Playing GM: 2nd Time

Here is my 2nd list of possible moves that the reds could make.
- Trade Adam Dunn to the dodgers for Matt Kemp and Jonathon Broxton. This gives us a nice outfield prospect who is almost ready and a very good, young bullpen arm who can be a setup man and maybe eventually close.
- Trade Scott Hatteberg and a prospect to the braves for Jared Saltalamacchia. This gives us a great catcher prospect who can play now, and it gives the braves a backup to Scott Thorman, or a possible platoon.
- Trade Ken Griffey Jr. to the White Sox for David Aardsma. This gives a sox a good outfielder, and gives us what I think to be a solid relief pitcher. He has had 3 awful starts which has made his ERA horrible, but I think that he's worth the risk.
- Release Mike Stanton, Eric Milton, Chad Moeller, and Kyle Louse. We do not need any of these guys. They are ether too old to be effective, or just not good at all. Louse is way to inconsistent, and Milton and Stanton are too consistent with being awful.
- Keep Jared Burton and Josh Hamilton on the team. Obviously, Hamilton will be kept on the roster all season so that he does not go back to the Devil Rays. But, it is not sure if Burton will be kept on the roster all season. He has great stuff, and looks to be one year away from finally putting it together.
So here is how the roster would look like if these moves happened:
Lineup:
1B: Joey Votto
2B: Brandon Phillips
SS: Alex Gonzalez
3B: Edwin Encarnacion
CF: Ryan Freel
LF: Matt Kemp
RF: Josh Hamilton
Starting Rotation:
1. Aaron Harang
2. Bronson Arroyo
3. Homer Bailey
4. Matt Belisle
5. Phil Dumtraight/Kirk Sarloos/Bobby Livingston
Bullpen:
S:Johnathon Broxton
S:Bill Bray
M:Gary Majewski
M:Todd Coffey
M:John Countlangus
C:Marcus McBeth
L: Kirk Sarloos/Victor Santos
Bench:
Jeff Keppinger
Jeff Conine
Norris Hopper
Javier Valentein
Jerry Gil/Chris Dikerson

Do Something

Attention Bob Castellini, Wayne Krisky, and Jerry Narron. MAKE A MOVE. This team is awful, and will continue to be awful if nothing is done. I don't even care if it's a bad trade like last year's at this point, just shake something up. The reds will be doomed to losing for the next ten years if they keep the same, "These players will come through eventually attitude." I agree that we should not be the worst team in the MLB with our roster, but clearly me and the reds management are wrong. Just do something to give reds fans a tiny bit of hope that we can win one day. Joey Votto and Homer Bailey are not going to save this team.

Playing Wayne Kriskey

Ok, here is what I think should be done to prepare the reds for next year and the future, throwing the white flag for this one.
- Trade Adam Dunn to the White Sox for Bobby Jenks, Ryan Sweeney, and a prospect Adam Dunn needs to be traded. He is never going to be good at defense, not striking out, and hitting for average. The white sox could use a power hitter, and that is what they get. We get a closer which is badly needed for now and the future, and a great outfield prospect who is very close to being major league ready.
- Release Mike Stanton, Eric Milton, Chad Moeller, and Kyle Louse. We do not need any of these guys. They are ether too old to be effective, or just not good at all. Louse is way to inconsistent, and Milton and Stanton are too consistent with being awful.
- Trade Scott Hatteberg to a playoff contender for prospects. He will be a nice bench addition to a playoff-contending team, and we get rid of his contract.
- Keep Jared Burton and Josh Hamilton on the team. Obviously, Hamilton will be kept on the roster all season so that he does not go back to the Devil Rays. But, it is not sure if Burton will be kept on the roster all season. He has great stuff, and looks to be one year away from finally putting it together.
- Trade Griffey for prospects. Griffey deserves to be on a winning team playing as good as he is right now.
- Sign a catcher in the offseason and don't re-sign David Ross. Here is a list of possible catcher free agents after this season by mlb4u.com:

Henry Blanco	Chicago Cubs
Johnny Estrada	Milwaukee Brewers
Sal Fasano	Toronto Blue Jays
Wiki Gonzalez	Chicago White Sox
Toby Hall	Chicago White Sox
Adam Melhuse	Oakland Athletics
A.J. Pierzynski	Chicago White Sox
Mike Redmond	Minnesota Twins
David Ross	Cincinnati Reds
Jason Varitek	Boston Red Sox
Vance Wilson	Detroit Tigers
Gregg Zaun	Toronto Blue Jays

In my opinion Redmond and Estrada look like realistic, good possibilities
So, those are the moves that I believe should be made. Here is the outlook of the roster next year if they did happen:
Lineup:
C: I like Redmond or Estrada, but others are available
1B: Joey Votto
2B: Brandon Phillips
3B: Edwin Encarnacion
CF: Ryan Freel
RF: Josh Hamilton
LF: Platoon of Jeff Conine and Ryan Sweeny
Starting Rotation:
1. Aaron Harang
2. Bronson Arroyo
3. Homer Bailey
4. Matt Belisle
5. Phil Dumatrait / Kirk Sarloos/ Bobby Livingston/ Elizardo Ramirez
Bullpen:
C: Bobby Jenks
S: Gary Majewski
S: Bill Bray
M: Todd Coffey
M: Brad Salmon
M: John Countlangus
L: Kirk Sarloos/ Victor Santos
NOTE: There are still plenty relievers left including Jared Burton, Marcus McBeth, and Eddie Guardado
Bench:
Norris Hopper
Jeff Keppinger
Jeff Conine/ Ryan Sweeny(platoon)
Javier Valentein
Jerry Gil/ Chris Dickerson

I think that that is a winning ball club. What do you all think?

I'm Back

sorry I haven't posted in so long, been really busy. Ether today or tomorrow I will do a post containing what I think they should do to set them up for next year and the future. Sadly this season seems to be over with the reds having the worst record in the majors, 10.5 behind the Brewers for the NL Central lead. When you are almost swept by the Nationals, you know that your season is over. I will also do a post containing a Bengals training camp preview, as the Bengals get set to open training camp on July 26th. At least thats something to look forward to.

Reds @ Astros, May 2nd, 2007 Postgame

Astros beat the Reds 3-1. The reds were beat by Oswalt again. This loss drops the reds to 13-14, 5 games behind the Brew Crew for the division lead. ON a positive note, the bullpen pitched 2 scoreless innings tonight, with a combination of Victor Santos and Mike Stanton who didn't have to pitch one pitch.

Reds @ Astros, May 2nd, 2007 7th Inning Stretch

It's 3-1 astros right now. The bats of the reds have been better than th one runs on the scoreboard says, but they still have not been good. Louse struggled in the 1st inning, but has settled down since then. He has not matched Oswalt, but has gotten through some jams in the 3rd and 4th innings. Adam Dunn has gotten the only reds run by hitting a solo home run in the 5th inning. The home run was Dunn's 8th of the season. Hopefully the Reds bullpen can hold the Astros, and the reds' bats can wake up against Oswalt and the Astros's bullpen.

Reds @ Astros, May 2nd, 2007

Reds going against Astros tonight. Good game for the Reds last night, lets hope they can keep it up. The pitching match up tonight is Kyle Louse against Roy Oswalt. Not feeling too good about this one, but lets see how it goes. Edwin gets the night off, because he is 0-8 with 5 strike outs in his young career against Oswalt. Here is the lineup for the Reds:
1. Freel 3B
2. Hatteberg 1B
3. Phillips 2B
4. Griffey RF
5. Gonzalez SS
6. Dunn LF
7. Hamilton CF
8. Valentin C
9. Louse P

Here is the Astros Lineup
1. Biggio 2b
2. Pence CF
3. Berkman 1B
4. Lee LF
5. Loretta 3B
6. Scott RF
7. Everett SS
8. Ausmus C
9.Oswalt P

Narron is tinkering with this lineup a little bit, switching Phillips and Hatteberg. I really like Griffey hitting 4th, Gonzalez hitting 5th, and Dunn hitting 6th. I think that you have to go with who is hot.

Also, Josh Hamilton was named NL rookie of the month today, which he completely deserves. He has been great so far, and looks to be the most surprising and also heart warming story of the year so far. Lets hope that Josh can keep it up, and also continue to fix his life.
His Stats: .266 average, .365 OBP, 12 runs, 2 doubles, a stolen base, .609 slugging percentage, 13 RBI's, and 6 home runs

So, lets hope the Reds bats stay hot tonight against a great pitcher, and Louse can go out there and pitch us a gem. Lets go Redlegs!

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