if Josh Hamilton was our starting CF this year. I was disappointed with the trade when it happened, and I continue to be disappointed by it now. Look, eventually Edinson may be a stud pitcher, but Hamilton was a proven player when he was traded. It is what it is, but we can only imagine how explosive this team would be w/ Hamilton in the line-up.

I appreciate Josh Hamilton and what he has been able to do since his comeback...definitely a great player;

but, Volquez has a big upside, and that trade was one of the first for the Reds where youth, pitching, and defense became the watchwords of rebuilding.

If all it took to win was slugging outfielders, we should have cashed that check while Kearnsy and Dunn were still here.

Now, do I wish the Reds had hung on to 15 years of Trevor Hoffman as their closer.....yes!

Volquez is 25-11 with a 3.63 ERA with the Reds. I'll take that over Hamilton's production with the Rangers.

Also, Volquez just threw 8 innings of 1 run baseball....Hamilton is battling broken ribs just to be ready for the playoffs.

Josh Hamilton's body is breaking down. He has put up great numbers that last couple of years, but long term, he is going to spend a lot of time on the Disabled List.

I loved Hamilton when he was with the Reds and I still follow him now, but in hindsight the Reds had to make that deal. A young, hard throwing potential ace for a guy who was a drug addict and an alcoholic who had never proven his body could take the rigors of the season, and who might also have a relapse? You do that trade every time. Volquez is also two years younger than Hamilton.

ill take a good young healthy pitcher (rare) over a power hitting centerfielder any day

slcoach;494471 wrote:Josh Hamilton's body is breaking down. He has put up great numbers that last couple of years, but long term, he is going to spend a lot of time on the Disabled List.

Agreed 100%. Hamilton is an immense talent but his body is probably 10 years older than his actual age. He won't continue to put these numbers up for very long. I'll take Volquez every time.

Ehhh...I can't help it. I'd still take Josh Hamilton over Volquez. I don't mind the rotation of Arroyo, Cueto, Wood, Leake, Bailey if it means I have Votto and Hamilton hitting back to back in my lineup. And since when is Volquez healthy? Didn't he just return for a year long trip to the DL?

baseballstud24;494780 wrote:Ehhh...I can't help it. I'd still take Josh Hamilton over Volquez. I don't mind the rotation of Arroyo, Cueto, Wood, Leake, Bailey if it means I have Votto and Hamilton hitting back to back in my lineup. And since when is Volquez healthy? Didn't he just return for a year long trip to the DL?

He had Tommy John surgery. That's doesn't make him injury prone.

Pitchers and their injury proneness is nearly impossible to estimate. Hamilton's ceiling is being the best player in baseball when he's healthy.....but that just doesn't seem possible for over 130 games....Eric Davis-like in that sense.

Reds fans can say it and dream it.....but what about him being in CF for the Rays.....and never having drug problems....goodness