FalconBlog--Triumphs and Trials in the BGSU Falcon Nation

The Real Season

I made the comment to someone in late September that today baseball is a general manager's game. It really is practically like a fantasy draft--you gotta get the right guys onto the field within your budget, and draft the rights guys in the minors. Over long, long baseball seasons, with nice those luxurious large samples, individual little plays matter less, and managers have less influence. Its who takes all those at bats, and who pitches all those innings, that will decide who wins those games.

Its even truer if you don't have a big budget.

With that in mind, I think you can argue that the real season begins when the on-the-field play ends. What the Reds do over the next few months to create some pitching will determine their ability to compete next year. With the offense, they should be able to compete.

Reds.com had an article on that very topic today. It says not to expect a bunch of free agent signings.

Why? The pool is light, and it doesn't make sense to drop big $$ on average (or below average) players--HELLO ERIC MILTON. Free agent talent is especially thin where the Reds need help--pitching.

O'Brien heads into the winter months with three main objectives: Prepare for the possibility of arbitration with up to nine players, consider trade options involving his position players and scour the Minor League free agent pool for potential help.

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Teams have already begun approaching O'Brien about trades involving his four outfielders (Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns, Wily Mo Pena and Ken Griffey Jr.) and two catchers (Jason LaRue and Javier Valentin).

And though O'Brien ultimately plans to keep the left side of his infield -- third baseman Edwin Encarnacion and shortstop Felipe Lopez -- intact, he said he's willing to listen to trade ideas involving almost any of his position players.

The article finishes, by the by, with an additional reason why the club might not be out looking at free agents... the potential for major salary arbitration costs to eat up the budget.

In my opinion, we need to make those trades. We're cutting Ortiz loose, and with Harang and Claussen, if we get just add three average or slightly below average pitchers, this team could compete...or at least have a winning season.

One other note. There are closers available. Interesting to see if we drop any $$ on one. I'd rather see a starter--Weathers and Mercker are good enough, and it isn't worth the $$ unless you get an absolute lockdown guy.

Marc Lancaster had a story in the post on this as well.

Red Reporter has his view--which is the DanO is on the right track, if only by not saying much at all.