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http://www.columbussports.com/content/writers/dave_herd/reds-rap---2007-season-review.shtmlReds Rap - 10/07 - Dusty Baker Named Manager
Alert 10/13 - Dusty Baker named manager
Minor Moves -- Well, two little known Reds have now fled the border for Canada this week. Most familiar of the pair is lefty reliever Mike Gosling, who was waived and then claimed by Toronto. The Blue Jays also picked up IF Pedro Lopez off the wire. Gosling had showed some promise starting for Louisville, holding a 3.00 ERA. That figure jumped to 5.00 in relief with the Reds, where Gosling was walking almost a batter an inning over 33 innings of work. Lopez hit .178 in limited action with the big league club, but had a .284 average over the AAA season. In other player news of more note, Reds owner Bob Castellini is now saying he'd like to see Adam Dunn back in a Reds uniform in 2008. The Reds also hold a $500,000 buyout option, which is required to be exercised within 10 days of the end of the World Series.
Suggestions, Please -- What to do for the '08 roster, Reds fans? We can all agree Brandon Phillips and Aaron Harang should be untouchable. I add Junior to the list, frankly. Though the front office will disagree because of Joey Votto and Jorge Cantu, I'd resign Scott Hatteberg. He comes at a bargain for his .400 OBA and steady, calm leadership. Retain Bronson Arroyo, please -- he's bound to rebound and eats innings. The question mark, of course, is Adam Dunn. I say keep him at almost all costs as his power and walks can be indispensible. Josh Hamilton also appears to come cheap for major talent. The problem areas are catcher, end of rotation starter and inarguably almost the whole bullpen. Focus, Wayne and Dusty, focus.
Hume Sent Home -- Reds' bullpen coach Tom Hume will not be part of the Baker administration in the Queen City. Hume's name is conspicuously absent from the long list of current Reds coaches who were offered contracts for next year. This may not be a big surprise given the catastrophic relief corps failures this year, leaving out the closer position itself. Offered contracts and expected to rejoin the club are base coaches Billy Hatcher and Brook Jacoby as well as pitching coach Dick Pole. The search is on for suitable bullpen and bench coaches. No word on whether your resumes should be fowarded straight to Dusty Baker himself or to Wayne Krivsky back in the office ...
Dusty Baker Named Manager -- It's official as of tonight (10/13). Dusty Baker has signed a three year contract to manage the Reds. So long to Pete Mackanin, we hardly knew ye. Baker, on the other hand, started his managerial career with the Giants in 1993, and has made the post-season nine times. He has been selected Manager of the Year various times by The Sporting News, MLB.com and others. His 840 wins in San Francisco places him on top for the franchise in that city. He 's a player's manager too, having hit 242 homers, including an MLB best 25 walk-offs. Congratulations, Reds fans, we've got a winner in our midsts.
Jockeying for Position? -- Owner Bob Castellini may have some interest in Walt Jocketty, formerly of the Cardinals. Jocketty just resigned his GM job in St. Louis but certainly isn't ready to retire. He and Castellini know each other, and there is no reason someone of Jocketty's caliber couldn't be added along side of (instead of replacing) Wayne Krivsky. For manager, Pete Mackanin should be strongly considered for retention, having gone 41-39. There is very little word from the front office, though, as to present intentions, and Mackanin has been travelling in Europe, so there have been no talks.
Major Milestones? -- Well, we've all got down Brandon Phillips' amazing 30 home runs and 30 steals in what was a dreadful campaign. He also threw in 107 runs and 94 RBI for good measure, while keeping his fielding down to 8 total errors in 157 games. Truly a grade A season, and we hope the wallets take notice. Unfortunately, there isn't enough wallet for Adam Dunn's 40 HR, 101 runs, 106 RBI and .386 OBA. Stats get criticized, but those numbers just don't lie. The travesty for 2008 is Dunn's departure. Let's hope Aaron Harang (16 wins, 3.73 ERA, 218 K) doesn't get jettisoned for unproven talent as well. Suggestion in River City -grow lettuce, keep the grain and discard the chaff. Too bad it's all a dying trade. Can we keep fooling fans into attendance? I say 2008 is do or die in that department. . .