This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
UPDATED REPORT FROM JOHN FAY:
I find it odd that every Reds fan talks about the main reason that they like the move is to clear a spot for Bruce. Why couldn't you have both Bruce and Hamilton in the lineup? Instead, you are counting on a player with zero Major League experience to thrive right away and all you have for it is a guy competing for the number 4 or 5 spot in the rotation.I know this trade can still work out for both, or blow up in the face of one team or another, but if I was a Reds fan, I just could not get behind this trade.
I would have much rather seen the Reds move Dunn or Griffey before dealing Hamilton.
The difference is that it's easy to get something for a younger guy with a small salary than for either an aging used-to-be star or a guy who strikes out 200 times per season. Not to mention they both make 13+ million dollars. Yes, it would be nice to get that for them, but there isn't as much demand for high priced players.
The old man has had some very optimistic projections this year.
Just out of curiousity, who would you bench out of Bruce, Hamilton, Griffey, or Dunn? Pretty clearly, the answer for most people who follow this team is Hamilton. In fact, I don't particularly want him stealing a single AB from any of the other 3. That is why I think most Reds fan like this move.
I'd bench Griffey... but thats why they can't get rid of him. Bad salary. Old Age. No Durability.
I've seen some of his projections for 08 that just seem very odd to me, particularly high walk rates for stud pitchers.I'd still prefer Shandler over him.
We might want to see Griffey play a full year and Bruce play, I don't know, a single MLB game before we worry about who is stealing ABs from who.
Maybe so... but if Bruce isn't an everyday player and Griffey can't stay healthy, this team is going nowhere anyway. I think that was true even before the Hamilton trade.
Reds fan here, and I'm totally behind this trade. Hamilton was one of my favorite players to watch last year, but as others have said, Hamilton's value is possibly higher than it will ever be. Dude is one slump away from a major binge, and the Reds aren't keeping his personal babysitter (Johnny Narron) on the payroll in 2008. I hope Hamilton stays clean, but he's been in rehab 8 times since 2003. That's not a typo.
144 games last year is pretty damn durable. Hell of a lot more durable than Hamilton's 90 games. But what do I know, maybe you were in a coma last year.
Maybe you have been the last 5 years.
Care to post Griffey's average games played the last 5 years compared to Hamilton?
Yea, that Ken Griffey, he sure is durable. He has played 53, 83, 128, 109, 144 games over the past 5 years.
I think that is the point exactly. When you have possible injury issues in the OF, why trade away your surplus when you very well are going to need 4 or 5 good OFers. You know Griffey is going to go down at some point. You have to assume that Bruce is going to hit a rough patch his rookie year, why not keep what you got?I know I'm a Ranger homer, but Cincy fans will simply HATE this trade by the end of the year.
you got some evidence to support that Josh Hamilton has been more durable than Ken Griffey Jr in the past 5 years...I would love to hear it!
So, what you are saying is as Ken Griffey Jr is getting older, he is getting more durable. With the exception of 109 games every year has increased. That would be the logical conclusion, right? So next year we can expect around 150.
Not to totally disagree since I too think they could have gotten more for them, but the Reds have been pretty good at knowing when to sell high. It's not like Lopez nor Kearns really tore it up this year. FWIW, Volquez has a high ceiling (ie he has great "stuff"), its just a matter if he can ever get it over the plate which no one believs he will at this point.
Brandon Phillips is working out pretty well.
Yeah, that's different from the point I was trying to make though. I was talking about moving a young player with high value for prospects. Jeff Stevens, while he pitched well in the minors in 2007, doesn't quiet qualify as they type of guy I was talking about.
And IF Volquez wins a Cy Young award, I think the Rangers will regret this trade. Point being... I think the Reds would even admit that despite the glut of outfielders they'll likely regret the move if that happens. That is a huge IF, and one that the Reds (and myself) are betting against long-term.
