Madison graduation 2012
Warren County CC graduation
New Miami graduation 2012
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 > December > 09 > Entry
Reds do nothing - and that’s not bad
The Cincinnati Reds are coming home from baseball’s winter meetings at Disney World with nothing more than some Mickey Mouse t-shirts and stuffed Goofys as Christmas gifts.
No notable free agent signings and no trades.
And that’s not a bad thing. There is no reason for General Manager Walt Jocketty to take hammer and chisel to this roster. Some minor cosmetics will suffice and, as he says, “I like this team.”
So do I.
All the Reds have done lately, other than sign lefthanded relief pitcher Dontrelle Willis to a minor-league contract, is some in-house bookkeeping.
They’ve extended the contract of Bronson Arroyo and they’ve signed their own free agent, Miguel Cairo, to a two-year $2 million contract.
IT IS NOT that Jocketty couldn’t make a trade. He could. Teams come calling all the time. But they want the young players, the future of the Reds. It is to his credit that Jocketty isn’t falling prey to the rich vultures.
Yes, the other teams in the NL Central are re-arming and re-aiming. They have to do that to keep up with the Reds.
With the current roster, the Reds will be better in 2011. The mostly young roster, sprinkled nicely with veterans, gained valuable experience last season. They endured and survived a tough season to win the division and they had a quick taste of postseason play. Those factors alone will make them better.
Adding a significant free agent off the top shelf isn’t possible - which is why the Reds were not in the Carl Crawford menagerie and are not in the Cliff Lee circus.
The 2011 payroll will be somewhere in the $80 million vicinity, with four players gobbling up $40.5 million (Francisco Cordero $12 million, Bronson Arroyo $11 million, Brandon Phillips $11 million and Scott Rolean $6.5 million).
That leaves less than $40 million for the other 21 players, many of whom are making $1 million or more. And then there are several arbitration-eligible players who will make raises - big raises for Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, in addition to Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto.
While everybody in Redsland wants Jocketty and the Reds to lock up Votto with a long-term deal, it probably isn’t going to happen in the immediate future. And there is no reason for it - on either side.
Votto isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2013 season. He can’t go anywhere until after 2013 unless the Reds trade him. Jocketty says he Reds are talking to Votto and his agent about a multi-year deal, but the interest is only lukewarm. Votto is in no hurry to determine his long-term future. Nor should be be unless the Reds overwhelm him, which they can’t afford to do right now.
Regardless, look for 2011 to be a big year for the Reds, despite what other teams in the division are doing.
THE ST. LOUIS Cardinals have re-signed pitcher Jake Westbrooke, plus added outfielder Lance Berkman (a Reds killer) and infielder Ryan Theriot.
THE CHICAGO Cubs have signed first baseman Carlos Pena, a guy who hits a lot of homers and drives in a lot of runs, but hit .196 last year, to a one-year $10 million deal.
THE MILWAUKEE Brewers have added pitcher Shaun Marcum (whose grandfathder lives in Dayton) and still might unload first baseman Prince Fielder for some significant pitching.
EVEN THE lowly Pittsburgh Pirates are upgrading. They’ve hired Clint Hurdle to manage and acquired pitchers Kevin Correia and Scott Olsen, plus outfielder Matt Diaz.
Are any of those moves enough to overtake a more-experienced Reds team? I doubt it.
ONE OF THE talking heads on the MLB Network said after the Boston Red Sox acquired Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, “The Red Sox are sending a message.”
What he didn’t say is this: “The Red Sox are sending a message to the San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays that says, ‘We have the money to steal away your stars and you don’t.’”
AND THAT’S also by Cliff Lee will be wearing pin-stripes next season. With the New York Yankees, it is, “Whatever it takes.” With Boston snagging Gonzalez and Crawford, the Yankees HAVE to counter-attack.
WOULDN’T YOU love to have a job that pays $4 million a year and be able to just walk out the door and say good-bye? Florida football coach Urban Meyer did it. At age 46. I’ve often wondered (well, not TOO often) if Urban had brothers named Suburban and Interurban.
When asked about leaving Florida in the lurch with recruiting, the former Bowling Green coach said, “Florida is Florida. Florida will always be Florida.” I guess he means anybody can recruit football players to go to Florida.
SPEAKING OF SAYING good-bye, three words, one hyphenated, for Brett Favre, “Just say good-bye.” It is obvious this guys is finished and gets hurt every other quarter. Why does current coach Leslie Frazier even consider playing this guy? Shouldn’t they be seeing if Tarvaris Jackson is capable of being next season’s quarterback?
TWO SUGGESTIONS: For a great night of sports entertainment, check out a Wright State University basketball game at the Nutter Center and a Dayton Gems hockey game at Hara Arena. Both are second cousins on the local sports scene but both are breaking their necks trying to grab deserved attention.
SCOTT HANNIG, my ‘personal’ jeweler at James Free (my wife has a personal parking space) is also a talented artist and is doing the artwork for an upcoming book on former Cincinnati Reds manager Fred Hutchinson with author Mike Shannon.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment |
Tweet
Comments
By nyc
December 11, 2010 5:07 PM | Link to this
so the goal of the reds is to win their division every year…what a joke…if that is what amounts to a world series ring for them….and their fans….that is sad….midwest hillbillies apparently drink too much corn liquor
By skipaway
December 11, 2010 6:17 AM | Link to this
Dear Hal: I asked Mike Ferrin (?sp) on XM MLB Channel about “cheap” leadoff hitter in free agent pool. He named Johnny Damon. What think ye?
By cincyredsfan
December 11, 2010 1:38 AM | Link to this
Cory - Actually up until the all star break last season, Gomes was one of the most clutch hitters in the league, great avg with RISP.. He faded after that, but had a few hot streaks. He’s still pretty young too, and hasn’t really played a full season until last year. Hopefully he learned how to take care of his body for the long haul and we’ll get a more complete season out of him. I agree with you about facing the good pitching, though - he looks pretty bad on the breaking stuff sometimes
By cory r
December 10, 2010 7:41 PM | Link to this
hal i agree with you to a point but we needed to upgrade in left field. gomes numbers were okay but he doesen’t hit quality pitching and is terrible in big spots, good team guy and a good guy off the bench—-offensively it was obvious in the phillie series and other games down the stretch we struggled at the plate,our lineup is ok but we really could have used another bat
By Tom
December 10, 2010 2:47 PM | Link to this
I’m sure the Reds would move Cordero if they could. But that’s not going to happen in 2011. We’ll see others auditioning for the closer role in 2012, perhaps including Chapman. It’ll be another season of holding our breath when Coco is trying to close it out.
By Jack
December 10, 2010 10:31 AM | Link to this
Sgt…if we do not want him, what makes you think anyone else does? we are stuck with hi for one more year. Nice work by the Reds for signing their you talent.
By Gem&Heater
December 10, 2010 9:09 AM | Link to this
The Reds need a SS and I believe they can’t stand pat with what they have. But, the Reds just signed Bruce to a long term deal which makes sense and gives credibility to the Red’s long term committment to winning. Votto won’t commit until he sees what happens next year and why would he? Coco isn’t wanted by anyone so you might as well see what happens in the spring. As for Favre, his act is getting stale but Frazier must believe he gives the Vikes the best chance to win or why start him. Tavares Jackson must really be awful
By J-Ro
December 10, 2010 8:26 AM | Link to this
I think Brett Gardner could have been had cheap and upgraded LF defense/leadoff…other than that I’m happy Walt did nothing outside the organization. Nice move locking up Bruce.
By Scott
December 9, 2010 11:30 PM | Link to this
I think the book that you are reading is the one by Doug Wilson. It looks very good from what I’ve seen. The other book won’t be out until next spring or early summer.
By MK
December 9, 2010 6:08 PM | Link to this
The Reds might be in a better negotiating position for Votto by waiting. With Gonzalez going to Boston multi-year in takes another big market team out of future play for Joey.With Fielder going next, probably to LA and Pujols next the Reds might be better able to get things done with less competition. Hal, I am currently reading the Shannon/Hutchinson Book. There are photos but no artists renderings. Your jeweler might owe you one for bad info.
By Slightly Right
December 9, 2010 3:54 PM | Link to this
The Reds should be fine in 2011. They have a young group of players that for the most part were well managed, played well as a team, no ego problems (unlike the Bengals!), and the pitching will only get better. The only thing that would enhance the team might be the aquistion of a solid leadoff batter. It would have to be a shortstop or outfielder though. They should be proud of what they did in 2010 with a few veterans and a great mix of young talent.
By Red Stocking
December 9, 2010 3:43 PM | Link to this
As long as the people fill up the stadium, then there is no reason to change anything. For further confirmation (See Bengals and Mike Brown)
By Retired Sgt
December 9, 2010 3:03 PM | Link to this
Dear Lord, why are the reads holding on to that washed up Cordero. Get rid of him and the 11 million payroll and make the 100 MPH guy the stopper…