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— A Timely Look at Transactions as They Happen

Sunday, June 12, 2005

Reds - Demoted Kearns

Cincinnati Reds - Optioned OF Austin Kearns to Louisville (AAA); placed C Lash LaRue on the bereavement list; recalled C Dane Sardinha and OF Kenny Kelly.

Eric Milton - 2004 ERA+ of 92 - 3 years, $25.5 million.
Paul Wilson - 2004 ERA+ of 92 - 2 years, $8.2 million.
Rich Aurilia - 2004 OPS+ of 80 - starting job out of spring training
Austin Kearns - 2005 OPS+ of 93 - Demoted.

Has Kearns been great lately? Of course not. But he’s been in and out of the game for 2 years due to constant injuries and you simply have to let him work his way through his slumps. The Reds are not competing and Kenny Kelly, while playing better than he ever has before, does not have the long-term potential of Kearns and I doubt he even has the short-term potential. You’re smack-dab in the middle of interleague play; you don’t have to sit Pena to give Kearns at-bats.

Bye bye Austin, best of luck with your next organization. If you play this badly when you’re 35, the Reds will offer you a big deal.

2005 ZiPS Projection - Kearns, Austin
——————————————————————————————————
Period AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG
——————————————————————————————————
Actual ‘05 170 22 38 11 0 6 25 18 50 0 .224 .305 .394
Rest ‘05 241 36 62 12 1 9 47 32 65 1 .257 .349 .427
——————————————————————————————————
Total ‘05 411 58 100 23 1 15 62 50 115 1 .243 .331 .414

2005 ZiPS Projection - Kenny Kelly
——————————————————————————————————-
Period AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG
——————————————————————————————————-
Actual ‘05* 215 39 67 8 3 3 15 17 51 13 .312 .368 .419
Rest ‘05 307 49 85 14 4 7 34 24 78 7 .277 .333 .417
——————————————————————————————————
* - Includes MLE

Dan Szymborski Posted: June 12, 2005 at 07:41 PM | 64 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. Hendry's Wad of Cash (UCCF) Posted: June 12, 2005 at 08:14 PM (#1399349)

Jim Hendry should already be on the phone with Cincinnati making an offer.

Kearns + 2 massage chairs for 2-3 AA-AAA pitchers + Sammy's old boom box.

2. greenback

Posted: June 12, 2005 at 09:11 PM (#1399550)

Every half-way intelligent GM should be on the phone with O'Brien. Send him Roger Cedeno, Walt.

3. erghammer Posted: June 12, 2005 at 09:18 PM (#1399568)

Just when I thought the Reds might have turned the corner brainwise - hey! they finally figured out that Graves sucks, no matter how many cheesy saves he has! - they go and pull this stunt. (Danny, if you're reading this, please know that you're still my hero. I'm a half-Asian guy too, and if you fall into that demographic, there just ain't a lot of roll models to look up to. But this doesn't change the fact that your days as an effective major leaguer look pretty much over.) The fact that they can jerk Kearns around this bad shows that they don't have a plan. I wonder how much Bowden mojo is still in the water cooler post-Bowden. I just saw that Reggie Taylor, another failed tools goof, just surfaced somewhere. Maybe the Reds can trade Kearns for him.

4. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house Posted: June 12, 2005 at 09:18 PM (#1399570)

wilson and macias for kerns

5. Fred Garvin is dead and Joe Biden is alive Posted: June 12, 2005 at 09:19 PM (#1399576)

I was surprised that the Reds still had options on Kearns, but oh well.

6. Chris in Wicker Park Posted: June 12, 2005 at 09:27 PM (#1399603)

A new low for the Reds, as far as I am concerned. Kearns has stunk this year, but he is a legitimate talent. The Reds should rejoice that he has been able to stay healthy and give him the opportunity to return to his thumping ways.

The Reds will lose regardless.

7. JMM Posted: June 12, 2005 at 09:32 PM (#1399611)

Charles Thomas and Chad Bradford. Heck, throw in Adam Morrissey and/or Freddie Bynum, too.

8. J.C. Bradbury Posted: June 12, 2005 at 09:37 PM (#1399618)

I'm not sure if anyone cares, but I'm in the process of updating the PrOPS stat for The Hardball Times. If your not familiar with it, it's like a component ERA for OPS. Well, Kearns has been pretty unlucky this year. His PrOPS is about .800 compared to his actual .700 OPS.

9. JH (in DC) Posted: June 12, 2005 at 09:40 PM (#1399627)

I know Bowden's been calling the Reds every week to try to get Wily Mo Pena. He should be calling for Kearns now, although I have no idea where the Nats would play him.

10. MM1f Posted: June 12, 2005 at 09:42 PM (#1399630)

Adam LaRoche and maybe one of Langerhans, Orr, Boyer or K Johnson or another one of our generic above average minor league pitching prospects or maybe a JC HOlt or something

11. Athletic Supporter gangnam style Posted: June 12, 2005 at 09:45 PM (#1399634)

Argh. This is the most retarded organization in the game today. Absolutely ridiculous.

12. Jimmy P Posted: June 12, 2005 at 10:04 PM (#1399671)

This is the most retarded organization in the game today. Absolutely ridiculous

Tampa Bay, KC, and Pittsburgh all beg to differ.

Maybe a salary cap would help? Or, change the draft, because the Red Sox having more picks then the D-Rays has to be why they are better

/sarcasm

13. Francoeur Sans Gages (AlouGoodbye) Posted: June 12, 2005 at 10:08 PM (#1399680)

MLB should institute a subsidy for all idiot-run franchises.

14. Gaylord Perry the Platypus (oi!) Posted: June 12, 2005 at 10:10 PM (#1399684)

MLB should institute a subsidy for all idiot-run franchises.

I'm pretty sure the revenue sharing agreement in place already does that. Why else would the Indians have been paying in while the Phillies were getting money out?

15. Gaylord Perry the Platypus (oi!) Posted: June 12, 2005 at 10:13 PM (#1399690)

I'd love to see the Braves make an offer for Kearns. What positions do the Reds percieve themselves to have needs at?

16. Jimmy P Posted: June 12, 2005 at 10:46 PM (#1399757)

I'd love to see the Braves make an offer for Kearns. What positions do the Reds percieve themselves to have needs at?

CF, 1B, and wherever Freel is.

17. Jimmy P Posted: June 12, 2005 at 10:46 PM (#1399758)

CF, 1B, and wherever Freel is.

Whoops. That's where they think they are set.

18. Gaylord Perry the Platypus (oi!) Posted: June 12, 2005 at 10:50 PM (#1399765)

Hmmm. We'll give them Roman Colon, Kelly Johnson, and major league closer Danny Kolb. We'll even throw in Raul Mondesi. And Rafael Ramirez. Terry Pendleton?

19. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: June 12, 2005 at 10:54 PM (#1399771)

Don't forget Felipe Lopez at ss.

20. Johnny Two Screens Posted: June 12, 2005 at 10:56 PM (#1399776)

how would the reds feel about tony womack? we'll take problem child d'angelo jiminez too.

we'll even pay the rest of womack's salary. You can pick a reliever too. proven vets like Paul Quantrill, mike stanton or felix rodriguez. pick one.

21. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house Posted: June 12, 2005 at 10:57 PM (#1399779)

thats why they could use wilson and macias

22. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house Posted: June 12, 2005 at 10:58 PM (#1399784)

i think every gm in baseball is salivating at a chance to get rid of useless players for kerns

23. Teufel's Graveyard Posted: June 12, 2005 at 11:06 PM (#1399802)

Jaret Wright and Felix Rodriguez for Kearns, with Yankees paying full salary!

24. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: June 12, 2005 at 11:07 PM (#1399805)

Adam Dunn hit 46 homers last year. Ken Griffey Jr. has posted a line of .281/.349/.504 in 200 plus at bats. Wily Mo Pena was the Reds best hitter the second half of 2004 and is 23 years old. Ryan Freel and Jacob Cruz are very capable outfield fill ins as needed. I love Kearns game, but he has logged a .224/.306/.394 in almost 200 plate appearances. How exactly is Kearns going to get his game back sitting on the bench?

And it is common knowledge that Dan O'Brien is NOT a Kearns fan. So when Pena got hurt and Kearns DIDN'T exploit the opportunity O'Brien has likely determined the guy isn't worth the fussing.

His problem with Austin? He thinks he's fragile and can't handle good fastballs. And right now it's hard to argue with that analysis. The few times I have seen Austin good cheese has eaten him up. Wrist injuries still causing issues?

To his credit his defense appears to be excellent.

25. Johnny Two Screens Posted: June 12, 2005 at 11:13 PM (#1399815)

how about the rights to Drew Henson, want them back Cincy?

26. Psychedelic Red Pants Posted: June 12, 2005 at 11:29 PM (#1399866)

I'd love to see the Braves make an offer for Kearns. What positions do the Reds percieve themselves to have needs at?

The Reds could probably go for some pitching. I'm not sure they have any positional needs beyond 3rd base and their best position prospect is a 3B.

27. Toolsy McClutch Posted: June 12, 2005 at 11:31 PM (#1399870)

28. The Underground Man Posted: June 12, 2005 at 11:41 PM (#1399886)

I'm with Harveys Wallbangers. When you have three good outfielders, theres no use keeping a young-ish guy who needs at-bats in the major leagues. Its not like they are starting Reggie Taylor or Timo Perez ahead of Kearns.

29. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: June 12, 2005 at 11:59 PM (#1399915)

Word was that he was being shopped in the offseason. Maybe I (we) am (are) reading too much into this but he seems to have fallen out of favor with the Reds.

30. Dan Szymborski

Posted: June 13, 2005 at 12:07 AM (#1399935)

Yeah, I don't get the hand wringing either. The guy has been awful and riding the pine is going to get things fixed. Sure, he's a nice player, but he needs regular (and perhaps pressure-free) ABs to make adjustments.

I just don't see it - he's not going to be able to make new adjustments against major league pitching by facing John Wasdin - the Reds can find plenty of at-bats for Kearns, especially considering they have 6 games the next couple of weeks that use a DH.

31. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: June 13, 2005 at 12:19 AM (#1399983)

Dan:

See above on how Kearns is viewed by management. Dan O'Brien stated publicly last season that Kearns body may not be built to withstand the rigors of every day play. Notice how Austin showed up a bit bulkier this spring and now his bat speed has gone to heck.

32. Toolsy McClutch Posted: June 13, 2005 at 12:25 AM (#1400000)

I still think 4-5 ABs a day against pitching a tier down is better than 7-10 ABs a week. Especially if you feel like failure will result in never seeing live pitching again.

Plus, who knows, maybe they're asking him to alter his approach at the plate. I think I think that's definitely a think you do in the minors.

33. Los Angeles Waterloo of Black Hawk Posted: June 13, 2005 at 01:25 AM (#1400240)

Can Kearns handle CF?

34. Chris in Wicker Park Posted: June 13, 2005 at 01:36 AM (#1400270)

He has played CF before at the major league level. Not sure what the stats say about him.

Plus, there are a lot of guys who do play CF (Bernie, Griffey, Findley, etc) who play CF and can't handle CF.

35. MikeOberly Posted: June 13, 2005 at 01:59 AM (#1400362)

I agree with Harvey and Toolsy. It's not as if the Reds are playing some stiff in place of Kearns. All the guys in the OF are playing a lot better than him. It's a fair point that the Reds should maybe have waited a few days until they don't need a DH. It's just my opinion, but I think Kearns needs some confidence back, badly, and he needs ABs that the Reds can't afford to give him while Pena is killing the ball.

I think the Reds front office is a joke, too, but some of the piling on is a little ridiculous.

36. Sparkles Peterson Posted: June 13, 2005 at 02:12 AM (#1400400)

The Reds have been looking to trade Kearns and clearly his big league performance isn't impressing any of O'Brien's trading partners. By spending some time in AAA, he gets to work with a hitting coach who can focus on Kearns, he gets to work on his approach without the pressure that comes with every big league AB, and he gets to put up some inflated numbers off of AAA pitchers.

Maybe O'Brien is wrong in his zeal for trading Kearns (I'd look to move Casey since Cinci is stuck with Griffey), but if you accept that Austin's role in the front office plan is to fetch the Reds a pitcher, sending him down is the right move.

37. Danny Posted: June 13, 2005 at 02:33 AM (#1400455)

Can Kearns handle CF?

FWIW, UZR had him as +12 in RF in 2002-2003.

38. Darren

Posted: June 13, 2005 at 02:46 AM (#1400482)

This will take some doing, but here goes:

Manny, Millar, Payton, and $10 mil to the Mets

Seo, A Mart, and Dinardo to the Reds

Cameron, Kearns, and Bell to the Sox

Everybody wins! Mostly Boston.

39. Darren

Posted: June 13, 2005 at 02:47 AM (#1400486)

Or Dinardo for him straight up! yeah!

40. Didi Dodo Doodoo (1k5v3L)

Posted: June 13, 2005 at 03:04 AM (#1400514)

Darren, how about Embree to AZ, Webb to Cinci, and Kearns and Conor Jackson to BOS?

41. Darren

Posted: June 13, 2005 at 03:36 AM (#1400567)

Yes, much better. Except Webb should go to Boston in that scenario.

42. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: June 13, 2005 at 03:37 AM (#1400570)

I doubt any of these retarded trade offers would have been made if Kearns wasn't sent down. I can't see how the Reds improved his value by this move.

43. The George Sherrill Selection Posted: June 13, 2005 at 03:42 AM (#1400578)

Dammit, I don't want to change my moniker again.

44. Sparkles Peterson Posted: June 13, 2005 at 03:42 AM (#1400579)

Those retarded trade offers weren't made, they were dreamed up by fans who think that the only reason Cinci's GM would option a player to the minors is because he thinks he's utterly worthless.

45. Darren

Posted: June 13, 2005 at 03:47 AM (#1400582)

or by fans who are having some fun. YMMV

46. Old Matt Posted: June 13, 2005 at 03:59 AM (#1400589)

Payton

Good god no.

47. Dan Szymborski

Posted: June 13, 2005 at 04:16 AM (#1400612)

48. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: June 13, 2005 at 04:43 AM (#1400655)

Lovely. I have Kearns on my FB

49. Robert S. Posted: June 13, 2005 at 05:43 AM (#1400783)

After the Reds didn't sell high on Casey this offseason and move Dunn to first, I became convinced that their organization is absolutely hopeless.

50. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: June 13, 2005 at 08:24 AM (#1400920)

Those retarded trade offers weren't made, they were dreamed up by fans who think that the only reason Cinci's GM would option a player to the minors is because he thinks he's utterly worthless.

Isn't that the message other GMs get as well?

51. haven Posted: June 13, 2005 at 02:07 PM (#1401043)

2003 .264/.364/.455
2004 .230/.321/.419
2005 .224/.306/.394

Not a good trend for a corner OFer.

Bashing the Reds is easy, but Kearns has been awful. It doesn't seem like that bad an idea to get him some AAA ABs at this point.

52. FDR Jones Posted: June 13, 2005 at 04:22 PM (#1401281)

I think sending him down might do him good. Playing for the big club obviously isn't doing him any good. He needs ABs.

53. Pinetarfly Posted: June 13, 2005 at 05:28 PM (#1401384)

Paul Wilson is now to have surgery to explore why he sucks...I love this team.

54. Jim Furtado

Posted: June 13, 2005 at 05:49 PM (#1401435)

I just don't see it - he's not going to be able to make new adjustments against major league pitching by facing John Wasdin - the Reds can find plenty of at-bats for Kearns, especially considering they have 6 games the next couple of weeks that use a DH.

Confidence. Players need it. Watching Kearns I see a player who's grasping for success, a player who is unsure of himself. By going down to AAA he has a chance to hit against guys like Wasdin. Guys like Wasdin are confidence builders. If Kearns goes down and hits well, the Reds will have a more valuable player than they have now, whether he ends up playing for them or for another team.

(For reference, please see Blalock, Hank.)

55. Dan Szymborski

Posted: June 13, 2005 at 06:18 PM (#1401501)

Blalock had a job waiting for him when he gets back. Kearns probably doesn't and is pretty unhappy about it.

56. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: June 13, 2005 at 06:19 PM (#1401503)

I like Darren's trade ideas. Get to it, Theo!

57. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: June 13, 2005 at 06:25 PM (#1401524)

I'm a half-Asian guy too, and if you fall into that demographic, there just ain't a lot of roll models to look up to

There Kyle Lohse. Atlee Hammaker. Johnny Damon.

And of course Tiger Woods.

58. Gern Blanston Posted: June 13, 2005 at 08:22 PM (#1401810)

Danny Graves.

59. Gern Blanston Posted: June 13, 2005 at 08:23 PM (#1401813)

Danny Graves.

Heh--don't mind me; I'm an idiot. Perhaps I'll try reading the rest of the thread next time.

60. VG Posted: June 13, 2005 at 08:29 PM (#1401824)

Posting before reading the entire thread vexes retro.

61. Walt Davis Posted: June 13, 2005 at 09:32 PM (#1401960)

he's not going to be able to make new adjustments against major league pitching by facing John Wasdin

That's MAJOR LEAGUER John Wasdin to you buddy!

62. Free Seop Choi! Posted: June 13, 2005 at 10:24 PM (#1402037)

First, Boston trades Payton and Mueller to CIN for Kearns

Then, Boston trades Kearns to CIN for Payton

Lastly, Boston trades Payton to CIN for Kearns and Mueller and a player to be named later which turns out to be Payton.

Everybody's a winner!

Well, somebody loses...but they're used to it.

Who are the GM's of these teams?

Salvador Dali?

Escher?

...

Andy Kaufman?

63. BThill Posted: June 15, 2005 at 09:51 PM (#1407221)

Austin Kearns has talent, but I have a bad feeling about him. I smell flop.

64. Pinetarfly Posted: June 17, 2005 at 03:57 PM (#1411375)

Now he has asked to be traded and the team told him that may not be possible.

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Sunday, June 12, 2005

Reds - Demoted Kearns

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