, 2005: Traded Joe Randa to the San Diego Padres. Received Justin Germano and Travis Chick.
Neither of these guys are still around. More below.
2006
June 15, 2006: Traded Brandon Roberts (minors) to the Minnesota Twins. Received Juan Castro.
July 6, 2006: Traded Travis Chick to the Seattle Mariners. Received Eddie Guardado and cash.
July 13, 2006: Traded Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez, and Ryan Wagner to the Washington Nationals. Received Gary Majewski, Royce Clayton, Bill Bray, Brendan Harris, and Daryl Thompson (minors).
July 31, 2006: Traded Zach Ward (minors) to the Minnesota Twins. Received Kyle Lohse. Traded Justin Germano to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Rheal Cormier.
August 7, 2006: Traded a player to be named later to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Ryan Franklin and cash. The Cincinnati Reds sent Zac Stott (minors) (August 9, 2006) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade.
Castro is here, being Castro: all defense, no offense. You get what you get with this guy. Lohse got into the rotation and then starting pitching batting practice every time out. Guardado has been hurt for most of his time with the Reds. Majewski just got back after spending most of his time in the same way. Bray is hurt. Only Daryl Thompson, the low minor leaguer, has been performing well and relatively healthy. The rest are gone, traded away or released because they just couldn't hack it.
So really, is a fire sale the answer? What will that accomplish? Won't we be right back where we are in 3-5 years, when most of the prospects either don't work out or, in the absence of progress, get traded away for veteran washouts when the Reds make a fluke run at the division?
Can a franchise realistically do this every 3-5 years and hope to maintain a fanbase, especially in a town as fiery as Cincy?
Why should it have to, really?
Doesn't this raise larger questions?
At what point will MLB realize that "small market" teams simply can't compete with "large market" teams? We're looking at evidence of a class system in the game -- one that does not afford much opportunity for small-budgeted teams. This is the kind of stuff that small market teams struggle with each year.
And what if those trades work out differently and the Reds hit the jackpot with a bunch more rising stars who quickly get expensive? The organization is still doing this in five years, but not a "fire sale" so much as a "salary dump."
Look at the Marlins, the Twins, the Athletics. Develop and bring up young, cheap talent, make a run or two, and when the talent gets too expensive, let 'em walk or trade them away for more young, cheap talent. Suck for a few years, then one year make another run, and repeat.
This model means there is no such thing as a "small market dynasty," when the large market teams -- your Braves, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, etc. -- can contend every single year.
Yeah, I'm making this a small market/large market issue, because it is.
Seriously, when was the last time a large market team had to have two fire sales in five years? Can we finally say, at long last, that the system doesn't work? That the NFL has the right idea?
2003
July 30, 2003: Traded Scott Williamson to the Boston Red Sox. Received Phil Dumatrait (minors). Traded Jose Guillen to the Oakland Athletics. Received Aaron Harang, Joe Valentine, and Jeff Bruksch (minors).
July 31, 2003: Traded Aaron Boone to the New York Yankees. Received Brandon Claussen, Charlie Manning (minors), and cash. Sent Gabe White to the New York Yankees as part of a conditional deal.
August 12, 2003: Traded Kent Mercker to the Atlanta Braves. Received a player to be named later. The Atlanta Braves sent Matt Belisle (August 14, 2003) to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade.
August 21, 2003: Traded Scott Sullivan to the Chicago White Sox. Received Tim Hummel and cash.
August 31, 2003: Traded Kelly Stinnett to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Eric Valent.
Of the above, Dumatrait, Harang, and Belisle remain in the organization. Harang is now the ace (in a slump), Belisle is a .500 pitcher in the rotation, and Dumatrait might see a Reds uniform this year. Maybe.
2004
July 30, 2004: Traded Todd Jones and Brad Correll (minors) to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Josh Hancock and Andy Machado.
August 9, 2004: Traded Cory Lidle to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received a player to be named later, Javon Moran (minors), and Joe Wilson (minors). The Philadelphia Phillies sent Elizardo Ramirez (August 11, 2004) to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade.
This wasn't a "fire sale" even though fans were calling for one. This was a "rebuilding year" in which Harang and Belisle and other young players got thrown into the pool to see if they could really swim.
Of the above, only Elizardo Ramirez and Anderson Machado have surfaced in a Reds uniform. One is hurt, and one probably won't be back unless the entire infield goes on the DL. Maybe not even then.
2005
July 23, 2005: Traded Joe Randa to the San Diego Padres. Received Justin Germano and Travis Chick.
Neither of these guys are still around. More below.
2006
June 15, 2006: Traded Brandon Roberts (minors) to the Minnesota Twins. Received Juan Castro.
July 6, 2006: Traded Travis Chick to the Seattle Mariners. Received Eddie Guardado and cash.
July 13, 2006: Traded Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez, and Ryan Wagner to the Washington Nationals. Received Gary Majewski, Royce Clayton, Bill Bray, Brendan Harris, and Daryl Thompson (minors).
July 31, 2006: Traded Zach Ward (minors) to the Minnesota Twins. Received Kyle Lohse. Traded Justin Germano to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Rheal Cormier.
August 7, 2006: Traded a player to be named later to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Ryan Franklin and cash. The Cincinnati Reds sent Zac Stott (minors) (August 9, 2006) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade.
Castro is here, being Castro: all defense, no offense. You get what you get with this guy. Lohse got into the rotation and then starting pitching batting practice every time out. Guardado has been hurt for most of his time with the Reds. Majewski just got back after spending most of his time in the same way. Bray is hurt. Only Daryl Thompson, the low minor leaguer, has been performing well and relatively healthy. The rest are gone, traded away or released because they just couldn't hack it.
So really, is a fire sale the answer? What will that accomplish? Won't we be right back where we are in 3-5 years, when most of the prospects either don't work out or, in the absence of progress, get traded away for veteran washouts when the Reds make a fluke run at the division?
Can a franchise realistically do this every 3-5 years and hope to maintain a fanbase, especially in a town as fiery as Cincy?
Why should it have to, really?
Doesn't this raise larger questions?
At what point will MLB realize that "small market" teams simply can't compete with "large market" teams? We're looking at evidence of a class system in the game -- one that does not afford much opportunity for small-budgeted teams. This is the kind of stuff that small market teams struggle with each year.
And what if those trades work out differently and the Reds hit the jackpot with a bunch more rising stars who quickly get expensive? The organization is still doing this in five years, but not a "fire sale" so much as a "salary dump."
Look at the Marlins, the Twins, the Athletics. Develop and bring up young, cheap talent, make a run or two, and when the talent gets too expensive, let 'em walk or trade them away for more young, cheap talent. Suck for a few years, then one year make another run, and repeat.
This model means there is no such thing as a "small market dynasty," when the large market teams -- your Braves, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, etc. -- can contend every single year.
Yeah, I'm making this a small market/large market issue, because it is.
Seriously, when was the last time a large market team had to have two fire sales in five years? Can we finally say, at long last, that the system doesn't work? That the NFL has the right idea?
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Too Little, Too Late
Todd Coffey shipped to AAA to make room for Gary Majewski.
Enrique Cruz left off the 40-man roster, leaving 39 on with 1 spot open. Homer Bailey's rotation spot comes up Sunday, if that's what they're thinking.
If not, I don't know what they're thinking.
Time to start the fire sale...again. This time, though, they need to unload Griffey, Dunn, and Freel. But especially Dunn, who is young, has 40-homer power, and yet is a liability every time he steps to the plate or has a ball hit near him in the outfield.
Joey Votto would make a fine left fielder for the rest of the season. Votto-Hamilton-Hopper?
Feels like 2003 all over again. Man, this team sucks big donkey dick.
Enrique Cruz left off the 40-man roster, leaving 39 on with 1 spot open. Homer Bailey's rotation spot comes up Sunday, if that's what they're thinking.
If not, I don't know what they're thinking.
Time to start the fire sale...again. This time, though, they need to unload Griffey, Dunn, and Freel. But especially Dunn, who is young, has 40-homer power, and yet is a liability every time he steps to the plate or has a ball hit near him in the outfield.
Joey Votto would make a fine left fielder for the rest of the season. Votto-Hamilton-Hopper?
Feels like 2003 all over again. Man, this team sucks big donkey dick.
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