If it wasn't for popups...

[JohnU]

This team couldn't hit anything.

 

[Redsfan1507]

If 3 popups a game go out of the park, they'll probably be ok.

 

[JohnU]

Yeah, I noticed that right after I posted this.
Still, I read Frazier's comments on Sunday about squandering RBI chances and how he needed to get better at it. I agree, he does need to get better at it and last night would have been a good start. Lohse is tough on righthanders, but he's not Bob Feller either.

 

[Redsfan1507]

I love Fraziers attitude, but not sure I've ever seen a guy more prone to take his first swing at a 55 foot bouncer. He drives fastballs, but sure does lunge out one armed for the sucker splitter a lot, for a guy trying to be a middle of the order hitter.

 

[JohnU]

I just watched the first inning and Byrd with runners at the corners goes down looking.
I realize you can't get a hit every time but in some cases, you just HAVE to get the base hit.
You just HAVE TO ONCE IN AWHILE.

 

[Redsfan1507]

No, you don't really. I'm sure I might be just as bad...but I'm 56, 30 lbs overweight with 5 bad joints and poor vision now. Byrd's only 38 I think.

Jay Bruce is about as clueless right now...actually for the entire last season and this one. That's longer than Byrd's futility by far. The scary part is Bruce isn't even 30 and has 3 more years on his deal. He could be the Reds answer to Andruw Jones, or "Melvin" Upton, or Dan Uggla.

Actually, both have made contributions...they have hit a few times, and made good plays on D. That puts them a long way from the worst players on this team. Start looking for contributions from the bullpen other than Chapman. Or the pinch "hitters".

This is just a bad team right now.

 

[JohnU]

I can see them winning 10 out of 16 or so and pretending they are back in it. But for every group of meat chuckers who throw against the Reds, there is one Greinke, Kershaw, Bumgarner and a whole raft of new arms in San Diego, Washington ...

Reds bullpen is going to continue to get lit up. It's clear the rust is off the pump handle now. Price can't find any excuses to support this group. These are not rookie pitchers either. This is a bullpen of worn-out, incompetent guys who are going to ruin it all for the fans, as if they already haven't. If Cueto had any illusions about re-signing, I think he's already adjusted his thinking.

Bad news is, we'll end up with another "first-round draft pick" who might actualy put on a Reds uniform while I am still living.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Cueto isn't signing a one year at $15M. He's going to sign for 4-5-6-7 years at $20M/yr plus. His bags are packed. He said he wouldn't negotiate in season, the Reds said they were going to negotiate before opening day, and never made an offer. It's all over but the paperwork.

I haven't heard a peep about Leake. He's not likely to be as lucky in FA this year with lots of names available, especially if he puts up a 9-15 3.95 ERA year. He may extend for a year or two. The dreaded $13M "qualifying offer" would be a raise for him.

Bailey, Desclafani, Lorenzen , Iglasias and another ex-Cardinal to be released later is the current best rotation outlook for 2016. Maybe Cingrani makes it, if he survives throwing 250 innings as the 2015 long man and spot starter.

 

[JohnU]

If Bailey has TJ ...I would not necessarily expect him to start the season in the rotation.
Leake's longevity will dictate what he's worth on the market. Outside of Cincy, in SF, SD or NYM, Leake is pretty appealing.

 

[Redsfan1507]

They could use right away him in Baltimore. He already has experience stealing at the Mall.

 

[JohnU]

The same might be said in suburban St. Louis.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Lots of popups lately. Those 4 run popups really hurt.

Leake and Cueto are making about the same salary this year...it'll be a huge difference going forward. Cueto will command in the $25M range....Leake will be in the $12-13M range most likely. There's a lot of pitchers making in excess of $10M per year and Mike Leake is a better option than a lot of them. He's young enough, been healthy, and will eat up 200+ innings. I can see a team signing him for 4-5 yr/ $50-65M.

 

[JohnU]

I can see the Reds signing him for that, since they will have 3 other guys in the rotation making league minimum.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

I could see the Reds signing Leake if it was a bit of a back loaded deal. But according to Mike Leake the Reds haven't shown any interest in signing him.

I think what we saw this year in dumping payroll to cover pay increases to guaranteed contracts will be a continuing trend. The Reds are in a transition period IMO. They don't appear to be in a blow it up and lose cheaper mode, but they do look to be in a payroll freeze. As you mentioned John....three or so league minimum rotation pitchers and a few prospect bullpen guys, maybe Barnhart, and Winkler and they might surprise fans with a signing.

Leake has more value as a free agent #4 SP than to a team making a playoff run.....he wouldn't net much in a trade deadline deal. So to let him go FA or trade him and the Reds won't net anything but a payroll deduction next season. Cueto and Chapman are the only two pieces that are trade worthy IMO.

 

[JohnU]

I think I'd rather see the team go 70-92 with Lorenzen and Winker than with Marquis and K-Byrd.