2010 Cincinnati Reds - Reds sign Cuban outfielder Perez

[reds1]

Arroyo responds to pine tar talk

It's been an interesting morning in the clubhouse -- far more interesting than it usually is before a day game that came after a night game. The buzz was about comments Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan made about Bronson Arroyo's strong 8 1/3 performance after Wednesday's 6-1 Reds win.

"I'm sure he had pine tar on his cap," Duncan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "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." [...]


"Yeah, I grabbed my [crotch]. I do this and I have 8,000 twitches," Arroyo said. "What do you want me to do about it? That's how I pitch.

Mark My Word

Also, it appears Smoltz didn't like it when the Reds swiped a base when the score was getting away on him. Dusty reminded him that it was only the 3rd inning. Are the Cards just a bunch of spoiled whinners or something?

Video

[reds1]

Pole out as pitching coach

We knew something out of the ordinary was coming when reporters were summoned to the Reds clubhouse early, before the usual 3:40 p.m. opening time. Once summoned into the manager's office, GM Walt Jocketty and Dusty Baker let us know that all of the coaches were renewed for 2010, except for pitching coach Dick Pole.

"I think as an organization that Dick has done a good job," Jocketty said. "At this point going forward, we're making a change and we'll leave it at that. There are no specific reasons. We really don't have a clear candidate [as a replacement]. We're going to formulate a list and try and find the right guy that can be with this organization a long time. We've got some young pitchers coming along. We want to make sure we find the right guy to help develop them."

Mark My Word

[reds1]

The most memorable game in the history of baseball was played between the Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds 34 years ago - Oct. 21, 1975. And it was played, of course, at Fenway Park.

There is no disputing the significance of Games 4 and 5 of the 2004 American League Championship series to Red Sox fans everywhere. Winning those two games against the Yankees provided the momentum for the greatest comeback in modern sports history.

And every Red Sox fan has Oct. 27, 2004 committed to their memory for their rest of their lives as Game 4 completed a World Series sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, ending 86 years of heartbreak.

But when it comes to epic moments on the greatest stage baseball has to offer there is still one game - one night - that will live on in the hearts of baseball fans everywhere.

WEEI.com Blog

[thebishop]

I'd say there was a more memorable game played on Oct 25, 1986 also involving the Red Sox.......but that's just me

[reds1]

The Sarasota Reds (High Class A; Florida State League) are no more, as the team is being sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who will move the franchise to McKechnie Field for the 2010 season and play as the Bradenton Pirates.

The move is subject to approval from the Florida State League.

As part of the shift the Reds will take over the Pirates' High Class A affiliation with the Lynchburg Hillcats (High Class A; Carolina League). That affiliation runs through the 2010 season and will need to be renegotiated next year.

BPD

[reds1]

Reds' Phillips may be in play as trade talk grows

Day 2 of the general managers' meetings in Chicago produces its share of trade rumors. Two of the juiciest involve Tigers right-hander Edwin Jackson and Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips. Both may be shopped for budgetary reasons....

"We're going to probably have less to spend this year than we have in the past," GM Walt Jocketty told FanHouse on Tuesday at the GM meetings. "It just depends on how (ticket) sales go this offseason."

Jocketty told the site he "might" have to deal some high-priced vets. FanHouse reported that Phillips ($5 million in 2010) and right-handers Aaron Harang ($12.5 million) and Bronson Arroyo ($11 million) are the likely candidates. The team would like to keep closer Francisco Cordero ($12 million).

SportingNews

[reds1]

Artist C.F. Payne Applauds Reds Greats

For years, world renowned illustrator C.F. Payne had played with the idea of a "Field of Dreams" picture of his beloved Cincinnati Reds.

So when the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Reds Community Fund asked the Evendale artist to do a limited-edition print to benefit both organizations, he had a lineup in his pocket:

Joe Morgan, Joe Nuxhall, Johnny Bench, Ted Kluszewski, Ernie Lombardi, Johnny Vander Meer, Eric Davis, Pete Rose. And too many more.

PDF of Painting

Cincinnati.com

[knucklehead7]

The print is neat, but I wonder how much the omission of Rose will hurt sales.

[thebishop]

hehe, pretty easy to recognize Shnozz

No Rose=No Goes! Just gotta kick Sabo off there Just got done reading Pos's new book, great stuff, really puts into perspective what that '75-76 club was all about

[reds1]

Pete is a glaring omission, no question. I'd drop Sparky in favour of Rose (all players).

[Gwynar]

No Rose? That IS a pretty big omission.

Cool painting though (even made Acrobat crash a couple of times).

[Gwynar]

Reds re-sign catcher Hernandez
The Reds have re-signed catcher Ramon Hernandez to a one-year contract, according to a major-league source.

The deal also includes a vesting option for 2011 that will become guaranteed if Hernandez appears in 120 games next season.

The Reds had declined an $8.5 million option on Hernandez and bought out his contract for $1 million.

FoxSports

[reds1]

Condolences

Got the bad news today that Dusty Baker's father passed away Tuesday night. Johnnie B. Baker Sr. was 85 years old and had been battling with health issues for a while. Dusty often worried about his Dad and made a few trips home on off days during the season to see him.

Mark My Word

[Gwynar]

Q&A with Reds' Bailey
CINCINNATI -- Despite being only 23 years old, starting pitcher Homer Bailey seemed on the brink of being written off by Reds fans who wanted him traded. After all, he seemed to be on the fans' radar screen for years.
[...]
In October, Bailey did a 2009 exit interview with MLB.com.

MLB.com

[reds1]

The Reds' Bright Spot

Say what you will about the Cincinnati Reds, as a team they play air-tight defense. I don’t think much has been made of it, but the Redlegs led the National League in UZR with 52 runs saved last season. Just looking at the team’s current depth chart, they might possibly improve on last year’s mark. This isn’t to say their squeaky clean glovework is going to somehow launch them into contention next year, but hey, when you can find a bright spot for a languishing franchise such as the Reds, it needs to be highlighted.

FanGraphs

[reds1]

Cincinnati Reds: Top 10 Prospects

The organization’s strength is certainly on the offensive side of things. However, the club addressed the lack of pitching depth by focusing on the area early on during the 2009 draft. Five of its first seven picks were pitchers; four out of those five were college arms, who will hopefully ascend through the system quickly to provide depth in the upper minors, as well as the Majors.

FanGraphs

[reds1]

Cyclones salute the Reds

My hometown Cincinnati Cyclones hockey team will take on the Florida Everblades on December 5th at U.S. Bank Arena wearing special Cincinnati Reds themed hockey jerseys for Redsfest Night. The Cyclones will be paying tribute to their neighbors in Great American Ballpark, the Cincinnati Reds, by wearing special Reds themed jerseys.

Sports Design Blog

[reds1]

Reds elect not to tender deal to Gomes

Despite his 20-homer season and .267 average in 98 games for Cincinnati last season, outfielder Jonny Gomes was not tendered a contract by the Reds before Saturday's deadline. The club did tender contracts to its other two arbitration-eligible relievers, Jared Burton and Nick Masset. [...]

"We tried to work out a deal with Jonny, but it just didn't happen," general manager Walt Jocketty said on Saturday.

MLB.com

[reds1]

Reds give 3B Scott Rolen 2-year extension

CINCINNATI -- Scott Rolen agreed Saturday to a two-year contract extension with the Cincinnati Reds that guarantees him an additional $13 million while converting almost half of his 2010 salary to a deferred signing bonus.

The deal, which runs through 2012, clears a little bit of payroll room for the Reds and shows how much they value the 34-year-old third baseman as a clubhouse leader.

---

The Reds are looking to trade at least one of the pitchers, and have had talks with the Los Angeles Dodgers about Harang, who is coming off two straight disappointing seasons. Arroyo also could be available.

Sporting News

[Gwynar]

Jocketty creative in making Reds viable
CINCINNATI -- The Reds' holiday wish for improved payroll flexibility was granted over the weekend.

For hopeful fans, Scott Rolen's restructured contract doesn't mean that there will be a big free-agent signing in the Christmas stocking. But it might mean that the Reds can improve their chances hanging on to the higher-priced players they already have.

MLB.com

[reds1]

Chapman Deal Months in the Making
Reds' approach focused on scouting, selling situation

CINCINNATI -- Before their bold and surprising signing of Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman, the Reds didn't even garner a mention during the majority of the bidding process -- at least not until the very end.

That's exactly how general manager Walt Jocketty wanted it.

"That's the way I like to do it from time to time -- stay under the radar," Jocketty said. "It worked, I think, because there wasn't a lot of attention to it." [...]

Many teams, such as the Red Sox and Yankees, were indicating to Hendricks they viewed Chapman as mostly a luxury. Boston, which had recently signed free agent John Lackey, already had a stocked pitching staff. So did the Yankees. Clubs like these viewed Chapman as part of their big league plans -- in 2011 or '12.

The Reds presented themselves as a younger club that could provide a chance for Chapman to pitch in the Majors in 2010.

MLB.com

[knucklehead7]

Cincinnati Reds Top 20 Prospects for 2010

1) Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Grade A-: Could be a truly amazing pitcher if it all comes together, but there's obvious risk here given the need for cultural adjustment, as well as potential command issues.

2) Todd Frazier, INF-OF, Grade B+: Doesn't quite have Alonso's offensive upside, but much more versatile defensively and a very solid hitter in his own right. I like him a lot.

3) Yonder Alonso, 1B, Grade B+: Borderline B. Kills right-handers, but inability to hit lefties is an issue and how do they get him into a lineup with Votto? Stock will drop if he doesn't start to solve lefties next year.

John Sickels

[emath]

Borderline B. Kills right-handers, but inability to hit lefties is an issue and how do they get him into a lineup with Votto?

Trade Votto to the Cubs next off season. Lee will be done after this year, his final year of his contract


Obviously I am crazy, but I would not be upset if it happened.

[reds1]

Good grades thus far for Reds rookie Aroldis Chapman

Cuban lefthander Aroldis Chapman is proving to be a quick learner.

Working with new Reds pitching coach Bryan Price in Arizona, Chapman already has shown noticeable improvement with his curveball.

"He made an adjustment with his hand on top and learned it very quickly," Reds manager Dusty Baker says. "Bryan said his breaking ball was a lot better than what he had seen on TV. His changeup was outstanding, as well. He rarely threw it in international ball because he said a lot of guys sit on changeups and breaking balls. That's an adjustment he'll face here."

Stan McNeal/SN

[reds1]

Orlando Cabrera reportedly leaning toward Reds

Yahoo! Sports reports free agent Orlando Cabrera(notes) is leaning toward signing with the Reds, who would make him their starting shorstop. An agreement may be reached tonight, the site reports.

Cabrera is choosing between the Reds and the Rockies, who would likely use him as an infield reserve.

Yahoo Sports