[Stardust]

NL Central Standings
Team W L Pct. GB Central
St. Louis 53 47 0.530 0 25 - 22
Chicago 50 45 0.526 0.5 26 - 21
Houston 50 47 0.515 1.5 20 - 24
Milwaukee 49 48 0.505 2.5 26 - 19
Cincinnati 44 52 0.458 7 23 - 22
Pittsburgh 43 54 0.443 8.5 14 - 26

[t4p3r8]

The Reds should move to another city or the organization should fold and quit teasing fans that can remember the Big Red Machine years.

[OrangenowBlue]

The Reds should move to another city or the organization should fold and quit teasing fans that can remember the Big Red Machine years.

If they keep waiting, they will eventually all be dead.

[Stardust]

If they keep waiting, they will eventually all be dead.

:Thumbs:

[Stardust]

The perception around baseball is that the Reds are ready to sell. But the man who will ultimately make that call, CEO Bob Castellini, says he’s not to that point.


“I believe we’re not at that point,” he said. “If we can get our pitching to show up and get our hitting to show up at the same time, we’re still possibly contenders.


“How long that lasts, you’ll probably know before I do.”


Time is definitely getting short. The Reds are nine games under .500 at 44-53, 7½ games out of first with 65 games to play.


They placed two more players – Chris Dickerson and Micah Owings -- on the disabled list Monday. They have nine players on the DL currently.


“I don’t think we’ve dealt with injuries any worse than the Mets and they have twice the payroll,” Castellini said.


Castellini tried to stress the positive.


“The guys have to keep their chins up,” he said. “It’s been tough.”


Dusty Baker and Walt Jocketty have said all along that the Reds are trying to add players to help win this year.


They’ve talked to the Toronto Blue Jays about Scott Rolen. Talks began three weeks ago. The Reds were hovering around .500 at the time.
They’ve since slid hard. They are 3-12 since July 7.


The only way dealing for Rolen makes sense is if the club feels it needs a veteran presence in the clubhouse for this year and next. Jocketty was the GM in St. Louis when he traded for Rolen.


Rolen would be a major upgrade over Edwin Encarnacion defensively. But the deal to work financially, Encarnacion would have to be part of it.


Toronto is also trying to trade Roy Halladay. Reports out of Toronto say the Jays would like to move Halladay before making other moves.

Also, the Yankees do have interest in Bronson Arroyo. But the money and his inconsistency make it unlikely to happen.

[More Cowbell]

It's time for the Reds to start getting ready for next year, just like they always do the last week in July.

1) Listen to offers for Arroyo and Harang.

- Cincy should accept a low-level prospect for Arroyo, or a mid-level prospect if the other team requests the Reds pay part of his salary.

- Harang should only be traded if a team makes an overwhelming offer of multiple high-level prospects for him. Otherwise, trading him while he is in a slump makes no sense (sell high, buy low, right?). I still think Harang should be the ace of this team, but he has some mechanical issues that a good pitching coach needs to iron out.

2) Listen to offers for Weathers and Rhodes.

- Weathers may seem like he is washed-up, but veteran relievers always seem to be in demand this time of year. He should be able to fetch a low-level prospect.

- Rhodes should be in even more demand. He is one of the best lefty specialists in the game, and would be very valuable to some team in the late innings of a playoff game. Rhodes should bring back at least a mid-level prospect. If not, keep him for next year, as his contract isn't too unreasonable.

3) Resist the urge to trade Cordero just to shed payroll.

As always, if a team bowls the Reds over with a big package of prospects, then go ahead, but don't just trade him because of his contract. As much as his signing has been criticized by Reds fans, I think his presence at the end of the bullpen has been a stabilizing influence. He has only blown 1 save all year, and him being entrenched in the ninth inning allows other guys to pitch in roles more suited to them. I would be happy if Coco was still back as closer next year.

4) Try to find someone dumb enough to take Willy Tavares off their hands.

We can dream, can't we? :biggrin:

[Stardust]

I disagree with #2. Rhodes is cheap, plus he is great for the locker room. He is up there in years, but this guy has a live arm. I love him and would hate to see them let get away. They won't get anything in return, so it does not get them much value by trading him even as part of a package.

[More Cowbell]

I disagree with #2. Rhodes is cheap, plus he is great for the locker room. He is up there in years, but this guy has a live arm. I love him and would hate to see them let get away. They won't get anything in return, so it does not get them much value by trading him even as part of a package.

Hey, I didn't say to just give him away. I know he is valuable too, and if no one wants to offer at least a mid-level prospect, then keep him. He's definitely an asset both for the rest of this year and next.

I listed him because there are only a few players on the Reds that are marketable to contending teams. Obviously the Reds aren't going to trade young cornerstones like Votto, Bruce, Phillips, Volquez, and Cueto. So that leaves only the veterans I mentioned earlier.

I only said they should listen to offers because I think he SHOULD draw a lot of interest from contending teams. His contract is reasonable for next year, he's a good veteran presence, and he can still get guys out. Why do you think they wouldn't get anything in return?

[beasy_bo]

Hey, I didn't say to just give him away. I know he is valuable too, and if no one wants to offer at least a mid-level prospect, then keep him. He's definitely an asset both for the rest of this year and next.

I listed him because there are only a few players on the Reds that are marketable to contending teams. Obviously the Reds aren't going to trade young cornerstones like Votto, Bruce, Phillips, Volquez, and Cueto. So that leaves only the veterans I mentioned earlier.

I only said they should listen to offers because I think he SHOULD draw a lot of interest from contending teams. His contract is reasonable for next year, he's a good veteran presence, and he can still get guys out. Why do you think they wouldn't get anything in return?

i definitely think keeping the oung guys is the best idea right now too. i mean it would be kind of stupid to trade off when they are coming around the corner.

[Stardust]

i definitely think keeping the oung guys is the best idea right now too. i mean it would be kind of stupid to trade off when they are coming around the corner.

:Thumbs:

[beasy_bo]

another big thing that has hurt us is injuries. i know thats part of the game but in cincy right now everyone is a key piece to the puzzle. votto being the biggest. pitching needs to step their game up like it was at the first of the year. our bats will come around especially when bruce comes back.

[Stardust]

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090...ling+again

With Cincinnati skidding toward a ninth consecutive losing season, Arroyo said it is imperative for the Reds (45-54) to not surrender.

“If you fold the tents, you’ve got no chance,” said Arroyo, who pitched well but fell to 10-10. “This time of year, everybody’s gonna have to push themselves above and beyond to make it to the finish line, and not have everything collapse.”

That sinking feeling again is gripping Reds fans, as 14,526 watched Cincinnati fall to the lowly Padres (39-62) at Great American Ball Park.

Seven of the final nine Reds hitters went down on strikes, and then the crowd quietly arose and went home.


“We are scuffling, but we’re still fighting,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “It’s real frustrating.”


The Reds entered Tuesday fifth in the NL Central, tied for a season-high 7½ games out of first place.

:igiveup: