LaRussa to manage Reds?

[TheGamingChef]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

Birdsonbat is right... the Cardinals organization probably has close to the least amount of talent in AAA/developed AA in all of the majors. We have a fair amount of guys who are two steps away, but very few that are 1 step away to fill in for these old guys. We reaped the benefits the past few years, and now we have to pay for it. It's time for a new manager.

[rsox]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

If the Orioles have not hired a manager by the end of the season and LaRussa does leave the Cardinals i would expect the O's to be one of the teams pursuing him.
I could also see the Mariners and Phillies (if Manuel is finally fired this winter) being interested. Face it, whether you like LaRussa or not the guy wins and any number of teams would love to have him.

[asrabbit91]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

Actually the last few years we have upgraded our triple a. This year we got 1st in the PCL in the first half of the year, we are loaded in double and triple a. We have developed a great power hitter in Duncan, with alot of solid position players such as Ryan and Rasmus. We really also actually have a young bullpen also. Also Ankiel, we are pretty deep actually. Our drafting skills have picked up these last few years.

[Jackdog]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

Without a dependable, consistent #1 starter and a few less gas cans in the pen, the manager isn't going to matter for the Reds.

Closer David Weathers has saved 15 of 17 games, including a Major League-leading eight saves of more than three outs. Reds #1 starter Aaron Harang is 8-2 and among league leaders in innings and strikeouts.

Not all the Reds pitching staff sucks.

[BigRed]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

Actually the last few years we have upgraded our triple a. This year we got 1st in the PCL in the first half of the year, we are loaded in double and triple a. We have developed a great power hitter in Duncan, with alot of solid position players such as Ryan and Rasmus. We really also actually have a young bullpen also. Also Ankiel, we are pretty deep actually. Our drafting skills have picked up these last few years.

In trying to be as polite as possible, I will only say 'you are wrong'. First, the PCL is not a league that recognizes a first half winner. And, besides, even if they did the Redbirds are sitting at 37-51. Which is good for 4th (dead last) and 15.5 games out of the division lead. Btw, they are tied for dead last in the entire Pacific Coast League.

Secondly, the AAA team is not 'loaded'. They're heavy on outfielders who are all AAAA players or MLB bench guys. AA Springfield is a little more 'loaded' with Rasmus, Anderson, Garcia, Daniels, Perez and Hoffpauir (who was recently promoted to Memphis) and they have some recent additions that should be getting better in Hamilton and Jay.

But this organization is far from being 'loaded'. Yes, Chris Duncan has turned into a pretty good power hitter and has improved as an outfielder (he only had up to go), but Ryan is an okay infielder and Ankiel is so raw a hitter he's not very useful. He hits the ball a mile, but strikes out a lot and never walks.

The organization is getting better, and has produced some pretty good bullpen arms, but to be a benefit it must produce starting pitchers and position players which it hasn't done with any regularity for quite some time. I will admit though, that the organization has had a couple of mainstays come up in Pujols (who the Cards were kinda lucky with) and Molina, but no starting pitchers (Wainwright doesn't count, he was basically MLB ready when they acquired him) which costs the most.

Bottom line, outside of Rodriguez and possibly Gonzalez, there are zero major league ready players at Memphis. We have one guy who is regularly listed on prospect lists (Rasmus) and a second who is about to be (Anderson). I can't say it enough, this organization is neither deep nor loaded.

[TheGamingChef]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

Yeah, we have some guys but not enough. I mean just looking at our younger guys.... John Rodriguez, Skip Schumaker, and Colby Rasmus as the OF - Ryan & Hoffpauir, and I guess Rico Washington or Edgar Gonzalez, and then Anderson at catcher. Mike McCoy and Joe Mather are possibles as well.

We're pretty set at the fielding/hitting aspect but I'm not sold on pitching. Perez is amazing but he's gonna close. We have Wainwright as a good young pitcher (Reyes is young, but he ain't good). We'll need to sniff out some pitching prospects.

[Sandman42]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

I like how numerical he is. He has numbers for absolutely every situation. It takes emotion completely out of the game, so it's like a computer. It wouldn't work with every team, but it works in STL, and I hope he sticks around.

I tend to think LaRussa over-manages too much because he does this. Sometimes he may end up using up his bullpen too early trying to pitch 3 different guys in one inning.

[BigRed]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

I tend to think LaRussa over-manages too much because he does this. Sometimes he may end up using up his bullpen too early trying to pitch 3 different guys in one inning.

That's just it. He has all those binders and you can totally see 'em in the background. He has his team study hours upon hours of tape. But when it gets down to the serious business, he will ALWAYS go the route of tradition.

The other team has a righty pitching? What's that, he's got an un-godly reverse split where he's actually 200 points better facing a left handed hitter? Hmmm. We've got So Taguchi (righty) on the bench along with Skip Schumacker (lefty). Tradition says go with the lefty (who happens to be hitting .200, but the numbers say the righty has a much better chance, who is hitting .300.....hmmmm........Skip! Get your helmet on!!

[asrabbit91]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

I meant double A man, but we have alot of solid position players. It's 10 times better then 3 years ago. I hope we can get rid of Kennedy he's a bum.

[ESPNdeportes]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

Without a dependable, consistent #1 starter and a few less gas cans in the pen, the manager isn't going to matter for the Reds.

I'd say Aaron Harang is a dependble, consistent #1 starter. Led the NL in strikeouts outright and was tied for most wins last year.

This year so far, he's 9-2 with a 3.67 ERA and he's #3 in K's with 112. His numbers are very comparable to those of Brandon Webb, who was added to the all-star team.

No one seems to know about Harang though because he plays on a terrible team. In fact, last year was the first time EVER that a pitcher led a league in Win's and K's and didn't get a single Cy Young vote. I smell a conspiracy against Harang, LOL.

[sportsdude]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

I'd say Aaron Harang is a dependble, consistent #1 starter. Led the NL in strikeouts outright and was tied for most wins last year.

This year so far, he's 9-2 with a 3.67 ERA and he's #3 in K's with 112. His numbers are very comparable to those of Brandon Webb, who was added to the all-star team.

No one seems to know about Harang though because he plays on a terrible team. In fact, last year was the first time EVER that a pitcher led a league in Win's and K's and didn't get a single Cy Young vote. I smell a conspiracy against Harang, LOL.

too many peeps be hatin on the Reds.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

too many peeps be hatin on the Reds.

Dude...

They're the Reds.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

Dude...

They're the Reds.

What's your point?

[steveeee]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

I hope it's LaRussa's last year as the Cards manager.. I think it's time for a change.. he's been here way to long.. yeah he has a ton of success.. but I think this team is in a rebuilding stage and needs to go young... something Tony is not cut out for..

[skitch]

Re: LaRussa to manage Reds?

Pujols is going to kick LaRussa's *** all the way to Cincinnati after tonight...