BaseballAnalysts.com is running a series right now that ranks the top group of players per age group. Jay Bruce, not surprisingly was named the top player in the age 21 group. Homer Bailey came in as the #9 player in the age 22 group. Johnny Cueto got an honorable mention in the age 22 group. Joey Votto was an honorable mention among the age 24 group as was Edwin Encarnacion for the age 25 group.
Baseballmastermind.com released its top 25 prospect list the other day. Its a pretty good list if I had to give an opinion. Jay Bruce heads the list. Homer Bailey came in at #8 overall on the list. Both Johnny Cueto and Joey Votto were left off of the list, which I disagree with, but compared to some of the other lists we have seen recently this one is one of the best despite that.
There are rumors floating around that the Reds could be interested in signing Kenny Lofton to hit leadoff and play center. That wouldn’t be the worst thing ever in my opinion. While I would love to see Jay Bruce in center March 31st in Cincinnati, it wouldn’t hurt for him to come up in late May or early June to take over and likely prevent him from becoming a Super 2. While we would all love to spend with the Yankees and Sox, we aren’t likely ever going to (unless God willing, baseball gets a salary cap) and Bruce turning into a Super 2 could potentially backfire on the Reds.
I also just wanted to point out that I think Dusty Baker is going to get a lot more credit than he likely will deserve for once again ‘turning around’ a team he just took over. First, lets note that his first year in San Francisco he has some left fielder named Bonds entering his true prime (not that chemically enhanced one in his late 30’s). His first year in Chicago he got a pitching staff with 22 year olds of Mark Prior and Carlos Zambrano and he ‘turned them around’ too. Now he steps into a Cincinnati job when they have Francisco Cordero, Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto all likely to step onto the job in his first year. When he again ‘turns them around’ he is going to get more credit than he likely should get for the third time in his career.
Thursday, 14. February 2008
That seems like a random, drive-by slam on Dusty Baker that really makes little sense.
Should we give Francona credit for last year? I mean, he was “given” Beckett, Ellsbury, Dice-K, etc?
My personal opinion is that if the Reds win this year, Krivsky, Castellini, Baker and the players will have all played an important role.
Thursday, 14. February 2008
I cant think of a single successful manager in the history of the game that you couldnt say the same thing about. You need great players in order to win games. All managers are overrated.
Thursday, 14. February 2008
Francona doesn’t get credit for turning around a bad team. He gets credit for winning with a very good team. Baker was given good talent, but both times he took over a team he recieved big time talent the year he got there that wasn’t there the year before and then when he got there the improvement from the previous season was drastic.
Saturday, 16. February 2008
Sorry Doug, I just don’t agree with your assessment of Baker. I’ve noted your previous slams on him as well. And I’m sure that as the season unfolds and the Reds look a little better and win a few more games, we can all look forward to your postings that Baker had nothing to do with it.
But hey, it’s your web site. And a good one, too.
Saturday, 16. February 2008
If Baker shows to be a competent manager, I will give him his credit but I don’t expect to see it and hope to be surprised.
Saturday, 16. February 2008
The best way to approach rating Baker would be to establish criteria ahead of time that would be good indicators within his power and influence. It would take a while to think of everything but some bigger things come to mind like the 25-man roster selection after spring training. He will have some say in that but maybe not as much as Krivsky. How he handles playing time in spring training is another important factor. Then, you have lineups, pitching changes, hit-and-runs and other “playcalling”, and media relations. You give him more credit for getting better numbers out of established players and less for guys coming-of-age. So watch Gonzalez, Dunn Griffey, Harang, Arroyo, to see “atmospheric” variation. I don’t know if these are the best critieria but the point is to have some kind of base by which to judge him or anybody fairly. It’s too easy to find flaws or give credit after the fact to prove a point. I wonder if there is a “VORM” stat?