SB Nation User Blog: MixFMKyle

Cardinals are being whiny butts, accuse Arroyo of using Pine Tar while pitching.

MixFMKyle — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:28:06 -0000

Cardinals are being whiny butts, accuse Arroyo of using Pine Tar while pitching.

Duncan, who said the umpires told him the baseballs indeed were rubbed up, said Arroyo was able to deal with the issue because "I'm sure he had pine tar on his cap. He didn't have any problem getting a grip. Balls like that can generate a lot more movement than a slick ball that hasn't been rubbed up."

Asked if he had seen Arroyo go to his cap, Duncan said, "Just every pitch."
=======================

Is it me, or did the Cards' pen come in and have no issues with the balls? Maybe the problem was all Smoltz.....

Off Day Fun - How Would You Align the Divisions?

MixFMKyle — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:05:50 -0000

Let's say for one day only you get to be in charge of MLB, and are charged with the task of re-aligning the divisions. across MLB.

Rules:

1. You could switch any team to any league, but cities with 2 teams can't have both teams in the same league.

2. There are 30 MLB Teams, so one league has to have 16 teams, and one has to have 14. The leage with 16 teams goes 5-5-6, and the 14 team league goes 4-5-5.

3. If you want, put your feelings about the DH in your response.

4. Have fun with it. If you want to put all the small market teams in a division, do it. If you want to see if the Cubs, Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox can have a pissing match over who can spend the most, put them all in the same division.

Enjoy!

Reds acquire Corky Miller for Norris Hopper

MixFMKyle — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:09:32 -0000

Reds acquire Corky Miller for Norris Hopper

Reds acquired from the White Sox C Corky Miller for OF Norris Hopper. Miller will report to Louisville. Does this make room at AAA for Chris Heisey? AAA needed a catcher after Wilkin Castillo went down.

Is it time to start looking trade?

MixFMKyle — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:28:56 -0000

With another disappointing game last night, our beloved Redlegs fall to 1-4 on this roadtrip. Had you asked Jay Bruce, myself or any other Reds fan last Wednesday night after the Reds swept the Astros, we would have told you no way we drop 4 out of 5 to begin this trip. Of course since last Sunday, we have lost our best hitter Joey Votto and our 2008 All Star Starting Pitcher, Edinson Volquez (again) to the 15-Day DL. Edwin Encarnacion remains atleast a couple weeks away. Willy Taveras hasn't played with a leg injury, and when he was put in the lineup last night, he wasn't healthy enough to run down a flyball, and will not start again tonight. One of the Reds' better hitters in May, Jerry Hairston Jr. has been out sick the first two games of the St. Louis Series. Our available bench has consisted of light hitting utility guys like Paul Janish and Wilkin Castillo, with the only viable threats being Jonny Gomes and Micah Owings. Dusty is absolutely trying to do the best with what he has to work with, but let's face it....right now, it isn't a whole lot. If the Reds are serious about winning in 2009, it's time to start looking to make a move. We have heard it time and time again from Walt , "We are always looking for ways to improve our ball club". As Slyde pointed out in this great post yesterday, we are getting terrible production from LF and 3B, and with Joey Votto out, you can expect a slide at 1B as well.

Need some trade options? Here are my top 5:

5. Luke Scott, Baltimore Orioles

Luke Scott is an interesting case, he has played mostly DH for the O's this year, and is limited to LF, but I can't find any stats that say he is worse in left than say Josh Willingham. Scott has ripped 11 homers in just 123 AB's this season, while still hitting .317. The O's could use pitching, or some help at Shortstop.

4. Josh Willingham, Washington Nationals.

Willingham got off to a terrible start, not happy with the 600 outfielders on Washington's roster, forcing him into a platoon role. He since has embraced the role, and has performed a lot better in May. While his defense isn't much better than Jonny Gomes, Willingham would be a better 1B option than Gomes, and the guy had a ridiculous .303/.411/.684 line in May. Washington wants and needs pitching, so the price could be a bullpen arm like Jared Burton + mid level prospect, or maybe even a guy like Ramon Ramirez. The Nats just got Elijah Dukes back, so Willingham's P/T could be scaled back in Washington.

3. Scott Hairston, San Diego Padres

Adding a second Hairston could be very interesting for the Reds. While he is only an Outfielder, he can play left or center, and has a great .327/.385/.571 line. (including a 1.187 OPS against LHP, and a .802 OPS vs RHP). Honestly I believe he could be had for a young, cheap arm like mentioned above.

2. Mark DeRosa, Cleveland Indians

By all accounts DeRosa is available. Problem is he is getting paid 6.5 Million this year, and you have the Yankees, Cardinals, and most likely the Cubs and Brewers all interested. So the price will be higher to acquire him. We all know what DeRosa has done to the Reds over his career, and how versatile he is, being able to man 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, and the corner OF spots.

1. Matt Holliday, Oakland Athletics

So it's pretty obvious Holliday has been a small dissapointment for the A's. Billy Beane is a smart guy though, and is not afraid to take risks. So why the A's may not win the trade with the Rockies, He may move Holliday to add to an already very nice and deep farm system. Of course for the Reds, Holliday's 13.5 Million in salary for 2009 will be one of two huge hurdles, unless the A's take a bad salary back (not likely). Obviously the other hurdle will be the players it takes to get him. No doubt they would want Homer Bailey + another player or two.

Personally, I feel the market for Holliday isn't going to be as big as some may think. Of the teams currently in contention, with the exception of the Mets, Braves, and Reds, they are all pretty well set in Left Field. Of course an injury can always change that, but it will be hard for a lot of teams to take that kind of payroll on and miss the playoffs. Obviously this is a move the Reds won't be able to make until mid-July, and it will only be made then if the Reds can get healthy and be able to hang around. Can you imagine Holliday at GABP in the 2nd half of a contract year? I bet the guy would put up 25 bombs after the all star game to get that massive Free Agent contract. One plus, is Holliday will be a Type A Free Agent, so the Reds could get a nice extra draft pick for the 2010 draft.

Did I miss anyone? Any thoughs/observations?

Poll

Which guy would make the most sense for the Reds if you made the deal today?

Luke Scott

8 votes

Josh Willingham

16 votes

Scott Hairston

19 votes

Mark DeRosa

16 votes

Matt Holliday

56 votes

115 votes | Poll has closed

Bad news on Bray, Good News on Volquez, and no news on Votto

MixFMKyle — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:10:20 -0000

From the Excellent Reds Internal Affairs Blog by Reds Intern Jim Misudek:

LHP Bill Bray was examined today by Reds medical director Timothy Kremchek, who tomorrow will perform surgery on Bray's left elbow. Bray has been on Louisville's disabled list since April 16 with a strained left elbow.

Reds 1B Joey Votto became light-headed following yesterday's game at San Diego. Instead of flying home with the team, as a precautionary measure he was admitted for tests at Scripps Clinic at San Diego. He will be examined again in Cincinnati tomorrow. Votto missed 5 games last week with the flu and twice more left games with dizziness.

RHP Edinson Volquez today received treatment on his back without complaint. Volquez left Saturday's start with mild spasms in his mid-back. He is not expected to miss a start.

We knew about Bray, and it is encouraging Volquez won't miss a start. The Joey Votto news is scaring the crap outta me. Lets hope for some better news this time tomorrow. Sounds like he must be a little bit better if they allowed him to fly back to Cincinnati today. This team isn't the same wihout #19 on the field.

Anyone with any medical knowledge of the flu followed by dizzyness? Is it a common thing, or is this something different? I hope it was the heat in AZ that got to him after the flu, and it's taking him longer to get over it. Maybe some type of inner-ear infection?

Tommy John for Billy Bray ...

MixFMKyle — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:02:39 -0000

Tommy John for Billy Bray

From Lance Mcallister's Blog:

Reds reliever Bill Bray will return to Cincinnati next week for Tommy John surgery.
He's been on the DL since April 6 with an elbow strain. He's currently in Sarasota where he was attempting to rehab the elbow. He appeared in three games for AAA Louisville this year.

Encarnacion to DL

MixFMKyle — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:29:42 -0000

As I suspected in the game wrap-up thread yesterday, Edwin Encarnacion has been diagnosed with a Bone Chip in his left wrist, and has been placed on the 15-Day DL. He also is battling a right shoulder issue, that bothers him when throwing. Adam Rosales has been called up, and should be available by game time tonight.

Let's hope EdE can get healthy , get some rest, and have a good rehab, and while he is away Rosales rakes in his absence. EdE battled a wrist problem in Spring Training, and you have to wonder and assume that's why he hasn't been all that good so far this year. Other than his Grand Salami in Milwaukee, can anyone remember a hard hit ball of his bat?

Funny, John Fay had a quote from Dusty this afternoon that said Edwin "wasn't ban enough for DL". Looks like it's a good thing the Reds poked him with Doc Kremchek's stick.

Delwyn Young anyone?

MixFMKyle — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:57:02 -0000

According to MLBTraderumors.com the Dodgers have Designated OF Delwyn Young for assignment. They now have 10 days to trade or release him. Delwyn had great Minor League numbers, but the Dodgers never have been able to fit him in their outfield at the MLB level with similar young talented guys like Matt Kemp and Andre Either, and overpaid vets (Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones) blocking him. He's played mostly LF in the minors, but also has played Right, 2nd, 3rd, and 1st. He was out of options, and with Manny, Pierre, Either, Kemp on the team they decided to release him.

Career Minors Line: (2,755 AB's) .303/.362/.515

Career MLB Line: (165 AB's) .267/.331/.394

I would think his switch-hitting stick, would be a lot more valuable over the course of the full season than Laynce Nix or Darnell McDonald. Get it done Walt.

Poll

Delwyn Young - Yes or No?

Yes!

50 votes

No, I'd rather keep Darnell McDonald

5 votes

Does it really matter?

24 votes

79 votes | Poll has closed

Jonny Gomes to remain with Reds in AAA

MixFMKyle — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:55:11 -0000

Jonny Gomes to remain with Reds in AAA

Mark Sheldon has the scoop. I say he's up by May 1, when Darnell gets the D-F-A!

Norris Hopper Outrighted off 40-Man Roster

MixFMKyle — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:45:33 -0000

Norris Hopper Outrighted off 40-Man Roster

Norris is still part of the organization, but no longer eats up a 40-Man roster spot. Obviously, this means Walt is trying to free up a slot or two to pick up another bench bat or two. (Or Make room for 2 of Gomes, Nix, and McDonald)