I'm not discussing whether to skip or not skip starts, I'm saying it doesn't make sense to bury a 24 y/o in low A. See if he can get AA/AAA hitters out, it's just as easy to skip starts there too. McElvain is a good example. Ex-Vandy P now 22 and just made first High A start. See if he can finish '23 in AA, start '24 in AA and move into AAA in '24 and maybe end next year in Cincy. Seems they have him right on schedule. Agree, don't want to burn guys like Wood/Prior. I saw Wood in AA, Prior in college....those guys were dynamic.
Misunderstanding on my part, I see what you mean and agree with you here. As far as many of these pitchers with college experience, would like to see another Mike Leake situation that jumped straight into the majors. Solid year with 8 wins, 4.23 ERA in 138 innings in his 1st season. Hopefully Hubbart can make a huge leap in the 2nd half and play himself into the conversation much like Abbott did this year. I remember Abbott having not the best numbers at this point last year when picked for the futures game and he vastly improved.
Heard Welsh talking about the definition of a quality start and how teams are content with getting 5 innings, 3 runs these days. You mentioned Carlton not long ago, they sure don't make them like him anymore, Nolan Ryan, Billingham or Soto pitching anywhere from 250-300 + innings in their prime years with a double digit number of complete games. Doubt we're seeing another 300 win pitcher again. Verlander might have had a chance in this era but a TJ surgery, 2020 pandemic season and a couple of rebuilding years in Detroit going to come up short. 247 wins now.
It's not impossible to reach 300 wins in a 5-man rotation but certainly the days with 4 pitchers gave starters more opportunities than current ones these days.
Consider too that old timer Robin Roberts pitched 300+ innings SIX YEARS in a row! That'll never happen again.
Rather see what Brett Kennedy can do in another start than keep sending Weaver out there knowing what is coming. Hopefully the offense can get them back in the game again now that he's out. Literally only here because everyone else is hurt. He needs to be DFA'd as soon as both Greene & Lodolo return in August but they will likely stash him in middle relief to skip starts rather than doing what they should and cut dead weight.
Stealing home seemed to ignite the whole team, including the bullpen. Diaz looked back to form. No looking back with this BP. They get all the rest they need next week.
Yet they usually win when he does. They haven't lost on a day he's started since May, 8 in a row now.
Twenty. One. Years. Old. I hope he retires a Red but Lord knows they won’t be able to afford to keep him after their 4-5 year run is over and they sell off everyone. He’s going to sell a freak ton of tickets for the Reds the next few years. He will be the face of MLB before too long.
If they can even split the two series with the Brewers I’d call it a huge win. Maintain their division lead and prove they are not to be counted out. Started the season 7-15. 43-25 since. Pretty incredible. And for those who said this was a singles team, they’ve jacked homers in 22 straight games. Franchise record. This lineup is solid and only going to get better.
Matt McLain is way more deserving at SS to be an All-Star as the replacement for Dansby Swanson than who was actually selected, Geraldo Perdomo. What a joke!
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How is it more important for 3B man to play in SS hole than it is to cover 3rd both before EDLC stole 3rd & then before he stole home? Makes no sense to me. They were giving him both bases. Why?
I called them a singles hitting team because at the time they were, they've made important changes to the lineup since then and I'm glad to see it. Irony is their best power hitting prospect, CES, may not ever make it to Cincy.
I agree. the Reds haven't gotten this far by needing to depend on some other organizations top players. They got here with a lot of patience building from within the pipeline and the last thing they need is to get impatient now with the help coming back with Lodolo & Greene in August. Lose all of the prospects on some rental they can't afford to keep when they have the young pitchers with Richardson, Phillips and as well as Bryce Hubbart & Chase Petty.
CES would be up here right now but the need for him is not as urgent with the way Joey Votto is producing at the moment, Steer still in the 1B picture and Tyler Stephenson requiring regular at-bats at DH when he is not behind the plate. It is still likely Votto's last season and a September call-up or declining Votto's option to buy him out for $7 million handing over the reigns to CES at 1B in 2024 is still the most likely scenario.
Reds position players have been uncommonly healthy to this point, hope it lasts. Reds seem as if they'll go with Votto as long as he can hit .230 with occasional power. Will it be CES at 1B and Marte at 3B in '24?
Some of the argument, even when they were scoring runs, is that CES was necessary to hit the HR ball. After 22 straight games with a HR, Votto returning from the IL and a long winning streak, you don't hear it much anymore.
Wish the Reds had that kind of luck going with their pitching staff in regards to the position players health so far. CES has to be the starting 1B at the beginning of 2024. The emergence of Noelvi Marte is going to force the Reds to have to make a trade they don't want to or a major position change for someone. It's the corner the Reds have backed themselves into drafting and trading for so many infielders.
CES is blocked by Votto right now. That likely ends after this season. I don’t think they’ll move him. I would actually think there’s a handful of others they’ll move before him. Maybe Marte. Have to think Newman is pretty expendable at this point, one of the catchers not named Tyler is expendable too. Even Senzel has elevated his value somewhat this season. I just hope the Reds style of play makes them attractive to some of the better free agent SP’s in the offseason. I think it’s going to be difficult for them to land any pitcher at the trade deadline. Too much competition and would have to give up way too much. Lots of teams still in the hunt and solid pitchers are tough to come by.
Unfortunately that’s a good problem to have. I hat the thought of moving India, that’s something that would have to happen in the off season. He’s too much of a clubhouse leader right now, but he could bring a nice reward in the form of a solid SP.
