Yardbarker: Cincinnati Reds

The Reds’ Bright Spot

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:00:16 -0500

Say what you will about the Cincinnati Reds, as a team they play air-tight defense. I don’t think much has been made of it, but the Redlegs led the National League in UZR with 52 runs saved last season. Just looking at the team’s current depth chart, they might possibly improve on last year’s mark. [...]

The Greatest Reds: #23 - #21

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:00:14 -0500

23. Adam Dunn Played as Red Primary Position Career Rank Peak Rank Prime Rank 2001-2008 LF, RF 24 22 19 Percent Breakdown of Value Best Season Best player on Reds Hit Field Pitch 2004 2004, 2005, 2007 92% 8% 0% Awards/Honors as a Red Leading the League On the Reds Leaderboard All Star – 2002 Walks – 2008 -1st in career AB/HR ratio-2nd in career slugging percentage-4th in career home runs-6th in career on-base perc...

Red Reposter - What is Your Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish?

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:27:06 -0500

More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP Bronson's favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Coconut rum. Browse more photos » Sheldon spoke to Chris Dickerson about this and thatwhere he fits in the outfield and how he played this season and such. Here's an excerpt: "I was really disappointed that my power didn't show up this year," Dickerson said. "I was talking to Drew Stubbs about i...

Sabermetric Review of the 2009 Reds, Part 2: Offense

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:00:14 -0500

A late season surge helped prevent a historically bad offense, but nonetheless, relative to average, the Reds fell off 26 runs in 2009 to 71 runs below average (after park adjustments). It was the worst Reds offense since the 1997 team (95 runs below average). On a team level, where did this offensive dropoff come from? Let's go position-by-position: Notes: Batting runs are the "Batting" stat from fangraphs, which are park-adjusted for us, and includ...

Arroyo on Moving Big Contracts

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:51:30 -0500

It sounds like Mark Sheldon had to take a rowboat out to sea to catch up with Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo said that he would be surprised if he were traded this offseason, and offered his reasons why he doesn’t expect any of the big salaried players to be moved: “In my mind, there was no reason to get [Scott] Rolen [in a July 31 trade] if we’re turning around and moving guys without waiting to see what happens [during the season],” Arroyo said. ̶...

Potential Player of Interest -- Jonny Gomes

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:30:11 -0500

The Rangers need a reasonably priced righthanded bat with pop that can DH and maybe fill in at a COF or CIF spot. And I stumbled last night on an item by Ken Rosenthal that discussed a guy who could be a fit -- Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jonny Gomes. Gomes is a guy I have always found to be intriguing, but who I finally gave up on last season and ignored...and he went on to have a pretty good season for Cincy: G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG 2009 - ...

Harang and Arroyo: What a Difference a Defense Can Make

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:34 -0500

by Al Behrman - AP Bronson Arroyo appreciates the help from his defense, but his mama didn't raise no dummy. View full size photo » Bronson Arroyo led the Reds' starters in wins, ERA, and innings pitched in 2009. Aaron Harang led the Reds in losses and has managed just 12 wins over the last two seasons. What if I told you that the biggest difference between those two pitchers last year was something that is largely out of ...

Blogging the Offseason: Cincinnati Reds

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:09:00 -0500

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here. Today's NL team is the Cincinnati Reds and our guest is Slyde from the Reds Blog, Red Reporter. 1. The Reds roster contains almost no impending free agents and thus no extra salary coming off the books, do you think this hinders them from making moves this offseason or ...

Laynce Nix a free agent, Daryl Thompson outrighted off 40-man roster

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:11 -0500

Laynce Nix a free agent, Daryl Thompson outrighted off 40-man roster Mark Sheldon tweets it. I think we all expected Nix to get nixed with so many better, cheaper options, and Thompson shouldn't be a surprise either. Dude's been riddled with injuries. Remember his debut at Yankee Stadium though? That was awesome. MLBTraderumors also says Craig Tatum was claimed off waivers by the Orioles. Plenty of roster clean-up going on with deadline to set the 40-man fast approaching. ...

Reds 2009 Rule 5 Reserve List

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:30:55 -0500

Friday, November 20 is the deadline for teams to file their 40-man roster reserve lists for the December 10th Rule 5 Draft. Players are not required to be protected on a club’s reserve list until they’ve been under club control for 4 or 5 years, depending on the age they signed. For this year’s draft, minor league college draftees from the 2006 draft class (or earlier) and high school players drafted in 2005 (or earlier) can be selected by other organizations if they are not...

The Carter

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:51:42 -0500

So, Vegas was great. The fight was unbelievable, and I had a great time with my friends. Since I've been home I've just been working out and relaxing. Today I heard about a documentary on "Lil Wayne"(my favorite artist, and bascially the only thing I listen to) called Carter, so naturally I had to get it. I downloaded it off of iTunes today and I do have to say, it was awesome! It was very very interesting/eye opening video. I think the guy is as talented as it gets in my opinion. It's crazy to me that he doesn't write anything down!! That in itself is amazing in my opinion. well, not much else to say other than if you are a fan of Lil Wayne you should definitely check out this documentary. Later Yall!

Reds Top Prospects List – Baseball America

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:55:06 -0500

From Baseball America: Top-10 Prospects: 1. Todd Frazier, of/2b/3b 2. Yonder Alonso, 1b 3. Mike Leake, rhp 4. Chris Heisey, of 5. Juan Francisco, 3b 6. Yorman Rodriguez, of 7. Travis Wood, lhp 8. Matt Maloney, lhp 9. Brad Boxberger, rhp 10. Zack Cozart, ss My only problem with this list is that Leake and Boxberger’s professional experience is a total of 28 1/3 innings. I wouldn’t list anyone on my “top prospects” list until they had a season of minor league baseball u...

Red Reposter - Where Were You When You Heard The Reds Re-signed Ramon Hernandez?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:15:17 -0500

More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP Ramon Hernandez will be back next year, but could that affect the contract status of guys like Jonny Gomes and Jared Burton? Browse more photos » Hall o' Famer Hal weighs in with his opinion on the Hernandez signingand he does little to convince me. "Hernandez hit only .258 last year with five homers and 37 RBIs, but...(he) is the kind of guy I want aroun...

Oh no!

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:40:56 -0500

Kip Wells is gone! The sky is falling! Wells is the only Red to file for free agency, but the Reds still have some decisions to make. They’ve already made the questionable decision to bring back Ramon Hernandez. Next up: Jonny Gomes and Laynce Nix. Should the Reds bring either of these guys back? You know I love Gomes and his sombrero, but I’m still wavering on whether the Reds should get him signed, and if so, how much they should spend to do that. What about Nix? He isn’t ...

How much is Jonny Gomes worth?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:15:09 -0500

More photos » by David Kohl - AP Jonny Gomes can mash the ball. But he may be the Reds' worst fielder, which cuts deeply into his value. Browse more photos » A lot of the talk about the Hernandez signing was about whether the money spent on Hernandez would affect our ability to sign Jonny Gomes. I thought it'd be worth it to try to estimate how much Jonny Gomes should actually be paid in 2010...

More on the Hernandez signing

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:30:11 -0500

More photos » by Tony Tribble - AP As long as he's catching and not playing first base, Hernandez should provide decent value to the Reds in 2010. Browse more photos » Below is an attempt to value Ramon Hernandez properties (here's Slyde's original article on the signing from this afternoon): Hitting: CHONE has Hernandez as a -9 RAA hitter per 150G. ZiPS is simil...

Ramon Hernandez is coming back

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:02 -0500

According to Ken Rosenthal: The Reds have re-signed catcher Ramon Hernandez to a one-year contract, according to a major-league source. The deal also includes a vesting option for 2011 that will become guaranteed if Hernandez appears in 120 games next season. The Reds had declined an $8.5 million option on Hernandez and bought out his contract for $1 million. Hernandez, 33, hit .258 with five home runs and 37 RBI in 287 at-bats last season, his first with the Reds. He missed nearly two months...

Trading Brandon Phillips/Bronson Arroyo

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:45:33 -0500

John Fay’s column yesterday was an attempt to list reasons why the Reds shouldn’t trade Brandon Phillips and/or Bronson Arroyo. It’s all based on the premise that the Reds might be able to compete in 2010. Personally, I think that’s silly; I don’t think there’s any way the Reds can compete next year. This is not a good team. So go ahead and trade Phillips and Arroyo, right? Well, I don’t trust the powers that be to get a good return for either guy. Th...

Reds looking to move high salaries? (UPDATED)

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:03:11 -0500

Saw this link on Lance McAlister’s site (don’t know anything about the mlbfanhouse site): The Reds’ need to slash payroll, according to a major league source, could lead them to explore trading second baseman Brandon Phillips as well as right-handers Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang. Cincinnati’s 2009 payroll was about $71 million. General manager Walt Jocketty said during a break Tuesday at the GM Meetings that he “might” have to move some high-salaried pla...