So, now that Bruuuuuce is here...

....what should they do from a personnel standpoint moving forward, with
the idea that "wait until next year" might yet again be the mantra of
this team.

I say that an OF of Dunn in LF and Bruce in RF looks like a good start
to me. Do they bring in a FA CF? Is Jay good enough to play there every
day in the Majors, and if so, who plays RF? Are their splits that
suggest we could man CF with what's on hand (Patterson, Freel,
Hopper...I don't mind Patterson playing for his glove, but batting 8th
and not for $3 mil so...). Are their CF in the minors who will be ready
(anyone who brings up Chris Dickerson here hasn't been paying
attention).

Looks like Votto is our 1B of the now and the future. Phillips is locked
up at 2B. Who plays SS next year (Is A-Gon signed)? Is Keppinger really
good enough defensively to play there every day if you plan on your team
actually being good? How about 3B? Kepp? Edwin? I could see them dealing
Edwin and playing Keppinger at 3B...in fact, depending on what Edwin
would bring, I might even advocate that.

Paul Bako is an aberration,this season, of course. David Ross is going
to be too expensive for what he is, if he's not already. Javy isn't the
full time answer (don't mind any of those guys on the roster, per
se...but I'd like only one of them, and as the backup...let Aaron Harang
pick him).

Pitching is too uncertain and too much a health risk in general to count
any chickens, so I'll just say that Matt Belisle's had his chances. This
to me was his make or break season. Much like Brandon Claussen a few
seasons ago, Belisle showed some flashes of becoming a legit ML pitcher
last year, along with some stinkers. He was inconsistent, but seemed to
me to be worth finding out about. He has, to say the least, not seized
that opportunity. Of course, he's probably hurt...but either way...

At this point I'd say the 2009 rotation looks like Harang, Volquez,
Arroyo, Cueto and Bailey.

They can cobble something together out in the pen and be successful with
it, given the pieces in place for next season already (They need to find
someone to start taking over for Weathers, who's been a warrior and a
vital part of the pen). Jocketty had some success doing that with the
Cards...but I figure that was Duncan telling him whom to go get.

To me, it looks like primarily a question of CF and SS (Is A-Gon
signed?) for next season. And, more importantly than anything, continued
development of the younger players and pitchers.

*********************************************************************
Kevin McClave

"Don't be sorry that it's over. Be happy
that it happened." ~Tiki Barber
*********************************************************************

Kevin McClave wrote:
> ...what should they do from a personnel standpoint moving forward, with
> the idea that "wait until next year" might yet again be the mantra of
> this team.
>
> I say that an OF of Dunn in LF and Bruce in RF looks like a good start
> to me. Do they bring in a FA CF? Is Jay good enough to play there every
> day in the Majors, and if so, who plays RF?

Yes. He is. He's a better centerfielder than Junior was a couple years
ago. He's a better centerfielder than Freel and probably Hopper. He
doesn't have Patterson's range, but he can play there. Certainly in this
park.

> Are their splits that
> suggest we could man CF with what's on hand (Patterson, Freel,
> Hopper...I don't mind Patterson playing for his glove, but batting 8th
> and not for $3 mil so...).
They would do better to set Bruce over there and bring in an oldster for
a year or two.

>Are their CF in the minors who will be ready
> (anyone who brings up Chris Dickerson here hasn't been paying
> attention).

Chris...never mind. The short answer to your question is that Szymanski
and Stubbs can both play center and both still have a bit of prospect
left on them. They need to move forward this year or they'll become
Chris Dickerson.

> Looks like Votto is our 1B of the now and the future. Phillips is locked
> up at 2B. Who plays SS next year (Is A-Gon signed)? Is Keppinger really
> good enough defensively to play there every day if you plan on your team
> actually being good? How about 3B? Kepp? Edwin? I could see them dealing
> Edwin and playing Keppinger at 3B...in fact, depending on what Edwin
> would bring, I might even advocate that.

Watching Hairston at short last night made me think....with all the K's
from this pitching staff, this team doesn't really need an elite fielder
at short. Keppinger (if he heals) can cover it.

I think the organization needs to make a decision about Edwin. He's
gotta be close to arbitration. He's got a ton of range, but he's never
gonna settle down with his throwing. While he's hit, he's not gonna
carry a team. They have a bunch of guys in the minors that project as
thirdbasemen.

> Paul Bako is an aberration,this season, of course. David Ross is going
> to be too expensive for what he is, if he's not already. Javy isn't the
> full time answer (don't mind any of those guys on the roster, per
> se...but I'd like only one of them, and as the backup...let Aaron Harang
> pick him).
I think it's odd that Ryan Hanigan is on the 40 man roster. He would
actually do a reasonable job as a backup catcher. They could really use
a player here.

> Pitching is too uncertain and too much a health risk in general to count
> any chickens, so I'll just say that Matt Belisle's had his chances. This
> to me was his make or break season. Much like Brandon Claussen a few
> seasons ago, Belisle showed some flashes of becoming a legit ML pitcher
> last year, along with some stinkers. He was inconsistent, but seemed to
> me to be worth finding out about. He has, to say the least, not seized
> that opportunity. Of course, he's probably hurt...but either way...
Part of the problem the reds have had with the shuffling of managers and
GM's is that it become almost impossible to deal somebody like Belisle.
He's a pumpkin at this point. Likely the reds will end up releasing him
and he'll go all Pete Schourek for somebody else.

> At this point I'd say the 2009 rotation looks like Harang, Volquez,
> Arroyo, Cueto and Bailey.
>
> They can cobble something together out in the pen and be successful with
> it, given the pieces in place for next season already (They need to find
> someone to start taking over for Weathers, who's been a warrior and a
> vital part of the pen). Jocketty had some success doing that with the
> Cards...but I figure that was Duncan telling him whom to go get.
>
> To me, it looks like primarily a question of CF and SS (Is A-Gon
> signed?) for next season. And, more importantly than anything, continued
> development of the younger players and pitchers.

One outfielder and a catcher. The bench needs to be reworked.
More/Better arms in the bullpen wouldn't hurt.

dfs