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6:05, The Roundtable Show w/John Thornton
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Reds
Market never a concern for adept Jocketty
MLB.com
Now he has fully restored the Reds. He has done it the old-fashioned way, with scouting and player development and with smart trades. Baseball is better when an iconic franchise like the Reds wins, and thanks to Jocketty, that has again become the norm.
Career stats
I was told last week that Hannahan loved the idea of playing for the Reds.
He's a six year veteran that is viewed as a bench guy, potential 3B platoon option and mentor. He is known as a "great teammate with intangibles". He's regarded as an excellent fielder. From 2008-2011 he ranked behind only Adrian Beltre and Evan Longoria in various fielding categories among 3B. The 32-year old, left handed batter, spent the last two years with Cleveland. Plagued by back issues in 2012, he hit .244 with 4 HR and 29 RBI in 105 games and 387 at-bats. Scheduled for arbitration, he was non-tendered by the Indians this offseason.
Check out what Indians President Mark Shapiro told MLB.com about him earlier this month:
"He's made a lot of contributions to our organization, both on the field and also with his leadership in the clubhouse and his relationships with other players," Antonetti said. "He's a guy that we certainly value and appreciate with where we are in the offseason -- and the financial commitment we would need to make to retain him through the arbitration process, we just didn't think it was something that made sense for us." --MLB.com
Rolen may return in '13
CBS Sports
Rolen has now suggested to the Reds that he might want to go to spring training and give it another try, according to sources, and the Reds would be more than happy to give him a chance. The Reds believe he can help, on the field and especially in the clubhouse, where they value his leadership.
Down on the Farm
Riggleman to Louisville
Louisville, KY – Former Major League manager Jim Riggleman will manage the Louisville Bats in 2013. Riggleman will become the third Bats manager in as many years following Rick Sweet (2005-2011) and David Bell (2012). The Cincinnati Reds have yet to name the Bats’ hitting coach or pitching coach for 2013.
Riggleman, 60, will join the Bats for his second season in Reds’ player development. He was the manager of the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos in 2012 and compiled a 68-70 record. Riggleman is the former manager of the Major League’s San Diego Padres (1992-94), Chicago Cubs (1995-99), Seattle Mariners (2008) and Washington Nationals (2009-11). In his 12 seasons as a Major League manager, he compiled a 662-824 record and in 1998 led the Cubs to the playoffs. Riggleman has more than 30 years as a manager or coach, including portions of 19 seasons at the big league level, after beginning his coaching career in 1981 in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Dragons coaching staff announced
Dayton, Ohio—The Dayton Dragons announced their 2013 manager and pitching coach today, as assigned by the Cincinnati Reds.
Former Cubs and Angels infielder Jose Nieves will join the Dragons as manager in 2013. Tony Fossas will rejoin the Dragons as pitching coach. The Dragons 2013 hitting coach will be announced at a later date. The Reds also announced that Tyler Steele will return to the Dragons for his fifth season as athletic trainer.
Delino DeShields, the Dragons manager in 2011-’12, will serve as the manager of the Reds’ Double-A affiliate, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, in 2013. Dragons 2012 coaches Alex Pelaez and Tom Browning will also return to the Reds organization in 2013 with other affiliates.
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Contest
Win a Samsung Galaxy tablet from Frisch's.
Click HERE
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Choo choo
When I retire or it's determined my services are no longer needed, my next job is being the train conductor at Florence Mall. I want to cruise around the mall yelling, "choo, choo", in honor of Shin Soo Choo.
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UC football
UC refutes Tuberville dinner claim by recruit
Tuberville left Texas Tech recruits at the dinner table
RedRaiders.com
“The waitress brought our food out, and we thought (Tuberville) went to the bathroom, but he never came back to dinner. Then next thing I know, the next day, he made an announcement that he’s going to Cincinnati.”
Texas Tech athletics spokesman Blayne Beal confirmed Tech coaches did take players to dinner that night, which he said is a common occurrence on visits by recruits, but was unaware of any incidents that happened at dinner.
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The Choo highlight reel
My reaction
I really like the deal. The only thing keeping me from loving the deal is the concern for Shin Soo Choo's defense in CF. I'll admit the only reason I didn't spend much time talking about him as an option this off season was his lack of expereince in CF. The Reds were built on pitching and defense. Clearly, this is a sacrifice of defense to get offense. Choo has played CF once since 2006. But he fills the biggest need for the lineup. The Reds got the worst production from the lead off spot of any team in MLB last year. Choo is a huge upgrade for that spot.
Choo also builds the bridge to Billy Hamilton. Hamilton gets 2013 to develop at AA/AAA. I love Choo's .381 career on-base percentage. I love his 43 doubles last year. He's a smart player, he can move on the bases (21 SB) and I'd book 20-25 HR playing in GABP. He's also a 3rd left handed back to the line-up. Yea, he struck out 150 times last year, but he also walked 73 times. Choo doesn't hit LHP well (.199 last year/.249 career). It's too bad Chris Heisey isn't more of option vs LHP (Career: .277 vs RHP, .214 vs LHP. Ironically, Stubbs fares very well vs LHP.
All eyes will be on Choo in the spring. Both Bruce and Ludwick have more games in CF than Choo. I'm not inclined to move Bruce to CF and stick Choo in RF. Bruce is a better RF than Choo is. Leave Jay there. Choo does have a cannon for an arm.
Baseball America's JJ Cooper made an interesting point last night: How many more balls will Stubbs get to in a given week than Choo, vs how many more times will Choo get on base? Based simply on last year's OBP, Choo would get on base 48 more times than Stubbs over 500 plate appearances.
Choo is a one year rental. He becomes a free agent after this season. Forget about thinking the Reds could/would/will resign him. Not happening. I do like the fact he will have plenty of motivation in his walk year. I would assume the Reds would make him a qualifying offer after 2013 in order to get draft pick compensation when he leaves.
I wish Drew Stubbs the best. He's a classic "Change of Scenery" case. I really like Di Di Gregorious. But clearly, he was the desired part of the deal from the other side, and the Reds have Zack Cozart. The two other pluses in the deal: 1. The Reds get $3.5M from the Indians to offset Choo's contract. 2. they did not have to part with any pitching.
Career stats
100 career starts in lead off spot: .292 BA, .405 OBP
vs NL: 79 games, .292 BA, .385 OBP, .483 SLG, .868 OPS
vs Arroyo: 8 for 14, .571, 3 doubles, 4 HR, BB, 7 RBI
Splits:
2012
.199 vs LHP (206 AB),.327 vs RHP (392 AB)
Career
.249 vs LHP, .307 vs RHP
Positions
RF: 588 games
LF: 58 games
CF: 10 games/83 innings....(Bruce 35 games/285 innings in CF/)
He was a Gold Glove finalist in RF in 2012.
2012 salary: $4.9M arbitration
2013: Arbitration projections of $7-8M
2014: Free agent
Leadoff spot/batting average 2012:
Reds .206, MLB average .261
Leadoff spot/on-base percentage
Reds .254, MLB average .323
Reds leadoff hitters walked 37 times, struck out 148 times and stole 10 bases in 162 games. The Reds played leadoff roulette in 2012, with no success:
Zack Cozart: .223/.262 in 443 AB
Brandon Phillips: .202/.254 in 114 AB
Drew Stubbs: .159/.237 in 69 AB
Chris Heisey: .208/.269 in 48 AB
Cincy Shirts does it again!
Order HERE
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Jason Donald info
28-year old, RH bat
3rd round pick Phillies 2006
Utility infielder: MLB appearances, 73 games SS, 68 2B, 16 3B, 5 LF, 3 CF
MLB: 170 games, .257 BA
Appeared in parts of 2010-11-12 season for Indians.
Claim to fame: Was safe at first base on umpire Jim Joyce's controversial call to end perfect game bid by Tigers pitcher Armando Gallaraga.
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What they are saying
Yahoo Sports: Look at the Reds. They had a boot on the San Francisco Giants' throat, saw the NLCS and let up, and the Giants swept them in Cincinnati and won the World Series. So of course they're in, and getting Choo to play center field is a move that's alternately brilliant and head-scratching.
Indians.com: "He's (Stubbs) a great defender in center field," Antonetti said. "He brings an element of speed and power to our team. ... He's one of the best defenders in center field and provides a great deal of athleticism out there." Cleveland Plain Dealer: "It was very tough to trade Choo because of what he's meant on and off the field to this organization," said Antonetti.
Reds.com: "We think he's a great athlete, and he still runs well from side to side, and we think that in our ballpark, he'll do fine in center field," Jocketty said.
Diamondbacks.com: "When I saw him (Gregorious), he reminded me of a young Derek Jeter," Towers said. "I was fortunate enough to see Jeter when he was in high school in Michigan. He's got that type of range, he's got speed, more of a line-drive-type hitter, and I think he's got the type of approach at the plate and separation to where I think there's going to be power there as well."
John Fay: One key element of the big trade last night that cannot be overlooked is the fact that the Reds got $3.5 million from the Indians in the deal.
BaseballAmerica: Choo would probably be one of the worst defensive center fielders in the big leagues, but the offense he'll provide would be a major upgrade over Stubbs.
Tweet all about it
Shin-Soo Choo ranked 32nd among MLB right fielders in Fielding Bible runs saved rankings with a minus-12 last season
Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick), ESPN MLB
Reds have C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, RF, 5 SP and closer under team control through '14 All but 1 SP (Bailey) of group under control through '15
JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36)/Baseball America
Tonight, Chris Antonetti turned one year of Shin-Soo Choo and some spare parts into six years of Trevor Bauer. That's called a good night.
Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan)/Yahoo baseball
#RealTalk: @DidiG18 u are one of the #BEST SS I played next to & I played next to many! Sad to see u go but happy 4 your opportunity #DoWork
Brandon Phillips (@DatDudeBP)
It'll be interesting to see how the CIN outfield alignment will wind up. Some evaluators convinced Choo can't play CF regularly.
Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN)
#Dbacks Towers on Gregorious "He's athletic. He reminded me of a young Derek Jeter."
Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB)
choo is a great get to lead off for #reds. tremendous RF, but big question is how he will do in CF.
Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS)
Talked to two scouts who scouted Choo last year and both opined that Bruce would end up in CF and Choo in RF after Dusty evaluates them
JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm)
The odds of it
Bovado
Odds to win the 2013 World Series
Detroit Tigers: 17-2
Washington Nationals: 17-2
Los Angeles Dodgers: 17-2
Toronto Blue Jays: 10-1
Texas Rangers: 12-1
Cincinnati Reds: 12-1
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Bengals
ProFootballFocus.com Jermaine Gresham has 210 receiving yards on his 15 third-down catches, which is the most in the league.
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Stuff
St X product wins NFL Rookie of Week, more honors could be ahead
Source: Big East split "could happen"
Wake up call for Big East Catholic schools?
ESPN
Before all of that happens, the Big East core has to do something. In a fight-or-flight college landscape, the seven Catholic schools too long have been running around like Chicken Little turned ostrich -- simultaneously panicking that the sky is falling but sticking their heads in the sand, hoping it will all go away.
Things noticed last night
Jason Maxiell 18 points, 6 rebounds, 6blocks for Pistons.
Jordan Crawford 26 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists for Wizards
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Reds deal Stubbs, Gregorious to Indians for Choo, Donald
(ESPN photo)
CINCINNATI - Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Walt Jocketty today announced acquisition of leadoff hitter and CF Shin-Soo Choo, IF Jason Donald and cash from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for CF Drew Stubbs and SS Didi Gregorius.
"It was very difficult giving up home-grown talent, but we think Choo can fill the missing parts in our lineup both offensively and defensively," Jocketty said. "He is an exciting player, and we expect him to set the table for Phillips, Votto, Bruce, Ludwick and the rest of our run producers."
Jocketty said of Stubbs, who helped the Reds win National League Central Division titles in 2010 and 2012, "We appreciate the contributions Drew made to our two championships. We wish him nothing but success in Cleveland."
In his 8-year Major League career, Choo has produced a .289 batting average and a .381 on-base percentage. In his career as a leadoff hitter, Choo has a .307 average and .386 on-base percentage that includes marks of .300 and .374 when leading off an innning.
Choo, 30, in 155 appearances last season for the Indians hit .283 with 43 doubles, 16 HR, 67 RBI, 21 stolen bases and 88 runs scored as the club's Hank Award Award nominee. He ranked among the American League leaders in runs, hits, doubles, on-base percentage and multi-hit games, and his .327 average against righthanders was the seventh-best mark in the AL. Choo's .389 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot ranked third in the league, while his .373 overall on-base percentage ranked 10th.
Choo and Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers were the only players in the Major Leagues in 2012 with at least 40 doubles, 15 homers and 20 steals. Choo joined Roberto Alomar and Grady Sizemore as the only players in Indians history to reach each of those statistical marks in a single season.
Donald, 28, has appeared in 170 games for the Indians over the last 4 seasons. He has made 73 career appearances at SS, 68 at 2B, 16 at 3B and 7 in the outfield.
Stubbs, 28, last season for the Reds hit .213 in 136 games. Gregorius, 22, spent last season at Class AA Pensacola and Class AAA Louisville before making his Major League debut with 8 appearances for the Reds.
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