It’s been a busy day in baseball and for the Cincinnati Reds. Earlier today the team picked up right-handed pitcher Luke Farrell on waivers after the Chicago Cubs designated him for assignment. A few hours later the Reds activated utility man Matt Reynolds from the 10-day injured list and designated outfielder Albert Almora Jr. for assignment.
Matt Reynolds didn’t miss much time. He last played for Cincinnati on August 21st before heading to the 10-day injured list. He began a rehab assignment in Triple-A with the Louisville Bats on the 4th, going 3-10 with a walk and an RBI in three games. Now he’s back on the big league roster where he’s hit .246/.314/.338 in 229 plate appearances while playing first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field, center field, right field, and he’s even pitched in two games.
For Albert Almora Jr. his reign with the Reds appears to be at the end. After joining the big league club on May 5th, he got out to a hot start. In the first 23 games he played in he hit .309/.325/.420. In the 41 games he’s played since then he’s struggled mightily, posting a .172 average, a .258 on-base percentages, and a .306 slugging percentage in 151 plate appearances. His defense was strong in the outfield, but his struggles at the plate were very apparent.
Reynolds over Almora? I’m not sure I see that. Almora is younger. Has a better lifetime average, etc. Reynolds is just another aging utility guy.
When neither are very good, what does it actually matter?
I like both of these guys as reserves (below for Almora thoughts). Reynolds did a lot of little things, like hit the ball to right field when called for. I think he is the backup SS next year.
I like Reynolds a bit better, and agree he has the chops at SS to be the back up. Having said that, I hope our roster is too full of better options in 23 than to have Reynolds on it.
Reynolds is the Swiss army knife player for 2023. Veteran presence, has played everywhere but at C this year. And just coincidentally he has made it to the ripe age of 32 still being pre-arbitration. So, cheaper than cheap. Welcome to 2023 Reds fans.
Reynolds is decent SS insurance with an aging Farmer who isnt ideal turning 33 in 2023 @ $5 mil + and a struggling Barrero striking out over 40% of the time with no one at AAA.
Almora cant hit and was in high A Dayton in May for a reason. 29 other teams said no thanks.
Will be Farrell’s second stint with Cincy. Could be a good pickup. I thought they might go after Matt Wisler (maybe they did). Mildly shocked at Almora’s designation…thought he did a fine job.
I was surprised about Almora’s DFA too. Guy had some nice moments with the Reds.
Renolds has been a nice sub too, but just a little shocked on that one.
Almora’s defense was nice to watch. Dude just glides when he moves out there. His reads are excellent. And, he plays the game the right way. Really hustles. Just a year older than Senzel, I would not be opposed to bringing him back as a reserve.
The pitch clock is dumb, wont make a difference on how long games are expect by maybe a few minutes. All it serves to do is rush that which need not be rushed.
It has dropped minor league games by more than 20 minutes. What is different at the MLB level?
Commercial breaks.
I do not like the defensive shifts as well. I am very, very glad to see the new rule change. I like to watch good hitting more than anything. I hate to see an infielder in the outfield with three players to the right of second base. I am so glad that rule changed.
I thought part of the change was cutting down the time between innings for commercials also ?
I agree 100%. If Manfred wants to speed up games, make home plate 24″ wide (instead of 17″) and instruct umpires to call the stinking strike zone!!
I do look forward to no defensive shifts, which I hate. What do others think of the rules changes going into effect next season?
As a former pitcher who was a big believer in working fast, I disagree it rushes a part of the game that shouldn’t be rushed. It exactly the part of the game that needs rushed. I say keep the hitter in the box, get the ball from the catcher, take the sign, and get to work. No reason to let the hitter spend 30 seconds adjusting his batting gloves every single pitch.
At least Alejo Lopez wasn’t optioned and stays at major level. A pair of utlities players on the bench as Lopez-Reynolds will provide versatility
Yep. Pencil Reynolds in as the backup SS next year. He can handle things just fine is Barrero falls flat or, if the starter, Farmer gets hurt
Sometimes I wonder if we are spoiled. If memory serves me right your big power hitters were 3rd, Rf, and Lf.. maybe 1st.. you had your hitters and slap hitters. Shift wasn’t around. Analytics wasnt around.
I mean Almora if what I read correct was a good solid cf?
The “shift” has been around a long time. They used to play a shift against Ted Williams, as he always pulled to the right field side….on the ground.
They played a shift against Johnny Bench. The second baseman played up the middle.
I saw a game once when Johnny was in a “slump”; he hit a scorching skimmer up the middle that nearly undressed the second baseman…who was playing up the middle.
Easy out, but only because of the shift. That was probably 1971.
I agree. Teams would shift on Larry Hisle of the Twins he led the league in infield hits and he hit around 25 homers a year in the 70’s. Shifts have been around forever. Maybe if hitters spend some time learning to bunt they could make the shift ineffective
I realize they “shifted ” yes, but myself I don’t recall it being so “radical”
It was sometime in 1970 or 1971 when I first saw the shift utilized on Johnny Bench, and you are correct. The opponents were Manager Gene Mauch and the Montreal Expos. I was only 13 at that time and seeing that left an impression for sure. For about the first 4 years of his career Bench was a dead pull hitter and the entire league knew it.
I realize it takes perhaps special talent or skills at the plate to “go with the pitch” (Rose, Gwynn, Boggs, Butler, and hit to the opposite field, but in this day and age one has to wonder, is hitting the ball where it’s pitched even talked about anymore as a young player is coming up?
I wonder the same thing about the stolen base and the art of bunting. Are those concepts taught to the fresh young kids coming out of high school and college? It would seem not. I never thought I would see the day when little or no emphasis was placed on stealing a bag or two, or putting down a drag bunt. Baseball has changed in so very ways, and sadly most of the changes are not for the better. Commissioner Manfred, stop messing with the game. It was just fine for around 150 years.
worth repeating and smart: “Maybe if hitters spend some time learning to bunt, they could make the shift ineffective”
Surprised slightly by keeping Reynolds over Almora. But the Reds may have more OF’ers they’d rather give ABs to. Reynolds probably doesn’t make it through the off-season regardless so it’s all probably moot.
probably just as simple as Almora guaranteed arbitration next year (his last) and Reynolds not arbitration eligible until 2024. And Reynolds plays like 5 or 6 positions. If we’re going to keep someone for purely defensive purposes it probably ought to be the guy that’s capable of playing 6 positions. Neither one can hit their weight.