SB Nation User Blog: Madville

God I'm bored

Madville — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:59:10 -0000

God I'm bored

How many days until spring training? How soon will Walt get off his but and start talking arbitration? What is the chance that I will still be alive by the start of the 2010 season. I am so bored...Bengals football and Xavier basket ball had better be good or I'm going to be reallllllly bored. Xavier women look to be unstoppable this year UC women have a new coach UC men look improved too...although their coach is very short

Ted Kennedy dead at && BOSTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the D...

Madville — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:16:17 -0000

Ted Kennedy dead at &&

BOSTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America's most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, has died at age 77, his family said on Wednesday.

One of the most influential and longest-serving senators in U.S. history -- a liberal standard-bearer who was also known as a consummate congressional dealmaker -- Kennedy had been battling brain cancer, which was diagnosed in May 2008.
Known as "Teddy," he was the brother of President John Kennedy, assassinated in 1963, Senator Robert Kennedy, fatally shot while campaigning for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination, and Joe Kennedy, a pilot killed in World War Two.
When he first took the Senate seat previously held by John Kennedy in 1962, he was seen as something of a political lightweight who owed his ascent to his famous name.

Yet during his nearly half century in the chamber, Kennedy became known as one of Washington's most effective senators, crafting legislation by working with lawmakers and presidents of both parties, and finding unlikely allies.
He helped enact measures to protect civil and labor rights, expand healthcare, upgrade schools, increase student aid and contain the spread of nuclear weapons.

The Lion of the Senate is dead.

Calling Kash...or boobs

Madville — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:01:00 -0000

I have, at times, called for for the removal of Red's manager Dusty Baker. Although I'm frustrated by Dusty I've become more frustrated by the tactical mentality of MLB managers/management in general. The general baseball consensus on how teams should be organized, players utilized and monies spent is grindingly unimaginative and relies on the following premise: Create your team by determining the player roles and then sign or develop players to fill those roles. I believe that there is a consensus among most MLB baseball 'people' that management comes to agreement on the roles for their team and then proceeds to fill those roles with the best affordable players available. The expectation is that if those players perform their roles well enough - the team will contend.

This approach results in manager's trying to squeeze players into roles that they often aren't very good at performing, For example CF's are fast and make good lead off hitters, SS's are contact hitters who can 'move the runner over, good #2 slot guys - or you need to have a utility guy on your bench as the 'last resort' player and that guy is always the same guy - e,g, Paul Jannish or your best RH bat on the bench is your extra OF and he'll PH eve if he's not a good pinch hitter, no matter if there's a better option - e.g. Jonny Gomes and Micah Owings.

The converse approach would be to look at the specifics of each player's abilities and build the team around player's strengths. This approach makes sense for smaller market/lower payroll teams. It especially makes sense with a team like the reds who have a fair amount of exciting prospects and have guys who are able to to be flexible in their roles.

The Reds appear not to recognize that there is more than one way to skin a cat, Even Chris Welsh has defended Dusty's use of Wily Taveris as recently as this week, stating: (my paraphrase) "You have to stick with Taveris and let him work through this slump. He is the team's Center Fielder and you go with him, that's why he was brought over here to play center field and be your lead off hitter". Then yesterday (after I'd been thinking Doc Rogers was starting to see the light) I heard Doc say (my paraphrase)"The loss of Alex Gonzales is a tremendous one as he is one of the finest shortstops in the majors. Because he's been injured I forgot how incredible of a defensive shortstop he is and he's a good contact hitter and is exactly what the Red's need to bat 2nd in the order".

Why not abandon this archaic approach and change it around a bit? Sparky Anderson was only 36 years old he took the helm of the Reds and by the time the BRM was winning back to back WS he had instituted some pretty innovative tactics. He gained the nickname 'Captain Hook' because he didn't wait around until the 7th or 8th inning to replace a pitcher who was struggling on a given day. The 'role' of a starting pitcher wa to go out and pitch until the 7 or 8th even if they were getting hit pretty badly or more importantly they were expected pitch to players who were poor match ups...the manager would leave a pitcher in to face a hitter who 'owned him' or was on a hot streak (etc) and then after the batter beat the pitcher the manager would remove the pitcher. Not Sparky he didn't wait around he was afraid to use his bull pen extensively and successfully. He also moved players around position to position, Tony Perez from 3rd to 1st to keep his bat in the line up, Rose from LF to 3b to get Foster into the line up. He had a fairly set batting order but would not hesitate to adjust it to the pitcher of the day. By the time 1976 rolled around Sparky was only 42 and had 6 years of MLB management experience and had won back to back WS. Certainly the Red were a very talented team but it was how Sparky utilized the talent that made it work, esp, the again the bullpen. So maybe we need some younger managers in this game.

The average age of a MLB manager is 54.2 years old. From my viewpoint that's actually not very old. From a corporate or business point of view age 55 is prime time. From an academic, artistic or professional(Dr. Lawyer, Architect, Indian Chief) 50's to 60's are about the prime ages when folks are just hitting their stride. This doesn't seem to be the case in baseball. by the time the average manager is 55 hie is so myopic and unimaginative that the only thing that saves his team from a losing malaise is the amount of sheer talent on it. I think that the Reds need a young and fresh manager,By fresh I mean one who understands the accepted approach to managing but also has the creativity and courage to get of of the box and play to the player's strengths and not be so rigidly consumed with roles. who knows in this scenario Paul Jannish might even get a chance to play.

Poll

who would you hire as 2010 Red's manager?

Todd Benzinger

3 votes

Disty

0 votes

Kash Beauchamp

1 votes

Connan O.Brian

5 votes

Barry Larking

8 votes

Keith Mitchell

2 votes

Ron Oester

6 votes

boobs

11 votes

36 votes | Poll has closed

Doc Rogers as Honorary Red Reporter ?

Madville — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 03:55:54 -0000

I missed the end of the 2nd Royals loss. I went to The Land of the Lost w/my 11yr old grandson…He liked it, (B-)– I thought it was the worst Will Farrell flick yet…BUT on the way home we Listened to WLW and Doc Rogers and Doc was sounding like an honorary member of RR. He was firmly and loudly (as loud as Doc gets) calling for:;

1, Dickerson as the everyday CF – Doc says he’s earned it, Wily Taverus was a mistake…sit him..let him come off the bench…Doc was talking OBP, BA and defense, says C-Dick is the better all around player.

2. Jannish to be given a fair chance play 3B. Said that 46 PAs weren’t enough to think that PJ has earned a job, but he should at least be getting looked at because Pete (that’s what he kept calling him) Rosales is a back up player who has peaked.

3. Jerry Hairston Jr. to be in the line up the majority of the time – although Doc doesn’t see Cherry as a full time player…he’s a fan of Cherry’s versatility and finds value in his experience as a long time MLB player. He doesn’t understand why Cherry wasn’t used in the last two games. He wants Dusty to use him to give Bruce a day off, BP, a day off, Gonzo a day off..He was saying that Jerry Jr. while not a starter, can be a spark that ignites the offense and that right now it is crucial to get this offense going.

He also seemed annoyed that the Reds haven’t been more forth coming about Joey Votto’s circumstances – although at the same time he was extremely supportive Joey’s situation. I usually find Doc kind of a ‘play the game the right way’ kind of guy who is pretty loyal to and supportive of Dusty and Walt. However, tonight he was sounding the alarm, "the Reds have to start winning or they are quickly going to find themselves 6 or 7 games back and out of contention" (my paraphrasing). Doc was sticking to his guns when the typical know-it-all Lance McCallister clones started called and bashing Dusty for stupid reason, and bashing Hairston ect. If a pretty conservative baseball guy like Doc is pushing for immediate change, maybe he it could influence Walt or Bob to step in and ask Dusty to shake up the line up and batting order.

Maybe Slyde , BK or Chuck or someone in power - jch (?) should call Doc and confer an honorary RR membership upon him....Well at least present him with a Red Reporter Star of The Game status when Jannis, Jerry, and C-Dick all get a simultaneous start. This is stuff that we’ve talked and written about a lot recently, but Doc hits it on the head when he says that it is crucial that these changes be immediately implemented.

BTW Doc also believes that the red's pitching is plenty good enough to contend...just need some offense and we could be in the hunt until the fall.

Talkin' Micah

Madville — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:33:03 -0000

I know that I'm in the minority here at RR, but I'm not at all sold on Micah Owings as the #5 starter in the 2009 rotation. Now I don't have the statistical expertise to create interesting and informative charts and graphs or the where-with-al to talk about his WHIP or strike outs to walks ratio, etc to prove my point or defend my position. BUT - I see this guy as a 3W and 6L pitcher who gets hit hard almost every game by the 5th or 6th inning - provided he makes it that far. His pitches don't have great movement and his delivery is such that his fastball tends to 'flatten out'.He does have a decent curve ball , but has control problems and tends to walk too many batters. Maybe he'd be better as a reliever...certainly Nick Masset couldn't do any worse than Micah as the 5th starter. My thinking is that Masset would be more consistent at the very least.

I view Owings to be better suited as an outfielder and a power hitter. I believe that he has a passion for hitting that is greater than his interest in pitching. Yes I've heard the argument that his hitting flaws would soon be discovered and that MLB pitchers would exploit them and that he'd have to go to AAA to learn to hit. But,I'd like to see if those reason have a degree of truthiness or is it that some folks just don't want him to stop pitching. Micah has a lot of athletic talent and he has pitched with some success at the MLB, but he can hit a baseball very hard and for a long long way.

His chances of developing into a 'star level' hitter appear much greater than as a 'star 5th starter'. If he'd have to go to Louisville for a month or 6 weeks to work on his hitting, it may be worth it...cause barring an act of God (cause it ain't going to be Dick Pole) that would cause him to become a significantly better pitcher, he's not going to be that big of a help for the 2009 Reds...he ain't got it. His best attributes are at the plate not 60'6" in front of it.

Poll

What is the best option for Micah Owings?

Leave him as he is, #5 starter and let him develop

16 votes

Hire Mario Soto to help him develop his pitching game

5 votes

Move him to the Bull pen as a 7th ot 8th inning set up man

6 votes

Put him at 1st base while Votto is on the DL and let him have a shot at playing and hitting every day

11 votes

Send him to AAA for 4 to 6 weeks to work on his hitting and outfield play

9 votes

boobs

6 votes

53 votes | Poll has closed

Talkin' Homer...

Madville — Mon, 25 May 2009 01:40:09 -0000

Homer Bailey - #1 draft pick, fireballer, Texan. The next big stud pitcher...there's been a lot of talk here and elsewhere about Homer Bailey...mechanically flawed, limited usable pitches at the MLB level , head case, know it all boy with a 'tude...or is he a 23 old kid who needs some time and hard work to mature as a teammate, a player, a pitcher and a sports professional....

Lots of folks on the talk shows, in the newspapers and on the blogs want to trade Homer - get rid of him while he still has some value, a change of scenery could do him a world of good and the Reds could get a MLB serviceable player in return - right now. Lots of talk about how the Reds have screwed with Homer's delivery, the pitches that he is and is not allowed to throw or develop and that the Reds haven't developed many great pitchers recently so maybe they should stop with Homer before he's a total lost cause.Others view him as a head case who isn't coach-able, doesn't work well with his catchers and isn't interested in anything or anyone but Homer.

I too am frustrated with Homer and his last outing although not terrible was still pretty dissapointing. Yet when I think about his raw power - throwing 92 - 98 MPH and striking out 15 in one game at AAA and his occasional flashes of near greatness in his MLB starts over the past couple of seasons...I am not ready to give up on him. His stats are not that consistent or that good. All of his wins, losses, era, whip etc do not mean much when I look at this kid's raw throwing ability. I believe that Homer still has a tremendous upside and could well develop in a #1 or #2 starter for Major League Club. When ? Don't know..maybe he could blossom by the end of this year or sometime next year. When (I say when and not if) he does get it together some team is going to have a hell of a pitcher, His temper, arrogance and ridiculous self confidence will turn into a highly competitive advantage once he begins to mature, To give up on him or to trade him at this stage in his very young career is a very short sighted and poor business decision.There are a fair amount of MLB pitchers who were given up on by a team and then turned out to be pretty damn great...for example Edison Volquez and Aaron Harang come to mind. Doesn't mean Homer Bailey is the next Aaron Harang or Sandy Koufax or Bob Gibson...but then again he may be.

The question is HOW to go about developing this kid into a pitcher...How... because when the light comes on for Homer it will be the light of a 98 MPH fastball, about chest high and striking fear into some overmatched MLB hitter. Lets hope it is one of their hitters and not one of ours.

Poll

What to do with Homer?

1. Trade him while he still has value

15 votes

2. Put him in the pen - see if he can become a closer

24 votes

3. Send him AA to work with a new pitching coach

10 votes

4. Send him to a sport's therapist

4 votes

5. Hire Mario Soto to work with him to devlop his pitches

42 votes

6. boobs

27 votes

122 votes | Poll has closed

Anyway despite my inability operate a fucking computer. Pete Seeger turned 90 and is pretty...

Madville — Sun, 03 May 2009 21:44:26 -0000

Anyway despite my inability operate a fucking computer.

Pete Seeger turned 90 and is pretty interesting character of true American Idealism.

Pete turns 90

Madville — Sun, 03 May 2009 21:42:33 -0000

Pete turns 90

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu.UJD_5JoWwBV0ZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTBscWN2ZnBjBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkAw--/SIG=12poj1m2c/EXP=1241473161/**http%3a//news.search.yahoo.com/search/news%3fp=Pete%2bSeeger%26ei=UTF-8

You don't have to know how to make ice cream to know whether it tastes good or not

Madville — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:16:25 -0000

I listened to last night's game on my car radio on the way home from Mom's elder community. Although the game itself was a drag, I for the first time in a long, long, long time enjoyed Marty. Why..well Jim Kelch is the answer. Kelch is not the most inspired broadcaster but similarly to Steve Stewart and (although for quitedifferent reasons) Joe Nuxhall, he (Kelch) kept Marty plugged into the game. there was no verbal horsing around with Dullboy Brantley or verbally abusing tHom..it was an evening of descriptive commentary, with a bit of editorializing- all in all this is the Marty I used to love to listen to and not the sMarty that makes me want to puke dog shit. Speaking of dog shit: this team cannot and will not play even .400 ball with the following players:

1. Chris Dickerson AAAA

2.EdE...too bad about his wrist but we need more from the 3B position

3.Co Cordero (46M for an overblown Danny graves)

4. Jannish (AAA)

5. Mike Lincoln (trade him while you can)

6. laynce Nix (retread)

7. McFlurry - well OK, but don't let him on the field as a defensive player

Folks this team can't score with these guys in the line up and the relief pitching is very suspect. If Votto, BP or Bruce slump simultaneously this team is sunk., I don't care who the manager, pitching coach or batting instructor is...this team needs offense and relief pitching help now. This team is starting to play to its real potential and although I've not sabermetrically proved my points...well now you understand the title.

2 out of 3 Ain't Bad

Madville — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:19:24 -0000

For all of our RR whining the Reds haven't done badly - .500 at the present having just taken 2 out of 3 from the Brewers. Still I must voice significant concern about the offense (or rather the lack thereof). Why is Daoud McFlurry still up prancing around with the Big Team? Why is Jay Bruce still batting #5 when he's struggling so badly? Why isn't Chris Dickerson getting more playing time. Why is Ryan Hannigan sitting? Why isn't Alex Gonzales sitting (Jerry Jr. can still play some SS and HE hits)? EdE is only at .167 - the list of struggling hitters is too large for the Reds to continue to take 2 out of 3 much longer.

Why has Brook Jacoby had so little success with so many players?

Even though I'm not a big fan of Johnny Gomes I think it is time to bring him up so that we have a RH power option off the bench. And as great of a fielder as Paul Jannish is I don't think he'll ever hit or get on base effectively enough to contribute to this offense.

Joey Votto and Wily Taveris (oddly enough) are the bright spots in a rather unspectacular line up. Joey is 7th in NL batting average - Wily is #30 and Joey is tied for #3 in RBIs. It is very early in the season but now is the time for a young team like the Reds to win some games before the Brewers and Cubs etc get hot.

Am I the only one looking down the road with serious concern or is it just too early to worry?

Finally - What the Hell is Chris Speiers job?

Poll

Should Jay Bruce be moved down in the line up?

to 6th place

3 votes

to 7th place

6 votes

to 8th

0 votes

boobs

20 votes

29 votes | Poll has closed