January 5, 2009
Discussion Thread: The Dusty Factor
Basically I'll throw out a few topics for discussion every once in awhile. Come here if you want a site you can actually have an intelligent back and forth with other Reds fans, without getting overrun by 200 other comments. That is...unlike this site. That, by the way, has to be the funniest blog post I've ever read on there. I wish the moderators luck, but it highlights how dumb the blog is. Not because of the content, but because of the commenters (the idiot ones). Anyway, on to the topics.
#1 - The Dusty factor
Question - Did Dusty use the players given to him correctly last year? Hard question I know, makes your head explode coming up with that answer. No matter what player we suit up for the Reds, Dusty is the one controlling how they are used. He is prone to using the wrong players wrong and the right players...well...wrong, this is what I would term as "the Dusty factor". Simply you have to work against our managers tendencies in order to get things to work right. You have to sign guys around what our manager's strengths and weaknesses are. I sure hope Jocketty realizes this, he seems like a pretty smart guy, I bet he.........sh*t nevermind.
I guess I just notice a lot of times when someone is talking about who the Reds should pick up, they stop themselves when they come to the thought of how Dusty would use them. I know I do. So what will Dustbag do this time around? Close games with Weathers instead of Burton (if Coco is unavailable)? Pitch Pettyjohn because "he just wins no matter how good his stuff is" (yeah, ok)? Start Patterson in CF for his defense and lead him off for his speed? Call up Rosales and never play him? Pitch Adkins because he's "experienced" even though none of it is in the majors? Bat Votto 7th because he's a rookie, even if he's the most consistent hitter on the team? Catch Bako because he calls games slightly better than other people? Pinch hit for a catcher with a catcher, pinch run for him with another catcher, then insert another catcher for defense (if anyone remembers the game I'm talking about, a link to a box score would be cool)? How do you think he will affect things this year?
#2 - The lineup and "the future"
My thoughts on this actually stem from the last topic. Where, in '09, do you place Bruce in the lineup? I welcome anyone to post what their lineups as of now would be, by all means. But foremost I want people's ideas on where Bruce fits in the lineup. I personally get the feeling that he could be the perfect cleanup hitter. In fact I see no reason to keep batting Phillips in the 4 hole, yeah splitting the lefties is nice, but I only do it if I have a legitimate 4 hitter, Phillips is not that. I realize it's tough to slot EE and others if you move Phillips down, and I'm hesitant to put him in the two hole, but your best two guys should get the best two spots if at all possible. I saw a few lineups in some places that have Bruce batting third, my thoughts on that:
Probably the thing that pissed me off last year the most (well, other than watching you know who everyday) was when Bruce was just given the third spot in the lineup. I was livid the first game I saw him batting third. So livid I actually turned off the game for awhile, right after I had just sat down to watch it. I just don't understand the logic in giving a kid who hasn't proved jack at the major league level the most important spot in the lineup just because he "will probably end up there someday anyway" (this is a pretty accurate quote of Dusty). It made me so angry, you don't just hand things to kids because of their potential, you dangle it out there and tell them to go out and earn it. I was in absolute disbelief. That's not the way I want any coach at any level in any sport on any planet to treat any player, especially a future superstar. I love Bruce as much as the next guy, but you simply don't pander to the hype and just hand things to people at the highest level of competition. That after babying Votto in the 7th spot all year like he was some sort of hack at the plate.
Comments abound Reds nation. Prove to me you read this site, you have to earn my trust that you guys weren't just yanking my chain in the last post.
Discussion
10 Comments on "Discussion Thread: The Dusty Factor"
#1
Posted by Scott Rubin, January 5, 2009 5:20 PM
Dusty does seem like a liability. However as has been reported elsewhere last year, if you optimized the offense, it might not make a whole lotta difference. Dusty will probably bat CF / SS in the 1-2 hole because that’s what he does. It’s not the best but it’s what we should expect.
So if Dusty does his 1 – 2 of Tavares – Kep/Agon, I’d follow with Votto, EE, Bruce, Phillips, LF, Hernandez (we know Hern gets playing time over Hanigan because of his experience. I might even be tempted to bat BP 7th. More than likely Dusty goes Bruce, Philips, Votto, EE, LF, C (catcher’s always bat 8th, right?).
#2
Posted by Jeff Gentil, January 5, 2009 7:54 PM
On a positive note: Burrell to the Rays for 2 years $16 million. NO WAY IN HELL I'd pay that much for him. Glad he's off the board.
#3
Posted by Erik, January 5, 2009 11:09 PM
I like the idea of EE in the cleanup spot personally as well, just not so sure he's a huge upgrade over phillips. And I'm still very confused why they don't move EE to the OF.
8 mil a yr isn't all that bad, Dunn and griffey were 11+, but I agree it would be more than I'd pay if I were the Reds. surprised to see him sign for 2 years, might mean management can snag a steal for someone given the way the market has shaped up. that would leave some salary to sign some dominican prospects or our 7th or 8th pick (think its 7th).
#4
Posted by Ftiz, January 6, 2009 5:11 PM
As to last year and using the right personnel:
1. Who can possibly defend the way Dusty used Corey Patterson. I know that most of us didn't have much confidence in him coming in, but after the first couple of weeks didn't have a BA over .200 and struggled to get it there all season. How could you ever play him in 135 games and give him 366 ABs?
2. Paul Bako had a strong April and in one official poll was the Reds' April MVP. After that he nosedived and still caught 99 games.
3. And then there is Josh Fogg and his 7.58 ERA.
4. A concern I had was use of the bullpen. You had a reliever that was doing well but would only pitch one inning--why not let him pitch two if he is doing well?--and end up using five pitchers in one game. I believe that led to some tired arms.
5. I believe that Keppinger was brought back too early--and Dusty said so himself when activating him--and he suffered the rest of the season.
6. Dusty also admitted bringing Hairston back too early upon activation and ended up getting hurt and back on the DL for the same thing.
7. I do like how he was wiling--sometimes out of necessity--to use young players like Votto, Bruce, Hanigan, and Dickerson but other players never got a chance, like Adam Rosales and Wilkin Castillo.
#5
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#6
Posted by Erik in reply to comment from Daymnpync, January 23, 2009 5:12 AM
"I am just a newb"
You are just a loser. get a life.
#7
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#8
Posted by chuck, February 1, 2009 2:32 AM
to start the season off right they should have sean casey throw out the first pitch and then it will be all downhill from there.
i was stewing about walt saying they shuld have played ryan hanagin more in sept, but when you have paul bako in the lineup why bother? i wanted to see ryan play more and get experience.
tavares 1st
id bat phillips 2nd if you can get him not to swing for the river everytime.
2 decent base stealers
votto 3rd
ee 4th (it hurts to say that)
bruce 5th
gonzales 6th
whoever 7th
hernandez 8th
pitcher9th
i would even consider putting the pitcher 8th (as the brewers did)and someone decent 9th. got to try something to get to .500 this year
#9
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#10
Posted by GiorgioViklo, February 19, 2009 9:27 AM
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