Reds Off Days Always Create Interesting Talk

Apr 24, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Frazier’s last home run came on April 24th against the Cubs. (Photo: David Kohl – USA TODAY Sports)

No game today, so sit back and enjoy a go around the Twitterverse…

A few intriguing topics hit the BRM timeline today. One subject might be getting swept under the rug. Another provides a subject that is getting a rehash after seemingly being “corrected”. The last, and maybe the one that perks up an ear or two is that of trade chatter whether it’s brought forward by Twitter or a national writer wondering aloud.

All of which are noteworthy…

1. Todd Frazier

You look at Frazier’s overall line as of today and you may shiver a bit. Currently owning a triple slash of .239/.321/.444 with 6 home runs and 24 RBI and there will be some that are content. He’s 2nd on the team in homers (6) and RBI (24) and 4th in SLG.

This is the beauty (or ugliness, depending on your stance) of having sites that gather baseball “information”. Over the first six games of the season, ToddFather was simply scorching opposing pitching. Since then, not so much…

First 6 games: .480/.519/.920, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB, 4 SO
Since (28 games/25 starts): .174/.271/.315, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 11 BB, 29 SO

Have pitchers figured out Frazier? Maybe not the first week of the season, but since then it’s easy to see something has not gone Frazier’s way.

2. Left Field and Ryan Ludwick

This is an area that has been widely cussed and discussed. With Ludwick having a tentative return of July, that would honestly be too late to wait on the guys that currently “share” the position to produce something offensively. In addition, there is zero guarantee Ludwick would perform at the rate he did last season once he does return.

Sure, it’s possible he could.

3. Trade Rumblings Running Amok?

Sure, many of us would love to have the likes of a Giancarlo Stanton or a Chase Headley on the Reds roster, but there are issues that would prevent the Reds making a trade for either. And believe it or not, it’s entirely based on dollars and cents. although it does play a role. To get that type of talent, you have to give up talent. You simply can’t acquire top-notch talent for a used rosin bag and a broken bat.

Were you one that threw your hands into the air after the Mat Latos trade was announced? “Look at what we gave the Padres in that deal,” you say. It would honestly take that type of deal to land Stanton or Headley, maybe more, and highly, highly doubtful either would come to fruition. Both are cornerstones of their respective franchises. Those guys usually don’t come cheap.

And in any player we think of, we must also ask ourselves if his team would be willing to depart with said player. Just something else to consider when name dropping.

4. What Kind of Team are the Reds?

Paul Daugherty touched upon this in his TML.

I’m just looking for a little passion. Not a lot. I mean, this is baseball. Marathon, not a sprint, and all that. But are we seeing anyone who looks to have any fire? An e-mailer to me after 2-7 yesterday described The Club as “listless.” He’d been to the game and was disappointed at what he perceived as a lack of passion.

The first line says much. I doubt Doc is talking about the exuberance displayed after Choo’s walk-off or in times other than those that are uplifting (see Frazier and Teddy as a prime example).

Think about it. Even this season I have witnessed Brandon Phillips, yes, Brandon Phillips, looking downtrodden at a certain turn of events. Seriously, if BP isn’t talking or smiling, something’s up. At least I believe that’s the case.

I know you can’t be upbeat through all 162 games (another point Doc makes and would require an enormous amount of energy), but I’m not seeing as much as last season. One reader of BRM made an assertion that the 2013 Reds are looking a little like the 2011 Reds.

Is that a correct assessment? I’m begrudgingly ever so slightly heading over to that side of the discussion. Should I? Are you?