December 6, 2006
Wednesday’s Rumors
By
Amanda
Posted at 7:21 am
I don't usually like to put up open threads because I'm afraid no one will post on them, and I'll look like a big, fat loser with no friends. But yesterday, discussion of the Mark Loretta rumor had to go on a thread about Adam Dunn, and that just ain't right. The team's subsequent denial of the rumor never made it in the comments at all.
These things need a space all their own.
So, feel free to comment on what you hear about today, winter-meeting-wise. And start a diary if you're so inclined. I'll try to check in from work, but they have this crazy idea about me actually working while I'm there. The nerve of some people!
The top Reds story right now seems to be about Junior possibly maybe moving to corner OFer. He didn’t say he would, but he didn’t say he wouldn’t, either, which is apparently news.
I’m not sure it would be worth moving him, especially if he doesn’t want to move. I doubt it would help on the injury front. There’s more walls to run into in the corners. While there’s less turf to cover, he’d have to get used to a new position.
The Yanks kind of went through this with Bernie Williams last year. Bernie was happy just to be playing, and didn’t mind moving to RF. While the short porch there gave him less ground to cover, he wasn’t used to the way the ball looks coming off the bat from RF, or the way the wind swirls in the corner. He was probably the worst right fielder in MLB.
The reason I posted on the Dunn thread, was because a) the Loretta thing was just a rumor… if we open a thread everytime there is a rumor, we will have a billion threads, most turn out to be false rumors like yesterday
and b) the Dunn thread seemed to be about rumors, although admittedly you were talking about Dunn rumors, but a rumor is a rumor in my mind…
but sure an open thread works too. I am sure we’ll have a rumor or two today also.
Icidentally that Loretta rumor got shot down by Jerry Narron, not ayne Krivsky… so my theory that Narron is very much in the loop regarding personnel decisions seems to be valid. I still think Royce Clayton was his boy (going back to their Rangers’ days), not Wayne’s, yet Wayne takes all the heat on that one.
I didn’t mean to say you did anything wrong, smartelf. I was saying that you had to put it on the Dunn thread because there wasn’t a better place. So, today, I’m trying to provide a better place.
As for moving Griffey to the corner, BubbaFan, I’m not a big proponent of the idea, either. I’d like to see him give first a shot, but that’s probably too big a blow to his ego. Maybe RF will be a stepping stone to 1B.
I guess it can be tough to admit you’ve lost a step. Bernie went through that in 2005. Torre started putting Bubba in CF as a LIDR. Bernie was hurt, but Torre told him, “I know you can still go get it, but this kid can throw it in, too.” Then one day, Torre put Bubba in as a pinch-runner for Bernie. Poor Bernie was shocked and not very happy. But he seems to have worked it through in the off-season. He was much happier this season.
Ted Lilly’s agent announced Lilly will go to either the Cubs or the Yankees. The Cubs apparently really, really want him. Man, they are really opening up their wallets.
Murphy’s Law: You create a rumor thread, and no rumors for the day…
Krivsky better pull something big out of his hat (besides re-signing David Weathers) this week.
I don’t think that moving Griffey to right field would improve the outfield defense that much. I think he’s as bad of an outfielder as Royce Clayton is a shortstop.
Okay, that didn’t sound nearly as mean in my head. Anyway, I would rather he move to first, although I know that’s not going to happen. It would provide a strong bat at a corner infield position, and platooning wouldn’t be necessary. Plus, Freel, Denorfia, and Crosby sharing time in the outfield would be a huge upgrade in the defense.
I’m not sure what to do about the offense, but Krivsky’s done a fantastic job dismantling it so far. I’m confident he can get rid of those last few worthwhile pieces for nothing.
🙂
Rumors…the Toronto Sun says the Reds are pursuing Eric Gagne. Meanwhile, the rumor in Pittsburgh is that the Pirates want to trade Zach Duke for one of the Reds’ OFers.
:confused:
Isn’t Gagne a Scott Boras client?