12-16-2016, 03:01 PM
(12-16-2016, 11:21 AM)samhain Wrote: I think they have the framework of what could be a decent everyday 8 in place. Things go wrong, but the answers to a lot of questions from last year are now here. Unfortunately, the starting rotation is another story. Their best pitcher is Disco, who's probably a low-end number 2. There's absolutely no pitcher in their system that looks like a TOR hammer at the moment. Bailey may have had the potential at some point, but injury has tempered expectations with him. He looked flat out awful last year.
Totally agree. I have no qualms about the bullpen strength and the offensive potential, but the starting pitching is a huge question mark. Straily is a sell-high candidate, but he's also a cheap arm so the Reds are stuck in between a rock and a hard place. I also think they're kind of held hostage by the fact that Cozart and Phillips are still around. They've got to get the ball rolling on the Perazas and Herreras of the world eventually. Triple A at bats can only help so much.
As much as I hate to say it, I think Duvall is a sell high candidate as well. Yeah, he produced last year, but he's higher in age and I don't know how much of his production can maintain at that level.
I'm excited for Senzel and others in the system, but pitching is going to be the biggest issue for the Reds between competing and another rebuilding year.
