zeeman
Well-known member
Do you dream of giving Suarez big sloppy kisses?
The Official 2021 Cincinnati Reds Thread
- Thread starter Sig Hansen
- Start date
This is just an average team. They had a few stretches where a player or two carried them. As we wind up the season we can see our two all stars have had good years but they will both end up in .300 range with nice production numbers. but not all star caliber. India looks like he could be a star. Stephenson may also be on that track. Their two most recent free agent signees-Moustakas and Akiyama-provide nothing. Lots of money tied up in those two. Have no idea which way they go with Saurez. Has had horrible 2020/2021 seasons. I'm not educated enough to know if there is long term issues but he's signed for awhile. Sonny Gray-just don't know-thinking maybe the rules against foreign substances may be hurting him the most. Mahle, Castillo and Guitterez are solid. Bullpen is horrible and the bench is horrible. Just an old man's observation on the season. Like Farmer alot as well. He's hungry and wants to get a contract yet the future is now for the rookie.
wolves82
Highly Respected Expert
I think this is a very reasonable assessment of the year and the team. But I would change "average" to "slightly above average" in that they are just 2 games out of the playoff spot. Certainly not a great team.
wolves82
Highly Respected Expert
Just want the Reds to have best chance of winning. I simply posted facts. Not sure why Bell keeps running Moose out there. Yesterday Scherzer pitched around Votto (3 walks) because he knew Moose was on deck and useless. And Moose's error killed Sonny's great start. Not complicated...
Do you think playing Moose is a smart move?
zeeman
Well-known member
Both of them suck
zeeman
Well-known member
So easy to blame the manager when the players are the ones not hitting or pitching well. With the ridiculous seasons turned in by Suarez, Aquino, Shogo, Moose, the entire bullpen and below par seasons from Castillo and Grey, Bell deserves to be manager of the year to have this team contending as long as they did
There’s just not enough bullets in the gun however if I’m a leader on this team there is no way I’m sitting if Koufax is on the mound.
I think I stated roughly two weeks ago where this was headed. Cards have won 10/11. The Reds have gone the other way. Nick C has had a miserable September as well. They have to win 6/7 over the next week. Anything less is trouble. I think at this point they may be lucky to win 82 games.
He's had a great year??? .... what are you smoking.... he was below .200 for most of the 1st half. He only was great for a 6 week period. His defense is shotty as well as his base running. The REDs have NEVER won with Votto and his HUGE contract which cost the REDS from getting what they need to get THE win in a series.
.270 31 bombs 85 rbi and missed a month. Pretty solid year especially considering where he’d been the past few. I agree on the defense.
boothmark77
Well-known member
Get rid of Bell! I think they should hire Buck Showalter. I know how old he is, but the Reds did well with Johnson in his 50s, Jack Mack in his 60s and Baker in his late 50s. All older, all proven guys. Bell is not the answer.
I’m not sold on Krall as GM. But, then again the ownership has the same thought as Mike Brown; spend enough money to have a mediocre team.
wolves82
Highly Respected Expert
Read and comprehend. I've posted repeatedly that the primary issue is players not performing. But I seriously question benching one of the best players on the team in a key game because it's lefty/lefty.
wolves82
Highly Respected Expert
Imagine hating one of the best players in Reds history and a likely first-ballot hall-of-famer because you are jealous of his money.
Votto's numbers are really good this year. .270, 31 HR, 85 RBI despite missing almost 4-5 weeks with a broken thumb. Keep on hating though.
14Red
Well-known member
You are correct, this is an average team, but there are mostly average teams in baseball. The Reds are only in playoff discussions because they added a second wild card, otherwise this is a team that was out of it August 1.
But there is alot of good things that's happened this season. More than I think many fans know.
- The starting rotation has been above average for most of the season, after a slow start. We got max performance from Wade Miley. I wasn't sure he should even be in the rotation to start the season. He was our best pitcher in some stretches earlier this year, he just hit the wall in September. Castillo has the highest ceiling, Gray and Mahle are consistently good. Gutierrez was a very pleasant surprise. This rotation could be back next season, sans Miley. I just think he'd done.
- We have our second baseman and leadoff batter for the next several years in Jonathan India. Now that's wrecked the plans of Mike Moustakas who was signed to be our second baseman moving forward. We have a log jam of older, underperforming players in Moustakas and Suarez. And Suarez, while his BA is low, has been productive from an HR/ RBI standpoint.
- We've seen a fantastic year out of Kyle Farmer and he's really been the guy that's kept the team afloat. The Suarez SS experiment went horribly wrong. However Barrero is the SS of the future and Farmer can certainly remain a solid contributor for this team off the bench in 2022.
- The outfield has been spotty all season. Tyler Naquin was a pleasant surprise and should be considered to be our starting CF next season. This season looks alot different without the and Farmers' contributions. Winker has planted himself as a legit major league outfielder. Now we just need to keep him healthy. Love Castellenos, but there is no way we can pay him nor should we. Putting that many resources into one player doesn't make sense for this team.
- Our catcher position is solid with Tucker and Tyler. Not sure if the club brings back Tucker next season, but it would make sense. Tucker could start for alot of teams.
- Last but certainly not least, the resurgence of Joey Votto has given us hope that he can make it to the end of his contract. I couldn't say that months ago.
14Red
Well-known member
Good heavens, is this true?? First of all a guy considered to be the best in baseball, Mike Trout, does not win. One player does not win baseball games, it's not set up that way. Joey is 38 years old and was trending down the last few years. He's had an OUTSTANDING year.
wolves82
Highly Respected Expert
Unfortunately I agree with those you saying the season is done. Even though 3 games back with 12 to play is not impossible, it means the Reds need to go something like 10-2 and the Cards go 8-6 to end in a tie. Cards are too hot, and the Reds are in too deep of a slump to go 10-2.
It was fun to make it to Sept 19 before being "done". Not sure what the Reds future holds in terms of Krall, Bell, Castellanos, etc. But I'd like to see the Reds get Lodolo and Green a quick taste of the big leagues in the next 2 weeks.
It was fun to make it to Sept 19 before being "done". Not sure what the Reds future holds in terms of Krall, Bell, Castellanos, etc. But I'd like to see the Reds get Lodolo and Green a quick taste of the big leagues in the next 2 weeks.
wolves82
Highly Respected Expert
Certainly the Reds minor league prospect rankings have skyrocketed with Boddy and Driveline on board. I think Boddy and his partner have worked with a lot of teams recently at their Driveline training academy in Washington State. My guess is that their business is booming and they would want a lot more money from the Reds to stay, and we all know Castellini has been crying poor.
Having said that, my guess is that the Driveline principles and knowledge have been disbursed throughout the organization, so maybe the Reds don't need him any more, as long as his principles are still followed.
14Red
Well-known member
3 games is 3 games and it's certainly dooable. BUT the Reds don't have any more wiggle room. Each game has to be treated like a playoff game moving forward. It's what really irked me about yesterday's game. Wade Miley, and I've supported him all season, has stunk the last month. The last thing you want to do with the Dodgers is get down 4-5-6 runs. I would have had someone ready in the bullpen from the start that the first sign of trouble, I'm yanking him. Heck, we have relief pitchers who've not thrown in a week, what are we saving guys for??
The formula for the Reds is to win today, do everything you have to to win today. We can't get to even with the Cardinals without getting to two back first.
I don't think you'll see any minor leaguers up. I think Nick Krall stays, Bell is gone, Castellenos is gone.
Sadly this team put itself into a really good place to make the playoffs and they've frittered it away.
14Red
Well-known member
I'm ok with it. I'm sure Derek Johnson is good, but he's been a little disappointing this season when it comes to the bullpen. If he's such a great pitching coach, why can't we get some of these guys straightened out?
As far as development, are we really developing anyone? I mean we've not exactly had a good track record of drafting and developing talent. And wasn't Boddy connected with Trevor Bauer and Driveline? Does Bauer's situation have anything to do with this?
I think Mahle was a Reds draftee and he's had a nice season. I'm also fairly sure one of the reasons Gray signed with the Reds was of his previous relationship with DJ at Vanderbilt. Bauer is/was definitely a Driveline guy and I'm not sure how many other pitchers were. IMO the single biggest disappointment in the bullpen as Amir Garret. A year ago he was being thought of as closer material. Now he's just a mouth that can't get anyone out. I truly don't know enough about the rest of the BP crew except Lorenzen. Brantley loves Santillan and Sims but the latter guy has 5+ ERA.
Don't care about money but if Votto believes in equality then he would have no problem if all players including minor leagues, ground crew, staff, and all the others who make it possible for them to play baseball all get paid the same. That would mean a huge pay cut for MLB players..... but you know.....
What was Votto's numbers at the all-star break? What has Votto done over the last month??? Baseball stats can be misleading. REDS miss Winker a ton more than Votto.....
Votto was hitting .257 at the break, he's at .267/31/89rbi. Last month he's at .209/5/13rbi. Every person in every walk of life is entitled to get what they can get monetarily.
They certainly miss Winkers bat against RHP, just a year ago he platooned against LHP.
wolves82
Highly Respected Expert
So, you are in favor of socialism? Compensation is earned by those that can produce more revenue for the employer.
Two more HR and 3 RBI for Joey. But hey, keep on hating Votto if it gets you through the day. Sorry that you are so angry all the time. Maybe moving to a socialist country would make you happy? They probably have terrible movies there, so you would enjoy that too.
Reds Schedule (11 games)
Pittsburgh (x2)
Washington (x4)
@White Sox (x2)
@Pittsburgh (x3)
Cards Schedule (13 games)
@Milwaukee (x3)
@Cubs (x4)
Milwaukee (x3)
Cubs (x3)
Reds are 3 games back of the Cards in the WC and will have to make up ground on a team that has won 9 straight games.
Just to force a one-game play-off, one scenario would see the Reds finishing 8-3 over this final stretch with the Cards going 6-7.
Hard to see that coming to fruition with how the teams have been trending but there's still barely enough time for the tides to shift.
Pittsburgh (x2)
Washington (x4)
@White Sox (x2)
@Pittsburgh (x3)
Cards Schedule (13 games)
@Milwaukee (x3)
@Cubs (x4)
Milwaukee (x3)
Cubs (x3)
Reds are 3 games back of the Cards in the WC and will have to make up ground on a team that has won 9 straight games.
Just to force a one-game play-off, one scenario would see the Reds finishing 8-3 over this final stretch with the Cards going 6-7.
Hard to see that coming to fruition with how the teams have been trending but there's still barely enough time for the tides to shift.
14Red
Well-known member
I frankly never bought into Amir Garrett. He's always been more style than substance. He attempted to be a starter, he only has two pitches and doesn't command either one well. His slider is good, but unless you chase it, he can't get people out consistently. His fastball is average at best, and he can't spot it.
The only reason he stayed this long is because he's left handed. The rule change to a minimum 3 batters really hurt his role on the team.
Sims, Cessa, Lorenzen, Santillan and Givens are average to above average bullpen guys. Not sure what happened to Wilson, his role has diminished drastically.
I know the bullpen has been a lightning rod this season, but you're simply not going to go into an off season and dump a ton of money into the bullpen. Teams don't do that. There are normally other pressing places to spend money. I feel Lorenzen's inability to be with the team until mid summer was a killer for this bullpen. We simply had no reliable arms down there in April and May, TeJay Antone stepped up and was that guy for bit, and like it or night Heath Hembree and Brad Brach both also had some success in stretches this summer. But again when you're consistently going to 3-4-5 innings of bullpen per night, it catches up. A goal for our starting staff in 2022 should be to stretch those guys out further.
14Red
Well-known member
The other issue to consider is that Milwaukee will likely start getting guys some days off and won't be "all in" these last 5 games.