Why aren't we talking about Johnny Damon instead of Scott Podshotwifenick.  Johnny should be our everyday LF and this would actually be a HUGE improvement over the current Heisey/Gomes situation. 

4-6 million 1 yr deal for a winner with a great OBP and great hair.  Damon + Gomes = best outfield hair in baseball.  (Could only be improved by Swisher)

His numbers might also see a bump from playing in the NL.  600+ plate appearances in each of the last 12 years.  


Bill James projections :

Johnny Damon 271/.352/.407 2.0 WAR

Pods is a limp wristed .277/.335/.365 0.4WAR

Heisey .275/.336/.478 and 1.3 WAR.........albeit with significantly less plate appearances, but projecting youth has a very large amount of error in the projection

Gomes .259/.339/.465 with a negative value because of his oafiness in the field. 

If all this sounds familiar, I was basically beating the same drum last year. 

http://www.redreporter.com/2010/2/8/1301208/kurkjian-damon-good-fit-in-cincy#comments

This is type of move Walt needs to make, GET IT DONE!

Yesterday Sheldon tweeted a video link to a round table of Reds beat writers with the video posted on mlb.com. I clicked on the link and saw the video, but didn't play it because I didn't have time. 

Now that tweet and corresponding video are DELETED!!!!!! 

Did anyone watch this video?  I noticed from the description that McCoy was included, so I wonder if he went rogue talking about Jonny Gomes.

If you saw this video post everything you remember about it.  If you're a mod promote this to the front page. WE HAVE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS RED REPORTER NATION!  WE ARE NOT SHEEP! 

VIVA MCCOY!!!

It's early but I am bored and have been thinking about the what the 25-man roster is going to look like on opening day.  So here it goes:

1. Harang - SP
2. Arroyo - SP
3. Cueto - SP
4. Bailey - SP
5. Owings - SP
6. Cordero - RP
7. Masset - RP
8. Burton - RP
9. Rhodes - RP
10. Herrara- RP
11. Bray - RP
12. Fischer - RP
13. Votto - 1B
14. Phillips - 2B
15. Jannish - SS
16. Rolen - 3B
17. Frazier - UTIL
18. Sutton - UTIL
19. Hernandez - C
20. Hanigan - C
21. Bruce - RF
22. Stubbs - CF
23. Balentien - RF
24. Dickerson - OF
25. Nix - OF 

More ST predictions

• Frazier to the 40-man coincides with the DFA of Willy T
• Maloney's ST ERA is over 5
• Rhodes may be traded if Bray looks solid
• Pryce makes Owings better with a lower than 4 ST ERA
• Heisey might beat out Nix, Wood might beat out Owings

Our Peyton, who art in Indy, Hallowed be thy arm. Thy Bowl will come, it will be won, in Miami as it was in 07. Give us this Sunday, our weekly win, And give us many touchdowns, but don't let the evil Jets score against us. Lead us not into frustration; But deliver us a Super Bowl, for thine is the dynasty, the NFL's best, and the glory of Indy....forever. Amen. GO COLTS

Per Teh Fay:

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2010/01/22/reds-sign-arrendondo/

Jose Arredondo will have TJ and rehab this year for the Redlegs.  His luck has just changed with him signing in the Queen city.  Look at this guy's past two years.

2008

Debuts in the MLB for the California Angels with a 1.62! ERA over 61 IP and a 10-2 record.  Pretty damn impressive for a rookie.   

2009

Considered a contender for the for the closer job after FRod leaves for the NYM....then they sign Fuentes.  And to quote Wikipedia:

Following a rough start to the 2009 season, Arredondo was optioned to the Angels' Triple-A affiliate, the Salt Lake Bees, on June 10. Soon after, an MRI revealed a sprained ligament in his elbow.

After a few sporadic appearances in July and August for the Angels, the Angels management asked Arredondo to train at the team's camp in Arizona in case he was needed for the playoffs. "Arredondo chose not to, heading home to the Dominican instead," Orange County Register's Bill Plunkett reported. "It was a decision Reagins admitted 'surprised' if not disappointed the organization." His history of elbow injury and behavior issues, "seriously dented his standing with the Angels," wrote Plunkett, "and calls into question his future with the organization."[2]

On December 10, 2009, the Angels announced that Arredondo would have elbow reconstruction is expected to miss the entire 2010 season.[3] Just two days later, on December 12, the Angels announced they would not offer Arredondo a contract for 2010.[4]

Okay that REALLY sucks... you hurt yourself AND get canned by your employer who also employs the surgeon who can fix your elbow.  So now you are screwed, I mean what else could go wrong.....your unemployed and injured in a recession.  Well he goes home to the Dominican and gets STABBED! IN THE SAME WEEK(Dec 17th)!  He was stabbed in the left arm (he's a righty) the report say it is not serious. 

http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.com/2009/12/17/former-angel-arredondo-stabbed-according-to-reports/42647/

 Bienvenidos a Cincinnati Jose!  This is obviously a low risk / high reward signing for 2011, not to mention a classy move by Walt.  Jose take the year, work hard, and get healthy!

SPECIAL COMMENT FOR CALIFORNIA ANGELS

How on earth do you fire a guy two days after you tell the world he needs surgery?  This is what you do, you non-tender AFTER you perform the surgery to fix him.  This kid gave you guys a 1.3 WAR season for league minimum and you just cut him.  (The only logic I can make from this is that Jose knew he was going to be cut and didn't trust the Angels' surgeon.  He has no service time so he is very cheap, but still has upside so this makes no sense if you're California.  Maybe he didn't trust them after he KNEW he was hurt and needed surgery and they didn't want to perform it until after the playoffs?)  

Who is Vance Bedford?

Howie Lindsey's profile:

VANCE BEDFORD FILE

Coaching Experience
Feb. 2008 - Present Florida (Cornerbacks)
2007 Michigan (Secondary)
2005-2006 Oklahoma State (Defensive Coordinator)
1999-2004 Chicago Bears (Defensive Backs)
1995-1998 Michigan (Secondary)
1993-1994 Oklahoma State (Defensive Backs)
1987-1992 Colorado State (Defensive Backs)
1986 Navarro Junior College
1985 Forest Brook High School, Houston, Texas
Coaching Accomplishments

Possesses 16 years of collegiate coaching experience and spent six years coaching in the National Football League.
Helped transform a UF secondary that was one of the country's worst in 2007 to one of the nation's best in 2008. Pass defense ranking improved from 98th in 2007 to 20th in 2008 and pass efficiency defense improved from 71st to number three in the country (96.7 rating).
In 2008, the UF secondary tied a school record with 26 interceptions.

Spent a total of five seasons coaching the secondary at the University of Michigan, his most recent being in 2007. Before returning to Ann Arbor, was the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State for two seasons.

Began his professional coaching career as the defensive backs' coach for the Chicago Bears in 1999. He remained with the Bears until 2004, and during that time his secondary returned seven interceptions for touchdowns during a four-year stretch, equaling the team's total from the previous nine seasons combined.

First stint as the Michigan's secondary coach was from 1995-98. Michigan led the nation in pass defense in 1997 and ranked 20th in 1996. The Wolverines' 1997 national championship secondary set an NCAA record allowing just 8.8 yards per completion and finished fifth nationally by allowing just 133.8 passing yards per contest. His secondary in 1997 led the Big Ten and finished third nationally with 22 interceptions.

Prior to working at Michigan, he spent two seasons at Oklahoma State University (1993-94) and six seasons at Colorado State (1987-92) as the defensive backs' coach. His tenure at CSU led to a trip to the 1991 Freedom Bowl and his 1990 secondary set a school record and led the nation with 25 interceptions.

Prominent Players Coached
MICHIGAN:
CB - CHARLES WOODSON - Won the Heisman Trophy, Bronco Nagurksi and Jim Thorpe Awards in 1997. Was also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 1996. Was an All-American in 1996 and 1997. Three-time All-Big Ten selection who also won Big Ten Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player in 1997. Ranked second in the nation in interceptions and was voted Most Valuable Player during the team's 1997 championship season. Started his second game as a true freshman and played 34 straight 23 games before leaving for the NFL after his junior season. Was selected fourth overall in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

OKLAHOMA STATE:
DB - ANDRE SEXTON - Big 12 Freshman of the Year who also garnered First Team Freshman All-American honors by the Football Writers Association of America and All Big 12 Freshman honors by the Sporting News in 2006.

CHICAGO BEARS:
CB CHARLES TILLMAN - 2003 NFL Rookie of the Year who tied for the team lead and led the NFL among rookies with four interceptions during in 2003. Complied 44 tackles with one forced fumble in his sophomore campaign with the Bears in 2004.
CR JERRY AZUMAH - 2003 Pro Bowl selection who collected four interceptions and matched that number in 2004 despite playing only eight games.
CB R.W. McQUARTERS - Accumulated 268 total tackles and nine interceptions from 2000-04 with the Chicago Bears under the instruction of Bedford.
FS MIKE BROWN - Only rookie to play in 2000 season opener, eventually becoming the starting free safety in all 16 games of the season. That year he was named runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. In 2001, Brown led the team with five interceptions, including two returns for two consecutive overtime wins.

NFL Players (Round Drafted)
DB Selwyn Jones (7th) - Colorado State '92 - Cleveland Browns
CB Charles Woodson (1st) - Michigan '98 - Oakland Raiders
DB Andre Weathers (6th) - Michigan '99 - New York Giants
DE Ryan McBean (4th) - Oklahoma State '07 - Pittsburgh Steelers
S Jamar Adams (FA) - Michigan '08 - Seattle Seahawks

Check out this little tidbit from C.L. Brown:

Bedford's name had been mentioned as a possible replacement for Strong as the Gators' defensive coordinator and as a head coaching candidate at Buffalo.

Are you serious?  Did we just steal Florida's 2nd in command DC?  They will never admit that but this is great.  Charlie poached talent from all over to build this staff and appears to be building a powerhouse of excellent coaches who can recruit the mid-west and south.  Strong is an impressive guy and to be honest, I think he might be here for a long time.  I have friends that are hardcore college football fans (mostly Notre Dame) that are jealous of the excitement Strong has brought to our system. 

Now that Charlie Strong has rounded out his coaching staff, what do you think?  What's your grade?  Mine is a solid A. 

This post is dedicated to the Cubs, Jim Hendry, and the hilarity that is their offseason.  Let's do a quick recap....with commentary.

Let's start with their loses to free agency.

Rich Harden - a 1.8 WAR player while with 140 IP, worth 8.2 mil according to Fangraphs.  He's a Ranger now, and probably happy about not having to wear a effeminate (C) on jersey. 

Kevin Gregg - Hendry parted ways with a flamethrower prospect in Jose Ceda last year to obtain 1 year of Gregg.  Gregg had a -0.3 WAR while "closing" for the Cubbies with a 4.72 ERA.  How this guy was a Type A FA is beyond me.  It should be noted that Ceda had a shoulder injury last year, so the Cubs haven't actually "lost" this trade.........yet.

Reed Johnson - Who cares, but he probably was the only OF on the North side who knows how to play any defense. 

And now the fun begins.....Trades and signings.

Milton Bradley for Carlos Silva - Hendry signed Bradley to a 3 year/30 million deal last year while Adam Dunn was getting no love from anyone.  Given Dunn's 3.0 WAR ($13.4 mil) performance in Washington, you think Hendry wishes he had a mulligen on that one.  Lucky for him Bradley couldn't play the field and constantly got in fights with the fans and Sweet Lou all year.  Even though he was marginally productive, they traded him for a complete sunk cost in Carlos Silva.  Silva got his big payday from our now assistent GM (Bavasi) and has sucked ever since.  But at least they don't have that asshole Bradley anymore!

John Grabow - resigned to a 2 year 7.5 million dollar extention.  Really, that guy that played for the Pirates?

Marlon Byrd - 3 year / 15 million...what is it with the obsession with Rangers?  This signing isn't terrible, but I guess we'll see.

In summary this offseason the Cubs have lost Harden, Bradley and Gregg and gained Marlon Byrd.  Great job Hendry........Go Reds!

And just because I want to laugh some more lets look at a few long term contracts the Cubbies have.  How much you want to bet 2 of 4 of these guys is on the DL next year? 

Soriano through 2014 at 18 million a year

Zambrano through 2012 at ~18mil a year with a 2013 vesting option

Fukudome through 2011 at ~13 mil a year

Dempster though 2011 at ~13 mil a year

As rough as the Reds' outlook may be next season I think they will finish higher than the Cubs in the division.  Let's bring in the new year by bashing the Cubbies!  Discuss their horrible contract situations, incompetent GM, and their annoying fans.  Mads feel free to post pictures of hot Cubs fans, throughout.   

The Reds are trying to deal Harang http://twitter.com/ed_price/status/6735032086

Dusty cries as Dodgers grab Jamey Carrol for 4 mil with incentives http://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/6747107899

All is quiet with Tejada and Cabera.

Okay here's a scenerio I want to throw out there.  The Reds trade Harang and pay 5 million of his salary for some spare high risk prospects, freeing up 6 million in salary.  I am going to also assume they have about 2-3 million left before they reach their payroll limit.  Moving Arroyo or Harang just got a lot easier with all the pitchers that have been moving since Monday. 

This move allows Walt to sign either Tejada or Cabera to a one year deal in the 6 - 9 million range.  There are not very many starting SS gigs out there right now so the price on these guys will come down.  (Oakland, Astros, and us are the only ones I can think of but please correct me if there are more.)

Walt is doing a great job by letting the market develop.  This allows the possible return for Harang to possibly go up and allow the price for a SS to come down.  Non-tendering Gomes was definitely the right move at the 2.2 mil Fay quoted.  http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2009/12/16/s-r/ .......especially when I think Wlad is going to have a comparable net value.    

If I were Walt I would do everything in my power to do two things. 

1.  Trade one of Harang/Arroyo/Cordero to free up the money to sign Cabera or Tejeda to a one year deal. 

2.  Trade absolutely any group of prospects in our system to acquire Nelson Cruz.  This includes anyone not named Cueto, Bailey, Bruce, Votto, Stubbs, and preferably not Maloney or Wood.  I would try to package a group of promising hitters for him.  (Alonso,Frazier, or Francisco would be the centerpiece) 

If plan 1 falls through I go to 1A which is trade for Maicer Izturis and 1B is play Janish. 

What do you think? Who should we target, and more importantly what do you think Walt will do?