Reds Off-Season Thread

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justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 16, 2012 10:07 PM
Ryan Ludwick to the Reds, according to Ken Rosenthal.
Jan 16, 2012 10:07pm
TigerNation10's avatar

TigerNation10

Senior Member

483 posts
Jan 16, 2012 10:14 PM
Like this a lot.
Jan 16, 2012 10:14pm
SportsAndLady's avatar

SportsAndLady

Senior Member

35,632 posts
Jan 16, 2012 10:25 PM
Doesnt he play RF?
Jan 16, 2012 10:25pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 16, 2012 10:26 PM
1 year, $2.5m
Jan 16, 2012 10:26pm
TigerNation10's avatar

TigerNation10

Senior Member

483 posts
Jan 16, 2012 10:29 PM
SportsAndLady;1055299 wrote:Doesnt he play RF?
Plays both corner positions. Remember him in left in St. Louis and he played left for the Pirates last season.
Jan 16, 2012 10:29pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 16, 2012 10:29 PM
Ludwick has been on the decline the last three seasons. Since his awesome year in 2008 he hasn't OPS'd over .775.
Jan 16, 2012 10:29pm
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

Senior Member

14,766 posts
Jan 16, 2012 10:47 PM
This reds team COULD BE really really good!!
Jan 16, 2012 10:47pm
jordo212000's avatar

jordo212000

Senior Member

10,664 posts
Jan 16, 2012 10:59 PM
Not in love with the Ludwick move. Seems like his skills diminish more and more each year
Jan 16, 2012 10:59pm
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

Senior Member

14,766 posts
Jan 16, 2012 11:19 PM
jordo212000;1055346 wrote:Not in love with the Ludwick move. Seems like his skills diminish more and more each year

He's still better then what we have in left. I like heisey a lot but he proved nothing when he got starts.
Jan 16, 2012 11:19pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 17, 2012 8:35 AM
Ludwick's career OPS is the exact same as Gomes' OPS with the Reds. Also, he sucks against LHP.
Jan 17, 2012 8:35am
D

dave

Senior Member

4,558 posts
Jan 17, 2012 11:54 AM
I like this move. $2.5mil is basically nothing these days. Surround him with guys like Votto, Rolen, BP and he should hopefully get his stroke back. GABP won't hurt his numbers either.
Jan 17, 2012 11:54am
jordo212000's avatar

jordo212000

Senior Member

10,664 posts
Jan 17, 2012 12:20 PM
dave;1055699 wrote:I like this move. $2.5mil is basically nothing these days. Surround him with guys like Votto, Rolen, BP and he should hopefully get his stroke back. GABP won't hurt his numbers either.

I'm not worried about the money. I knew they were going to get him for cheap. Personally I think Heisey can give us what Ludwick will provide next year. The bonus with Heisey is that he could still develop some. Ludwick is creeping closer to retirement
Jan 17, 2012 12:20pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Jan 17, 2012 12:45 PM
We needed some outfield depth after trading Sappelt. Not a big Ludwick fan, but he's cheap enough to where it really doesn't matter. I still think Heisey will get the majority of the starts in Lf.
Jan 17, 2012 12:45pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Jan 17, 2012 12:48 PM
So, lets start setting a lineup.

Phillips
Cozart
Votto
Meso
Bruce
Rolen
Stubbs
Heisey
Pitcher
Jan 17, 2012 12:48pm
TigerNation10's avatar

TigerNation10

Senior Member

483 posts
Jan 17, 2012 1:23 PM
Phillips
Heisey
Votto
Rolen
Bruce
Stubbs
Meso
Cozart
Pitcher
Jan 17, 2012 1:23pm
D

dave

Senior Member

4,558 posts
Jan 17, 2012 4:29 PM
se-alum;1055753 wrote:So, lets start setting a lineup.

Phillips
Cozart
Votto
Meso
Bruce
Rolen
Stubbs
Heisey
Pitcher
This is about what it should be. Dusty will probably put Stubbs back at the top, Rolen in the 4 hole, and Mes down at 7 or 8.
Jan 17, 2012 4:29pm
SportsAndLady's avatar

SportsAndLady

Senior Member

35,632 posts
Jan 17, 2012 4:31 PM
You guys like Mes that high in the lineup? Not saying it's wrong, I just didn't think he was cleanup hitter on a division favorite good quite yet. Very awesome to see.
Jan 17, 2012 4:31pm
D

dave

Senior Member

4,558 posts
Jan 17, 2012 4:33 PM
jordo212000;1055724 wrote:I'm not worried about the money. I knew they were going to get him for cheap. Personally I think Heisey can give us what Ludwick will provide next year. The bonus with Heisey is that he could still develop some. Ludwick is creeping closer to retirement
Ludwick isn't that old. Heisey isn't that young either. He can play all 3 OF spots, he'll get his ABs.
Jan 17, 2012 4:33pm
Azubuike24's avatar

Azubuike24

Senior Member

15,933 posts
Jan 17, 2012 9:23 PM
SportsAndLady;1056035 wrote:You guys like Mes that high in the lineup? Not saying it's wrong, I just didn't think he was cleanup hitter on a division favorite good quite yet. Very awesome to see.
Logistically, the lineup makes the most sense, in an ideal scenario.

CF Stubbs
2B Phillips
1B Votto
3B Rolen
RF Bruce
C Mesoraco
LF Ludwick
SS Cozart

However, that is assuming a lot.

1. Rolen is 100% and back to what he was in 2010. Slim to none chance.
2. Stubbs can actually grasp the idea of bunting and plate discipline. Slim chance, but he has the contact skills to lead off. His OBP sucks, for the most part, because of the K's. His AVG/OBP split is not awful.
3. Mesoraco is ready from the get-go. Knowing Dusty, Hanigan will get a lot of the early PT, which will change the lineup.
4. Cozart is 100%. If he is, he's clearly the option to lead off if Stubbs is struggling, or bat 2nd if Phillips is forced to hit 4th or 5th due to a Rolen injury (both of these scenarios are likely)
Jan 17, 2012 9:23pm
D

dave

Senior Member

4,558 posts
Jan 17, 2012 9:33 PM
I don't think Stubbs can ever be a leadoff hitter.

I'd prefer

Cozart
Stubbs
Votto
Phillips
Bruce
Mes
Rolen
Ludwick

BP has always tried to do too much in the 4 hole, but usually that's because he hasn't had anyone decent hitting ahead of Votto. Stubbs needs to have someone in front of him with decent speed. Rolen needs to be down in the lineup where there isn't so much pressure on him, I know he's a vet but it's got to be hard on him when he can't deliver while Votto is getting on 40% of the time. That will weigh on anyone. The key to the whole lineup is Bruce though , if he can be more consistent you can't really go wrong assuming guys are healthy.
Jan 17, 2012 9:33pm
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Terry_Tate

Senior Member

7,606 posts
Jan 17, 2012 9:49 PM
I like Stubbs leading off because with his K's if he leads off and K's its a lot better than batting 6th with 2 on and striking out. He was 2nd in runs in the NL around midseason last year I think as well. His numbers don't justify leading off but it seemed like if he got on he got in last year.
Jan 17, 2012 9:49pm
Azubuike24's avatar

Azubuike24

Senior Member

15,933 posts
Jan 17, 2012 9:52 PM
His role in MLB, if he's going to pan off, is as a lead-off hitter. He is not a run producer and can't be counted on to make contact in key RISP situations. So, IMO, this is a "make or break" year, where he either establishes himself as a core part of the franchise, or he's in the category of a guy the team will cut ties with. If you are "going for it", like Walt appears to be, it has to be with Stubbs in the lead-off hole to start the year.

As Terry Tate said, if he isn't going to change, then he isn't going to last, and I'd rather him take those at-bats in the top spot instead of AFTER the best OBP guys (Votto, Rolen, Mesoraco...).
Jan 17, 2012 9:52pm
D

dave

Senior Member

4,558 posts
Jan 17, 2012 10:05 PM
They just traded away Sappelt, Stubbs will be here for a long time. There is no other option, Heisey obviously isn't one in management's eyes.

If he can't hit in the 1 or 2 hole he could certainly be an above average 7 or 8 hole hitter, the problem was they needed more than that the last 2 years.
Jan 17, 2012 10:05pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Jan 18, 2012 7:57 AM
I can't believe people want Stubbs leading off, especially with how good BP was in the leadoff spot last year. I think BP will ask to leadoff, and Dusty will let him. Stubbs is a 7 or 8 guy, that can occasionally provide you with some power, same with Heisey. I don't know that Meso will bat 4th, but I know Dusty will use a right handed bat to break up Votto and Bruce.
Jan 18, 2012 7:57am
M

mhs95_06

Senior Member

8,167 posts
Jan 18, 2012 7:53 PM
I think you start the season with these fixtures:

1) Phillips
2) Cozart
3) Votto
7) catcher
8) pitcher
9) Stubbs

The other four you pencil in day to day depending on the situation. Don't want to hamstring the top 3 so much when the #9 spot leads off an inning(Tony LaRussa's lasting strategical mark on baseball). If Cozart proves un-worthy or Meso proves worthy to move up, then make a change.
Jan 18, 2012 7:53pm