SB Nation User Blog: kennythered

I Love IT!

kennythered — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:47:45 -0000

More funny videos like the "Jay Bruce Almighty" at Heavy.com

It may have already been posted but its still worth another watch!!

We Love You Bruce and can't wait to watch you hit 30+ w/ 100+ RBI for 10 or so years!

He's not the Pearl from Tennessee,
He's not the Boss from New Jersey,
He's not the Earle from Ohio State,
But his name is Bruce and his game is great,

He don't sing in commercials like Bronson Arroyo,
He hits homers like Griffey and Dunn,
And he gives us more reason to have hope this season,
Cause we all believe he's the one,
Who was called up from Louisville to live out and fulfill,
His destiny truly and mighty,
So in praise of his name I now stand and proclaim,
He is Jay Bruce Almighty,

He's not the Lee who was strong and lean,
He's not the Willis on the big screen,
He's not the Isaac who plays football,
But his name is Bruce and I stand in awe

He don't sing in commercials like Bronson Arroyo,
He hits homers like Griffey and Dunn,
And he gives us more reason to have hope this season,
Cause we all believe he's the one,
Who was called up from Louisville to live out and fulfill,
His destiny truly and mighty,
So in praise of his name I now stand and proclaim,
He is Jay Bruce Almighty ...

Edwin E.

kennythered — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:24:12 -0000

Apr 23 3B Edwin Encarnacion was at third base in Great American Ball Park at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, nearly five hours before the game with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was taking ground balls -- a lot of them. And he wasn't ordered to do it because of his league-leading six errors. Encarnacion initiated the extra work on his own. "I'm trying," he said. "I'm trying hard to get better. I'm going to work and keep working. I'm trying some different things with my footwork. I'm going to do it (today), too, only I'll work on my throws."

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7278/news;_ylt=AidwIJNze1E7nsoi4wHYYC6FCLcF

Hey we should give him some credit that he is trying, right? My thing is why hasn't the guy been ordered to take the practice? I know its good he is doing it on his own but good lord he leads the league in errors and there have been a few that have looked really ugly. Should the manager make sure he gets the practice he needs?

I believe it has to do with his confidence but on the flip side he needs to learn how to be booed and not let it bother him. He is a major leaguer not a little leaguer. Hopefully that extra practice will give him the confidence he needs.

Minors and Draft

kennythered — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:39:16 -0000

With this youth we have playing in the majors it could make our system look relatively bear. I feel like we had decent depth coming into the season and signing the 2mill dollar latin kid should help that a little but there does not seem to be a ton of high ceiling players in the minors.

I like plenty of our guys but Frazier is what he is, Stubbs is a question mark with his plate disc. and we won't know about Mesoraco for at least a few years. I feel like for all of O'Brien's downfalls he did draft a couple of decent players. Wayner I'm not so sure about.

Also how about Brandon Waring, Todd Frazier and BJ Szymanski? I know it is early but they are already hitting very well. Does Waring really have that many holes in his swing because his Brandon Wood impression sure looks good. If he turns out to be a McPherson clone but healthy and right handed I think that would be a solid major leaguer. With Frazier is there any way he can stick at SS? I love the bat but if he moves to the OF it becomes just above average and probably right at average for a corner. I also know Szymanski is 25 but everyone knew he was a project when he was drafted and maybe he has just put it together and can give us depth or at least trade bait if we are contending.

With that said, what do we do in this years draft? I would personally love to see Beckman slip to us as I don't see a real ss of the future, but I'm sure that will be slim to none of a chance. If we draft one of the polished first basemen can Votto more to the OF because I'm sure it'll only be a year and a half before we see 1 or more of them in the major leagues. Pitching is always a nice option but there is no body that has sold themselves as a top youngster that will slip down to us. It seems like the top few kids then a drop off.

So what do we do and what do you all think about our Minor League system. I know we were ranked Number 1 but once those top dogs are seeing time in Cincy I don;t want to drop to the bottom of the league again.

Poll: Hamilton Volquez trade

kennythered — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 05:55:50 -0000

What do you think? It is a tough trade to weigh out with the upside and downsides of both players. I feel like if everything Wayner has said in his reports is true than its a pretty even deal, unless Hamilton gets hurt then it is our favor. There is a chance Edinson stays wild and Hamilton performs the way many Reds fans though he would next season.

Poll

What do you think?

What the Reds should do. (period)

kennythered — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 06:53:42 -0000

I like the idea of using some restraint and patience. We need to make sure we don't budge on our offer for a deal to Bedard or Blanton. We can not get con-ed out of our farm because Wayne wants to keep his job or because we want to put a winner out right now. We also need to realize that by chance one of Cueto or Bailey won't pan out.
(Bailey has all the tools and a non taxing arm motion but he reminds me of Adam Dunn in that baseball and winning is not very important to him. Cueto has a huge ceiling but anyone that has seen him thinks the same thing, that he will be hurt)
Step 1 should be signing a Leiber/Colon/Prior/FreddyGarcia/etc type and making sure we do not have to resort deep into our farm system for pitching (Maloney, Cueto etc... If they are ready bring them up but if they aren't do not rush it.)
Step 2 should be figuring out some of our roster log jams.
C- I like the idea of signing Johnny Estrada at catcher for two years or trading for a decent hitting catcher. Ross is great defesively and would be a very good backup.
1b- Votto needs to start at 1st base everyday.
2b- Phillips at 2nd
ss- Gonzalez with Keppinger doing fine backup work. (We should look into finding a SS for the future whether its through the draft or trading our OF glut.
3b- EE with Keppinger helping out
LF- Dunn
CF- Freel/Hamilton/Hopper(Deal the one that gets the most, most likely Hamilton.
RF- Griffey
SP- Harang/Arroyo/Belisle/Bailey/a FA type.
Pen- Cordero closing with Weathers/Burton/Bray/Stanton/McBeth/Majewski/Coffey
Step 3 is making sure that our bullpen will hold up. I would not be against trading away on of our OF for another arm in the pen. I like Bray, Coffey, and Majewski to bounce back however.
Step 4 comes in the season. Wether or not we are in contention I think it would be a good idea to trade Griffey if he stays healthy. He could bring us in a few very solid prospects from a contender that needs a bat. If Phil Hughes/Jon Lester/ or other top prospects right now don't look as good during the season next year we could swoop in with Junior and land one of them.
Step 5 will come if we are in contention and need to add an extra player or two. I hope Stubbs has a good year in the minors because he would be great bate as I would bet he won't be too impressive as a pro.
I feel like this team could contend for next year and the future. Cueto/Bruce/Bailey could all easily be named untouchable and I feel it would not do any harm to our chances to contend next year. Yes a dominant starter would be nice but I don't think Bedard is that safe or Blanton is that good. We also need to make sure we keep focused on the June draft because that is how we got Bruce and Bailey among others and it will continue to roll out players as long as we choose the right guys.

Possible Offseason Transactions

kennythered — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:27:50 -0000

I was just curious who we thought were going to get traded and for what? Bedard to the Reds/Dodgers/Mariners/etc., Bay to the Indians/Padres/etc., and anyother possible deals. Who is most likely? Who will they be dealt to? Who will be returned in the deal? Who gets the best end of the deal?
I think the Tigers gave up a lot less than the Marlins could have gotten for Cabrera and Willis if they seperated them. Miller isn't a prospect like Bailey or Cueto and I think the Marlins could have gotten one of them in a deal.
I also feel like the A's must really like Gonzalez because theres a possiblity they could have gotten Hughes or Lester in a deal for him.
What do you think so far about trades?