Official Cincinnati Reds Thread

[PhantomPain]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

I think he is just slumping some right now, or I sure hope that's all it is. My wife did make the comment the other night that she thought he seemed to be favoring a leg, but I didn't see it. Id say its just a slump is all, or that's what Im praying it is. Bad enough BP has terf toe, we cant afford Votto to not be 100% too.

Yeah I hope it is slumping too. But it seems very odd that he would be the first person to 7 home runs and a month later still be there. Plus, outside of the bloop double he got last night, he hasn't had any extra base hits. He just isn't driving the ball which over an extended period of time could mean something isn't right.

Hopefully there is nothing wrong and he will come out of it soon though.

[HustlinOwl]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

Move Votto back into the #2 hole and Cozart 8, both down 30 points in AVG. Clearly being pitch differently and Price (not surprised) cannot see this


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[CaseIH]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

Yeah I hope it is slumping too. But it seems very odd that he would be the first person to 7 home runs and a month later still be there. Plus, outside of the bloop double he got last night, he hasn't had any extra base hits. He just isn't driving the ball which over an extended period of time could mean something isn't right.

Hopefully there is nothing wrong and he will come out of it soon though.

Votto Hr's have always seem to come in bunches, I wont worry to much until I see him struggling to get hits, or he starts becoming more patient to where he looks like he is just trying to get on base. As long as he looks aggressive up there with guys on base, Ill assume he is healthy and feels he can drive the ball. Votto is a smart player, probably the smartest player in the game when it coms to hitting, if he feels he cant drive it, he will look to just not make a out and get on somehow.


I agree with Hustlin and was telling someone the other day that they should move Votto back to the 2 hole infront of Billy. That was working for both guys, and it was like having to leadoff hitters with Votto 2nd.


Then if that didn't work then I would have moved Billy down, but I would actually bat Billy 9th instead of 8th. I know Reds fans probably don't want to copy something TLR made famous, but that would be the right move with Billy, and its the move Dusty should have but wouldn't do with Stubbs back in the day.

[maxreds19]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

Then if that didn't work then I would have moved Billy down, but I would actually bat Billy 9th instead of 8th. I know Reds fans probably don't want to copy something TLR made famous, but that would be the right move with Billy, and its the move Dusty should have but wouldn't do with Stubbs back in the day.

I've been saying this since the beginning of last year. It's the best place for Hamilton to hit with an OBP in the .270-.290 range. It sounds crazy but I would hit Frazier leadoff and Votto 2nd. Frazier is career .327 OBP and has some speed, and I'm sure he would get some good pitches hitting in front of Votto. If Mesoraco was healthy, I'd have him hitting 3rd.

Frazier, Votto, Mesoraco, Byrd, Bruce, Cozart, Phillips, -----, Hamilton

The real problem with this team is still the bullpen, and that's completely Walt Jocketty's fault.

I'm not worried about Votto. Seems to be just a slump. He did drive the ball a couple times on Sunday. But you never know with the medical staff the Reds have.


The thing the Reds really need to realize is that this team can't win anything with what they have. Trading Cueto, Bruce, and Leake as soon as possible will be really important for the team's success in the next 5-6 years. If Jocketty and the Reds were smart, a quick 1-2 year rebuild with key players such as Votto, Frazier, and Mesoraco still with the team is definitely possible. It's really too bad the Reds, Castellini, and Jocketty want to continue to try to win with a not very good team.

[CaseIH]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

I've been saying this since the beginning of last year. It's the best place for Hamilton to hit with an OBP in the .270-.290 range. It sounds crazy but I would hit Frazier leadoff and Votto 2nd. Frazier is career .327 OBP and has some speed, and I'm sure he would get some good pitches hitting in front of Votto. If Mesoraco was healthy, I'd have him hitting 3rd.

Frazier, Votto, Mesoraco, Byrd, Bruce, Cozart, Phillips, -----, Hamilton

The real problem with this team is still the bullpen, and that's completely Walt Jocketty's fault.

I'm not worried about Votto. Seems to be just a slump. He did drive the ball a couple times on Sunday. But you never know with the medical staff the Reds have.


The thing the Reds really need to realize is that this team can't win anything with what they have. Trading Cueto, Bruce, and Leake as soon as possible will be really important for the team's success in the next 5-6 years. If Jocketty and the Reds were smart, a quick 1-2 year rebuild with key players such as Votto, Frazier, and Mesoraco still with the team is definitely possible. It's really too bad the Reds, Castellini, and Jocketty want to continue to try to win with a not very good team.

I do wish Mesoraco was healthy, as he would make a difference for the offense. Hopefully the rehab he has been doing eases up the pain and he can play, but my guess is the issue wont subside, to let him play regularly, be great if it does ease up so he can play and be effective.


Oddly enough are hitting hasn't been horrible, but hitting with RISP is whats killing us offensively. Not being able to hit with RISP and the pen has been the 2 killers for us this season so far.


Id say if were out of it after all star break, they will trade Cueto, as well as push some others out there on the trade market too, like Bruce, as well as Leake if they don't plan on resigning Leake. Personally Id try to resign Leake if it were me, he has been durable and is a innings eater and will give you a chance to win most times out like Bronson did. As much as I like Cueto, I wouldn't really make too much effort to resign him with the money it will take to sign him, and imo while Cueto hasn't had any major arm issues yet, its only a matter of time probably, and if we resign him you can bet he will break down


I would think they will make a good effort to keep Leake but I could be wrong, but he is home grown and is steady and durable. Im wondering if they will shop Chapman, or keep him around, and even extend him. Normally you wouldn't do that with a closer, but with his electric stuff, and the fact that he sells tickets makes me wonder if they wont actually keep him long term. Not sure how I feel about this, as Votto contract already seems to cripple the payroll, and to sign a closer to a big deal really isn't all that smart even if it is the most feared pitcher in the game, just hard to give a huge deal to a guy that will pitch around 70 innings a season.


Honestly as bad as our pen has been and how bad we hit with RISP, its amazing weve been able to hang around .500. While I don't have much faith in this team contending for the postseason, its not a stretch to think with a couple tweaks to pitching and if the hitting with RISP improves that we might actually be able to make the postseason.

[maxreds19]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

I would agree with Leake, but I'm not sure it's a good idea when he might sign for 5-6 years of $80-100 million. They pretty much have to trade Cueto this year I would think. The top prospect(s) they get back for him will be important for the future. Of these 3 pitchers, the one I'd try signing is Chapman assuming he is still healthy by next year.

[jasontoddwhitt]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

When will we cut the cord on the Jason Marquis experience?

[redsrule]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

I'd trade everyone minus Hamilton, Votto (due to contact untadeable) and Mesoraco. Especially Frazier and Chapman. Each guy is under team control for more than this year. Would get even more for them.
I don't trust Jocketty to do it though.

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[jasontoddwhitt]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

I'd trade everyone minus Hamilton, Votto (due to contact untadeable) and Mesoraco. Especially Frazier and Chapman. Each guy is under team control for more than this year. Would get even more for them.
I don't trust Jocketty to do it though.

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I don't trust Bob C to allow that to happen either.

[CaseIH]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

When will we cut the cord on the Jason Marquis experience?

Hopefully soon. Sadly right now none except for Cueto is pitching very well. Leake has had 2 bad games in a row now, but Im sure he will bounce back. Its definitely tough on starters to know no matter how well you pitch, that 1 your probably not going to get much run support and 2 even if you do, unless it Chapman coming in you will be lucky to get a win. That does wear on starters after a while.


I was afraid when Price put Cozart at leadoff that it would effect him, not that I blame Price he is just trying anything to jumpstart the offense, but probably should put Cozart back down, he just don't seem to be able to handle pressure of hitting at the top for some reason.

[PhantomPain]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

I'd trade everyone minus Hamilton, Votto (due to contact untadeable) and Mesoraco. Especially Frazier and Chapman. Each guy is under team control for more than this year. Would get even more for them.
I don't trust Jocketty to do it though.

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I agree with this except I would keep Frazier and trade Hamilton. As much of a fan I am of Hamilton, I am beginning to wonder if he will have a spot outside of defensive abilities and pitch running on any team. He has gotten worse at the plate which is disheartening. His speed is an unbelievable game changer, but if you can't get on base, it doesn't do you any good. With that said, if he shows signs of improving bunting and hitting in general, I wouldn't trade him just yet. But then that is the issue. Can his trade value get much higher?

I am of the belief that you can have a crappy hitter in your lineup if everyone else performs. And by crappy, I mean hovering around the Mendoza line. If you have multiple players like that, then your team is doomed. Can Hamilton ever become a serviceable hitter in the majors? Time will tell I guess. But so far it isn't looking good.

Frazier has a chance to be the cornerstone of the team's offense (Rocco too if he can get his hip sorted out), so I would be cautious of letting that go this early in his career. He is showing a lot of progression as a hitter over his time in power, although overall hitting is still a question mark.

Bruce can go and couldn't go fast enough for me. He was an unbelievable talent in the minors but has not produced at the level he was predicted at and is currently just horrible. I don't see him getting any better either. He has always been streaky and now that streak is sucky, and has been for a year now.

If Cozart can hit .260 or better in a season and play gold glove defense, you keep him. This is a telling year for him.

Phillips needs to go as well. Great defensive guy and I have always been a fan, but I wonder if he is part of chemistry issues on the team. Seems to not play hard and doesn't set a great example of the young guys coming up. And his hitting is declining overall even if he has a solid average so far this season. Lots of nagging injuries are starting to affect his ability to be on the field for long stretches.

Votto isn't going anywhere...ever.

Should have traded Cueto last July. He would have given a team full control for a year and a half. Now only a half. Won't get the return he would have gotten a year ago and it was pretty damn clear to me that the Reds wouldn't be sitting in a pretty spot come trade deadline this year. So why keep him until now? Never made sense to me.

Chapman...see Cueto opinion from last year, only it applies to this year. Trade him now and get max return.

Sometimes I look at this team and think that if they were all healthy and performing at the level they should be performing at, this would easily be a playoff team. But the problem is, I have had that thought for several years in a row now. At some point you have to cut your losses though and now is that time IMO.

[redsrule]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

Frazier would likely have more trade value then anyone on the team and they won't be able to afford him. That is why I say trade him. You would be able to get a killing for him.



Anyways, Mesoraco was kept on the team to DH and then they don't DH him in half of the games. I'm so close to being done with this team. What a joke Jocketty is. And Castellini for letting it happen.

[PhantomPain]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

Frazier would likely have more trade value then anyone on the team and they won't be able to afford him. That is why I say trade him. You would be able to get a killing for him.



Anyways, Mesoraco was kept on the team to DH and then they don't DH him in half of the games. I'm so close to being done with this team. What a joke Jocketty is. And Castellini for letting it happen.

I agree about Frazier's trade value, but I also think he is worth trying to sign to a long term deal (5-7 years) now before he sky rockets in price. He brings a ton of energy and youth like nature to the clubhouse which is also very important. I am not sure yet we can count on Votto being the staple he once was. Certainly off to a better start this year but too small of a sample size for me. And you need to have at least a couple of stable hitters on the team long term. I think Votto, Frazier and Rocco can be those players.

But that's just my opinion.

[PhantomPain]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

I'm curious how long they give Price at this point. They showed some signs of life for a couple of weeks, but lately they are the Walking Dead.

[PhantomPain]

Re: 2015 Cincinnati Reds

LOL..Price ejected before the game even started