Reds Off-Season Thread

Pro Sports 222 replies 6,972 views
justincredible's avatar
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
Jan 16, 2012 10:07pm
Ryan Ludwick to the Reds, according to Ken Rosenthal.
TigerNation10's avatar
TigerNation10
Posts: 483
Jan 16, 2012 10:14pm
Like this a lot.
SportsAndLady's avatar
SportsAndLady
Posts: 35,632
Jan 16, 2012 10:25pm
Doesnt he play RF?
justincredible's avatar
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
Jan 16, 2012 10:26pm
1 year, $2.5m
TigerNation10's avatar
TigerNation10
Posts: 483
Jan 16, 2012 10:29pm
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.
justincredible's avatar
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
Jan 16, 2012 10:29pm
Ludwick has been on the decline the last three seasons. Since his awesome year in 2008 he hasn't OPS'd over .775.
Midstate01's avatar
Midstate01
Posts: 14,766
Jan 16, 2012 10:47pm
This reds team COULD BE really really good!!
jordo212000's avatar
jordo212000
Posts: 10,664
Jan 16, 2012 10:59pm
Not in love with the Ludwick move. Seems like his skills diminish more and more each year
Midstate01's avatar
Midstate01
Posts: 14,766
Jan 16, 2012 11:19pm
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.
justincredible's avatar
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
Jan 17, 2012 8:35am
Ludwick's career OPS is the exact same as Gomes' OPS with the Reds. Also, he sucks against LHP.
D
dave
Posts: 4,558
Jan 17, 2012 11:54am
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.
jordo212000's avatar
jordo212000
Posts: 10,664
Jan 17, 2012 12:20pm
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
se-alum's avatar
se-alum
Posts: 13,948
Jan 17, 2012 12:45pm
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.
se-alum's avatar
se-alum
Posts: 13,948
Jan 17, 2012 12:48pm
So, lets start setting a lineup.

Phillips
Cozart
Votto
Meso
Bruce
Rolen
Stubbs
Heisey
Pitcher
TigerNation10's avatar
TigerNation10
Posts: 483
Jan 17, 2012 1:23pm
Phillips
Heisey
Votto
Rolen
Bruce
Stubbs
Meso
Cozart
Pitcher
D
dave
Posts: 4,558
Jan 17, 2012 4:29pm
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.
SportsAndLady's avatar
SportsAndLady
Posts: 35,632
Jan 17, 2012 4:31pm
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.
D
dave
Posts: 4,558
Jan 17, 2012 4:33pm
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.
Azubuike24's avatar
Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Jan 17, 2012 9:23pm
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)
D
dave
Posts: 4,558
Jan 17, 2012 9:33pm
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.
Terry_Tate's avatar
Terry_Tate
Posts: 7,606
Jan 17, 2012 9:49pm
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.
Azubuike24's avatar
Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Jan 17, 2012 9:52pm
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...).
D
dave
Posts: 4,558
Jan 17, 2012 10:05pm
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.
se-alum's avatar
se-alum
Posts: 13,948
Jan 18, 2012 7:57am
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.
M
mhs95_06
Posts: 8,167
Jan 18, 2012 7:53pm
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.