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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2010 > February > 01
Monday, February 1, 2010
Hopefully Cabrera is not another Gonzalez
When the Cincinnati Reds signed Miguel Cairo to a minor-league contract last week, I thought to myself, “Omigosh, they’ve signed the wrong Latin infielder to play shortstop. It’s Orlando Cabrera whom they need, not Cairo.”
Well, they rectified that little misdeed Monday when they signed the 36-year-old Cabrera to a one-year, $2.02 million deal.
And how did that happen when they said they already were over budget? Easy, they traded outfielder Willy Taveras and his $4 million contract to the Oakland A’s, along with the versatile Adam Rosales.
I’m sure the Reds had to include Rosales in the deal to make the A’s take Taveras. I would have taken two broken bats and a used rosin bag for Taveras, just to get rid of him and his $4 million contract.
THE TWO BIGGEST mistakes the Reds have made since they signed pitcher Eric Milton were the signings of outfielder Corey Patterson, followed up by the signing of Taveras. Both were bigger failures than the maiden voyage of the Titanic.
It is amazing the A’s took Taveras. Aren’t the A’s the original Moneyball team, the team that places so much value on on-base percentage? It was bad enough that Taveras hit only .240 last season, but even sadder was his on-base average as a leadoff hitter, .275. And his slugging average was .285.
I mean, I know the A’s don’t rely that much on scouts any more - it’s not the Moneyball way - but didn’t somebody tell them, “Hey, this guy can’t play?” The Reds must be laughing under their armpits.
During spring training last year, Taveras said he thought he could steal 100 bases last season. Man, he barely reached base 100 times and he walked only 18 times all year. Adam Dunn stole that many bases and he is 6-7 and 275 pounds.
WHILE MANY are excited about the acquisition of Cabrera, mostly that excitement comes from fans believing, “Well, the Reds finally are trying to do something, trying to fill the shortstop hole.”
I’ll reserve judgment on that one for now. I’m still thinking about shortstop Alex Gonzalez. When the Reds signed Gonzalez to a four-year, $14.5 million contract everybody was giddy. Even former Reds shortstop Dave Concepcion said, “Alex Gonzalez will make everybody forget about me.”
Yeah, right. How’d that one pan out?
Everybody pointed back to 2004 when A.G. played 159 games and hit 23 homers and drove in 79 runs for the Florida Marlins. And they said his defense was solid gold.
In his 3 1/2 years with the Reds, Alex played only 290 of the 576 games in which he could have played. He missed the entire 2008 season. When the Reds traded him to Boston last season he was hitting .210. And his defense was leakier than a milk carton with a hole in the bottom.
So color me skeptical right now about Cabrera, who is 36 (Colombian age). He combined to play 160 games last year for Oakland the Minnesota and hit .284 with a .316 on-base average, nine homers and 77 RBIs. His career average over 13 1/2 seasons in .275.
Nice numbers? Yes. But I still think back on the Alex Gonzalez deal and shudder. At least the Reds didn’t give Cabrera four years. It’s only one year, with a $4 million mutual option for 2011. And he seems to be a stopgap until somebody in the organization steps up and says, “Hey, I can play shortstop,” somebody like Paul Janish or Todd Frazier or other prospects in the organization.
And what did the Reds get for Taveras and Rosales. Really, it’s who cares. They got Aaron Miles and a player to be identified later. Miles hit .185 in 74 games for the Cubs last year.
Doesn’t matter. The big thing is that the Reds rid themselves of a heavy liability in Taveras - both financially and in talent. It was the old addition by subtraction trade.
THE AARON BOONE event Saturday at the Dayton Marriott, put on by the Dayton Heart Institute, was a rousing success. Nearly 450 people showed up to hear Aaron and me talk baseball.
One of the most asked question I get everywhere is: “Is Dave in Ask Hal a real person?” I always lead my Ask Hal column in the Sunday Dayton Daily News with a question from Dave of Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek. Some believe he is my alter ego and I make up his questions.
Not true. Those who attended the Aaron Boone function saw him, but didn’t know it. Dave stood up and asked a question during the question-and-answer period. I could have ‘outed’ him right then. But I didn’t. He likes his dirty little secret.
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