Benson is my player of the game. 2 great OF plays including an assist in throwing out the runner at the plate and a 2 run homer. Continues to impress.
2 Likes
The Jim Day Podcast last week had Benson as the guest. It was a great listen, Benson seems like such a terrific guy.
1 Like
The whole team seems to be buying in and to all be enjoying each otherâs successes. Itâs very rare in professional sports.
What both the Reds and Bengals will have to understand is both leagues have serious doubts and donât believe in them. No matter how good they may be, they need to get their noses to the grindstone and just focus on winning at all levels into the playoffs. Nobody is going to give it to them
Call me crazy, but the Bengals have been to two straight AFC Championship games, have Joe Burrow, Jamaar Chase, et al. I donât think the league has doubts about them any more.
3 Likes
Small sample size but the move to 5th in the order has benefited India.
Heâs producing out of that spot at the same rate he did from the leadoff position.
Zero Super Bowl trophies. A 12 team group. Bengals are the favorite among these teams to win Super Bowl LVIII (+850) Bills 2nd,Chargers 3rd,Lions,Jags.
.
1 Like
I hear ya! But all the talking heads and sports stories are all Mahomes, Allen, Herbert, and Rogers. Not a sniff of Burrow or the Bengals. It feels like the Patriots in 2002 or 2003 except Brady & Company won the 2001 Super Bowl. Not a sniff of recognition or caring from anyone outside the area the team is based in.
3 year extension for David Bell. Would be the longest tenured manager since Sparky if he finishes it out
1 Like
This might not be a popular take, but I keep wondering if the Reds might not be better off standing pat and wait for Lodolo and Greene to return. This is weighing the value and contributions of the players available on the trade market and what the Reds might have to give up in return.
1 Like
If Abbott and Williamson are going to run into innings limits, then the team needs 3 new SPâs in the rotation. Greene, Lodolo and another. There are ways around this. The Marlins sent down and scaled back rookie breakout Eury Perez a month ago in anticipation for the need at the end of the season. If the Reds hold back Abbottâs innings for later in the season, and ride Williamson until he has no innings left this season. You still need another starter for that strategy to work. I think the team needs a 3 or 4 rental for the rest of the season. But I agree in theory that I hope the playoff rotation (if they make it) is already good enough to not lose players for a temporary replacement.
This team is so well positioned for the future that I really hope they donât spoil it by trying to hasten the timeline like management did in 2019. Only a projected payroll of $30mil for next year unless they add players. I hope they follow the Braves model and lock up as much of the core as possible, and use the excess to add high end talent, as well as consolidating some prospects for high end controllable talent when the price isnât inflated as it always is at the trade deadline for pitchers.
1 Like
I just donât see any real difference-makers in the SP out there unless the Padres start to sell. Iâm not including Verlander or Scherzer in this comment. Innings eaters, perhaps, but not difference makers. I just donât know how much I want the Reds to mortgage the future as you point out for a rental, innings eater, pitcher. Truthfully, the best pitching prospects on the trade market might be with the Cards and I donât think the Reds and Cards would ever make a trade right now.
2 Likes
Iâd like to see them trade for a left handed relief pitcher at a bare minimum. My favorite name mentioned often as someone who might be available is Brent Suter.
Vladimir Gutierrez may also be back in time to take one of the back end rotation spots. He was a bit of a mixed bag in 21-22 before Tommy John ended his season.
Barrero is showing again that he can hit AAA pitching. With no obvious future with the Reds maybe he has some value to another team.
Doesnât Votto cost $24 mill/year? Are the Reds going to cut him loose?
The money is guaranteed, wether the cut him or keep him or trade him.
I think the Marlins may have blown it with that move. They were like 14 or 15 games over .500 and easily had the top wildcard spot. Now they are only 7 games over and there are a bunch of teams ahead of them. They needed Perez.
I donât think the Reds should be worrying about anything but qualifying for the postseason ( and of course protecting the young pitchersâ arms if they reach their personal innings limit.). Do not sit Abbott out to save him for the post season, use his innings to get there.
True. Of course, perhaps they should keep their âeyesâ on their Chattanooga farm team. That new t-shirt that they just pulled out of circulationâŚHoly Heck!
For 2024, Vottoâs contract is a team option at $20m, but if the Reds decline there is still $7m of that guaranteed.
I read that Reds are planning on having Gutierrez be a reliever for 2023 (maybe a long man) and will try him as a starter again next year.
IMO the team would be best served paying Joey the $7 million and giving the job to Encarnation-Strand. If he would be happy with it, he could be a bench player and pinch hit or get an occasional start for a small salary.
Itâs getting difficult to justify rolling Votto out every game and heâs not hitting his weight.
The Reds can buy him out for 2024 at $7million,correct?