Bleacher Report - Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds Report Cards: Scott Rolen

Cliff Eastham — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:39:47 -0500

While Scott Rolen is still in the "honeymoon" stage with the Reds, I will be evaluating him on a 40-game season.

His hitting is better than average, which should be expected for a .284 lifetime hitter. He didn't exhibit the power that I was so hopeful he would. Three home runs in a quarter of the season make it elementary enough to do the math; 12 home runs would not cut it for a corner infielder. He had a decent OBP as well at .364.

With the leather, we saw precisely what everyone in baseball has been accustomed to witnessing. He played error-free ball while with the Reds, as well as making a few very nice gems.

Rolen is a good presence in the clubhouse and an intangible source of guidance to this squad. He is in the twilight of his career, so hopefully he will have a few good years left and will be able to hang up the spikes while still close to home (Jasper, IN).

He is an asset to an infield that is one shortstop away from being comparable to any other team. We had to mortgage the house in order to find room on the payroll to welcome him to the Queen City. We gave up on a couple pitchers with possible stars on their horizon.

A good solid job for a brief stint. His final mark for 2009 is a B+.

Next up: Jonny Gomes

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Ramon Hernandez Re-Signed by Cincinnati Reds: $3 Million More Down the Drain

Cliff Eastham — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:55:16 -0500

Wow. Just as I thought the Reds had given up on any hope they had for Ramon Hernandez, he slides in the back door. Cincinnati just signed him to a one-year contract (with options) worth $3 million.

The Reds had declined his $8.5 million option earlier, and many, including myself, were not sad to see him depart. Ryan Hanigan can play the position for one-eighth of the price or less, and just as well I might add. I had big plans for that money!

He came over to the Reds in a deal that sent "Swiss Utility Knife-like" player Ryan Freel to the Baltimore Orioles during the 2008 offseason. Freel has since been with at least two other squads, so the trade, as it were, could be called a wash or push.

Hernandez filled in at first base while Joey Votto underwent personal maladies. Although he did field the position adequately, his offensive production was lackluster at best.

Hernandez appeared in exactly half of the Reds' games this past season while hitting a paltry .258, with only five round-trippers. Three million dollars should buy you better than that. That money could have been well used in the purchase or trade of a decent-hitting shortstop.

As I wrote in an earlier piece, Paul Janish, in my mind, is not yet a starting-caliber shortstop for a MLB team. His average barely bests his weight, and that is a fact which cannot and certainly should not be ignored.

Janish has no power, cannot hit effectively, and is not especially fast, but he does field his position as decently as most other shortstops in the National League.

As distressing as this is to me, I hope I don't wake tomorrow and find that they had rehired Dick Pole.

The transactions the Reds have made recently have been less than stellar. With the exception of acquiring All-Star third baseman Scott Rolen from the Toronto Blue Jays, the management has not shown to be truly effective in their dealing capacities.

I could be wrong. Maybe in 2010 Hernandez could have the year everyone hoped for in 2009.

Cliff Eastham is a B/R Featured Columnist for the Cincinnati Reds

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Brandon Phillips: What's His Trade Market?

Adam Bernacchio — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:38:07 -0500

Yesterday, I talked about one of the Cincinnati Reds trade candidates, Bronson Arroyo . Well today, I’ll talk about another Reds trade candidate, second baseman Brandon Phillips.

Phillips has had a pretty interesting career so far. He has been involved in two extremely lopsided trades.

In 2002, Phillips was traded from the Montreal Expos to the Cleveland Indians along with Cliff Lee, Lee Stevens, and Grady Sizemore for Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew.

And in 2006, Phillips was traded from the Indians to the Reds for the ever so popular player to be named later. Or PTBNL as all the cool kids say. That player turned out to be Jeff Stevens.

So Phillips has already been involved in two lopsided trades–will he be involved in a third? Let’s take a look at the pros and the cons of Phillips and what teams would be possible suitors for the man who went to high school in Stone Mountain, GA.

I wonder if he knows Jake “The Snake” Roberts, who also hails from Stone Mountain, GA?

Pros

Because Phillips hasn’t played on a national stage since joining the Reds, people don’t realize how good Phillips actually is.

Over the last three years, Phillips ranks third amongst all major league second baseman in home runs with 71, sixth in hits with 494, third in triples with 19, and second in stolen bases with 80.

Not only can Phillips do it with the bat, but he can do it with the glove. Phillips is one of best defensive second baseman in baseball.

Phillips won a Gold Glove in 2008 (not that it means much), but more importantly, Phillips has ranked at the top in second baseman UZR over the last three years.

As a matter of fact, only Chase Utley has a higher UZR over the last three years than Phillips.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of Phillips is his contract. Phillips has two years remaining on his contract with a club option for 2012.

Phillips is set to make $6.75 million in 2010 and $11 million in 2011. That is very reasonable for a man who is only 28-years-old and has been worth $28 million over the last two years according to Fangraphs .

Cons

In a game where OBP is highly valued, Phillips hasn’t seen a pitch he hasn’t liked. Phillips did set a career high in walks in 2009 with 44, but that is nothing to get excited about.

Phillips ranked 12th in OPS amongst second baseman in 2009 behind guys like Alberto Callaspo and Martin Prado.

Perhaps the only other question a GM could have with Phillips is can he produce on a big stage? It’s one thing to put up big numbers when your team is 20 games out of first in August, but can you do it when your team is battling for a playoff spot?

There is only one way to figure out the answer to that question.

Now that we have looked at the pros and cons of acquiring Phillips, let’s take a look at what teams would be interested in the Reds’ second baseman.

New York Mets: Obviously the Mets would have to find a taker for their current second baseman, Luis Castillo. That is a task all by itself.

However, if they can get rid of Castillo, I think Phillips would be perfect with the Mets, who should be building their team around pitching, defense, and speed.

Los Angeles Dodgers: As I mentioned yesterday with Dan Uggla, the Dodgers need a second baseman. Phillips and Rafael Furcal would be a lethal double play combination in L.A.

Unfortunately, because the McCorts are making a made for TV movie, I am not sure how much salary the Dodgers are willing to take on.

San Diego Padres: The Padres are a lot closer to competing than people think. They have talked about adding payroll in 2010 and if they feel Matt Antonelli isn’t quite ready yet to be their second baseman, Phillips could be a nice player for them.

Minnesota Twins: Nick Punto is a nice little player, but should be a utility on a good team. The Twins are moving into a new stadium, which means new revenues.

They have already added payroll in the form of JJ Hardy and Phillips fits the Twins style of play to a tee.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Are the Angels ready to give up on Howie Kendrick? Every year is supposed to be “Kendrick’s breakout year” and it hasn’t happened yet.

Phillips seems like a perfect fit in Anaheim. He is a great defensive player and can’t you see him being Bobby Abreu’s latest patient pet project?

Believe it or not, the market for second baseman these days isn’t as good as one would think. There are a lot of teams in baseball, who already have quality players at that position.

I am going to say that Phillips does get traded this offseason, with the Twins and Angels being the most likely suitors.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg

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Baseball Prospect Report: Todd Frazier

Eric Stashin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:59:17 -0500

The Cincinnati Reds selected Todd Frazier, a product of Rutgers, with the 34th selection in the 2007 MLB Draft. To date, his minor league numbers have not been overly impressive, at least on the surface, making his flexibility appear to be more of his ticket to the Major Leagues than anything.

He has seen time all across the diamond, playing 1B, 3B, SS and OF during his two plus years in the Reds’ system. While it’s great to view him as a potential utility option, his bat has the potential to be so much more than that.

He hit .292 with 16 HR and 77 RBI in 534 AB between Double & Triple-A last season, so I’m sure many people are questioning things. Those are pedestrian numbers, looking more like a role player than anything else. Taking that stance would be a drastic miscalculation.

First off all, he hit 45 doubles last season to go along with a fly ball rate of 45.2%. While the fly ball rate may drop, at least a little bit, the fact that he was able to generate that many doubles (as well as two triples) is a great sign for fantasy owners for two reasons.

First of all, at 23-years old it is very easy to believe that his power has not yet reached its full potential. At the time he was drafted, mlb.com’s scouting report for Frazier said that he “has plus raw power and projects to have above-average gap power as a pro”.

Additionally, Baseball America, who ranked him as the Reds’ second best prospect prior to the 2009 season (and 60th overall), said “Frazier has above-average raw power and translates it well into games. While he has an unconventional swing, he clearly understands it and knows how to make adjustments. Since turning pro, he has learned to quicken his stride, enabling him to get his left foot down quicker and handle fastballs that previously gave him trouble.”

No matter what you look at, his ability at the plate is not in question. With time, the power is going to come, despite what he’s shown thus far in the minor leagues (42 HR in 1,174 AB).

The second thing you like is the ballpark he’s going to call home. With all the fly balls he is already hitting, would it be shocking to see many of those flying over the fences of Great American Ballpark? While we would all still be high on him had he been putting up 40+ doubles and going to a pitcher’s ballpark (like Petco Park), the fact that he will call a bandbox home makes him look all the more appealing.

He really has the potential to be the total package, with a little bit of speed (he had nine stolen bases last season), power and the ability to hit for a solid average (his mark last season came courtesy of a realistic .322 BABIP). The real question is where he is going to play.

While he’s spent time at 1B and 3B in the minors, barring any trades, Joey Votto and Scott Rolen are penciled into those spots. He also has seen time at SS, but from what I’ve read, he projects more as a 3B or OF, meaning the Reds will likely go with a more reliable defensive option there.

His best opportunity is likely to be the outfield, where Chris Dickerson, Laynce Nix or Wladimir Balentien are currently the team’s best options for the LF job. Would it be surprising to see Frazier claim that job for himself?

With his potential power, he needs to be on the radar for all fantasy owners, both yearly and dynasty leagues. While he may open the season at Triple-A, it is not going to take long for him to force his way into the Reds’ line-up. Once that happens, he’s going to be a must own option, so if you are in a league that has a deep bench, you’re going to want to stash him away. If not, watch the news closely and as soon as he’s recalled make sure you put in your claim.

What are your thoughts? How good could Frazier be? How many HR do you think he may hit in 2010?

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MLB Offseason Is A Time For Hope

Bill Mckillop — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:36:25 -0500

The 2009 MLB season is over and the New York Yankees are World Series champs by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies. It was an exciting playoffs with it’s share of highlights and controversy. Replay in the post season was brought up many times as today’s technology is more advanced and can see more then the umpires. The Schedule was also a concern as there were as many days off as games in the fall classic. This all leads to the MLB off season where ever team can improve for 2010.

In the offseason fans of all teams dream of scenarios where they can land Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, Adrian Gonzalez, or Roy Holladay. This is probably the most exciting time of year for fans of all teams as they try to figure out what moves will be made by the teams the cheer for. If you finished in first place or 25 games out, these few off season months give you time to dream of who your team can get and shop to help them compete for next season. Not every team can afford to sign players like Bay or Holliday , but until they sign somewhere they are single and available for every team in the majors to court and sign.

This is the one time of year that teams like the Nationals, Pirates, Reds, Indians, Royals, Padres, etc can all be excited about the upcoming season. What moves can these teams make to give them a fighting chance and the fans something to cheer for? Can these teams play over .500 baseball and make a playoff run? Remember all teams are in first place at the start of the season and with free agency all teams can improve.

It’s the MLB off season and fans need to keep hope alive as of right now that’s all we have. Hope for a better team and the excitement of the new season. What players can your team pick up to give you hope for the upcoming season?

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Betts Not Better Than Portis, But Certainly a Better Fit

Jarrett Carter — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:42:26 -0500

It is impossible to make the claim that Ladell Betts is a better running back than Clinton Portis. Not only has Portis delivered the goods in Washington , but over his tenure in the NFL, he’s one of the best of all time.

So no, the calls for Portis to lose his job are unfounded based on the stats. But can you make personnel decisions based on stats alone? Is there something in team chemistry and familiarity with schemes the can be a deciding factor beyond production?

If there is something to those things, then Ladell Betts should be the starting running back for the Washington Redskins.

I acknowledge that he isn’t a better player than Portis, but I won’t concede that Betts doesn’t give the team a better chance of winning than Portis at this stage of their careers . Portis has been run down , badmouthed and pinpointed for a lot of the Redskins woes over the last few seasons. From being all too anxious to share his opinion, to injuries, to this year’s apparent breakdown in physical ability, he’s been the target.

Betts, on the strength of his status as a career backup, hasn’t had the extensive injury history, and or the spotlight that inhibits trust and rapport with teammates. That’s not to say that Betts wouldn’t make many of the same assessments that Portis has over the years, but it is to say that he doesn’t have the frequent platform to regularly deliver an opinion.

So we don’t hear it. And when we do hear him, it’s usually the sound of a great teammate with a positive outlook.

Betts has proven beyond serviceable as a starter for the Redskins, and may be more versatile in clutch situations given his experience as a third down back. Maybe the running game against the Broncos worked for a multitude of reasons, and maybe the least of those was Betts’ ability.

But Betts is the back who wound up with a hundred plus yards on the day, and were it that easy to put together a game like that, Portis, an all-time great, would’ve found a way to do it against the far-inferior competition of weeks past.

And if you do think it was Betts talent, it’s not as if yesterday’s performance was a flash-in-the-pan fluke. Portis and Betts have long been interchangeable , even with the coach who brought Portis to Washington.

Teammates, coaches and pundits may have their minds made up on Portis given his contract and his career stats, and Portis has earned both well.

But is the question of the Redskins starting running back more on justifying the wealth and history of the injured starter, or with recognizing the back-up who provides the better chance to win?

Technorati Tags: Clinton Portis , Ladell Betts , Washington Redskins

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What Is Bronson Arroyo's Trade Market?

Adam Bernacchio — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:29:12 -0500

One of the bigger stories of last week was the Cincinnati Reds desire to cut payroll. It’s been reported that the Reds want to have a payroll less than the $73 million it was in 2009.

The easiest way to reduce payroll, of course, is to trade away some of your highest priced players. If the Reds were to trade some of their players, Aaron Harang, Brandon Phillips, Francisco Cordero, and Bronson Arroyo are the most likely trade candidates.

For the purposes of today’s post, let’s take a look at Arroyo. Here are the pros, the cons, and the teams who might be interested in trading for the Reds’ Guitar Hero.

PROS

Ever since Arroyo was traded to the Reds from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Wily Mo Pena (not one of Theo Epstein’s finer moments, though I didn’t mind the deal for the Red Sox at the time) in March of 2006, Arroyo has been one of the most durable pitchers in the game.

Arroyo over the last four years have averaged 34 starts a year and 218 innings pitched. Twice in that span he has led the National League in starts (2006 & 2008) and once led the league in innings pitched (2006).

In a game where starting pitchers average five innings and are constantly on the DL, Arroyo makes all his starts and goes deep into games.

Teams also have to like the fact that as Arroyo gets older, he is throwing more groundballs than ever. Arroyo’s groundball rate of 44.8 percent in 2009 was the highest of his career.

Lastly, Arroyo gained valuable postseason experience pitching for the Red Sox in 2003, 2004, and 2005. While he didn’t pitch well (7.41 ERA in 10 games) in those October’s, he usually does he best work late in the season.

Arroyo is 22-9 with a 3.22 ERA in his career during September and October.

Cons

While Arroyo is one of the most durable pitchers in the game, there is a lot of tread on his tires. Over the last three years, Arroyo has thrown 10,275 pitches. That ranks him sixth amongst all starters in baseball.

That’s a lot of pitches for a guy who is going to be 33-years-old in 2010.

And while Arroyo’s contract seems reasonable at one-year and $11 million with a club option for $11 million for 2011, we are in a down economy in baseball.

Normally, $11 million for a pitcher like Arroyo is not outlandish, but not only does a team have to assume his contract in a down economy, but they would also have to surrender a couple of prospects.

That’s a lot to ask a team for essentially a number three pitcher on a contending team.

Now that we have seen the pros and cons of Arroyo, let’s take a look at what teams could be possible trade partners.

New York Mets: Right now, the Mets' rotation is Johan Santana and a bunch of question marks. The Mets can afford Arroyo’s contract and he would give the Mets a solid No. 2 or 3 starter going into 2010.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Vicente Padilla, Randy Wolf, and Jon Garland are all potential free agents leaving only Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw in the Dodgers’ rotation.

For a team who’s starters ranked 11th in the National League in innings pitched, Arroyo would be a welcomed site for Joe Torre.

New York Yankees: If the Yankees don’t feel Phil Hughes is ready to start and Andy Pettitte decides to retire, then Arroyo is a realistic option for the Yankees.

Minnesota Twins: I know this is a stretch because of Arroyo’s salary, but the Twins are looking to add a veteran starter or two this offseason. I would much rather have Arroyo than Carl Pavano, whom they are looking to re-sign.

Seattle Mariners: The like the Mets, the Mariners have an ace in Felix Hernandez and then a bunch of question marks. With the Mariners great defense, Arroyo could thrive in the great northwest.

It would be a shame if the Reds had to trade Arroyo. With a great, young nucleus, the Reds are closer to contention than most people think.

I would say if the Reds were to shed salary, Arroyo is the most likely to go. His one-year contract and his performance to date would make him attractive to teams who need a starter.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg

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Albert Haynesworth's Mother Influencing Game Planning?

Jarrett Carter — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:28:49 -0500

Not certain if anyone else was listening to Jim Zorn’s post game press conference, but if you were, perhaps you were also shocked about the revelations of Albert Haynesworth’s mother calling Jim Zorn to give her perspectives on injecting “fun” into game planning.

In sum, Zorn commented on speaking with Haynesworth's mother during the week, and her advocacy for the players to have “more fun” in preparing for games and in practice.

Zorn said it in a joking kind of way, but it was clear that it wasn’t a normal thing that happens in locker rooms throughout the NFL.

In fact, ESPN 980’s Al Galdi commented, and I’m paraphrasing, “Maybe it’s a minor detail, but do you think Bill Belichick is fielding calls from players’ mothers? Do you think Mike Tomlin is fielding calls from players’ mothers?”

And FYI, Haynesworth is hurt. Again .

I don’t blame Zorn on commenting on this or even on taking the call. That’s just the kind of honest, open communication guy he is.

But I do find it interesting that the Redskins allow that kind of call to work its way through the offices. He may not call plays or make personnel decisions, but he is a head coach. It’s the principle of the thing.

I expect to hear a lot more about this leading up to the Dallas game, but thought it was interesting that Haynesworth is that soft to complain to his mother about how un-fun playing football in the NFL is.

Technorati Tags: Albert Haynesworth , Jim Zorn , Washington Redskins

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MLB 9s: Cincinnati Reds—Johnny Bench, Frank Williams, Joe Morgan On Top

Ash Marshall — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:23:14 -0500

A 22-year-old Most Valuable Player named Johnny Bench.

One of the greatest second basemen of all-time, Joe Morgan.

An outfielder named Cy Seymour who missed out on the Triple Crown by a single home run.

The Cincinnati Reds have seen some of the greatest baseball players who ever lived pass through their organization.

From its first World Series victory in 1919 to four trips to the fall classic under Sparky Anderson in the 70s, the Reds have a rich baseball history.

But which Cincinnati Red had the greatest offensive season ever at his position?

Major League Baseball has been asking fans this question in an effort to choose each team's best lineup of stars. They are calling it MLB 9s.

Here I separated the contenders from the pretenders in an effort to pick my dream Reds' lineup. Have your say by commenting below, or by voting on the MLB site here .

Other MLB 9s you might want to check out are:

Arizona Diamondbacks

Atlanta Braves

Baltimore Orioles

Boston Red Sox

Chicago Cubs

Chicago White Sox

Catcher: Johnny Bench (1970)

Bench displayed some awesome power in 1970, hammering 45 home runs and finishing the season with 145 RBI. He scored 97 times and batted .293.

Winning the MVP just two seasons after taking Rookie of the Year honors, it is important to remember Bench was only 22 years old.

No other Reds’ catcher has ever hit more than 28 home runs or recorded 100 RBI.

Highlight Game: July 26, 1970 vs St Louis. Bench hit three home runs in one game, going 4-for-5 with seven RBI in a 12-5 win over the Cardinals. He would have a three-home run game twice more in his career.

Competition: Ernie Lombardi currently owns four of the top five batting averages for any Reds’ catcher, batting at least .333 for four consecutive seasons between 1936 and 1938.

His 1938 was one of his best single-season performances when he batted .342, drew 40 walks and batted in 95 men. He hit 19 home runs and only struck out 14 times.

First Base: Ted Kluszewski (1954)

Big Klu had a career year in 1954, leading the National League in home runs and RBI, but fell to Willie Mays in the MVP voting by a handful of ballots.

Kluszewski batted .326, drew 78 walks, had a slugging percentage of .642 and scoring 104 runs. He ranked third in the NL in total bases (368), and fourth in extra base hits (80). He hit a home run every 11.7 at bats, which made him a NL leader in that category in 1954.

Highlight Game: September 12, 1954 at Pittsburgh. In the first game of a double-header, Klu hit two home runs and drove in six men in an 11-5 victory. It was one of six multi-homer games of the year for the first baseman, with his first home run coming as one of his 33 go-ahead hits.

Competition: Lee May (1969) and Sean Casey (1999) both deserve mention.

Behind Kluszewski, May hit more home runs as a first baseman than any other Red in history, while Sean Casey’s 103 runs ranks fifth all-time among Cincinnati first basemen.

May finished 1969 with 38 homers, 110 RBI and 85 runs. In 1999, Casey batted .332 with 25 home runs, 99 RBI and 103 runs.

Frank McCormick had more runs batted in in a single season, other than Big Klu, and I am also going to mention Frank Robinson for the 1960 season, although his real production came after he moved to left field.

Second base: Joe Morgan (1976)

An easy choice at second base, Morgan had the greatest single offensive season by a middle-infielder in Reds’ history, in my opinion.

Winning his second consecutive MVP award, Morgan batted .320, scored 113 runs and drove in 111 more. He also stole 60 bases. His .444 on base percentage and .576 slugging percentage both led the National League, and his 114 walks ranked second behind Jimmy Wynn.

His OPS+ (A measure of on-base percentage and slugging percentage adjusted to take into account the league average and ballpark factors) is the highest of any Reds player ever.

Highlight Game: September 6, 1976 vs Houston. Cruising towards the National League West Division title and a 100-win season, Morgan his his second grand slam of the season to give the Reds a commanding 8-0 third-inning lead. Three familiar names were on base ahead of him: Pete Rose, Ken Griffey, and Dave Concepcion.

Competition: Brandon Phillips is the only second baseman that comes close. And I mean "close" in the same way that a sprinter finishes "close" behind Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.

So really, not at all. Phillips batted .288, hit 30 home runs, scored 107 runs, knocked in 94 batters and stole 32 bases.

Third Base: Tony Perez (1970)

In 1970, Perez hit 40 home runs and recorded 129 RBI. He also batted .317 and scored 107 runs. In his seventh year with the Reds, the future Hall of Famer finished third in the NL MVP voting behind teammate Johnny Bench and Billy Williams.

Perez ranked second in the National league in slugging percentage (.589) and runs batted in, and third in total bases (346) and home runs.

He walked 83 times and was selected to his fourth consecutive All Star Game.

Highlight Game: April 17, 1970 vs Giants. With the score tied 5-5 and one man out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Perez hit a walk-off home run to left-centerfield after Frank Linzy had intentionally walked Bobby Tolan to set up the double play.

Competition: Deron Johnson hit 32 bombs and drove in 130 back in 1965 and Aaron Boone combined power and speed in 2002 with 32 steals and 26 home runs. Chris Sabo had a similar season in 1991 with 26 home runs, 19 steals and a .301 average.

Shortstop: Barry Larkin (1996)

Another relatively straight-forward choice. Larkin tops almost every offensive single-season category for a Reds third baseman on the strength of his 1996 campaign.

His 33 home runs, 89 RBI, 117 runs, and .440 on-base percentage are all franchise highs for Cincinnati third baseman, while his 36 steals ranks fifth all-time (Larkin is also first and third on the list for different seasons).

Barry Larkin somehow won the National League MVP in 1995 and, although his following year was arguably better across the board, he failed to even figure into the top 10.

Highlight Game: July 23, 1996 @ Philadelphia. Larkin hit a pair of home runs, recorded all of his team’s five RBI and walked once in a 5-3 victory against the Phillies.

Competition: Three shortstops have provided noteworthy offensive seasons, according to the MLB shortlist, and I am inclined to agree with them.

Most recently, Felipe Lopez hit 23 home runs, scored 97 runs, batted in 85 and stole 15 bases. In the 70s, Dave Concepcion stole 41 bases, drove in 82 runs and scored 70 times, while in 1947 Eddie Miller hit 19 jacks, had 87 RBI and scored 69 times.

Outfield: George Foster (1977)

Foster had the greatest season of his career—and probably the best single season by any Reds’ outfielder—in 1977.

I will go one step further and say that Foster had the greatest single offensive season by any outfielder from any team in that decade!

The numbers he put up on his way to winning the NL MVP were remarkable. He hit 52 home runs—nine more than anyone else in the baseball that year—and drove in 149 batters—19 more than Philadelphia's Greg Luzinski.

His .631 slugging percentage was 37 points more than any other batter in the league and even today it ranks third all-time for any Reds’ player.

His .320 batting average was the fourth best in the National League, while his OPS+ of 165 ranked second. Foster's 388 total bases was the best in baseball, aided by a then-career-high 61 walks.

Foster holds the Reds’ all-time record for home runs on the road with 31.

Frank Robinson (1962)

Having already appeared in my all-time single season outfield for the Baltimore Orioles , Robinson makes his second mark on my 9s list here for the Reds.

Four years before winning his first MVP award outside of Cincinnati, Robinson was leading the way in the early '60s for the Reds.

He was awarded the NL Most Valuable Player in the 1961 season, but I want to focus on his following year when I believe he was even stronger.

He led the league in hits (134), doubles (51), on-base percentage (.421) and slugging percentage (.637), and the then-26-year-old also set new career highs with 39 home runs and 136 RBI.

His 134 runs is still a franchise record, and he was the first Cincinnati Red to hit three grand slams in one season.

Highlight Game: August 20, 1962 vs Los Angeles Dodgers. His record-breaking third grand slam of the season came against Larry Sherry in the bottom of the tenth inning.

With the game tied at 3-3 and the bases loaded, Robinson hit a ball deep into the Crosley Field bleachers to give the Reds a walk-off victory.

Cy Seymour (1905)

Despite all of the great Cincinnati Reds’ outfielders that have played the game, I am going to give my third and final spot to Cy Seymour who came one home run short of winning the triple crown.

He led the National League in hits (219), doubles (40), triples (21), RBI (121), batting average (.377), slugging percentage (.559) and total bases (325).

He hit eight home runs, the most of his career, but fell short of teammate Fred Odwell’s nine. Odwell only played four seasons and two of those were injury-ridden. Odwell hit one home run in his first year and then zero in each of his final two seasons.

His .377 average remains a franchise high.

Highlight Game: October 3, 1905 vs New York Giants. With just five games remaining in the season and Seymour one home run away from being in line to win the Triple Crown, he hit a first-inning two-run inside-the-park home run off of Claude Elliott.

The home run—the 34th of his career—came in the second game of a double-header and tied him with Odwell for eight. But fate was not on Seymour’s side.

Two games later—with just 19 innings left in the season—Odwell hit what would be the last home run of his career in the second game of a double-header at home to the St Louis Cardinals.

Only 14 players have ever won the batting Triple Crown.

No Cincinnati Red has ever won the Triple Crown, and it is ironic that a Reds teammate was the one who stopped it from happening.

Competition: Wow, was this a hard choice. I had a shortlist of six outfielders that I narrowed down to three. Foster (1977), Kevin Mitchell (1994), Robinson (1962), Pete Rose (1969), Edd Roush 1923, and Seymour (1905)

Regardless of who I chose, any or all of the six men listed had seasons good enough to be on this list. I had to pick three, but recognize the achievements of the others.

Pitcher: Red Lucas (1930)

In 1930 Lucas batted .336 with 19 RBI and 18 runs scored. He hit a pair of home runs, a triple and four doubles.

There’s not a whole lot to say about the pitchers’ spot when it comes to batting.

Competition: No pitcher, who played half of his games as a pitcher, has ever recorded 40 hits, and Hal Jeffcoat is the only Reds’ pitcher to hit four home runs in a season (1957).

I would like to mention Bill Philips who, despite not hitting a home run in 1902, had 39 hits, three triples, 11 runs, 11 RBI and six walks. His .342 batting average is the highest by any Reds’ pitcher with at least 100 at bats.

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Would Mark DeRosa Be a Nice Fit With the Cincinnati Reds?

Cliff Eastham — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:01:23 -0500

I repeat my assertion that the Reds need a solid shortstop to be an authentic contender for the Central Division championship. I have had my fill of Juan Castro's, Felipe Lopez's (though look at him now), Enrique Cruz's and Alex Gonzalez's until I could puke.

Jeff Keppinger filled in for nearly a year and did an adequate job. I think they sent him to Houston while my back was turned shortly before the season began.

Since the retirement of Barry Larkin, they have come and gone so swiftly that a daily roster is needed to keep abreast of the situation. Prior to that, Roy McMillan, Chico Cardenas, and Dave Concepcion provided a strong lineage that existed until Larkin's arrival in 1986.

Mark DeRosa, a Type B Free Agent, is a Swiss Army Knife of MLB if there ever was one. He can play anywhere in the infield or outfield without giving quarter to the opposition.

He can hit adequately, as his .275 career average testifies. He can hit with power, as he has left left the proverbial yard 44 times in the previous two seasons.

We don't know if DeRosa is a Gold Glove player, because he hasn't had the opportunity to play consistently at one position long enough.

He has played third base more than any other position, however I could see him at second base if the Reds would like to move Brandon Phillips back to his original position of shortstop.

Age is not a big concern, either, as he is only two months older than Scott Rolen, whom the Reds remortgaged Great American Ball Park for recently.

It is unclear to me as to the kind of jack he makes. ESPN shows that he made $4.75 million in 2008 and played for free last year. That's what it shows.

I don't think he would incite a bidding war, though I could be wrong. I would at least like to see the "Muckety Mucks" of the Reds open the door a crack and take a look inside. You never know what you might pull out.

I may be alone, a voice crying in the wilderness, as it were, but I do believe it is at least worth a gander. Please, no more bring-ups at SS, and don't think that you will go an further than last year with Paul Janish filling the gap.

No offense intended to Paul, he is a great guy and an excellent glove. If he could only hit, we would have something to behold. We cannot afford another season of a shortstop batting below the Mendoza line.

Sources:

Baseball-Reference.com

ESPN.com

Cliff Eastham is a B/R Featured Columnist for the Cincinnati Reds

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