Construct the 2008 Cincinnati Reds Lineup

[KingCubsFan]

Only current players in the organization for now (so no Neifi Perez, Jose Macias, Tom Goodwin, or Henry Blanco references)

1. Norris Hopper CF

2. Ryan Freel 3B

3. Ken Griffey Jr RF

4. Brandon Phillips 2B (gotta break up those lefties, dude)

5. Adam Dunn LF (consistently getting pulled for Buck Coats in the 5th inning)

6. Jorge Cantu 1B

7. David Ross C

8. Alex Gonzalez SS

 

Edwin Encarcion and Josh Hamilton on the bench. They'll both most likely get sent down in May.

[jiml60]

Second basemen bat second, dude.

[Rob]

If Dusty were smart...

 

CF - Hamilton

2B - Phillips

LF - Dunn

RF - Griffey

3B - Encarnacion

1B - Hatteberg

C - Ross

SS - Gonzalez

 

 

 

Trade Griffey or Dunn after June 15th, bring up Bruce. Trade Hatteberg and bring up Votto.

[Vanilla Ice]

If Dusty were smart...

CF - Hamilton

2B - Phillips

LF - Dunn

RF - Griffey

3B - Encarnacion

1B - Hatteberg

C - Ross

SS - Gonzalez

 

 

 

Trade Griffey or Dunn after June 15th, bring up Bruce. Trade Hatteberg and bring up Votto.

 

Well, that's out of the question

[javy knows my name]

If Dusty were smart...

 

CF - Hamilton

2B - Phillips

LF - Dunn

RF - Griffey

3B - Encarnacion

1B - Hatteberg

C - Ross

SS - Gonzalez

 

 

 

Trade Griffey or Dunn after June 15th, bring up Bruce. Trade Hatteberg and bring up Votto.

 

Absolutely no way Jay Bruce starts this year. He is FAR too young and talented.

[Roast]

If Dusty were smart...

CF - Hamilton

2B - Phillips

LF - Dunn

RF - Griffey

3B - Encarnacion

1B - Hatteberg

C - Ross

SS - Gonzalez

 

 

 

Trade Griffey or Dunn after June 15th, bring up Bruce. Trade Hatteberg and bring up Votto.

 

Were you drunk for dusty's entire tenure here?

[DSMCubsFan]

If Dusty were smart...

 

CF - Hamilton

2B - Phillips

LF - Dunn

RF - Griffey

3B - Encarnacion

1B - Hatteberg

C - Ross

SS - Gonzalez

 

 

 

Trade Griffey or Dunn after June 15th, bring up Bruce. Trade Hatteberg and bring up Votto.

 

thats not a bad lineup, and I don't know enough about everyone to say to much, but Freel is gonna play somewhere, and Hopper and Keppinger played pretty well at the end of the season. Encarnacion had a slow start last year, but ended atleast half way decent. I believe "if" Cincy ever got a few decent pitchers, they might be contenders next year.

[DiamondMind]

1) N Hopper, CF

2) J Keppinger, SS

3) A Dunn, LF

4) B Phillips, 2B

5) J Hamilton, RF

6) E Encarnacion, 3B

7) S Hatteberg, 1B

8) D Ross, C

 

Trade Griffey for a SP

[rawaction]

Keppinger, Hamilton, and Votto need to play everyday. They should trade Dunn and Hatteberg for pitching.

[Anomalied]

If I were the Reds GM, I'd take the Brewers model and go with a young and homegrown offense and a mix of veterans and rookies on the pitching staff.

 

Start by trading Griffey and Dunn for pitching. Call up Votto and Bruce and play them everyday. That leaves you with...

 

1. Norris Hopper (CF)

2. Jeff Keppinger (SS)

3. Josh Hamilton (RF)

4. Brandon Phillips (2B)

5. Joey Votto (1B)

6. Edwin Encarnacion (3B)

7. Jay Bruce (LF)

8. David Ross ©

 

1. Aaron Harang (SP)

2. Pitcher acquired from Dunn trade (SP)

3. Bronson Arroyo (SP)

4. Pitcher acquired from Griffey trade (SP)

5. Homer Bailey (SP)

 

Looks like a team that would terrorize the Cubs.

[frostwyrm]

Freel will easily surpass his career high for plate appearances if he can stay healthy.

[Andy]

If I were the Reds GM, I'd take the Brewers model and go with a young and homegrown offense and a mix of veterans and rookies on the pitching staff.

 

Start by trading Griffey and Dunn for pitching. Call up Votto and Bruce and play them everyday. That leaves you with...

 

1. Norris Hopper (CF)

2. Jeff Keppinger (SS)

3. Josh Hamilton (RF)

4. Brandon Phillips (2B)

5. Joey Votto (1B)

6. Edwin Encarnacion (3B)

7. Jay Bruce (LF)

8. David Ross ©

 

1. Aaron Harang (SP)

2. Pitcher acquired from Dunn trade (SP)

3. Bronson Arroyo (SP)

4. Pitcher acquired from Griffey trade (SP)

5. Homer Bailey (SP)

 

Looks like a team that would terrorize the Cubs.

Even more than the current Reds do?

[bhogg]

i'll need a set of dusty dice first.

[Soul]

Three words:

 

Neifi's triumphant return.

[Balsa]

i'll need a set of dusty dice first.

Someone's gonna have to make these.

[Yestheydo]

If I were the Reds GM, I'd take the Brewers model and go with a young and homegrown offense and a mix of veterans and rookies on the pitching staff.

 

Start by trading Griffey and Dunn for pitching. Call up Votto and Bruce and play them everyday. That leaves you with...

 

1. Norris Hopper (CF)

2. Jeff Keppinger (SS)

3. Josh Hamilton (RF)

4. Brandon Phillips (2B)

5. Joey Votto (1B)

6. Edwin Encarnacion (3B)

7. Jay Bruce (LF)

8. David Ross ©

 

1. Aaron Harang (SP)

2. Pitcher acquired from Dunn trade (SP)

3. Bronson Arroyo (SP)

4. Pitcher acquired from Griffey trade (SP)

5. Homer Bailey (SP)

 

Looks like a team that would terrorize the Cubs.

 

What #2 and #4 pitchers would anyone give up for one year of Dunn and Griffey? I believe they've been shopping those two for years and haven't come close to getting what they want. At this point my guess is Josh Hamilton is their best bet to get someone good. I have a feeling Noah Lowry is about the best they'll do.

[hardcorecubfan]

I can't believe any of you could have this line-up perfect because I see guys who are actually under 30 years old and that makes Dusty nervous.

 

I can see Moises Alou batting fifth and Dunn batting 1st

[chuckywang]

I can't believe any of you could have this line-up perfect because I see guys who are actually under 30 years old and that makes Dusty nervous.

 

I can see Moises Alou batting fifth and Dunn batting 1st

 

Not even Dusty will do that.

[Derwood]

i'm hoping their lineup has ryan theriot and jason kendall in it ;)

[hardcorecubfan]

i'm hoping their lineup has ryan theriot and jason kendall in it ;)

 

theriot isn't a long time veteran, just way too young for Dusty

[transplanted_suburbanite]

Wood & Prior in the rotation?

 

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/25392

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/621833,CST-SPT-dusty26.article

[NCCubFan]

I'm sure Prior and Wood would LOVE to pitch for Dusty again and suffer more abuse.

[transplanted_suburbanite]

The trib link is loaded with great quotes:

 

''The thing I'm most curious about is I haven't heard what was wrong with Mark,''

 

''If I'm going to get blamed for it, I would like to know exactly what happened. Most of the time when you have surgery, don't you have surgery on something?''

 

''I'm hoping that if we do lose some players,'' he said, ''that I can be more assertive about reloading vs. just accepting what you're given.''

 

 

As he did upon his arrival in Chicago, Baker is portraying himself in Cincinnati as a recruiter of talent. It never really happened with the Cubs -- unless you count the Neifi Perez signing in August 2004 -- but he promises to be more vocal about the hand he is dealt in Cincinnati.

[daske17]

As he did upon his arrival in Chicago, Baker is portraying himself in Cincinnati as completely blameless for player development and injuries. "It's always someone else's fault," said Baker.

 

Fixed.

[frostwyrm]

The trib link is loaded with great quotes:

 

''The thing I'm most curious about is I haven't heard what was wrong with Mark,''

 

''If I'm going to get blamed for it, I would like to know exactly what happened. Most of the time when you have surgery, don't you have surgery on something?''

 

''I'm hoping that if we do lose some players,'' he said, ''that I can be more assertive about reloading vs. just accepting what you're given.''

 

 

As he did upon his arrival in Chicago, Baker is portraying himself in Cincinnati as a recruiter of talent. It never really happened with the Cubs -- unless you count the Neifi Perez signing in August 2004 -- but he promises to be more vocal about the hand he is dealt in Cincinnati.

 

My favorite:

 

That could be perceived as a complaint about the talent he was given with the Cubs. Did Baker stay mum on what he wanted in Chicago?

 

''I've always done that, everywhere I've been,'' he said. ''You've never heard me say, 'I need this, I need that.' I've always accepted what I was given. I figured I could make it work no matter what it is.''

 

Does he actually think everyone has forgotten about his "give me my horses and I'll win" comments?