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Sunday, September 28, 2008
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals are in the same compact car as the Cincinnati Reds (no limousines here) — eliminated from everything and going nowhere but home to golf courses, hunting fields and fishing ponds.
And yet all three games this weekend are sold out — 44,709 on Friday, Sept. 26.
"You would think they were in the playoffs," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "They love their Cardinals."
Not making the playoffs is a rarity these days for the Cardinals, but it is modus operandi for the moribund Reds. Not only have the Reds not made the playoffs since 1995, they are finishing their eighth-straight losing season.
What is it going to take to get fans to love their Cincinnati Reds?
Permit us to count some of the ways and new General Manager Walt Jocketty can consider this a partial list, a starting point.
1. Look for a solid starting catcher, one that can call a game, throw runners out and hit, preferably with power. Since Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra and Carlton Fisk aren't available, Jocketty will have to search deeply for this one.
2. Right-handed power. With rookies Joey Votto and Jay Bruce capable of 30 home runs a year, the Reds are fixed on the left side. On the right side they have only third baseman Edwin Encarnacion.
While Encarnacion has a career-best 25 home runs, he has only 66 RBIs and is hitting only .251. And he has 23 errors. His middle name is Inconsistency, giving him three-vowel initials (EIE).
If Jocketty can trade him for some right-handed power, maybe a left fielder, do it. But don't sign Philadelphia free agent Pat Burrell, as some suggest. He is a right-handed Adam Dunn — lots of home runs, lots of strikeouts and even a worse outfielder than Dunn.
There is also constant chatter about the Reds acquiring Colorado's Matt Holliday. Nice idea. Isn't likely to happen.
3. For the first time in my mottled memory, maybe even in my 36 years of chasing this baseball team around America, the team has starting pitching in surplus (Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, Ramon Ramirez, Homer Bailey, Micah Owings, Daryl Thompson, Matt Maloney, and Adam Pettyjohn).
Don't mess with it, Walt. Keep as much as possible, especially starters. Acquire some relief pitchers to replace possible departing free agents (Jeremy Affeldt, David Weathers, Mike Lincoln and Josh Fogg).
There is one exception, and he might attract enough attention for a decent return. It probably is time for Homer Bailey to move on. It isn't working here, for whatever reasons. A change of venue might work in his favor, and the Reds might get quality return.
Because the Reds are in the same division as the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis, Houston and fast-improving Milwaukee, leaping to the top might be a slow process, but how about .500? Just once. It would be a start, although it is not something to bust buttons about.
Winning is what turns a town into St. Louis, the best baseball city in America.
Comments
By BOB DUERSTOCK
October 23, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this
To cubbie fans!!!! It has been over 100 years since you won a world series!!! Reds have won 5 since 1919!!!!! GO REDS!!!!
By BOB DUERSTOCK
October 23, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
To cubbie fans!!!! It has been over 100 years since you won a world series!!! Reds have won 5 since 1919!!!!! GO REDS!!!!
By Fultz
October 6, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
The Reds need to compete and get to the playoffs to attract fans. The organization is going about it the right way now. Getting rid of Griffey and the bum Adam Dunn was the right move to create a winning attitude. The Reds will need a consistent right handed RBI machine for ‘09 and they are on their way in the next few years.
By Jim
September 30, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
Most stadiums have entertainment built around them so that there is stuff to do before / after the game. Has the area around the park been developed at all? I haven’t been there since Sept 2006. I know the Cubs, Cardinals and Astros all have bars and clubs and resturants within a few minutes walk of their stadiums. Reds ownership needs to remember that baseball is competing with a lot of other entertainment options and if there isn’t anything else around there than fan interest will suffer.
By mike beckley
September 30, 2008 1:13 AM | Link to this
I’ve got a problem I love the “REDS” but I dont feel that the REDS have the same for the fans .we have the cincinnati BATS,$4.00 a gallon higher tickets ,concessions that only STEINBRENNER can afford,and pretty good farm club up there.I’am retired I live in new albany in. I couldn’t afford the trip so I watched every night on tv and all I could say every night was this is sad .And the SAD thing about it is I’ll probly do it again next year.Now thats a problem
By Don
September 29, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this
Increase interest ? Redsfest should try to bring more of the former Reds.During the season, have a bobblehead night in conjunction with recognizing a former player of one of World Champs.Three a year: one for the 60s team(there are a few still kicking)Jay, Maloney,Cardenas.The Big Red Machine and the 1990 team.
By Don
September 29, 2008 8:51 PM | Link to this
Oh yea.No matter how bad the Reds get,I’ll never jump ship and root for the Cubbies.
By Don
September 29, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
I would see what Cordero would bring in trade.If you want to get a quality hitter,you are going to have to give quality in return.I wouldn’t give him away,but if you could get the hitter that would fit…. I would give Burton a shot at the closer role.
By Brock
September 29, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
I’m completely done with the Reds!!! We have heard year in and year out that we need to do this…or we need to do that. When is enough enough?? All the Reds know how to do is create decent Minor league Prospectives and trade them off for junk. Thanks-but No thanks Reds. I live closer to Chicago and can see the Cubs on TV whenever I want. Go Cubbies!
By Brock
September 29, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
I’m completely done with the Reds!!! We have heard year in and year out that we need to do this…or we need to do that. When is enough enough?? All the Reds know how to do is create decent Minor league Prospectives and trade them off for junk. Thanks-but No thanks Reds. I live closer to Chicago and can see the Cubs on TV whenever I want. Go Cubbies!
By Brian Sams
September 29, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this
If I were the GM there might be 6 or 8 guys on this team who should feel comfortable they’ll have a job next spring. Starting pitching is inconsistent at best, the bullpen has been worse, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The ownership doesn’t care about winning as long as they are making $$ and fans fill the stands (which they inexplicably still do)! Getting a new stadium built for them even though they’ve fielded subpar teams is proof of that! I say FIRE ‘EM ALL!
By Charlie
September 29, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
Stay the Course! That’s what it will take. We have a new head coach, and probably the best one we’ve had since the days of Lou. Called up all kinds of new talent. We had 4-5 rookies in the starting line up every night, which is not a bad thing, these guys are great, and only going to get better. Don’t touch the pitchers! Get rid of Edwin. Votto, Phillips, Gonzales, Keppinger, Hanigan in the infield. Bruce, Dickerson, and Hairston in the outfield. Plus Freel, Patterson, Cabrera to move around.
By David
September 29, 2008 12:37 AM | Link to this
The reds need a legitimate number one starter, three to four quality relievers, and good catcher, a new left side of the infield and an entire outfield. Only Votto and B Phillips should be starting. Bruce is Dunn w/o the homers, too many K’s and E’s. And the coaching staff needs to be sent packing. No quick, cheap fixes here, it will take years to field a quality team. It’s not even a ML team, more like watching AAA.
By winston
September 29, 2008 12:33 AM | Link to this
I completely disagree with trading Homer. I know he hasnt done much. You know who else struggled a couple seasons making the transistion from the minors to majors. Oh, probable AL Cy Young Award Winner Cliff Lee. Im not saying Bailey will ever do it, but what we have to gain by keeping him vastly outweighs anything we can get by trading him
Bring in Pudge on a one year deal to be an actual catcher. Even if hes not that great of a hitter anymore, he can still play some d behind the plate
By Dan
September 28, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
Last winter I bought all the Jay Bruce hype. What I got was Cory Patterson. I wont be fooled again. When Patterson,Freel,Hopper,Fogg,Bako and Majewski are off the roster I will be cautiously optomistic that someone finally has a clue.Until then I’m rooting for the Cubs.
By Adam J
September 28, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
I believe the Reds are poised to move in the right direction with an ample amount of seemingly quality starting pitching. It will take a solid leadoff hitter (one that doesn’t swing at the first pitch every time up), a 5 tool outfielder and MARKETING. Fan’s just don’t feel welcome (at least the ones I’ve spoke to over the years) when you go to GABP. Ownership must get serious about building a product that commands attention.
By Oskar Dalryple
September 28, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
Fire the coaching staff and get some guys in here that know what they’re doing.
By Cory W.
September 28, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this
Winning, in my opinion, is the only way to get the interest level up. And winning is on the horizon for this club with the nucleus of young talent. The starting pitching is solid and the bullpen was improved this year. But no team will win with a leadoff hitter and center fielder batting .200. The Reds will flirt with .500 next year if Mr. Jockity lands a proven CF and some right handed pop in the lineup. Surely he can find that with the money saved on Dunn & Griffey and trading Homer Bailey.
By tyrus
September 28, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
Went to Milwaukee last year and Colorado this year to watch baseball. In Milwaukee every Friday’s home game about four players are sited on seated along the first base and third base next to the seats signing autographs. In Colorado as soon as I walked into the park I said hi to Aaron Cook and other players who were handing out programs for a promotion. Last years last home game for the Reds vs Cubs…Cubs players were signing tons of autographs and throwing balls into the stands and this was at GABP! So much for fan appreciation day as a looked into the empty Reds dugout 10 minutes before the game was to start. It’s more than just getting good players it’s a relationship that the team needs to be developed with fans.
By bigrob
September 28, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
the reds are consistent like the bungals….consistent and persistent losers….when you have not seen the playoffs in thirteen years and have eight losing seasons in a row…it is obvious that management has no intentions of putting a quality product on the field…..trust me on this….the reds will have another losing season next year also…..that is a FACT….a done deal
By Pam Pennington
September 28, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
How about bringing “Pete Rose” back to coaching the Reds….enuffs..enuff…he was a great coach…
By ShockMonkey
September 28, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
By Ben: Reds need to commit to mainitaining a realsitic payroll level to acquire and maintain the skill level of players required to compete. It can’t be done on the cheap! Ben, the Rays payroll is $45 million and they’re in the playoffs. The Yankees is $200M and they’re out. The Reds was $74 million at the start of this season. The salaries of Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn are off the books –a savings of $25 million and change.
By Bobby Carr
September 28, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
A winning team will bring out the fans.
By Ben
September 28, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this
In the modern MLB you have to pay to play. The Reds need to commit to mainitaining a realsitic payroll level to acquire and maintain the skill level of players required to compete. It can’t be done on the cheap!
By Ron
September 28, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
I haven’t heard Xavier Nady’s name mentioned but I believe he’s a free agent and he’s a solid right handed bat that can play all three outfield spots. He might not cost too much, either.