Usually I reserve this for Wednesday, but with the trade it pushed everything back and because of the trade I feel that it is something that should still happen this week as there are plenty of questions due to it.
Before that though, with the State of the Farm series being wrapped up, Monday is now going to become home to the Series or Game Review for a player. For the most part, any player in full season ball should have some game footage between all of the affiliates either having their own broadcasts or the Blaze playing the Giants a few times a year who do. So, which players should I look at? Position players and relievers (when possible) will get a series review so there is plenty of data. Starting pitchers will get a game review as they tend to throw often enough in one game for a solid amount of data. Between now and April there are is time for 15 reviews, so everyone list the guys you want to see (whether it is 1 guy or even 15 guys). Ultimately I will choose, but having a list to work from certainly helps.
Now, onto the All Questions Answered rules:
- Ask before midnight.
- Each user gets three questions.
- Avoid questions that require more than a paragraph to answer.
- Avoid questions that will require me to look up an answer.
Seems simple enough. List some players and ask some questions.
Doug.
1. How would you make our lineup? I like this lineup.
1. Phillips – 2B
2. Choo – RF
3. Votto – 1B
4. Ludwick – LF
5. Bruce – CF
6. Hanigan – C
7. Hannihan – 3B
8. Cozart – SS
2. After this deal and the Hannahan acquisition what else do the Reds really need to upgrade? We still have a pitcher we could deal but I am having a hard time figuring out what else we need to do. I would not want to trade Bailey or Leake for a bench upgrade. I’d rather run out what we have, either Donald or HRod.
3. What would be your depth chart for the shortstops in the minors? Do you think Vincej is legit?
I am sending this to you from Tokyo. Just thought you may like to know.
Daryl,
You must have gotten some bad sushi over there. :)
Um, did I miss something? Hannahan over Frazier at 3B????
Crap . Yes Frazier over Hannahan. And above Hanigan. Sorry.
Darly also no way are we trading Bailey unless we can’t sign him. With the way he finished last half of last year I’m not sure he isn’t our NO. 2 starter and maybe closing in on ACE territory.
Choo leads off and BP hits second. you also forgot Frazier
Plus, they got Choo to lead off and they wouldn’t do lefty/lefty 2nd and 3rd.
1. I am with that line up, except for you missing Frazier at 3B and moving up to the #6 spot. I like Choo behind Phillips given Phillips propensity to hit into double plays with his aggressive approach. Dusty will undoubtedly have them switched from what we like though.
2. We could use an upgrade at SS, where I feel we are league average at best. I still think we need to just let Mesoraco catch 75% of the games too. But right now, this team is stacked.
3. Our depth chart in the minors is empty. Not a single guy with full season league experience is even on it if we are looking at true defenders at shortstop. I don’t believe Vincej has a starters ceiling.
Doug,
1. Do you bring Rolen back as a sub? Word is he wants to come to ST and see how he feels.
2. Bigger upside Bailey or Latos
3. If Ludwick puts up 2012 numbers again this year with our pitching and Choo leading off we win the central again. Your thoughts?
If you read the Enquirer story about the budget, unless Rolen is playing for quite a cut in pay there isn’t much over major league minimum available. Plus with Hannahan I’m not sure there is a roster spot for him.
I think he would defiinitely have to take a cut in pay. It would be spelled out up front that he is a sub. I don’t think Bob C or Walt would deny him the opportunity to try out if he wanted to. Don’t know that I would have a issue with a bench of Hannihan,Mezoraco,Heisey,Paul and Rolen. Of courswe he would have to except his reserve role upfront.
1. Assuming he, and more importantly, Dusty knows that Rolen is the back up and that Frazier has a long leash, then sure. I wouldn’t mind bringing him back.
2. I think it is the same. Both guys can throw 200+ innings, have plus sliders, similar velocity…. they are very similar pitchers when it comes to their upside.
3. Assuming whoever plays center field isn’t a total albatross defensively and we stay relatively healthy, we win this division by 5+ games.
Ben Nicholson-Smith of mlbtraderumors.com says the Diamondbacks were on the short end of the Choo trade. He said the Reds and Indians won. I’m not so sure the Indians did. Maybe in terms of what they got for one year of Choo. What are your thoughts.
Do you think we need to acquire a LH reliever or use Cingrani there short term?
What pieces do you think we still lack to complete the team for 2013? th
Alan, Indians got a nice pitching prospect for a guy they were going to lose after this year. Arizona got Didi a fine prospect but one with no ML experience. Reds got a proven ML lead off hitter with the numbers to back it up. Joey has got to be smiling think about the increase in RBI opportunities. I call it Reds based on what they did to compete for title , Indians and then Arizona.
No way I use Cingrani as a releiver after the numbers he put up last year.
I’d like them to get a lefty reliever but it isn’t a deal breaker. I think with the signing of Hannihan we are set. Arredondo is money against lefties.
I agree on all counts Jim. If we get in a pinch, we could use Cingrani short term as a reliever. But I agree, I want to see him in the rotation in the not so distant future.
1. I think the Indians absolutely made out like bandits in this trade. They gave up one year of a very good player and acquired a very well regarded minor league arm who is at the worst, very close to being able to contribute at the MLB level. They are a team that isn’t going to win in 2013. They made a strong move for their team. The DBacks move is interesting. They clearly had soured on Bauer because of his “attitude”. They have a plethora of pitching already. They have no real solution at shortstop. They solved that problem. Maybe look at it like the Reds/Padres deal. In a vacuum, the Reds got hosed in the Latos deal. But it wasn’t done in a vacuum. The Reds traded parts they had better replacements for, for something they didn’t have at all. Same thing here, though on a much smaller scale. Bauer is the “better prospect”, but he probably isn’t the more valuable one to the Diamondbacks.
2. I think we stick with Marshall and use Arredondo as a lefty guy when called for. There isn’t room for a guy with options in the bullpen right now except for Hoover.
3. I don’t trust Cozarts bat. So far in his career, he is a worse hitter than Drew Stubbs has been in his career. People just don’t complain as much because he isn’t striking out as often. That really is the only concern I have with this team as of today. A week ago I would have said the bench and CF too, but those seem to be taken care of.
Am I carzy for now wanting to put Chapman back at Closer and Leake as 5th starter.
Does that not make the team stronger
Who would you rather say goodbye to: Ondrusek or Arrendondo (sorry about the spelling)
Greg, only one way to answer the Chapman question. Start him and find out. If it doesn’t go well you can always move him back to the pen. If Leake wants to remain a part of this rotation he needs to pitch better than he did last year. He is about to be passed by some Minor leaguers.
You’re not crazy Greg. I had the same thought when they announced the Choo trade. It probably depends on your perspective. If you believe we’re in it to win it just in 2013, then you probably feel that way. Given the years of losing ingrained in most Reds fans, it’s a reasonable expectation. However, surveying the divisional landscape, I don’t see why we wouldn’t be one of the top 2 teams for the forseeable future whether Chappy is on the team or not. In a sense we’re playing with house money here, so why not go for it, right?
Doug iF you allow me a bonus question.
Rank pitchers according to upside as starters. Corcino, Leake and Cingrani.
1. Are the reds done? or could we trade a few relievers, Leake, or some prospects for LH bullpen arm?
2. Who’s the minor league guy that will turn heads and get a strong look to make the team out of Spring Training?
3. What 2012 draftee starts at the highest level out of spring training? What 2012 draftee ends at the highest level at the end of next year?
Which Reds prospects would you have treaded to get James Shields/ wade davis from TB?
Players: Stephenson, Hamilton, HRod, YRod, Barnhart, LaMarre
No way no how would I ever trade a pitcher if I thought he had TRUE ace stuff, not just someone who we call our #1 but would be a typical #2 or #3 on a good team.
Hey Doug,
1) How are you feeling about our last 2 top draft picks at this point (Robert Stephenson and Nick Travieso)? Too early to say?
2) What’s the word on Billy Hamilton’s defense in CF so far?
3) Tony Cingrani’s minor league numbers (as a starting pitcher) look AWESOME to me, but I’ve seen talk that he might only profile as a reliever in the majors. What’s your opinion on that, and can you explain why?
Thanks!
1. I am not sold on Frazier being an every day player. His 2010-2012 Louisville stats are average at best and he finished September in Cincy very poorly. Its not realy a question as much as I would like your thoughts on this.
2. If Bailey, Latos and Cueto all continue to pitch as they have, who do you think will be retained long term. By 2015, all three will have the potential to demand huge contracts.
3. Which of our minor league teams do you expect to have the most talent in 2013?
I’m not Doug, but I’d take Latos from that lot. Bailey has a history of nagging injuries and there is still the thought that Cueto could wear down. Latos was $ after April of last year.
Players: Bryson Smith, Ismael Guillon, David Vidal, Ryan Wright, and Theo Bowe
1) Do you think Hamilton starts 2012 in AA given he has less than a ful year there and is at a new position?
2) Is Zach Vincej now our best SS prospect? Good contact, little to no power,but good glove and arm.
3) Does HRod play exclusively 3B in Louisville or will he start around the infield prepping for a utility role?
1. Would you rather see Burriss or Donald on the Reds’ bench? (wouldn’t it be better for Donald to get ABs in AAA, in case Cozart struggles)
2. Should the Reds consider adding a corner OF bat (e.g., Raul Ibanez), Or should they go with Paul?
3. What’s the next move you would like to see Walt make before spring training?
1) Which, if any, prospects do you think could play/pitch at three levels this season?
2) Will H-Rod be given a legitimate shot to earn a spot on the 25-man in spring training, or will he be kept in Louisville for the extra playing time in the event a more full-time fill-in is needed due to injury?
3) If Billy Hamilton is playing a great CF and looking ready to be called up early- to mid-season, what would happen? I assume he’d be called up if an injury occurred. How bad would Choo’s defense have to be? What if Ludwick looked like 2009-2011 Ludwick instead of 2012 Ludwick? Are there scenarios where Hamilton comes up even if everyone else is playing reasonably well, and if so, what would the outfield rotation look like?
Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says “the Reds want Choo to replace Stubbs in center. They will regret that move, because one reason the Indians were able to deal for Choo was that he struggled in center for Seattle. He also was inconsistent last season for the Tribe in right.”
Do you think Choo will be an acceptable center fielder, or will he be a sharp enough downgrade defensively that our stellar pitching staff will regress next year?