a day ago
Answering your Reds questions: Elly's struggles, rotation unknowns, trade deadline and more
C. Trent Rosecrans discussed Elly De La Cruz, the trade deadline and various Reds topics during a wide-ranging live Q&A with The Athletic subscribers on Thursday.
Here are some highlights from that live discussion. To see answers to more Reds questions, read the full Q&A.
(Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and length.)
Do you get the sense that the Reds' front office/coaching staff is getting frustrated with Elly De La Cruz's miscues at shortstop? I would give him as much time as possible to get it together, but there are many in the fanbase who are ready to move him to third base or center field ASAP.
He's a shortstop. He's going to be a shortstop. Freddie Benavides is working with him on his throws and establishing his feet. Watch and most of the errors come when he's going to his left and drifting.
He leads baseball in errors. That's not good. But, for nearly every error, he makes up for it in some way and is a net positive.
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He's a shortstop and part of his identity is as a shortstop.
I think we're so wowed by what he can do that when something doesn't go right or a mistake is made, it's magnified. We're so used to seeing him do the unbelievable that not being able to do the believable is unbelievable.
And some people just like to complain about stuff.
Playing right field would help keep his body healthy. It's funny, Eric Davis was the first person to remind me what stealing bases does to your body. Like ED said, 'Do you think Rickey Henderson couldn't play center field?' No. Rickey was in a corner, so he didn't have to take all the pounding that stealing bases AND playing center field does.
On the other hand, he's really, really good. And you want him there.
I think he's only going to get better and better. And it's not like shortstops grow on trees
Over the last couple of years, the Reds have always seemed to be in on one of the top pitchers available. Do you see (president of baseball operations Nick) Krall going after a Sandy Alcantara or focusing on players that can hit lefties and relievers?
Yeah, I think starting pitching is low on the list behind someone who can hit lefties and everyone always needs/wants bullpen help.
Chase Burns is staying in the rotation and Hunter Greene is expected back around the All-Star break. There are still fingers crossed for Rhett Lowder, and Wade Miley's injury may not be as severe as feared. Carson Spiers is on his way back as well.
You can never have too much starting pitching, but you also need to prioritize your needs, and to me, that's the strength of this team.
Honestly, I know it's just one game with Burns, but … a Greene, Andrew Abbott, Burns rotation in the playoffs could have some folks shaking in their boots.
Assuming Lowder and Greene come back healthy (I know a fully healthy rotation is a lot to assume), could you see Nick Martinez transitioning back into a swingman role? The rotation could get a bit crowded soon.
Definite possibility.
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Here's one of the best things about Martinez. Every pitcher will say, 'I just want to help the team win, and whatever role that puts me in, I'm just happy to do what I can.' The difference is that Martinez means it. He prefers to be a starter, but he knows what's up. He knows what kind of weapon he could be if the rotation is full.
Tito (Francona) said he called Brady Singer and Martinez in on Sunday and told them that one of them would be starting Wednesday against the Yankees. Both would be on full rest thanks to Burns' insertion into the rotation. Singer said he wanted to stay on his regular schedule; Martinez said, sure, he'd pitch any time. Monday, he told Tito he was available for an inning or two that night if he needed him. And Tito said — because Nick has earned this — that a lot of guys will say that and he wouldn't do it, but Martinez is someone who means it and can do it. That's a pretty special player.
How would you grade the key offseason acquisitions now at the mid-way point of the season?
I mean, it's tough to argue against any of them.
Free agents:
• Nick Martinez: Good
• Scott Barlow: Good
• Austin Hays: Great when healthy (so far)
Options
• Emilio Pagán (well, that was his choice, but thank goodness)
• Jakob Junis and Luke Maile: Not picked up. Looks like the right moves in retrospect.
Trades
• José Trevino: Good, better than expected
• Brady Singer for Jonathan India: Good
• Gavin Lux: Good. I know Mike Sirota has been killing it. But Lux is producing at the big-league level. If you want to drool over minor-league stats (and last I looked, Sirota's were drool-worthy), look at what Lux did in the minors. The big leagues are different. So, it was a risk, but I like it overall. You took a distressed asset low and flipped it. You can't look back at it with regret; you can only evaluate with the info you had at the time.
• Taylor Rogers: Good
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I mean, that seems to be a hell of a job by Krall, (GM Brad) Meador and associates this offseason.
Would love to get your Cliffs Notes take on whether the Reds will be active at the deadline … and if so, likely positions they'll target?
I think they'll search and talk to teams. Activity doesn't mean completing deals, and deals are dependent on the market. I don't know that I see them making the biggest splash. There will be some moves made, I'd assume, and because it's the safe bet, I'd expect a reliever. But some kind of right-handed bat would be the biggest bang for their buck, I think.
