The Atlantic: Cohen: Where Have You Gone, Jim Merritt?

While you’re searching...can you check on the Wesley Willis Fiasco? Thanks.

Merritt is now 66 (says Wikipedia so it must be true) and I am sure he is either laughing or crying at the notion that a whole new generation of baseball fans like me (who were toddlers in 1970) now know that his battery mate, a future Hall of Famer, and his coach, a future Hall of Famer, thought his pitches had “nothing” with his team’s season on the line. Who says baseball history is static? What I had thought all along was the power and poise and precision of Brooks Robinson and Frank Robinson and Paul Blair and Boog Powell turns out, in Game 5 anyway, to be poor ol’ Merritt.

So I try to find Merritt, you know, to give him the final word on Sparky. I call the alumni group of the player’s union and guess whose voice greets me on the answering machine as I call to find out about Jim Merritt? Why, it’s none other than Brooks Robinson--Brooksie!--one of the merely five Orioles’ batters Merritt retired before he was replaced in Game 5. I leave a message. I get an email back from a nice lady saying that Merritt has been given my request. And I wait. And wait and wait.

I don’t blame Jim Merritt for not calling me back. Forty years from now I won’t want some punk calling me to ask me about my legal analysis of the Florida Recount (I predicted Gore would win) or the Martha Stewart trial (I predicted she would be acquitted). He deserves his privacy even as the glorious MLB Network arrives on the scene to help remind us all of one of his worst moments at work.

ESPN/Olney: Reds acquire Miles in trade with A’s

The Cincinnati Reds acquired infielder Aaron Miles in a trade with the Oakland Athletics, swapping young infielder Adam Rosales and outfielder Willy Taveras.

The $1.3 million the Reds save with this deal helps offset some of the money they just committed in signing shortstop Orlando Cabrera.

For Oakland, a primary motivation could be the addition of a useful utilityman who will be inexpensive.

I suppose the A’s had to take Taveras to get Rosales. Although 26 is hardly *young*.

Cincinnati.com/Fay: Lincoln in the 5th Spot? Alonso at Catcher?

Gotta love Dusty:

These come from the sometimes-managers-say-the-darnedest-things file. Dusty Baker was asked about the fifth spot in the rotation Saturday at the Select-A-Seat event at Great American Ball Park.

Mike Lincoln hasn’t started in the majors in 10 years, and has been battling injuries for the last few years. Yonder Alonso may be built like a catcher, but the odds that he can actually hold together long enough to learn how to BE one given his recent injury history aren’t exactly good.

There are times when I really wonder if Jocketty and Baker have a clue.

Keith Law: Top 100 prospects

NO.  PLAYER
1 Jason Heyward, OF, ATL
2 Stephen Strasburg, RHP, WAS
3 Carlos Santana, C, CLE
4 Buster Posey, C, SFO
5 Mike Stanton, OF, FLA
6 Desmond Jennings, OF, TAM
7 Martin Perez, LHP, TEX
8 Dustin Ackley, CF, SEA
9 Justin Smoak, 1B, TEX
10 Jesus Montero, C, NYY
11 Brian Matusz, LHP, BAL
12 Starlin Castro, SS, CHC
13 Neftali Feliz, RHP, TEX
14 Domonic Brown, RF, PHI
15 Wade Davis, RHP, TAM
16 Aroldis Chapman, LHP, CIN
17 Jeremy Hellickson, RHP, TAM
18 Casey Kelly, RHP, BOS
19 Aaron Hicks, RHP, MIN
20 Brett Wallace, 1B, TOR
21 Logan Morrison, 1B, FLA
22 Tyler Matzek, LHP, COL
23 Jenrry Mejia, RHP, NYM
24 Michael Taylor, OF, OAK
25 Zach Britton, LHP, BAL

Scouting reports for the top 25 should be free, I think.

Sources: Yankees, (Randy) Winn agree to deal

Will “Winn” be one of those Ryan Church type of names, or one of those Frank White type of names?…

The New York Yankees have agreed to terms with free agent outfielder Randy Winn on a one-year contract, pending a physical, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney.

The contract is worth in the neighborhood of $2 million.

The deal, in all likelihood, ends any chance that Johnny Damon will return to the Yankees… Damon and his agent Scott Boras are trying to engage the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds as possible alternatives, a baseball source told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick.

BPro: Reds Top 11 Prospects

Five-Star Prospects
1. Aroldis Chapman, LHP
Four-Star Prospects
2. Mike Leake, RHP
3. Todd Frazier, INF
Three-Star Prospects
4. Yonder Alonso, 1B
5. Travis Wood, LHP
6. Chris Heisey, OF
7. Brad Boxberger, RHP
8. Juan Francisco, 3B
9. Yorman Rodriguez, OF
10. Billy Hamilton, SS
Two-Star Prospects
11. Miguel Rojas, SS

Four More:
12. Matt Maloney, LHP: A pure finesse lefty, Maloney is exceptionally good at his craft, but his ceiling is a fifth starter.
13. Zach Cozart, SS: Cozart is a plus defender at shortstop with surprising pop, but his pure hitting skills are lacking.
14. Mariekson Gregorius, SS: This Dutch import has solid tools across the board, and he impressed scouts in the Pioneer League.
15. Juan Duran, OF: He has crazy tools, but to call him raw doesn’t really do the concept justice.

and from BPro’s front page:

Some question Mike Leake’s upside but he did win 40 games in three seasons at Arizona State.

Bronson Arroyo To Make Film Cameo

“Wladislaw Throws the Hook to Heaven”...COMING SOON!

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo is heading to Tappan, New York this weekend for a cameo role in an independent film. Former Red Eduardo Perez will also make an appearance.

The film, called “Goat,” is about a young man struggling to recover from a brutal attack after pledging to a fraternity.

The two will appear alongside Armand Assante, Ice-T, and Sopranos’ alum William DeMeo and Vincent Pastore

The film is directed by Paul Borghese, and produced by baseball fan Irena Angeliades who helped cast the players.

“Goat” is slated to hit theaters at the end of the year.

EV Tribune: Mesa unveils plan to keep Cubs; vote Monday

Mesa’s plan was developed after months of talks with the team to prevent the Cactus League’s most popular team from accepting a bid from investors near Naples, Fla.

The $84 million plan was drafted on requests that the Cubs had to develop a Wrigleyville-themed complex, Mesa City Manager Chris Brady said. The city would own the stadium and training facilities. Mesa maintains the current training facilities, but Brady said the team wanted to take that expense and gain advertising rights at the new complex.

Rehabbing Sheets works out for scouts

Is Ben in the best shape of his life?

Sheets, who had surgery on the flexor tendon in his right elbow last February, went 86-83 with a 3.72 ERA in his first eight seasons in the Major Leagues, notching double-digit wins seven times and finishing with an ERA under 4.00 in each of his past five seasons. In ‘08, he went 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 31 starts for the Brewers.

According to a report on AOL Fanhouse, Sheets first threw 20 fastballs in the workout, topping out at 91 mph. He then threw another 20 pitches, half of them curveballs. In his third session, Sheets’ fastball topped out at 88 mph and the pitcher looked “gassed,” the report said. Sheets is believed to be seeking a two-year deal.

S.I.: Marchman: Hot Stove Report: Reds made a good, not great, bet on Chapman

Fiveng lifting will have to wait...Marchman is going around the league!

How much does Vlady have left?

When you can sign Vladimir Guerrero for one year and just $6.5 million in guaranteed money, as the Rangers did this week, I suppose you have to do so, for the same reason you would buy a Rolls-Royce with no engine and no wheels at the right price. Who doesn’t have some absurd and wonderful memory of Guerrero hitting a home run on a pitch that bounced off his shoe? Even on his worst days, when he can barely limp from the batter’s box to the dugout, he still has the authority of a really great hitter, and if you squint at his numbers you can still mistake him for one. He was a notably better hitter after sitting out much of July, and if he can play 120 games, hit .300 and knock 25 home runs the Rangers will doubtless be pleased with their new prize.

Still, however much presence he carries, the Guerrero of today is nothing at all like the Expo who hit every pitch on the screws and could handle center field in a pinch. He’s a designated hitter with a slowing bat who turns 35 in February and has the body of an older player. Just compare him to some similar hitters of recent vintage. These are all right-handed hitters with basically similar styles to Guerrero—good average and power, moderate walks and strikeouts—who hit about as well as he has recently going into their age-35 season. (OPS+ just indexes park- and league-adjusted on base plus slugging on a scale where 100 is average.)

...It’s interesting to note that the player Guerrero is for any number of reasons most reminiscent of, Andre Dawson, was the best of all these players at 35. As you can see, though, going by precedent, the odds are decent that Guerrero is done as anything but a decent hitter. That’s what the Rangers are paying him to be, but not quite what they need in a tough division.

Sickels: Cincinnati Reds Top 20 Prospects for 2010

And the Brad Tweedlie Fan Club members are still tweedlieing their thumbs.

1) Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Grade A-: Could be a truly amazing pitcher if it all comes together, but there’s obvious risk here given the need for cultural adjustment, as well as potential command issues.

2) Todd Frazier, INF-OF, Grade B+: Doesn’t quite have Alonso’s offensive upside, but much more versatile defensively and a very solid hitter in his own right. I like him a lot.

3) Yonder Alonso, 1B, Grade B+: Borderline B. Kills right-handers, but inability to hit lefties is an issue and how do they get him into a lineup with Votto? Stock will drop if he doesn’t start to solve lefties next year.

4) Mike Leake, RHP, Grade B: Borderline B+. Might bump him up the notch, haven’t decided yet. Outstanding pitchability and athleticism, and I think his stuff is a bit underrated by some people. Shouldn’t take long to fit into the rotation. While perhaps “only” a number three starter, what’s wrong with that?

5) Chris Heisey, OF, Grade B: Just a very solid player, looks like a .280, 15-homer, 15-steal guy.

The Reds have an interesting top group, with Cuban defector Chapman the headliner of course. I like both Frazier and Alonso for different reasons, although Yonder needs to make some adjustments or his stock will start dropping. Leake is a lot of fun to watch, and Heisey is a great value as a 17th round pick who could end up being a decent regular.

Tim Lemke: On Sports Books

Ex-Washington Timesman gives thumbs up for Poz, and taxonomizes the rest of his sports non-fiction.

One nice thing about being unemployed is that it’s given me the time to catch up on some reading. I used a portion of last week to breeze through “The Machine,” Joe Posnanski’s new book about the 1975 Cincinnati Reds. It’s a splendid book, one that I am happy to add to the modest collection of baseball other sports-related volumes that is starting fill my basement shelf. It’s superbly written, well-researched and utterly entertaining.

“The Machine” delighted me, in part because so many of the sports books in my collection are simply not all that good. I say this a bit sheepishly because I know I have neither the patience not the expertise to write a decent book of my own. But it’s true: there are more bad sports books than good ones.

In my view, sports books generally fall into one of a number of categories. For the purpose of this discussion, I won’t consider fiction books. But for non-fiction sports books, the categories are: ....

Fay: Scout: Aroldis Chapman has arm of super strength

Yes, Aroldis Chapman! You’ve proved you’re the mightiest of us all!

Jerry Walker, one of scouts Jocketty brought with him from St. Louis, saw Aroldis throw at his workout Dec. 15 in Houston.

“He’s got a great athletic body,” Walker said. “He has an arm of super strength. At no time during the workout did I feel he let it loose. He was free and easy and the ball just jumped out of his hand. That’s what you want from a young pitcher.”

Chapman has touched 102 with his fastball. But Walker was impressed with his other pitches as well.

“I call it slider, but it’s a mix of slider and curve. It has a sharp break. He kept down in the zone that day. It was in the low 80s. His change-up was good. He commanded it well that day. As far as velocity, it was from the low 70s to 76, 77. He was also cutting the ball that day to get sink, throwing a two-seam and four-seam.

“He’s an exciting young man to watch.”

Reports: Chapman headed to Cincy

Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman has an agreement to play with the Cincinnati Reds, multiple outlets reported on Sunday.

One source told ESPN The Magazine’s Jorge Arangure that the Reds expect to sign Chapman, a coveted left-handed pitcher, to a deal believed to be worth $30 million over five years.

CONFIRMED! Insert “He is still a Red” joke here.

Stadium Boom Deepens Municipal Woes

This story fits the generic formula of “public financing of sports stadia doesn’t work”, but the outcome in Cincinnati is especially bad:

But sales tax receipts have fallen so fast in the last year that the county is now scrambling to bridge a $14 million deficit in its sales tax fund. The public schools, which deferred taking their share for years, want their money.

The teams have not volunteered to rewrite their leases. So in the coming weeks, the county plans to cut basic services, lower its legal bills and drain a bond reserve fund with no plan for paying it back.

So the Reds are bad people, and the New York Times is recognizing it now.

mlbblogs.com: Rolen signs extension

The Reds and 3B Scott Rolen have restructured his contract and have extended him for two more guaranteed seasons. Rolen’s new contract will pay him $23.625 million through the 2012 season with a $5 million signing bonus that is deferred over the next three seasons without interest. He was originally expected to earn $11 million in 2010 but will now get $6 million in 2010, $6.5 million in 2011 and $6.5 million in 2012.

EV Tribune: Mesa puts Cubs batting cages on hold

Mesa is refusing to upgrade a ballpark used by the Chicago Cubs unless the team enters more serious negotiations to keep spring training here.

The city was about to sign off on roughly $684,000 for semi-enclosed batting cages but on Thursday decided to hold off until top Mesa officials meet the Cubs in Chicago on Friday.

The city had expected the Cubs would welcome improvements that the team requested, Mayor Scott Smith said. But he noted that when a Chicago sports columnist asked Cubs manager (sic - he’s team president) Crane Kenney about the batting cages, no comment was given.

“The silence that came out of Chicago and the Cubs was deafening,” Smith said.

Anno: Barry Larkin is a First-Ballot Hall of Famer, and Ed Price is a Moron

That about covers it…

As always, I reserve the right the change my mind. Perhaps I will be shown that Larkin was a better defensive player than I remember, or get convinced his offensive contributions were great rather than good.

Don’t worry ########, I’ll more than likely be e-mailing you soon enough.

Once again, during his prime years, he led all shortstops in OPS+, OBP, and a slew of other categories. Defensively, he was +74 in FRAA and posted a 51.7 WAR (defensive wins above replacement). He was also +505 in FRAR (fielding runs above replacement). Ozzie Smith, during that same time period, was just +48 in FRAA, posted a +17 WAR, and was +183 in FRAR. Omar Vizquel was +46 in FRAA, posted a 25.6 WAR, and was +240 in FRAR. Those two players were the dominant Gold Glove winners of the 1990s, with 12 Gold Gloves between the two of them from 1990-1999. Plus, both of them are generally considered to be two of the greatest defensive shortstops of all-time. During Larkin’s prime years (which you defined as 1990-1999), he was FAR better than two of the greatest defensive shortstops of all-time.

New York Times Archive: December 27th, 1995: PRO BASEBALL;The Rich Get Richer As Orioles Get Wells

In today’s Winter Meetings thread, this gem was brought up:

Jim Bowden, the Reds’ general manager, declined to discuss the Yankees’ involvement, but an official familiar with the Wells talks said Steinbrenner called Bowden Saturday night and offered pitcher Mariano Rivera and catcher Jorge Posada.

Bowden, looking to cut his payroll, obviously decided he preferred Goodwin, a 23-year-old left-handed hitter, who in 87 games with the Orioles last season batted .263 and had 22 stolen bases in 26 attempts.

I thought that could use its own thread…

Thanks to Guapo.

Baseball Picture of the Day: Big Red Machine

T-Minus 72 days…

Today’s Image comes to us from the Great American Ballpark in Cincy, the mural there of the Big Red Machine that Joe Morgan talks about so much:

Can YOU name the players?

Creative Commons license:

Tomorrow: Another Image (I have a list of what I’m planning, but it’s not in front of me right now, so I can’t exactly come up with something clever)

The Real McCoy: Breaking bread with Bunning, Lasorda

Briouch.

Seeing me sitting there, Lasorda launched into how he felt about the Big Red Machine. He wasn’t the Dodgers manager at the time, but was third base coach for manager Walt Alston.

“The Reds beat us by about 12 games in 1975 and by about 18 games in 1976,” said Lasorda. “I hated the Reds. Despised the Reds. I told our guys in ’77, ‘Don’t any of you are EVER walk into this clubhouse wearing red. Never.”

Lasorda said he was the one who started the practice of having the eight starting position players run together in the outfield to loosen muscles before a game.

He said Reds manager Sparky Anderson saw it while he was talking to Alston, and according to Lasorda, “Sparky told Alston that by season’s end those eight guys would be running in eight different directions.”

Lasorda paused for effect and said, “Sparky was right. We ran in eight different directions - to eight different banks with our championship money.”

Then he asked for another cup of hot water. His hot tea was ice cold.

Journal News: Former pro baseball player busted for theft

A true Carl Ballantine blast...

A local former professional baseball player was arrested this weekend for theft.

West Chester Twp. police arrested Russ G. Foster, 56, of 12 Queens Court, at 3:45 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6, at Barnes and Noble, 9455 Civic Centre Blvd., for allegedly stealing a box set of DVDs, according to reports.

Foster apparently was caught by store personnel attempting to steal three DVD season series of McHale’s Navy. The items together cost $129.97, according to police reports.

Store security told police Foster ran behind the business with the merchandise, then hopped a fence and headed for Interstate 75.

Foster, who told police his employer was the New York Yankees, was charged with misdemeanor theft and transported to the Butler County Jail. He posted a $1,130 bond Sunday afternoon.

Foster has been arrested by West Chester Twp. police for theft in 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2007, according to records.

The Miami University graduate is in his 26th year as the director of the Cincinnati Baseball School, according to his Web site. Foster runs the school out of his West Chester Twp. home.

The Web site states Foster played baseball and football at Miami, was drafted by the San Francisco Giants into their minor league system and pitched for the Seibu Lions in the Japanese Major Leagues. Foster also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, according to his Web site.

Stone: Memories of winter meetings past

We’re not selling leather pants here.

Another infamous winter meetings moment occurred in 1999 in Anaheim, when the Mariners were engaged in the distasteful business of trading Ken Griffey Jr., who had pretty much limited their options to the Cincinnati Reds. If you’ll remember, the sticking point was Pokey Reese, of all people. The Mariners wanted him, and Cincinnati GM Jim Bowden didn’t want to give him up. In fact, Bowden called a press conference just to make that point. The deal was dead, Bowden dramatically declared. The Reds were pulling out of the Griffey sweepstakes....

Ah, those were the days. Bowden, by the way, earned his own place in winter meetings legend one year by parading around the lobby in leather pants, a brown pair one day, a black pair the next. That’s an outfit that you’ll never see, say, Jack Zduriencik wearing.

MLB: Baker, Jocketty hold Q&A at Redsfest

(Nervously adjusts Ty Cline) Oh, tough crowd, tough crowd…

“Do you hate the Yankees as much as I do?” one kid asked.

Dusty Baker’s response wasn’t as diplomatic as expected.

“When I was your age, I was a Dodgers fan and the Yankees were beating the Dodgers,” Baker said. “Then I got to the World Series three times and the Yankees beat us twice. I don’t know if I hate them quite as much as you, but I do not like the Yankees.”

..."Why did you trade two young pitchers for Scott Rolen?” another young fan asked Jocketty.

“Well, did you see what Scott Rolen did for us last season?” Jocketty responded, knowing the Reds went 27-13 when Rolen was in the lineup after the July 31 trade with the Blue Jays.

“I know he got hurt,” the child replied.

Tough crowd. Keep in mind that Rolen was beaned in the head, suffered a concussion and had to spend time on the disabled list.

“Scott Rolen will play a big part defensively, [as will] his leadership on the field and in the clubhouse,” Jocketty said. “I’ve traded a lot of promising pitchers that didn’t turn out to promising pitchers when they got to the big leagues. We don’t know, but we felt it was more important to have leadership. When you have a young team like we have, you need veteran leaders. It’s all part of the big picture.”

MLB: Thom Brennaman named ‘new’ TV broadcaster

The new Reds television play-by-play person isn’t really new at all. In fact, he will be immediately familiar and recognizable to fans.

That’s because the club announced that Thom Brennaman will be taking over the primary TV play-by-play duties on Fox Sports Ohio, which were previously held by George Grande. On the final day of the 2009 season, Grande announced he was stepping down.

Brennaman, 46, joined the Reds broadcast team in 2007 and worked a hybrid schedule of TV and radio, while also doing national football and baseball broadcasts for FOX.

“I’ve enjoyed the role I’ve had in the last three years, that of a sort of utility role,” Brennaman said after the Reds made the announcement on Thursday evening. “It’s been great. I was presented this opportunity with George leaving to become more involved on the TV side. I’m very excited and can’t wait.

“From my end, it will be a little more consistent, because I will be there more frequently.”

What’s the frequently, Thom?...What’s the frequently, Thom?...(pummels self with granitelike too-too cones)

Rosenthal: Mets add ex-Reds GM to front office

♫Gee Special Assistant Krivsky, kriv you!♫

Mets general manager Omar Minaya is getting more help.

The Mets are adding former Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky to their front office, major-league sources say.

Krivsky, a special assistant to Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, is expected to fill a similar role with the Mets.

The Mets’ front office had been depleted by the firing last July of Tony Bernazard, vice-president of player personnel, and by the move of Sandy Johnson, vice-president of scouting, into a less rigorous role.

Krivsky, 55, was the Twins’ assistant GM when the Reds named him on GM on Feb. 8, 2006. After his dismissal on April 23, 2008, he became a major-league scout with the Mets that June.

The Mets asked him to remain with the team at that end of the season, but Krivsky accepted a job with the Orioles instead.

Fox Sports: Reds unsure of Gomes’ role—5:23 p.m.

One scout who watches the Reds regularly suggested they would do well to find a 2010 role for outfielder Jonny Gomes, as well.

Gomes, who is arbitration-eligible, hit .267-.338-.541 with 20 home runs in only 98 games. He’s regarded as a defensive liability but committed two errors in 70 appearances as an outfielder.

“They’ve got to bring Jonny Gomes back,” the scout said. “He can hit, and his defense wasn’t that bad. He got a bad reputation from somewhere, but I think he’s very adequate. He made some catches and plays when I saw him, and he’s a super makeup guy. They’ve got to have a spot for him on that team.”

BA: Cincinnati Reds Top 10 Prospects

1.  Todd Frazier, of/2b/3b
2.  Yonder Alonso, 1b
3.  Mike Leake, rhp
4.  Chris Heisey, of
5.  Juan Francisco, 3b
6.  Yorman Rodriguez, of
7.  Travis Wood, lhp
8.  Matt Maloney, lhp
9.  Brad Boxberger, rhp
10.  Zack Cozart, ss

I look at that prospect list, and I say that Joey Votto is getting shipped out for pitching.

Fay: Reds may have to trade Phillips or Arroyo

Cincinnati...tighter than the house band at The Bucket of Blood.

I tried to get a hold of Bob Castellini last week. But he was out of the country. You know how exorbitant the international cell phone rates are. We’re kidding there, but money is tight in Redsland these days.

How tight? Only Castellini can answer that. He’s the CEO. The final budget is his call.

The fact that the Reds pushed a long-time employee like Wilma Mann, the team’s Director of Scouting Administration since 1997, to retire and aren’t replacing others who leave tells you the club is counting pennies in a business in which it takes millions of dollars to win.

It’s telling that when asked last week if he needed to cut player payroll to balance the budget, general manager Walt Jocketty said “not yet.”

The implication is that it could happen. It probably depends on how season-ticket renewals go. I’m told that early renewals are promising.

But if that trend doesn’t continue, and the Reds have to slash payroll to make budget, it means they may have to trade Brandon Phillips or Bronson Arroyo.

Money Worries Could Force Reds to Move All-Star Phillips, Others

The Reds’ need to slash payroll, according to a major league source, could lead them to explore trading second baseman Brandon Phillips as well as right-handers Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang.

Cincinnati’s 2009 payroll was about $71 million. General manager Walt Jocketty said during a break Tuesday at the GM Meetings that he “might” have to move some high-salaried players to meet the 2010 goal.

“We’re going to probably have less to spend this year than we have in the past,” Jocketty told FanHouse. “It just depends on how [ticket] sales go this offseason.”

In the Red.