More Incompetency out of Krivsky
By
Geki
Posted at 2:33 pm
Bobby Basham for David Ross, this time. Standridge DFA'd to make room on the 40-man for Ross. This has to be paving the way for either a LaRue or Valentin deal, or it makes absolutely no sense. Wait, scratch that. Even if one is traded, it makes absolutely no sense. Ross is a career .217/.288/.406 hitter with poor defense and the inability to do anything but hit the occasional homerun. So far he's failed as a catcher with the Dodgers, Pirates, and Padres, all within the last year. The man is simply not worthy of a major-league roster.
Of course, in acquiring him, Krivsky got rid of Basham, who showed a lot of promise in AA last year, and got rid of Standridge, who was competent at the major league level last year. He's not gonna get an amazing deal for LaRue or Javy, so this has to be chalked up as more idiocy from Krivsky. I long for the days of Dan O'Brien.
Come on, Geki…You liked it better when the GM sat on his thumbs while the team circled the bowl? Are you even a Reds fan?
It’s pretty obvious, since Ross is out of minor league options, that there’s going to be more to this story. One of LaRue and Valentin is probably getting traded. Personally, I’m hoping it’s LaRue because despite what is written in the press and what has been said about him by certain Reds officials in the past, his defensive and catching skills leave much to be desired. I’m hoping Krivsky deals laRue for another starting pitcher, and inserts Valentin as the starting catcher (which will make RHM squeal with delight, BTW). Ross will do as the backup. The Reds need to fix their pitching in order to go anywhere but straight to the division cellar before they even get out of April. They’re working on it. That’s more than O’Brien would have done – if he’d made the Arroyo deal he’d have sent the Red Sox Pena, two pitching prospects, and two million bucks to get the same guy. Now, this new regime is showing no fear of giving up on the players the old regime sat on because of their potential if that potential hasn’t translated into results on the field. That is definitely a Good Thing, and it’s about time this team adopted that philosophy. Potential does not win you any baseball games. Pitching and defense wins you games. The new regime inherited not much of either one, so they’re going out and getting it – and you’re *complaining* about it? Are you a Pirates fan or what? 🙂
As much as I like Javy, there’s no way he’s match last year’s production if he was a full-time starter. David Ross doesn’t deserve to be on a major league club. LaRue’s trade value isn’t going to be very high. He isn’t paid much less than what Bengie Molina got, and Molina got interest from one team. Talk about pitching and defense winning games, but the Reds still have very little of either, and this trade certainly doesn’t help that. Ross allows more passed balls than LaRue ever did, isn’t as good at throwing out baserunners, and, oh yeah, he still can’t hit a lick.
Krivsky seems to be trying to win immediately, and that’s not going to work. He’s making the team slightly better now and making it worse in the future. He’s decimating our AAA team of anyone who could contribute in case of pitching injuries and not replacing them with anything. He’s trying to transform this team into the Twins, and it isn’t going to work. The Twins are successful because they’ve built up pitching in the system, not because they’ve made trades for average starters. And, oh yeah, the reason the Twins are unable to take that next step and actually win something meaningful is because they have a pitiful offense. You’ll notice that balance wins games, not just pitching and defense. The Twins lack balance. The A’s lacked balance. The Marlins, the Red Sox, the Angels? They had balance.
It seems to me that Krivsky’s trying to make a splash immediately to make it look like he’s doing something to the majority of fans who seem to be incapable of statistical analysis, much like yourself. The Reds aren’t able to contend immediately, and trying to make them do so in an attempt to inject some excitement and money into the team is shortsighted and will ultimately be futile.
Back to this specific deal, it makes no sense. We could’ve had Ross for nothing in two weeks anyways. He’s out of options and the Pads weren’t going to carry three catchers, meaning he would’ve been put on waivers. Now we gave up Basham for him, and this means we’re either going to carry three catchers ourselves, which is stupid, we’re going to trade LaRue or Valentin, which is stupid, or we’re going to end up with Ross back on waivers, having given up Basham for nothing. It’s a move that makes no sense, and I guess it takes a Pirates fan to realize that.
David Ross is a excellent defensive catcher having a good spring. I am surprised we were able to land him. If one of our catchers goes down and its Ross or Sardinha getting the nod, I’d much rather see Ross. Yea he’s never done much at the plate, but he hasn’t had many opportunities either. I watch a lot of Dodgers games and I’ve seen a lot of him… he is a typical young player lacking confidence because no one will give him a secure job. More of the same here, but he has ML skills.
He’s not an excellent defensive catcher, though. He’s not even an okay defensive catcher. I’d equate his defense to LaRue’s a few seasons ago, only he’s not as quick from behind the plate. His entire major league career has been based off of roughly 120 at-bats with the Dodgers in 2003, and he’s sucked since then. He’s been unable to hit for average in the minors, he doesn’t take many walks, and his power is good, but not great. He shouldn’t be on a major league roster, especially if that roster has the best catcher combination in baseball.
I’ve read the scouting reports, and he is a good defensive catcher. 2003 was basically the only time in his career he had steady starting work.
I haven’t seen any scouting reports saying he’s a good defensive catcher.
Thanks for posting this, Geki. It’s nice that you got my back while I’m off-line for a while. <3
I am telling you I have heard Dave Ross being referred to as a defensive catcher that can handle a pitching staff. I am not saying I want him as our starter or even back-up. But he is better than Sardinha, so he provides depth. They ust have seen something they didn’t like in Standridge to rationalize sending him down. Keep the faith, people.
Just like we were supposed to keep the faith with O’Brien?
Keep the faith, don’t keep the faith, I don’t care what you do… but a trade for a third string catcher shouldn’t be much of a concern. That’s called making mountains out of mole hills.
When that third catcher is probably going to end up on the roster getting 100+ at-bats this season and we gave up a decent pitcher to get him, then it does become a bit more of a concern.
Well, no one grabbed Standridge so that should tell you something right there. He will probably accept his assignment to Louisville knowing he has a good shot of getting called up later in the year.
Also, I think they may carry a third catcher (Ross) because Valentin can play 1B. If he hits like he did last year they will find a way to get him more at-bats, and one way to do that is give him some starts at 1B. Without Ross that is difficult to do.
Anyhow, I still think we are making mountains out of molehills.
Also, I just talked to my friend Fred who lives in L.A. and I told him how the Reds just got David Ross as a possible third catcher. His first words, before I could even tell him about this chat we are having, is that Ross is a good defensive catcher.
That is why he has stuck around the past few seasons despite mediocre offensive numbers.
Oh, sorry you were referring to Basham as the pitcher we lost (not Standridge)… well I know nothing about Basham… I don’t think he has pitched a major league game, right?
Ross is having an outstanding Spring and someone would have picked him up. I think it is possible we carry 3 catchers with the idea of using Valentin at 1B on occasion. That is my theory for now. Even if we end up cutting Ross I don’t see how this hurts us much… was Basham really a decent prospect?
Basham put up very nice AA numbers last year.
Heh…all this over a trade of a monir league pitcher for a third-string catcher? Wait’ll he finds out about Alex Sanchez.
HMZ