Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
January 09, 2009
Cry Havoc

Red Reporter plays off a Walt Jocketty quote to try to determine if the Red really will be better base runners in 2009. The Jocketty quote reminds me of the direction George Steinbrenner took when the Yankees sign Dave Collins away from the Reds:

The signing of Dave Collins in December 1981 epitomized the change in the Steinbrenner system. Changing Styles

With the Yankees having thrived forever on power, the owner decided the team should change to a running game. Collins was the speediest free agent available, and it didn't matter that the Yankees already had solid players at the positions he played.

The Red play in a home run hitters park. They are playing against their strength by going for speed.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:14 AM | Base Running | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Interesting comparison, David. The difference though is that I don't think the Reds are necessarily trying to change strategy as much as they aren't willing to spend right now to get the big bat. Most of their moves this off-season have been focused on the short-term and low cost. I'm hoping the plan is to let the farm system develop a little further before making a surge to get over the top, similar to the Brewers model.

At this point, I think Jocketty is just BSing the public so there isn't an uproar over the lack of a big acquisition.

Posted by: Slyde at January 9, 2009 11:44 AM

Really interesting, David http://www.betagainstme.com/?affid=959

Posted by: BetAgainstMe at January 9, 2009 12:20 PM

I watched a lot of Reds games last season and Hairston was on fire when he was in the lineup. Taveras may not be the leadoff hitter Hairston was but he will steal a lot of bases. Hairston stole 15 in 80 games so he could steal 30 bases if he stays healthy.

The Reds have a lot of power in the infield with Edwin Encarnacion, Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto combining for 71 homers.

If Edinson Volquez can pitch close to as well as he did last season and Johnny Cueto can improve on last season that should help the starting rotation. I know these are a lot of ifs but if Aaron Harang can win 15 games after slumping last season and Bronson Arroyo has another good season the Reds make finish higher in the standing than anyone thinks right now.

Even with the loss of Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn in trades last summer the outfield returns Jay Bruce with 21 homers in 108 games, Chris Dickerson with 6 homers in 31 games which projects to over 30 homers in a full season and Taveras hit over .300 two seasons ago.

The Reds were 4th in homers last season in the NL even with Dunn gone for the last two months of the season. His loss should mean a sharp drop in homers in 2009.

Posted by: Andrew Godfrey at January 9, 2009 01:27 PM

Oh gawd, don't remind me of that 1981 season. Oy.

Posted by: rbj at January 9, 2009 04:32 PM
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