SB Nation User Blog: spudsmckenzie17

Mr. Larkin, You can kiss my ass

spudsmckenzie17 — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:42:15 -0000

Article from the Washington Post.

Larkin Hopes to Stay

Nationals front-office assistant Barry Larkin, who has been with the organization since 2005, is in town this weekend to discuss his future with the club. With his contract due to expire at year's end, Larkin is hoping for some answers about what's next.

Said Larkin, a shortstop for 19 years with Cincinnati: "My e-mail to [General Manager] Jim [Bowden] when I was coming here: I want to talk to you about the future and see what's on your mind, what's on the Lerners' minds. Kind of, 'What is the plan and what are we going to do forward? Or, am I part of We?' "

Since joining Washington, Larkin has relished a loosely defined role heavy on freedom and variety. He's scouted, mentored players (including Ryan Zimmerman), and traveled to Italy and China. This much Larkin knows: He'd like to remain with Washington. He feels no need to return to the Cincinnati organization, and has not been contacted by the Reds. And, he never wants to be a general manager. ("That is ridiculous: 24 hours a day, seven days a week," Larkin said. "And I don't want any of that.")

"I've done all of the things that Jim promised me I would get an opportunity to do," Larkin said. "And it's been absolutely great. It's been absolutely educational. I've been exposed to a lot of things."

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I hope you do stay Barry, you are full of whines and bitching and couldn't even stop your whining to appreciate a moment where Cincinnati was in your gratitude.

2009 Reds Who's going, staying, coming in

spudsmckenzie17 — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:34:55 -0000

As frustrating as this year has been, and with the hair trigger Bob Castellini has, what is to be expected for next year. For starters who among the Free Agent class might be interested in coming to Cincinnati, and how wide will Bob open his wallet to stop the losing. Would they possibly consider an aging Ramirez for a Left Field solution? Would Matt Holiday be an answer? Or do they sign a Sabathia and trade some of the young pitching (Thompson, Bailey) to fill a catching or outfield hole. Does Drew Stubbs appear to be any kind of answer, or is Chris Dickerson for real?

This post could go in any direction, Who would you bring in, let go and keep?

Bring back the "Mayor"

spudsmckenzie17 — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:40:57 -0000

People will argue that bringing him back will serve no real purpose. They will argue that he is past his prime. But in reality what is there to lose. If rumors are true and Votto is destined for a corner outfield slot then pull the trigger for Casey, it wouldn't cost much. I still resent Dan O for getting Dave Williams of all people for Casey. He undoubtedly would love to come home, and I for one would enjoy seeing him in a Reds uniform again. Not for the pennant, not for the World Series, just for the fans, just for him. The Reds stand no chance of winning, and I have no further reason to watch on a regular basis. Don't get me wrong, I like to watch Volquez, Bruce, Votto, Cueto but not on a regular basis especially if they are destined to lose. If Casey was to come back, it would at least give me a reason to watch, and to enjoy the team again.

Poison in the Reds club house?

spudsmckenzie17 — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:22:44 -0000

The Reds have been playing flat, Dusty has been flip flopping anyone he can find to get something started and Castellini has his chop block ready to let heads roll and Rob Schneider is due anytime to pop out of the smoke stacks and quote his Waterboy line, "OH NO, WE SUCK AGAIN!". WTF is going on.

I read prosportsdaily.com and on there is several articles of how good a presence Juan Castro is in a clubhouse and his head rolled down the DFA lane. My best guess is something is stirring in the club house, Hatteberg is pissed, Freel is Pissed, Castellini is pissed and still they play flat. With all these negatives flowing who is trying to make things positive? Griffey is aiming at 600 while he does his best impression to mimick Will Ferrell or is it Adam Dunn in Left field, by watching the at bats he gives I think its Ferrell. Patterson is close to finishing his impression as a Major Leaguer, the bench coach needs to do away with whatever luxory items they have on the bench there because everyone who comes off it seems to want to hurry back to it. Paul Bako, ummm yeah that Paul Bako at this time last year if someone told you he'd be our starting catcher you would have buried your head in your hands and cried like a baby, but there is no reason to cry about Bako, just everything else at this point.

What do the Reds do? My suggestion is they make the team watch the JTM Arroyo and Welsh commercial until everyone in the room realize watching them now is almost as bad as watching that commercial.

Poll

What would you do to improve the Reds?

Bring up Bruce and Bailey and axe Patterson and Belisle

46 votes

Make them watch the JTM commercial so they realized the fans pain

17 votes

Call up Louisville and send down the Reds

12 votes

Axe Dusty

10 votes

Who Cares looking for football season now

6 votes

91 votes | Poll has closed

Reds Rookie Cards getting respect across the board

spudsmckenzie17 — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:20:24 -0000

I often do searches on ebay for Reds Rookie cards and in the past was able to pick up young Rookies very cheap, but Eric Owens, Darron Ingram, Steve Smitherman, Kenny Kelly, Greg "Toe" Nash, Curt Lyons, Ty Howington, Chris Gruler and so on aren't exactly in the same class as what is there now. Johnny Cueto, Volquez, Bailey, Bruce, Votto, Lotzkar, Merosco, and a few others are making the Reds farm a popular place to try and look for the next great rookie to make a few bucks on.

The thing I'm most intrigued with is that when A-Rod was drafted his stuff went through the roof and after a couple years it tanked. It tanked to the degree I was at a card show and was able to trade a 95 Zenith Kordell Stewart "Slash" card for a Alex Rodriguez 94 UD SP straight up. If you were to make that offer today you would be promptly bitch slapped and escorted out of the room. My point is Bailey is having that same trend, but so did David Nied and Brien Taylor. So I'm hoping Mr. Bailey is able to harness his fastball and curve and add a change to things and hopefully he'll amount to more than just a card to stick into the spokes of my "retired" bicycle.

What to do with Patterson if he keeps up?

spudsmckenzie17 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:52:07 -0000

The Reds have some interesting decisions to make come the allstar break. If Patterson continues to hit and field like he is and Bruce continues his success in the minors, which of the two will be a better option. My feeling is if Patterson is successful, Bruce will remain in the Minors until 2009 filling the shoes of Griffey.

If the Reds are in contention around the all-star break it could be rather interesting in Reds country. I think the Farm is rich enough to get us over the top, however with recent success of developing players is it worth it. So my question is who do you think will be traded if the Reds are in contention? Who do you think they will trade if they are not? And who would you like to see come to GABP if the opportunity arises?

Brantley eating crow on FSN

spudsmckenzie17 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:01:08 -0000

I just got done watching Jeff Brantley dog EE on a replay of Wednesdays game right before he hit his walk-off. "This guy is not a CLUTCH hitter, he is not clutch" then boom EE ends the game with a walkoff homerun. And Brennamen says is that clutch for you. I hate bashing and Brantley hasn't gotten to the stage where he can be that open to judge like Marty does.

Now on a different topic, WTF is FSN doing advertising Reds games and then playing the Cavs. I thought Sportstime Ohio was for Cleveland and FSN for Cincy. Can anyone clarify.

Mark Sheldon sports writer who covers the reds sucks

spudsmckenzie17 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:59:52 -0000

Mark Sheldon who covers the Cincinnati Reds on MLB.com completely sux, he offers nothing interesting to say and even seems to mimic John Fay in the department of Lack of originality. The guy who used to cover them Anthony Castrovince now covers the Indians was at least half way interesting.

He has a question and answer section that completely blows, he answers the dumbest questions from the dumbest people. I'd rather read MLB trade rumors then read his BS. There was one answer he gave about 1 year ago about infield fly rule that was pulled right from his ass and he definitely got called out on it.

Any thoughts who could do better than this ass clown.

Braves traded Sergio Valenzuela to mexican league for a six pack of Corona and a case of limes

spudsmckenzie17 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:43:37 -0000

Sergio Valenzuela was traded to the mexican league for future considerations. When I read this I was a little baffled. Why would they take back Valenzuela for $25,000 and then trade him for future considerations. Sounds like the GM just wanted some Tequila too badly.

If this is possible can we trade Stanton to the Fat farm league for a keg of beer and case of cups? It doesn't even need to be good beer, if I were Krivsky I'd take Old Milwaukee.

Something big is brewing in Reds Country

spudsmckenzie17 — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:38:31 -0000

I can't put my finger on it, but something big is brewing with Krivsky. I don't know if its a trade or a free agent.

Just a few ideas

Hamilton, Bailey, Dickerson for Johan Santana

(don't know who) for Dontrelle Willis

EE & someone for Tim Linecum

I could see going after Santana, really being a possibility and Willis being a fallback. I don't see a real need for Linecum (Bailey, Cueto seem to be just as good).

Bartolo Colon, Matt Clement and Freddy Garcia are all free agents. There are plenty of pieces to deal if they don't mortgage their whole future by dealing a package of Bruce and Bailey or Cueto. They must keep Bruce and one of the stud pitchers.

Poll

Transaction most likely to happen?

Trade for Johan Santana

3 votes

Sign Brett Tomko

24 votes

Trade for Tim Linecum

9 votes

Clone Aaron Harang

25 votes

Sign Bartolo Colon

1 votes

Sign Matt Clement

9 votes

Trade for Dontrelle Willis

6 votes

Sign Freddy Garcia

1 votes

78 votes | Poll has closed