2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

[AntiBandwagoner]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

:'( streak over.

[PhantomPain]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Really enjoyed going to the game last night. Always fun to watch your team not have a lick of offense to it. I think my favorite part was the all you can eat seats I had.

Today I get to subject myself to more woes as I am going again. Not all you can eat though so not sure how enjoyable it will be.

These are the first Reds games I have been to since I watched Chris "Spuds" Sabo hit a grand slam in the early 1990's at Joe Robbie Stadium. Boy we could sure use a player like him on this team.

[PhantomPain]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Really enjoyed going to the game last night. Always fun to watch your team not have a lick of offense to it. I think my favorite part was the all you can eat seats I had.

Today I get to subject myself to more woes as I am going again. Not all you can eat though so not sure how enjoyable it will be.

These are the first Reds games I have been to since I watched Chris "Spuds" Sabo hit a grand slam in the early 1990's at Joe Robbie Stadium. Boy we could sure use a player like him on this team.

I was hoping if I whined about their insufficient offense they would wake up and give me a good game to see....and they did! Good game today.

[CaseIH]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

I'm glad they decided against an all-out fire sale. I'm glad they didn't trade Mat Latos (as it was reported a few hours before the deadline they were dangling him). I'm glad they decided against picking up a bat because with the moves the Brewers and Cardinals made, the Reds are not making the playoffs this year.

But I'm disappointed that they at least didn't entertain the idea of trading a couple guys with some value like Alfredo Simon and Jonathan Broxton. With the way these two guys are pitching, it's a case of sell high...and Jocketty was asleep at the wheel again.

We need a new GM in the worst way (Jocketty was ranked 26th by Sporting News among all GMs). Maybe we can get Brad Pitt playing Billy Beane?

I was glad to see us not have a all out fire sale too, not that I thought we would. Its just one of those yrs when everything seems to go wrong, and injuries have really hurt us.

When Votto went to the DL the 2nd time I thought we still had a shot at making the postseason, but once Phillips went down our chances reallly diminished to make the postseason. I have always felt while BP might not be considered the best player on the team, I did feel he was the most important player on the team, because of his defense and ability to hit in any spot in the order.

Its just one of those years that happens from time to time with a team, where you cant catch a break with injuries and stuff. I know some were wanting Walt to make a move to better the team, but really that didnt make a lot of sense to me to give up some top prospects to rent a player or 2 for a couple months.

Some years it just not your year, and this is definitely not our year. I feel bad for Price, because I really think he has done a descent job in his 1st yr as manager considering all the injuries to key players. I dont think any manager could have this team in much better shape this yr, and Dusty definitely wouldnt have done better.

Hopefully Votto gets back to 100% next yr and back to being one of the best hitters in baseball, because he really hasnt been a 100% since he injured his knee in 2012.

If we get everyone back healthy next yr and we can add possibly a LF that can hit along with some bullpen help we should be back in contention. Be nice to have a ss that could hit a little bit better than Cozart, but if I can only have 1 thing out of a ss, I do want solid defense and that Cozart does very well, just to bad he cant hit better.

Kind of funny when we traded Didi to get Choo I said on the Reds forums that in the long run we were trading the better ss away, and some thought I was nuts, but now I see the same guys ripping Cozart and saying what I knew all long,lol.

[PhantomPain]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

I was glad to see us not have a all out fire sale too, not that I thought we would. Its just one of those yrs when everything seems to go wrong, and injuries have really hurt us.

When Votto went to the DL the 2nd time I thought we still had a shot at making the postseason, but once Phillips went down our chances reallly diminished to make the postseason. I have always felt while BP might not be considered the best player on the team, I did feel he was the most important player on the team, because of his defense and ability to hit in any spot in the order.

Its just one of those years that happens from time to time with a team, where you cant catch a break with injuries and stuff. I know some were wanting Walt to make a move to better the team, but really that didnt make a lot of sense to me to give up some top prospects to rent a player or 2 for a couple months.

Some years it just not your year, and this is definitely not our year. I feel bad for Price, because I really think he has done a descent job in his 1st yr as manager considering all the injuries to key players. I dont think any manager could have this team in much better shape this yr, and Dusty definitely wouldnt have done better.

Hopefully Votto gets back to 100% next yr and back to being one of the best hitters in baseball, because he really hasnt been a 100% since he injured his knee in 2012.

If we get everyone back healthy next yr and we can add possibly a LF that can hit along with some bullpen help we should be back in contention. Be nice to have a ss that could hit a little bit better than Cozart, but if I can only have 1 thing out of a ss, I do want solid defense and that Cozart does very well, just to bad he cant hit better.

Kind of funny when we traded Didi to get Choo I said on the Reds forums that in the long run we were trading the better ss away, and some thought I was nuts, but now I see the same guys ripping Cozart and saying what I knew all long,lol.

I agree that a fire sale wouldn't have been good but I still think that this season is over and that moving one of the pitchers wouldn't have been a bad idea if we were able to get something in return and long term. The thing that bothered me most about the trade deadline was Walt waiting until 2 hours before it was over to dangle Latos. Just smelled too much like "we don't know what we are doing" and they should have known all along what the plan was. Unless that was the plan and then I think they are dumber than I originally thought.

As for Cozart/Didi. Cozart is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game. He doesn't hit very well but you can afford that if you have most people on your team hitting. Unfortunately we don't have anyone on the team that can hit outside of our young 3. So now Cozart's bat is magnified. In the end, I have no problem with Cozart and Didi is still unproven. It isn't like he is lighting it up somewhere starting every game and playing amazing defense. Maybe in the long run that will be the case, for now it isn't.

Votto. Hmmm. I have some real concerns about Votto's future. You mentioned in your post, Votto hasn't been the same since the injury. Has had a couple of surgeries and now is on the DL for the second time this year. Can he come back to 100% this year? Highly doubftul. Can he come back to 100% next year? We'll see. My concern that is that his injury is one that will be a continual nag the rest of his career and maybe he will never be the same player that the Reds decided to handicap the team for. I don't have a good feeling about it but I hope I am wrong.

I do think it is time to find a new home for Bruce though. If he could get on a streak and up his value, I would trade him. But not if you can't get anything back. If not, hold on to him until Winker or someone comes up that can play and hit and hopefully turn the page in a positive direction.

I truly believe that Mez, Hamilton and Frazier are stars in the making. But they can't do that by themselves. They are pressing too hard knowing they are the only offense the team has although they have started hitting again which is great to see.

I would love to see this team find a way to rally and make the playoffs, and the way the Central is playing, it is at least possible. But highly doubtful considering we literally have no hitting outside of the Top 3 to 4 players. Hard to beat 9 with 4. And I wonder if Simon is coming back down to earth. Hopefully he can get back to being as great as he was in the first half, but we'll see.

[HustlinOwl]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Price really??? Sit Ludwick and Pena when they begin finding their swings and continually sit Lutz in favor of .000 Hannahan. Dead arm Simon is done back to pen demote Hoover already and call up a 5th starter. 3B coach blows and lmao at Jacoby being the reason the hitting was so bad wrong again Reds fans tired of seeing this team not work counts and continue to swing at the first pitch. Bruce bye bye your time in Cincy has ended GTFO

[slickdtc]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

I feel like the clock has ticked on this season. My feeling all along was right around .500 baseball and that's where we are. And without two of our supposedly best players, I don't see us making a late summer run even though we've done so in the past couple seasons. Too big of a mountain to climb. It just sucks because 5 GB of the division and 4 GB of the Wild Card are hardly insurmountable. But when other teams are getting better and we're just holding it together, it makes you wanna just pack it in on this team.

[CaseIH]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

I agree that a fire sale wouldn't have been good but I still think that this season is over and that moving one of the pitchers wouldn't have been a bad idea if we were able to get something in return and long term. The thing that bothered me most about the trade deadline was Walt waiting until 2 hours before it was over to dangle Latos. Just smelled too much like "we don't know what we are doing" and they should have known all along what the plan was. Unless that was the plan and then I think they are dumber than I originally thought.

As for Cozart/Didi. Cozart is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game. He doesn't hit very well but you can afford that if you have most people on your team hitting. Unfortunately we don't have anyone on the team that can hit outside of our young 3. So now Cozart's bat is magnified. In the end, I have no problem with Cozart and Didi is still unproven. It isn't like he is lighting it up somewhere starting every game and playing amazing defense. Maybe in the long run that will be the case, for now it isn't.

Votto. Hmmm. I have some real concerns about Votto's future. You mentioned in your post, Votto hasn't been the same since the injury. Has had a couple of surgeries and now is on the DL for the second time this year. Can he come back to 100% this year? Highly doubftul. Can he come back to 100% next year? We'll see. My concern that is that his injury is one that will be a continual nag the rest of his career and maybe he will never be the same player that the Reds decided to handicap the team for. I don't have a good feeling about it but I hope I am wrong.

I do think it is time to find a new home for Bruce though. If he could get on a streak and up his value, I would trade him. But not if you can't get anything back. If not, hold on to him until Winker or someone comes up that can play and hit and hopefully turn the page in a positive direction.

I truly believe that Mez, Hamilton and Frazier are stars in the making. But they can't do that by themselves. They are pressing too hard knowing they are the only offense the team has although they have started hitting again which is great to see.

I would love to see this team find a way to rally and make the playoffs, and the way the Central is playing, it is at least possible. But highly doubtful considering we literally have no hitting outside of the Top 3 to 4 players. Hard to beat 9 with 4. And I wonder if Simon is coming back down to earth. Hopefully he can get back to being as great as he was in the first half, but we'll see.

Like you I do have some concerns that Votto may never be the same again. Hopefully thats not the case, but it is a worry. By the way I am fine with Cozart at ss, because of his defense, but I still think in the long run Didi will be the better player, and Didi strong point has always been his defense, and he has a lot stronger arm than Cozart does. I dont blame Walt for making that trade though, it had to be done and Cozart wouldnt have gotten us anything in a trade anyway.

Ive always been a huge fan of Frazier, been following him since his LLWS days,lol. I also said a couple yrs ago they werent doing Mez any favors by not giving him consistent playing time. I know Hanigan work well with the pithcers, but only way the pitchers were going to get comfortable with Mez is if he caught them. Young players need consistent time, and he didnt get it really until Hanigan got hurt and then we seen glimpses of what he could do, but once Hanigan came back Mez went back to not getting enough time.

As bad as we have played its is amazing were still in the race for the postseason. If Bruce could get going like he is capable of it would sure help Frazier and Mez so they didnt have to do so much. I do think we still have a shot at the postseason, but chances are definitely slim with the inconsistent play.

[CaseIH]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Price really??? Sit Ludwick and Pena when they begin finding their swings and continually sit Lutz in favor of .000 Hannahan. Dead arm Simon is done back to pen demote Hoover already and call up a 5th starter. 3B coach blows and lmao at Jacoby being the reason the hitting was so bad wrong again Reds fans tired of seeing this team not work counts and continue to swing at the first pitch. Bruce bye bye your time in Cincy has ended GTFO

Jacoby needed to go, just to see if a new voice and approach could get thru to these guys. I think we know now that the players are where the problem is, and not on neccesarily on the teachers. Hitting coaches can only do so much they cant do the hitting for them. I cant imagine any hitting coach preaches swing early and often,lol.

Definitely not a fan of Steve Smith, he has cost us a few games with his poor decisions coaching 3rd base.

I was afraid Simon would run out of gas, and that looks to be the case. Problem is we dont have much in the way of a replacement for him unfortunately. I doubt they want to bring up one of the top pitching prospects, so that would mean a scrub Walt has signed in AAA would be brought up, and thats probably no better than a dead arm Simon.

I dont know what the heck is wrong with Hoover this yr, but he blows this yr. He needed to be replaced a long time ago.

I really hope we can turn things around, but I just dont think this team offensively has the ability needed to turn things around. Every time you think they are starting to put it together, they go back to stinking it up within a few games.

Definitely been a frustrating season. I had really hope a new manager and coaching staff would freshen things up, but its not. Not that I would want Dusty back, even though I didnt feel he was to blame for much other than his lack of postseason success.

Price has made some mistakes no doubt, and was expected from a 1st time manager, but I do think he can be a good manager. He does need to fire his 3rd base coach, I dont mind being aggressive on the bases, but Stev Smith decisions has been down right awful.

[redsrule]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Like him or not, you have to like that Price called out the team for a lack of effort, etc. Dusty wouldn't have done that. They responded last night. We will see if they can continue to respond.

I think he has made some mistakes too and some weird decisions in the game but he's still better than Dusty. He wasn't handed the best team to begin with and with all the injuries it has made it even worse.

That being said, they still are only 5 games out with 50 to go. If someone can get hot (Bruce maybe? He's hit the last 3 games) and can help carry this team, they still have a chance. If they can somehow make it to the postseason, with their staff I like their chances.

[jasontoddwhitt]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

I'd say Price feels entitled to play Jack-O considering when Jocketty was asked about picking up an extra infield bat, his response was "we have Hannahan coming back".

We need a new 3B coach, or turn the automatic winder on his arm off because he sends everyone home.

I'm willing to give Price a chance. It's his first time being a manager. I wasn't expecting perfection, and I'm sure he would be the first to admit that he has made mistakes. But considering the deck that was stacked against him (paralyzed front office and the injuries to key bats), I'm not completely upset.

Hell, they are still well within the playoff race. Considering everything, I'll take it.

[CaseIH]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Like him or not, you have to like that Price called out the team for a lack of effort, etc. Dusty wouldn't have done that. They responded last night. We will see if they can continue to respond.

I think he has made some mistakes too and some weird decisions in the game but he's still better than Dusty. He wasn't handed the best team to begin with and with all the injuries it has made it even worse.

That being said, they still are only 5 games out with 50 to go. If someone can get hot (Bruce maybe? He's hit the last 3 games) and can help carry this team, they still have a chance. If they can somehow make it to the postseason, with their staff I like their chances.

Thats what I like about Price, he does hold players accountable, and he will speak out when he isnt happy. I also like he dont sit on his hands when things arent going well offensively and keep running out the same lineup order day after day hoping things will get better, like Dusty always did. That was my main problem with Dusty, is his patience with guys that cant hit.

[redsrule]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Kris Negron needs to be playing every day until BP gets back. I've been surprised how he has some good opposite field power for a relatively small guy. They need to see if he can hit consistently.
It was nice to see Cozart hit the ball as well. B-Ham has really struggled since the all star break though. I hope he can adjust and get back to what he was doing earlier in the year.

[CaseIH]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Kris Negron needs to be playing every day until BP gets back. I've been surprised how he has some good opposite field power for a relatively small guy. They need to see if he can hit consistently.
It was nice to see Cozart hit the ball as well. B-Ham has really struggled since the all star break though. I hope he can adjust and get back to what he was doing earlier in the year.

Negron has really impressed me, and I am surprised of the pop in his bat. Price has been playing him quite a bit too. I have seen Negron play quite a few games in the minors, and he is solid defensively and if he continues to hit maybe he can take some playing time from Cozart in the future once BP gets back. Cozy did have a good game tonight at the plate, so that was nice to see. Hopefully it gives him some confidence, cause I believe he is a better hitter than he has shown this season.

Hopefully the offense keeps it up, but every time I think they are starting to break thru they go dormant once again, so Im not going to get too excited over a couple good offensive games

[redsrule]

Re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Homer Bailey is finally pitching like a guy that was just given a 100 million dollar contract.