2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

[Son of Sam99]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

More Votto praise from Buster Olney:

"Using the advanced metric Adjusted OPS-plus, which takes a player’s OPS and adjusts for the ballpark and the league in which he plays, Votto rates as the offensive equal of Hank Aaron and Joe DiMaggio and is just a tick better than Frank Robinson. But maybe the best way to describe Votto is that he’s baseball’s most cerebral hitter, the Einstein of the batter’s box"

[TheShizNo1]

Doc: Aroldis Chapman to stay Reds' closer

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130321/SPT04/303210108

I know most don't like it, but I love this. If it ain't broke, don't fix it

[Motown]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Doc: Aroldis Chapman to stay Reds' closer

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130321/SPT04/303210108

I know most don't like it, but I love this. If it ain't broke, don't fix it

I'm not diggin' Leake as 5th starter tho...Kyle Loshe anyone?

[Son of Sam99]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

I'm not diggin' Leake as 5th starter tho...Kyle Loshe anyone?

I doubt there is any money left after all the arb heaings

[ELDoro]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Chapman was the Reds' best starting pitcher over the last 2 spring trainings. Whats the point of even trying him there again this spring if his success in ST meant nothing?

I have no problem with Leake as the 5th starter.....find me a better #5 on any team around the league.

[TheShizNo1]

I'm wondering if it was Chapman saying he wanted to close. Thinking about it, I don't want a guy being "The" guy if he doesn't want to be. That's like someone saying they don't want to be the starting QB, put you still try and start them anyway. Maybe he was suffering more fatigue than he thought he would, or just feels more comfortable in the bullpen.

[redsrule]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Something definitely changed. No way they would have paid Broxton all that money if they intended on making him the setup man.

[jake44np]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Chapman was the Reds' best starting pitcher over the last 2 spring trainings. Whats the point of even trying him there again this spring if his success in ST meant nothing?

I have no problem with Leake as the 5th starter.....find me a better #5 on any team around the league.

He has only been pitching 2 innings a game in st hardly can say that makes him their best starter.

[Motown]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Chapman was the Reds' best starting pitcher over the last 2 spring trainings. Whats the point of even trying him there again this spring if his success in ST meant nothing?

I have no problem with Leake as the 5th starter.....find me a better #5 on any team around the league.

Leake was 8-9 with a 4.58 ERA in 179 innings in 2012.I could find quite a few.

[slickdtc]

Chapman closer -- I'm happy. Yeah the save stat is overrated or stupid, but who knows if he pans out as a starter. A big part of me believes he wouldn't. Everyone says he just needed to add this pitch or gain a bit of control. Maybe the truth is, he can't for 5+ innings. Maybe he has to rely on the 101 MPH fastball and only allow hitters to see a limited amount of his pitches per game.

He may be "wasted" as a closer, but that's what he is comfortable with. Who is to say but him what he is best at? I'll "settle." It helps we have a pretty strong 1-4 starting rotation and some guys like Leake and LeCure. He doesn't NEED to be a starter.

[redsrule]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Votto hit a bomb of a home run off Yu Darvish yesterday.

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[Son of Sam99]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Chapman closer -- I'm happy. Yeah the save stat is overrated or stupid, but who knows if he pans out as a starter. A big part of me believes he wouldn't. Everyone says he just needed to add this pitch or gain a bit of control. Maybe the truth is, he can't for 5+ innings. Maybe he has to rely on the 101 MPH fastball and only allow hitters to see a limited amount of his pitches per game.

He may be "wasted" as a closer, but that's what he is comfortable with. Who is to say but him what he is best at? I'll "settle." It helps we have a pretty strong 1-4 starting rotation and some guys like Leake and LeCure. He doesn't NEED to be a starter.

I've been all over the place on this discussion but in the end I feel like everyone is really glad to keep him as a closer... Marshall then Broxton then Chapman then back to the clubhouse smiling.

Also I just read this interesting fact: "Some devotees of advanced metrics posit one-run outcomes as random. But bullpen matters. The Cardinals’ 21-26 record in one-run games compared to the Reds’ 31-21 mark represented 7½ games in the standings. The Cardinals improved to 10-8 in such outcomes after the July 31 acquisition of Miami Marlins middle reliever Edward Mujica; the Reds spiked to 24-15 in one-run outcomes after Chapman’s installation as closer."

[Son of Sam99]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

I cant believe how quiet this board is considering the greatest day of the season is just 4 days away!!

Its going to be awesome to start off against such a solid opponent.

[redsrule]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

That was so frustrating, and to cap it off Ludwick getting hurt! I just hope it isn't too serious and will only miss a little bit of time.

[Jackdog]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Ludwick out 3 months. Let's go Heisey.