Rangers vs Reds…..
Posted by UFreak in 
THE Texas Rangers (yeah, I just totally said that like Ohio State fans say THE Ohio State University!…yeah, I totally, like, DID!) downed “duh” Bosox in Beantown, to go to 52-38 (+14) on the year. AND – the anointed “Slowest” man in Baseball hits for the cycle?! (Bengie Molina)…yeah, its worth a mention; HERE. I’d like to see Hernandez or Hannigan do THAT!
Still, the story is this: They have Josh Hamilton, and “we” don’t!
We (as Reds fans) “get” Ed Vol back, tonight. So, 3 years later, who got the better of the deal? And, How UFreakin’ happy must Texas be that they didn’t agree to take Bruce instead of Mr Hamilton!? Reflect then, on how the Reds might be sitting NOW, with Hammy and his .350 average (with pop) in the OF, instead of “They-call-me” Bruce? Yeah, it could have gone that way! Edison has been outstanding too, and despite HIM missing significant time (more than Hamilton has in fact) he’s still a pitcher EVERY MLB club would covet! In his first year w/the Reds, he was lights out and he’s got terrific upside as well.
The Reds passed on (in lieu of moving Jay Bruce to Texas) Hammy, because of the risk factor. All he’s done was build quite a resume while leading the Rangers to the top of their division! Somewhat better, to say it conservatively, than the guy we kept instead! Uh, no offense to Bruce, of course; –Even though its not CLOSE!
Three years ago, few believed (me) that Hammy was going to tilt the deal in favor of the Rangers, and everyone quoted Marty Brenneman that pitching wins! Yeah-yeah-yee-yuh!
The Rangers finished better than the Reds every year since, and are playing better with a brighter outlook this year! J-Ham is the centerpiece of their club, and he’s hitting .350 after signing his 3.2 mil/yr deal (after playing for the minimum his first two years there)! What’s Bruce gonna cost the Reds before HE tops/approaches Ham’s numbers/value? Right, he wont. Bruce plays well is spurts, but he wont ever be better than Hamilton. Jay Bruce = Austin Kearns!
Bruce is far from “incapable”, but for all the crap I heard about his upside vs the DANGERS of keeping “Drug-Boy” Hamilton???…–well, its prudent to point this difference out now I think. Go Reds, but think about how it could have been too!
machine says:
3 years ago the “rap” on the Reds inability to win the Central was on their rotation. Hamilton played CF for the Reds so the Bruce comparison is not accurate. I am losing patience with Bruce because of his inability to make adjustments. CF has been a revolving door since Hammy left and mgmt feels they have a keeper with Stubbs. You cant predict injuries and unfortunately EV missed a year. JH is a stud but he’s got help down there. The AL West is weak too. Cliff Lee was a huge addition.
UFreak says:
Hammy can play all the OF spots,…Bruce is a solid RF only. The reds had the option to move Hammy OR Bruce to the Rangers!…Their belief was Bruce would be better…THEY were wrong!…I was right!
And the part about predicting injuries?…yeah, that was my point back in the day…Everyone said Drug-boy would breakdown, not Eddy!
Eddy’s been great, but the point is, the Reds missed on the un-proven guy, and dumped on the guy who WAS the real deal!…and still is!