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I knew he could do it! Thanks Walt! – #Reds end Winter Meeting slump

D. R. Soanes — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 22:16:24 +0000

Well, the no transaction slump during Winter Meetings is finally over and all I can say is, Way to go Walt!! I knew you could do it! I know a lot of Reds fans are upset right now but these moves were needed for the big picture and I like them. RHP Alfredo Simon and RHP Mat Latos did great for the Reds but the Reds front office had to do something and I am glad they did it during the Winter Meetings, instead of waiting longer like they usually do. I will not go into detail about who the Reds got in the trades because to tell you the honest truth, I don’t know much about them just yet.
I just wanted to write my support for Walt Jocketty and his front office and thank them for finally making some noise during Winter Meetings. Great work Reds, keep it up!

I just have to add this quote. It really made me happy to be a Reds fan and I have a little more respect for Walt Jocketty now because of it. “I remember as a kid this was always a fun time as a fan to watch the activities of the Winter Meetings to see what was going on. I’m sure this is stirring up a lot of interest in baseball, which is great for our industry.” Reds’ Meetings moves open door for future additions

Billy Hamilton and Dee Gordon together?!?!

D. R. Soanes — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 23:26:33 +0000

I just read on twitter that the Dodgers are open to trading Dee Gordon and I know that the Reds don’t need a 2B but it sure would be fun to have Hamilton and Gordon on the same team. Which one would you bat #1 and which one would be #2? Then with Joey Votto batting #3 would make a pretty interesting combo.

#Dodgers have let teams know open to moving Dee Gordon. New front office likes OBP, not Gordon’s forte

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 9, 2014

Should Marlins go after Chapman?

D. R. Soanes — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 20:33:50 +0000

If something like this happens, there will be a lot more guys going out the door soon after.

The Fish Pond

SAN DIEGO — All offseason the Marlins have made it very clear they are seeking a top of the rotation starter. The ideal candidate is an All-Star caliber pitcher who can eat up innings and keep the club in the playoff picture until Jose Fernandez returns around the All-Star Break.

It’s a reach for the sky wish, and one not easily attainable. Arizona lefty Wade Miley would fit the bill, and he still may wind up in Miami. But the trade return will be painful, most likely meaning the Marlins would have to part with their top prospect, Andrew Heaney.

This much is known, the Marlins are exploring a number of different scenarios. They’re open to creative thinking. So much so that they are considering converting newly acquired reliever Aaron Crow into a starter.

Perhaps the Marlins have learned something from Crow’s former club, the Kansas City Royals.

A main…

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Wake me up when Winter Meetings are over

D. R. Soanes — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 20:28:51 +0000

It is another snore-fest at MLB Winter Meetings for the Cincinnati Reds and of course that is no surprise for any of us. Days like this, I am very happy I am not the Reds reporter, I would lose my mind trying to figure out what to write about. Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty seems to be sticking to his old ways of not showing his hand too early and of course that just makes this time of year very slow and boring! Thank you Mr. Jocketty for ruining Christmas! I used to like Winter Meetings before you came along!

I am not going to write anymore about the trade rumors because seriously, Walt is not going to make any moves until much later, if he even does make any moves this off-season. So we will just talk about something different. I saw this on twitter today and thought I would share.

The Cincinnati #Reds have unveiled a new batting practice cap featuring the head of their mascot: http://t.co/PqDMfFK9F3

— Chris Creamer (@sportslogosnet) December 9, 2014

Don’t worry Reds fans, Winter Meetings will be done soon and then something will get done. We hope!

Just another week as a #Reds fan [Winter Meetings]

D. R. Soanes — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 12:18:21 +0000

Cincinnati Reds fans, I would love to tell you that this week (MLB Winter Meetings) is going to be the best week of your lives, but that would be a lie. Everyone and their dog knows the Reds general manager, Walt Jocketty does not like to do to much during Winter Meetings. Sure, I will give credit to him and his team, they do end up making some very interesting moves after Winter Meetings which shows us they are doing something during that time, but it sure would be nice to see Walt come out swinging one time! Just one time Walt! Hit the floor running!

As a baseball fan it is usually very fun to see what happens during the Winter Meetings. Who will be signed next and of course who will be traded? There is a lot of excitement during this time not only for fans, but for the front office of every team, the players and of course the reporters. Everyone is busy doing their jobs, or so we would hope to assume. The past five Winter Meetings have not been very exciting for Reds fans. We all are hoping this year will be different.

Reds Checklist:
1. Starting LF and a outfield bench bat
2. Bullpen
3. Young starting pitchers who the team will have control of for a few more seasons.
4. Surprise the hell out of Reds fans and the MLB World! Make a move NOW!

My #Reds Front Office expectations for MLB Winter Meetings

D. R. Soanes — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 18:19:44 +0000

I know I am really stretching my hopes on this one but I thought I would add what I expect the Reds to do this MLB Winter Meetings. Three items, three simple items and I am not even going to dream on these.

1. A cheap / contract controlled outfield bat. Which will cost the most for the Reds, especially if they have to trade RHP Mike Leake. (Yes, I like Leake for the future of the Reds more than Cueto and Latos due to the fact that he can stay off the DL)

2. Cheap / contract controlled bullpen arms. This might be done with the Leake / outfield bat trade.

3. Cheap / contract controlled starting pitchers that will help next season. Let’s face it, Johnny Cueto and Mat Latos will not be with the Reds next season and if they have to trade Mike Leake to get a LF bat, they could really be in trouble next season. Another thing to think about is, there is no way Jocketty and the Reds will sign a big pitcher in next off-season to play in Great American Ball Park, so once again he will have to trade to get them. There are some very nice young pitchers on the Reds farm system right now that should be ready soon so that helps a lot, unless they have to trade them with Leake to get the LF bat.

All of these things should already be at the top of the list for Reds Front Office when they head into the Winter Meetings. I have seen a lot of fans saying they need a SS but in my mind let’s just deal with the real bad issues first. LF bat / bullpen arms / and starting pitchers for the next season.

Now let’s look at what really will happen for the Reds this Winter Meetings! Nothing, nothing at all. Walt and his team will come home empty handed and nothing will be done. Because as we all know, Walt does not make deals under pressure, “I won’t make a deal just to make a deal” And good old Walt does not like to be rushed. So Walt, take your time. There is no rush at all, the Reds will just be hosting the All-Star game this season. Take your time.

Is Yoenis Cespedes the only option?

D. R. Soanes — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 12:37:39 +0000

Lately there have been a lot of trade rumors, which of course do not relate to the Cincinnati Reds. Ok, there is one. Boston Red Sox could trade LF Yoenis Cespedes to the Reds for one of their starting pitchers, Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos and/or Mike Leake. Personally I don’t really think Cespedes is the guy the Reds need if an OBP guy is what they are looking for. But he is an upgrade from what they had or would have if they went in house for an option. He would be a one year rental and maybe a flash in the pan like Shin-Soo Choo as he gets ready to be a Free Agent.

As a fan, you usually want the team to get better every season and this move would make the team better but if I was Walt Jocketty, I would not pull the trigger if the Red Sox are looking for Cueto and Latos and only want to give up Cespedes. And to tell you the honest truth, out of those three pitchers, I would be looking to re-sign Mike Leake the most, due to him looking like a Bronson Arroyo type pitcher who will pitch many seasons and innings very healthy, which could be very beneficial to the Reds right now.

If the Reds could get two or three other contract controlled players along with Cespedes then I can’t see how the Reds front office can say no, but I don’t think that is the case and I personally don’t like the idea of trading a one year pitcher like Cueto / Latos for one year of Cespedes. Keep the pitching and wait until the trade deadline where you will be able to get a lot more if you are not making the playoffs.

There are a lot of Reds fans already wanting to buy a Cespedes uniform and other merchandise and I don’t blame them. It would be nice to see what the kid can do in Great American Ball Park but if it was up to me, I would rather sign Nori Aoki and keep the three pitchers until the trade deadline.

What I want for Christmas from #Reds ownership

D. R. Soanes — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 21:49:14 +0000

Sports fans usually want their favorite sports teams owners to open their wallets and sign big name players to help their clubs get better at this time of year. I have done this before many times but this Christmas I am not going to be so greedy. Instead, I am going to ask Cincinnati Reds owner, Bob Castellini to save some money by not sending the Reds front office to MLB Winter Meetings. As a fan I don’t think I can take another year of “We were close on a few things but just could not get anything done.” or, “I am not going to make a move just to make a move.” which seems to be the norm for Reds general manager Walt Jocketty.

Why not save the money and spend it on something more productive? Now I know there are many moves done behind the scenes that the fans will never know about, especially since Walt Jocketty loves to keep the press and fans in the dark, but this is just getting very old, very quick. Letting Walt and his front office go to the Winter Meetings is a waste of time and money and I would love to see Bob Castellini go into his office and say, “Sorry Walt, I am not sending you and your boys to the Winter Meetings this off-season, instead I am going to get you to just stay here and watch them on TV.”

At this point I seriously don’t think Walt Jocketty and his front office could make a move at Winter Meetings, even a minor league invite would be a shock. I know I am being a little harsh saying this but like I say to others I am trying to make a point to, “Prove me wrong.” Walt needs to do some work and have everything prepared before he even gets to the Meetings. He needs to have all of his ducks in a row before he even boards the plane. It is time to step up and make a splash, hell even a little ripple would amaze me right now. Reds fans are bored Walt! Do something, just to do something!!

So Mr. Castellini if you could cancel the trip and make the front office stay home from their slumber party I would be a very grateful fan. Thanks

Why Walt, Why?

D. R. Soanes — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 19:39:40 +0000

I think the Cincinnati Reds should hire another front office employee this off-season. A Public relations person who can deal with the press instead of Walt Jocketty. I am really getting tired, as a fan, of reading that the team has no solid solutions yet and it seems like every time there is a rumor Walt comes forward and shoots it down as meanly as he possibly can. I will say this, I don’t know what it is like to try and make deals and have the press and fans blow the rumors out of whack, but I do know an old saying that maybe Mr. Jocketty should try once and awhile, ‘if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.’ Cutting down the press because they were excited about the Nori Aoki rumor is just bad business. Fans want to know and from the sounds of it, that is a huge market of fans that now will not be following the Reds because of maybe something the GM said. Bad business sir! Now of course we all know Walt Jocketty was not hired for his bedside manner but this is just getting silly! Telling fans that there is no hope is not going to put fans in the stands next season sir!!!!! So someone please get Walt a juice box and let’s get someone else talking to the press from now on.

Letting the fans dream about great players being signed or traded in the off-season is part of what makes being a fan so much fun! And if you want us, the fans!!!! to stop bad mouthing you, then I suggest you let the reporters do their jobs and stop giving them such a hard time and do your job, find the players the team needs in order to win!!!

#Reds trade Jay Bruce to Padres? Bruce career at PetCo Park?

D. R. Soanes — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 02:38:28 +0000

Reds added players to their 40 man roster today and now the trade rumor gates have opened again. And I am loving it! Even if it is off the wall like Jay Bruce to the Padres. At least it is something! I for one do not want to see the Reds selling but if they can bring in players that can help this season and be controlled at a cheaper cost so then the Reds can re-sign someone like Johnny Cueto, I am all for it. Don’t get me wrong, Jay Bruce is a great player but if it was down to Cueto or Bruce I would pick Cueto hands down.

The thing that is odd for me though is that the trade rumor is for the Padres. Why would they want someone like Bruce in PetCo Park? It just sounds strange. Sure Bruce has only played 17 games there so the sample size is bad but its PetCo Park! I can not see Bruce doing to well there or in that division to be honest. But, once again it sure is nice to see the Reds being talked about during the off-season. And when I think about this rumor I seriously can’t see Ken Rosenthal getting the rumor from the Reds front office.

#Reds' Bruce in play; team still mulling direction. Story:… http://t.co/pTq1TNzf3y

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 21, 2014

Jay Bruce’s career at PetCo Park

                                                            
           Split  G AB R  H 2B 3B HR RBI   BA  OBP  SLG  OPS
    SDP-PetCo Pk 17 67 7 12  3  0  2   5 .179 .247 .313 .560

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Generated 11/20/2014.