The 2017 Reds cannot afford nice things.

"Time out here now. I’m not going to get into all that crap. I’m going to tell you this: If I were an owner of a baseball team I would say to him if I could trade him, I’d trade him yesterday. And I would say, hell I can lose 94 games without you just as easily as I could lose 94 games with you. I don’t care about the OPS. I don’t care about none of that. This team made a bad deal when they signed Joey Votto to a 10-year contract. And he’s gonna make $22M and either next year or the following year he’s going to make $25M. There’s NO sanity on God’s Earth that justifies this being a good contract."

http://redsminorleagues.com/2017/01/03/marty-brennaman-joey-votto

Of course none of this really takes into account that the Reds have had bad luck with Homer Bailey and Devin Mesoraco getting signed to extensions and then completely coming apart at the seams.

Reds roster isn't without some hope though and the bullpen should be much improved. I think the starting staff looks pretty thin and Cincy has already brought in a couple vet ringers hoping for the best including inviting Bronson Arroyo back as a spring training invitee.

First- Joey V.

Second - Seems to be quite a bit of angst with some of the fan sites on the fact Price stated Peraza is penciled in at second, agast he is making 'such decisions before spring training and not talking about playing him at shortstop or as a supersub'. I kinda think he was just stating the obvious on the depth chart and who knows if Jose Peraza will even hit like he did in his trial last year. Dilson Herrera who the Reds got from the Mets is also in the mix, but since he has options, I doubt he will be up until after May even if he has a good spring.

Short - Reds couldn't find a deal that worked to deal off Zach Cozart. Cozart got hurt last year when he was perhaps having his best season at the plate. He's not great, but he is a solid player with a good glove and enough bat to play all the time in the back half of a lineup. He's on his free agent year, so I got a feeling will be trade bate to any decent club that loses a SS to injury. Peraza is right now the heir to Cozart at short, it seems.

Third- Eugenio Suarez struggled both at the plate and in the field in his first year in the first half. He played quite a bit better in the second half, especially with his glove. He's got a bit of pop and I could see him breaking out, if it works out. The guy was more of a 2b/SS in the minors, so long term depending on how Nick Senzel develops the big hitting first round pick from Tennessee by the Reds (often compared to Kris Bryant) - he might not be long term at the position past 2017. Suarez is definitely one of the players that would need to take a step up in their production if the Reds are going to be competitive at all.

Left - Adam Duvall was hot as heck for about a month and kinda mediocre at the plate the rest of the time. If he can repeat what he did or improve some at the plate, it would be a big help for the Reds improving. Considering the Giants considered him a first baseman lump, Duvall by the numbers did pretty ok in left for the Reds last year with the glove.

Center- Billy Hamilton did show improvement, but he seems a bit fragile. It would be nice to see him have a break out year, the guy is already one of the best fielding players in center in MLB.

pretty confident that peraza can hit for average, but he refuses to walk (should make marty brennaman happy) and has no power to speak of. despite hitting .324 last year, b-ref has him at 0.1 WAR (fangraphs at 0.7). that *might* play at short, especially if he improves his baserunning, but isn't too hot at second.

it's also vaguely (but not too) worrisome that two relatively well-run teams have already traded him. i guess we'll see.

senzel is supposedly a beast -- i worry that we might see service-time shenanigans keep him in the minors longer than is warranted

adam duvall is i think the nu-domonic brown. should move him ASAP for some valuable spare parts and plug someone else into left.

yeah. plus he's already 28 (although he won't even be arbitration-eligible for two more years, jeez)

Reds are pretty light in the outfield. There has been mention of maybe trying to flip Duvall at least among the fan sites and even Disco too, but I figure 'someone' has to play for the Reds now. If Duvall is productive, he is cheap that's a win for the Reds.

Senzel they figure is another year away or at best a September call up for 2017.

Right - Scott Schebler is penciled in but he has to earn the job. They got him in the Frazier deal. He struggled quite a bit early on but played better down the stretch. He's got speed enough to play come center and probably will get some action there especially if Hamilton gets nicked up. One knock seems to be Schebler has more of a left field arm.

Next outfielders up are Jesse Winkler and Philip Ervin who are their best prospects. Winkler gets on base alot, but he seemed to lose his power while playing a bit nicked up in Louisville last year. Ervin seems to have good all around skills, but he has not yet played above AA. The wildcard is Arismendy Alcántara who the Reds picked up off the scrap pile who was a prospect both for the Cubs and A's and is only 25 at this point. Seems worth a shot to me as has a bit of utility as he has played both CF and 2b but most likely is a AAAA player - never know.

Catcher - I like Tucker Barnhart better than some of the other fan sites. To me he has improved both behind the plate and a bit at the plate learning on the job in the big leagues. The guy has 200 games behind the plate in the MLB and is only 25. Devin Mesoraco is the bionic man and has not really played in a couple years, so really if they get anything out of him at this point it will be more than I expect. The guy has already had serious hip and knee injuries, if his bat comes back - i'd think it would be smart to get him in the AL where he might be able to save his career as a 1b/DH. Don't know much about this guy Stuart Turner they got from the Twins in the rule 5 draft. I guess he is insurance in case Mesoraco gets hurt. I wouldn't be surprised the Reds look to deal for another catcher. I think Barnhart would be a good platoon catcher with the right other guy.

always rooting for mesoraco, a punxsutawney native

Yeah he has had some bad luck. Tucker Barnhart is from Brownsburg, In., which is one reason I like him.

Bullpen- I got to think the Reds are looking at the Royals and Indians recent success and going to build from the pen, as they have stocked up quite a bit to improve the bullpen.

There are some that would say leaving Raisel Iglesias and Michael Lorenzen in the pen is kind of wasting their talents, but injuries along with the lack of being able to go deep seems to put them with Tony Cingrani as 'just relivers' When Iglesias and Lorenzen got in the pen does correspond to when the tire fire of last year settled down and the Reds started playing at least decent baseball.

Reds also took a chance on Drew Storen getting his mojo back on a 1 year deal, which some think if he bounces and Reds are out of it could turn into a nice trade piece later in the year.

Igesias
Lorenzen
Storen

The rest of the pen will be filled out most likely by Tony Cingrani, Jumbo Dias and Blake Wood all of which at times seem decent and some times totally hittable. Good news is that is now the back of the pen instead of the front now. Wood did pretty good most of the year but he pitched ALOT because for a while he was the only guy who could get outs and seemed to wear down.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2017/03/04/votto-not-resting-quest-complete-player/98745900/

jumbo dfa'd

Reds rotation is looking pretty sketchy. Homer is out till mid season. Disco is probably out at least until late May. Arroyo got hit in the head by a throw to second today and is hitting like 85 on his fast ball.

Cincy has some nice prospects having good springs. I think Sal Ramano might be the the dark horse to make the big jump to the top club. Him and Amir Garrett both have had nice springs and have had flashes of being perhaps something interesting. Both have some pop on their fastball and are getting some strikeouts.

I'd figure Brandon Finnegan who is still getting it together and Tim Adelman are part of the rotation. Robert Stephenson hasn't been that good this spring, but it seems like his time to either make it or don't in the bigs. I'd figure Arroyo might make it up to start the season (maybe opening day starter) with one of the newer guys like Garrett/Ramano to round out the rotation. The knock I keep reading is it's "hard to gauge pitchers in Arizona" for whatever that means.

It don't look good for the goodguys on this front. Maybe down the line it could be ok, but now the rotation is looking sketchy as hell.

It's looking like Bronson Arroyo has made the Reds coming out of camp. I'm figuring low man on the rotation is probably on a 4-6 start window if Disco is ready back from injury.

Rotation looks to be setting up something like this:

Scott Feldman
Brandon Finnegan
>>>The two rookies that won jobs in the rotation...
Amir Garrett
Rookie Davis (got in trade from Yanks for Chapman)
then
Bronson Arroyo

It looks like Robert Stephenson is going to maybe go with the Reds in the pen to start ht year, where all good Reds starting prospects seem to end up.

Sal Ramano is heading to Louisville.

Reds went and picked up Scooter Genette probably for two reasons 1.) like Bill Hall he cannot kill the Reds playing for the Brewers 2.) dudes name is Scooter. Third reason might be that the Reds don't know about the 2b the Reds got from the Mets, Herrera's got some weird injury issues and Cozart could be dealt flipping Peraza to short, perhaps opening a slot for Genette at second.

3) scooter was born in cincy

apparently senzel will start the season in triple-a. that's pretty hardcore

Eugenio Suarez got a few games in back at short this spring training, as there is belief that he will have to move within a year or so. Talk on Senzel says if all goes well, he might be a September call up.

Pretty cool article I saw today on Joey Votto.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2017/03/30/vottos-journey-started-middle-now/99821404/

I don't think the Reds are going to be all that good as the starting pitching is pretty much all questions. That said, I think they could end up hitting quite a few home runs and scoring a bit more than maybe expected. Schebler, Duvall and Suarez all had pretty decent springs. There seems to be some nice buzz around Schebler who some think could maybe break out. If Suarez and Duvall put together whole seasons like their good half, Schebler hits like he did down the stretch and Votto is Votto...that's probably well over 100 home runs there and if it goes big it could add up. The question is whether the lineup outside of Votto can get on base enough to make those jacks count.

Jesse Winkler is probably a hitter that could get on base but right now he doesn't have a position until Duvall or Schebler slide or Schebler perhaps moves to center for Billy Hamilton. So Winkler is going to be at AAA too.

Reds seemed to think having the last good group of minor league players all playing a year or two together in the minors helped that last group, as they knew each other etc. when they got to Cincy. Senzel might be going to Louisville to get him playing time with Winkler, Herrera and Phil Ervin along with some of the young starters - as that is probably the core of where they are going the next couple of seasons.

btw i was wrong; senzel is not starting at triple-a. which makes a lot more sense

really enjoyed that votto article!

Chris Welsh had some interesting insights into Votto's hitting on a podcast a few weeks back that really started in talking about him working on his defense. I guess as a kid Votto's dad built him a cage in their garage where he could take batting T swings all the time and I guess from like the age of 12-13 the guy would take literally hundreds of swings a night. He compared that year in and year out repetitive work to how young players in the DR will play pepper and take grounders over and over from the time they are quite young. It hones the instinct in ways you can't replicate without that level of time put in on the work.

Bronson Arroyo is starting for the Reds today! What year is it?

Hopefully Arroyo can bob and weave a bit better next time. Pretty sure his day time splits over his career are not all that hot anyway. I think he topped out at like 86 mph. Doubt he makes the club if either DeSclafani or Bailey were ready to go.

Reds bullpen and starters had a pretty good week, getting three shutouts. If the starters can keep them in the game through 6-7, they could win a few games.

I really liked seeing Bryan Price go 'Captain Hook' and go straight to a setup guy in the 3rd last night. Lorenzen is really pitching well, throwing more of a cutter. Lorenzen looked really good again and with those 3 pitches, he has to be considered for the rotation at some point.

Reds also got 21 straight outs with no hits or runs out of the bullpen, which from what the telecast last night was the first time that had ever happened at least since 1900.

Billy Hamilton made a couple of impressive catches again last night in center too.

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/reds-vs-pirates/2017/04/10/490195#game_tab=box,game_state=final,game=490195

best team in baseball

Magic number 153!

i'm just innocently checking out the reds broadcast and suddenly it's hootie the blowfish time

I knew if this Baltimore starter Gausman kept banging in fastballs trying to blow it by Adam Duvall that it might not end up well. That's not what works and he clubbed a grand slam.

so i guess the reds are good

The starting rotation is a big mess, they are pretty much getting 1/2 the innings out of the bullpen and while that has been great so far, I can't see that holding up in the long term. They got to get a couple of guys that can eat up some innings. Looks like it's Cody Reeds and Tim Adleman's shot in the rotation coming up next. Reed has pitched excellent out of the pen. Adleman is a journeyman in the minors that seems to be just now making the bigs at age 28-29. Maybe they will get lucky and he will be an inning eater like Dan Straily was last year.

Reds are going to score some runs, they got some power. Defense seems pretty good so far too and really it was pretty good in the second half last year.

http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/840076555422334977/YqPl9mEW.jpg

interesting stat i found while playing with the play index: votto's would be the 10th such opening month with a BABIP <.200 and a SLG >.525

I know they are doing some odd shifting some times on Votto, I have seen a couple of times where the shortstop is pretty much playing straight up the middle and took away a couple of hits that would have gone through if playing in normal position.

votto looks great

Did you see this one from a couple days ago?

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/227959964/joey-votto-homer-his-longest-in-statcast-era/

Reds probably should just have a shuttle between Cincy and Louisville considering how many pitchers have rotated up and down in the past month. Cody Reed had a couple of great bullpen appearances, got his shot at a start against Chicago and went back to not being able to throw strikes. He looked lost again last night, so he is on his way to Louisville to try and get it together. Reed must not be able to repeat his motion, follow through or arm angle with regularity. When he has it dialed in, his pitches are pretty nasty with movement in and down on a right handed hitter with high velocity. Reed couldn't throw strikes at all last night.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18403617_10155362660883760_5069753437490364759_n.jpg?oh=7708f2f4955da2aa025fbdd4eb180678&oe=59B59DA2

This was interesting. It is amazing that Votto is still improving in many ways.

http://www.fangraphs.com/graphs.aspx?playerid=4314&legend=1&statArr=35&split=base&time=game&ymin=&ymax=&start=2007&end=2017&rtype=mult>1=80

yeah he's basically my favorite player. love his approach and how he's constantly finding new ways to be good

http://www.fangraphs.com/statsplits.aspx?playerid=4314&position=1B&season=2016

he's been walking more than he's struck out since last june

http://deadspin.com/joey-votto-heckles-heckler-1795479671

i love joey votto

i saw that live and was wondering what it was!

i think if i found out he was a republican i'd probably be really sad

one thing i just realized is that votto is basically the chris paul of the NBA. not sure what it says about me that they are two of my favorite athletes

After the 4-4 today, Zach Cozart is up to .355 with a 1.025 OPS. Probably the most amazing thing on this career peak run is that he already now has 22 walks in like 42 games. Cozart had seasons through 2012-2014 where he would only get like 31.26 and 25 walks in close to a full season of work at the plate. To be fair, Cozart has had some improved offense over the past couple seaons to be ended early by a couple freak injuries on the basepaths. That said, this first quarter of a season is still a huge step on his past performances.

Cozart's new found patience and some of the other players like Suarez choking up are being used as illustrations of Votto's hitting ways perhaps rubbing off his team mates. Oh yeah, if you are an NL All Star team voter - Joey Votto has said he will buy Cozart and his son a donkey if he makes the all star team. Right now it really is looking like Cozart wants that donkey.

xp to my knowledge joey votto has never punched anyone in the nuts

Reds first series win in Philly since 2006.

ok, cozart needs to be drug tested

if you want to become a legend, play the cardinals right now

I knew it had been awhile, but this was the first Reds sweep of the Cards in a 4 game series since 2003.

As a note, I got to believe there is no way that LaRussa would have pitched to Votto with first base open on Wednesday night before Rosenthal gave up the home run.

There is quite a bit of noise out there with Reds fans on a trades to improve the club and with Zach Cozart in his walk year and performing at an MVP caliber he would be a candidate to trade. Looking at the rosters out there, I don’t see that much of a loaner market for Zach Cozart. The Rockies are the only contender that I see that could maybe be interested in an upgrade at this point. Yanks, Red Sox, Dodgers, Nats, Astros, Tribe, etc.. are all pretty solid at that position.

Personally as a fan, I'd kinda like to see Cozart stick around for a couple more years.

welp

http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2017/06/12/235969010/if-zack-cozart-makes-the-all-star-team-teammate-joey-votto-will-give-him-a-donkey

Old Jo-Vo

Votto actually made that claim early in the year. Cozart looks like he is playing to get that donkey (that and a big free agent deal).

Ah the west coast swing where many a Red season goes to die.

pretty hilarious fake hbp delayed flop by mesoraco

"I've been on this for a minute," said Votto, who was picked for his fifth All-Star team. "Now that it's confirmed that he made the team, I'm going to have to give him a ring. He doesn't have a phone. He only uses a pager. He's kind of in that black-market business."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/07/03/a-real-kick-cozart-earns-pet-donkey-for-all-star-spot/103403332/

Having as good or even better a season than his MVP year. I think he might cross over into sure-thing HOF status along the way; his analytic numbers are going to be so good, his relatively modest career H/HR/RBI totals won't matter. A second MVP wouldn't hurt.

― clemenza, Sunday, July 9, 2017 8:32 AM (four hours ago)

not sure anyone even looks at these leaderboards anymore, but votto's got a sizable lead in WARP

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=1918875

Yeah, I hope Mr. Vottomatic can stay healthy, productive and finish out the season on this tear. I'm sure Marty B. might even give him a few props if he were to drive in 120.

I think the most telling stat about how dialed in Votto has been his year is how he has cut down his strikeouts to like 42 in the first half. For all of Votto's hitting prowess, he has often struck out more like a power hitter with usually well over 100 Ks over a full season. At this point he's on pace to have a year cutting that number down a 1/3rd and with having power numbers at a career peak. That's pretty impressive.

This west coast trip of 4-3 was a whole lot better than last one. 8-6 in the last 14 games to close out the first half after going 1-13 starting with the last west coast trip. 6/8 the Reds were 29-30 and close out the break at 39-49. Interesting enough that the Reds had three rookie pitchers get their first win in the bigs in this last swing before the break (Jackson Stephens, Sal Romano and Luis Castillo). Castillo is one to keep an eye on, as he looks really good. He's got a nice easy pitching style and his fastball has shown quite a bit of movement. Looks like he could be really good.

Oh yeah, Homer Bailey has had two very good starts after getting lit up the first two coming off the DL. Knock wood, it looks like the rotation might have bottomed out and could improve greatly in the second half.

Yeah, I hope Mr. Vottomatic can stay healthy, productive and finish out the season on this tear. I'm sure Marty B. might even give him a few props if he were to drive in 120.

I think the most telling stat about how dialed in Votto has been his year is how he has cut down his strikeouts to like 42 in the first half. For all of Votto's hitting prowess, he has often struck out more like a power hitter with usually well over 100 Ks over a full season. At this point he's on pace to have a year cutting that number down a 1/3rd and with having power numbers at a career peak. That's pretty impressive.

― earlnash, Sunday, July 9, 2017 2:06 PM (seven hours ago)

his ratio of O-swing% to Z-swing% is the highest in the league i think. dialed in is exactly right

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/votto-strikeouts.png

i mean look at this

This was a pretty good read.

http://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/reds/minor-developments-reds-get-prospects-ready-big-leagues/

Brutal couple series against the Nationals. Agents should be sending baskets to the Reds pitching staff.

Jesse Winker- 20 plate appearances, 4 walks
Jose Peraza- 349 plate appearances, 5 walks

billy hamilton vs the pirates: 46 stolen bases (8 caught) in 52 games

at least he only hit a three-run homer and a triple tonight

Rough night for the Buc's pitchers. Hamilton has been playing well the last few weeks while the rest of the lineup has been pretty meh. If he gets on base with regularity, they usually score quite a bit more.

Votto explained his Players Weekend jersey nickname choice, a homage to former #reds teammate Shin-Soo Choo. pic.twitter.com/yawlj0PtWT

— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) August 9, 2017

Votto doubled into a four-man outfield?!

Four-outfielder alignment vs. Votto foiled by double down first base line pic.twitter.com/gjGP027psL

— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) August 15, 2017

if they're playing him to pull so much (at least on the IF), why leave such a gap to the right of RF? their 4-man OF (which i've never seen btw) is actually shifted to the left, overall. maybe analytics show that he pulls to the IF, but tends to hit to the opposite field to the OF when he's in a shift, or something?

Joey Votto has reached base at least twice in 19 straight games. He's 2 shy of the modern MLB record held by Ted Williams. (h/t Elias) pic.twitter.com/4205td4g8D

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 15, 2017

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/joey-votto-faced-a-four-man-outfield/

Joey Votto is doing that thing again. You know, that thing where he doesn’t make outs. That thing where he makes himself the one guy on the Reds worth watching on a regular basis. Under even normal circumstances, Votto is arguably the game’s best hitter. Over the past three weeks or so, Votto’s caught fire. He’s led baseball in average, wRC+, and OBP, surpassing second place in the latter stat by damn near 100 points. In case you haven’t heard, Votto has reached base at least two times for 19 games in a row. Only Ted Williams, Pete Rose, and Barry Bonds have put together longer such streaks, and Williams’ leading streak is but two games away.

wow can't believe k3v blocked me

i don't care, jim calhoun still sucks

haha i don't disagree

https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2017/8/15/16154846/joey-votto-throws-baseball-out-of-wrigley-field-again-yes-really

Joey Votto throws baseball out of Wrigley Field again yes really

it's so beautiful.

so beautiful.

omg what a goof

i love him, obviously

he only got on once tonight ;_;

hit the ball really hard a couple of times and had bad luck!

If the Golden Sombrero is 0-4 with 4 ks, I'm kinda thinking the Golden Mountie Hat is what you get when you go 0-0 with 5 walks like Votto did today.

<3

votto had a 195 wRC+ in august with a 26% BB rate and a 12% K rate

One of the Reds beat writers brought up that teams are pretty much not pitching to Votto yet seemingly still throwing strikes into Stanton.

yesterday i saw him, with two strikes, choke up on the bat more than i've ever seen a major leaguer do. later he hit his 34th homer and high-fived (and gave his bat to) a sick kid behind home plate

i'm not sure if it's good or not that a) he and his contract are stuck on a bad team that's largely out of view b) our concentration on WAR makes us overlook how incredible a hitter he is. i mean the fuckin guy wasn't even an all-star in 2015 or 2016 despite remarkable numbers

when i was a kid, the 1986 sports illustrated baseball preview

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51KnelcLWEL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

featured a conversation about hitting between don mattingly, wade boggs and ted williams. (i re-read it each spring until i stopped playing.) but good lord i would watch/read *anything* joey votto had to say about hitting, all by himself

now YOU want to marry him!

but yeah he's a savant and seemingly a cool dude. hopefully we get another 5 good years out of him

lol maybe

1b is such a loaded position, you could make an argument he might not have deserved All Star team for the previous two years. Keep in mind, JV was pretty much terrible the first two months of last year and THEN hit nearly .400 for the rest of the way. I think even Votto would also agree his defense has not been as good those two seasons either.

I do think Votto is a wizard at the plate in a similar way to Boggs and Gwynn with more power, even more so that he seems to have become so hard to strike out. Frank Thomas at his peak was also similar in that he was hard to strike out, had big power and drew walks left and right.

Looking at him, I kinda think Yaz is perhaps the most similar player in style out there. Yaz was much better at an early age, but they both play the same position and had a similar outlook and results. Definitely hope that Votto can continue to play well like Yaztremski did later in his career.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaderssplits.aspx?splitArr=&strgroup=season&statgroup=2&startDate=1900-03-01&endDate=2017-11-01&filter=K%25%7Clt%7C0.12,BB%25%7Cgt%7C0.18,PA%7Cgt%7C400&position=B&statType=player&autoPt=true&sort=16,1&pg=0

i'm sure that link would have me very impressed with joey votto if it worked

hmm, it's working for me, try to copy & paste?

votto is having the 8th season ever with a BB% > 18 and a K% < 12 (bonds 5x, helton, brian giles the others)

oh for some reason fangraphs in its entirety was down for me

BRONSON ARROYO POST-GAME CONCERT SEPT. 23

Deck McGuire is a good baseball player name

they also have homer bailey and rookie davis

it's seriously like a 1988 baseball videogame in Cincinnati

Votto played all 162 games this year, wow.

First Red to start all 162 since Pete Rose back in the mid 70s. Votto had a season a few years back he played in every game, but he pinch hit in a few of them.

Billy Hamilton's yearly stolen base totals are my favorite pattern in baseball now.

2014: 56
2015: 57
2016: 58
2017: 59

— Michael Clair (@michaelsclair) October 2, 2017

he just wants to keep setting personal records without making it too hard the next year, v smart