Reds representatives looking forward to 2014 season
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Are the 2014 Cincinnati already being underrated as a franchise before the start of spring training?
Some believe so, some believe they deserve the rankings they are being projected at, but whichever way folks are leaning, the representatives of the Reds during their 2014 Caravan stop in Chillicothe spoke candidly about their team and what they expect in 2014.
While visiting WBEX 1490 AM radio, Vice President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams spoke about a relatively quiet Reds offseason compared to others, as he said the team didn't expect to make a lot of changes this offseason.
"I can tell you behind the scenes we are working extremely hard to find ways to improve the team. We're fortunate because we've had a nice run of success the last four years," Williams said. "So three out of four years in the postseason, we've got a good young core of players that we feel very strongly about, we've got a strong rotation, five proven young starters between the ages of 24 and 28. We've got a young starting lineup, everybody under control."
One of the changes Williams spoke about was the managerial and coaching staff change with the Reds hiring Bryan Price as the new skipper, replacing Dusty Baker after seven seasons.
[[In-content Ad]]Price was the Reds' pitching coach for the past four seasons.
"We're really excited about what's happening with the coaching staff," Williams said. "We've got a new manager, Bryan Price, new hitting coach, new pitching coach and several more support staff."
Reds broadcaster Jim Kelch also spoke on the topic of having a new manager.
"I think it'll be interesting to see how they go about their business day-in, day-out, particularly under new management with Bryan Price at the helm," Kelch said. "He has his own ideas about how things should operate day-in, day-out, from spring training to the regular season.
"I think it's going to be interesting to see how the team responds to new leadership with Bryan Price. It may be just what this team is looking for ... somebody to give them the goals that they need. I'm really looking forward to that."
Jeff Brantley, a former major league pitcher and current Reds broadcaster, also had an opinion on Price, who he's very high on as a new age type of manager.
"With Bryan, he is accessible as far as all the things go with all the new media, all the intricacies of scouting reports and data that comes out now," Brantley said. "There's just so much more available to us as broadcasters and to Bryan and the coaches as far as player scouting and development and analysis and statistics.
"All of those things that can be broken down. It's not just about the gut instinct, but Bryan's been around long enough to know, if he feels something, whether it's the right or the wrong move."
Brantley spoke about Price having credibility in the Reds' clubhouse.
"Probably more than anything else, he's one of the best communicators I've ever been around," Brantley said. "You can ask any pitcher on that team. Regardless of their demeanor, regardless of their personality, he got along with them great.
"I think that's a big key to managing any ball club is not only to be able to communicate, but to have instant respect. He has that credibility in the locker room."
Besides the addition of Price at manager, the Reds added veteran utility player Skip Schumaker. Schumaker played 125 games last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he batted .263 with 84 hits in 319 at-bats. His on-base percentage was .332.
Schumaker played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2005-12.
"We added Skip Schumaker as a utility player that can support Billy in the outfield and also play in the infield if needed," Williams said. "We think we've improved the team. We have a strong bullpen back as always, and we added (Brayan) Pena as a catcher."
Looking at the Reds' roster, Kelch quoted Price as saying "this is not a reclamation project."
"This is not a team that has finished under .500 and needs to make huge improvements," Kelch said. "They have the personnel, if they improve, as they hope they will, to do very well again in 2014.
"I think they'll make the playoffs again this year. Now, could they have done some things that would have helped them? Sure, but every team could do that."
Injuries were also a part of the regression with the Reds' offense last season, including left fielder Ryan Ludwick who was injured on Opening Day, sliding head-first into third base, breaking his collarbone.
"When you talk about adding offense, you're talking about a team that basically missed its left fielder for the entire season last year," Brantley said. "(Ludwick) was gone on day one. They didn't get a chance to have Ludwick, (and he) was one of the most important parts to this club two years ago."
Brantley likes the roster of the Reds as they prepare for spring training.
"I think anytime that you try to underestimate the ability of Joey Votto or Jay Bruce or Brandon Phillips, I think even Ryan Ludwick or what Devin Mesoraco can do -- when you start underestimate these things, it allows you to sneak up on people," Brantley said. "I really believe that this group not only expects to compete, they expect to win."
Though there haven't been many moves by the Reds during this offseason, Williams said "you can't make moves just to make moves" when asked if the team would do anything else.
"It's hard to predict. Over a month ago, I would have told you we were definitely going to make some moves, and we were working real hard on some situations," Williams said. "Some of the things we thought we were going to do, what we were going to have to give up we felt didn't justify the return, so we didn't go down those paths.
"We're still looking, and I wouldn't be shocked if something happens between now and spring training, but it'll probably not be major."
Some believe so, some believe they deserve the rankings they are being projected at, but whichever way folks are leaning, the representatives of the Reds during their 2014 Caravan stop in Chillicothe spoke candidly about their team and what they expect in 2014.
While visiting WBEX 1490 AM radio, Vice President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams spoke about a relatively quiet Reds offseason compared to others, as he said the team didn't expect to make a lot of changes this offseason.
"I can tell you behind the scenes we are working extremely hard to find ways to improve the team. We're fortunate because we've had a nice run of success the last four years," Williams said. "So three out of four years in the postseason, we've got a good young core of players that we feel very strongly about, we've got a strong rotation, five proven young starters between the ages of 24 and 28. We've got a young starting lineup, everybody under control."
One of the changes Williams spoke about was the managerial and coaching staff change with the Reds hiring Bryan Price as the new skipper, replacing Dusty Baker after seven seasons.
[[In-content Ad]]Price was the Reds' pitching coach for the past four seasons.
"We're really excited about what's happening with the coaching staff," Williams said. "We've got a new manager, Bryan Price, new hitting coach, new pitching coach and several more support staff."
Reds broadcaster Jim Kelch also spoke on the topic of having a new manager.
"I think it'll be interesting to see how they go about their business day-in, day-out, particularly under new management with Bryan Price at the helm," Kelch said. "He has his own ideas about how things should operate day-in, day-out, from spring training to the regular season.
"I think it's going to be interesting to see how the team responds to new leadership with Bryan Price. It may be just what this team is looking for ... somebody to give them the goals that they need. I'm really looking forward to that."
Jeff Brantley, a former major league pitcher and current Reds broadcaster, also had an opinion on Price, who he's very high on as a new age type of manager.
"With Bryan, he is accessible as far as all the things go with all the new media, all the intricacies of scouting reports and data that comes out now," Brantley said. "There's just so much more available to us as broadcasters and to Bryan and the coaches as far as player scouting and development and analysis and statistics.
"All of those things that can be broken down. It's not just about the gut instinct, but Bryan's been around long enough to know, if he feels something, whether it's the right or the wrong move."
Brantley spoke about Price having credibility in the Reds' clubhouse.
"Probably more than anything else, he's one of the best communicators I've ever been around," Brantley said. "You can ask any pitcher on that team. Regardless of their demeanor, regardless of their personality, he got along with them great.
"I think that's a big key to managing any ball club is not only to be able to communicate, but to have instant respect. He has that credibility in the locker room."
Besides the addition of Price at manager, the Reds added veteran utility player Skip Schumaker. Schumaker played 125 games last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he batted .263 with 84 hits in 319 at-bats. His on-base percentage was .332.
Schumaker played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2005-12.
"We added Skip Schumaker as a utility player that can support Billy in the outfield and also play in the infield if needed," Williams said. "We think we've improved the team. We have a strong bullpen back as always, and we added (Brayan) Pena as a catcher."
Looking at the Reds' roster, Kelch quoted Price as saying "this is not a reclamation project."
"This is not a team that has finished under .500 and needs to make huge improvements," Kelch said. "They have the personnel, if they improve, as they hope they will, to do very well again in 2014.
"I think they'll make the playoffs again this year. Now, could they have done some things that would have helped them? Sure, but every team could do that."
Injuries were also a part of the regression with the Reds' offense last season, including left fielder Ryan Ludwick who was injured on Opening Day, sliding head-first into third base, breaking his collarbone.
"When you talk about adding offense, you're talking about a team that basically missed its left fielder for the entire season last year," Brantley said. "(Ludwick) was gone on day one. They didn't get a chance to have Ludwick, (and he) was one of the most important parts to this club two years ago."
Brantley likes the roster of the Reds as they prepare for spring training.
"I think anytime that you try to underestimate the ability of Joey Votto or Jay Bruce or Brandon Phillips, I think even Ryan Ludwick or what Devin Mesoraco can do -- when you start underestimate these things, it allows you to sneak up on people," Brantley said. "I really believe that this group not only expects to compete, they expect to win."
Though there haven't been many moves by the Reds during this offseason, Williams said "you can't make moves just to make moves" when asked if the team would do anything else.
"It's hard to predict. Over a month ago, I would have told you we were definitely going to make some moves, and we were working real hard on some situations," Williams said. "Some of the things we thought we were going to do, what we were going to have to give up we felt didn't justify the return, so we didn't go down those paths.
"We're still looking, and I wouldn't be shocked if something happens between now and spring training, but it'll probably not be major."