RedsFanMan

Blue Jays should win it for David Bell.

I’m happy that the MLB postseason has proceeded as I want, except for the Dodgers avoiding elimination twice. But, the Brewers can finally do that in NLCS, and right that wrong.

Let’s go Brewers.

The Brewers and Dodgers played 6 games this season.

Games won:
Brewers 6
Dodgers 0

Great NLCS on the way!

Projection systems are nonsense? Impossible.

Wait, is she getting married?

Amusingly, Gavin Lux (102 wRC+, 0.3 fWAR) did end up having a better year than Jonathan India (89 wRC+, -0.3 fWAR), despite an unremarkable year.

But only one of those two guys is really a 2b. And it’s the one who got far fewer (124.1 vs 591) innings at the position in 2025.

If Lux was non-tendered, which I really doubt, he’d be signed by a team looking for a strong-side platoon 2b, and the Reds would be forced to spend similar money on another utility infielder. As they’re not really going to use Steer or Stewart at 2b, outside of an emergency.

In 2024, Jonathan India entered without a spot, but played everyday when McLain was lost for the season.

In 2025, Elly played 162 games, and McLain played 147 (138 2b, 6 SS). Gavin Lux moved positions at a result.

Gavin Lux only got to play 17 games at 2b, focusing on LF. But, can play 2b fine.

I do think people have lost perspective on what Gavin Lux is, in MLB.

He’s a platoon 2b. That was the role he filled with the World Champion Dodgers.

He’s not really a LF, 3b, or DH. He’s the guy with +10 DRS, +1 OAA, +3 FRV in 2624.1 innings at 2b. He was the contingency plan for McLain and Elly.

"So, Democrats have three words for this: no fucking way. It's literally life or death. We will not let Republicans blow up our health care system."

This is, hands down, the best comms work Chuck Schumer has done in YEARS. Surprisingly good.

Comparison only works if Flacco has some huge defensive impact on keeping opposing teams from scoring.

I didn’t forget him, but I think he starts ahead of Hector Rodriguez on the depth chart, being older.

I have lots of the same concerns about Callihan, plus his knack for crazy injuries. But, definitely feels like a guy who would get a look while younger guy plays every day.

Age 40 is the new (20? 30?). Whatever it is, I’ll take it.

Threatening!!!

I think he’s got a ways to go until the Reds want to give him that opportunity.

I think there’s a noteworthy difference between Kevin Newman (veteran MLB player and former #19 overall draft pick who makes lots of contact and doesn’t strike out) and somebody who hopes to become Kevin Newman some day.

But playing LF. 🫣

With poor power, that won’t play up vs better pitching. L

Hector and CES both have that approach, not being able to identify balls from strikes, but being able to swing and make contact with anything in the minors.

Consider me skeptical that upon coming to MLB, especially if rushed, Hector demonstrates discipline to hit… even average.

Consider me an outlier that doubts Hector Rodriguez can pull that off.

Jake Fraley, for example, offered defense and baserunning, drew walks (10.4 BB%), limited strikeouts (21.8 K%), got on base (.333 OBP).

Can Hector really match ANY of those categories, by swinging at everything? I’m skeptical.

LF is where you put guys without the speed (and/or) instincts for CF, or the arm for RF.

If you’ve been really cast as a 2b/LF, it says a lot about your profile. Granted, better players can also play those positions (McLain).

But, that circles back to my draft critique of Travis Bazzana.

I’ll always be skeptical of Hector. Who I think lacks the explosive skill set of Benson and Hinds. Which makes the bar for him, as a hitter, so much higher.

If he was a middle infielder or CF or something, cool. But instead he’s a LF, so oomph. 😂

I suspect he’ll quickly be hated in MLB. 🫣

I think Rece Hinds, who has both huge power and a cannon arm and great speed, is a full season more advanced than Hector (despite being like 3.5 years older).

Hector is a LF-only guy with swing and miss concerns, with a bat-only contact approach. I’ll always be skeptical of that. 😂

He got past AA, I don’t think what happened there matters much.

BABIP dropped from .318 to .287, but wRC+ of 140 in AA to 85 in AAA.

I think it’s extremely obvious that the 21 (!!!) year old needs more time in AAA to start the season.

That he’s LF only has always been a very tough profile.

And I just see Hector as way, way down the cheap and easy path. The floor of that path, the last guy who could conceivably get playing time. With half a dozen guys already on the cheap and easy path ahead of him - most of whom offer more. 😂🤷🏻‍♂️

I’m dreaming, of a
red Christmas!

And not like because the government/military guns down a bunch of innocent people at a Christmas celebration because they’re suspected of being democrats. But because the Reds have a big winter meetings. Well, maybe some of both.

I think they are loaded with warm bodies ahead of him.

Benson, Hinds, Dunn, Callihan to name a few. I suspect CES can only be better than his disasterous 2025.

And Stewart playing everyday between 1b/3b/DH. 🤷🏻‍♂️

With, as I said, my expecting Hays/Andujar to return to that mix. Sorry Hector.

The Hector train feels a lot like the 2025 Rece Hinds train.

Where at least I hope Hinds improved enough after a second season in AAA to not be unplayable. Maybe these guys can contribute, but rushing them before they’re ready isn’t the right path. Hector sure needs more time.

I definitely think Hector Rodriguez is another one of those guys overrated in the fandom to where he’s ranked around the league.

A happy story of coming out of nowhere, overcoming red flags at a young age, but ultimately below average in AAA (85 wRC+) at age 21, sure need more time there.

I think Hector Rodriguez is way down in the depth chart, behind Benson and Lux in a platoon, before any additions.

I suspect they’ll look to trade an arm for an outfielder, but I sure wouldn’t promise anything either until it happens.

I would bet, at this point, on Hays (~$5m) and Andujar (~$2-5m?) returning.

Keeping in mind that Andujar can nominally play LF/1b when not dealing with leg injury. I doubt he finds a big payday or somewhere where he’s happier/more appreciated. Both are platoon+ guys (pretty average vs RHP, crush L)

MLB is designed to screw the Reds. It’s one of the guiding principals, as one of the afterthought teams that exists so big markets have somebody to play against.