OK, so two days ago the beat writer covering The Cincinnati Reds for MLB.com reports The Reds budget is so tight they might not even be able to go out and purchase a pinch hitter this off-season for their bench in 2010. Today, Cincinnati ponies up a reported $30 Million over six years for Cuban Defector Aroldis Chapman--the talented 22 year old lefty & pitching prospect.
Laughter was what immediately came to mind. Once again all the rumors and team involvement in another high stakes sweepstakes for a free agent were essentially wrong in the media. Not one reporter covering Major League Baseball had The Cincinnati Reds and the young Chapman together on their radar.
Not One!!
Good teams don't telegraph their moves. Professional organizations keep things quiet. Walt Jocketty, The Reds GM, is one of best guys running a ball club out there. And today, he shrewdly scored big time for Cincinnati. I don't care about the money doled out, although our hope for Aroldis wearing the Red Curly "W" instead of the Red Cincinnati "C" was extremely high. Now, just don't believe the words spread by other teams well out of the running over the last week claiming Chapman was not worth the risk. That's just sour grapes. Aroldis Chapman would be The Number One Overall Pick in just about any entry draft over the past years not involving Stephen Strasburg.
Count on it.
And really how wonderful, in this day and age of New York, Boston and Los Angeles many times dominating the free agent headlines--a top talent heads to a mid-level team.
The Yankees, The Mets, The Red Sox, The Dodgers & The Angels did not win out. Baseball did today. Sure, many will say it's all about the money with players these days, but it's exciting for the first Professional Team in Baseball History and their fans to enjoy a big thrill of their own this off-season. This signing just seems right.
And you know what, Sohna and I can't wait to see Aroldis Chapman face off against Stephen Strasburg at Nationals Park in pitching matchups for years to come.
That will be must see Major League Baseball.
No question about it, today was good for The Cincinnati Reds.
And Good For Baseball As Well.
4 comments:
Assuming, of course, that he's actually 22 years old.
Exactly the guy is probably 28 and nobody has actually seen him throw above 93, he will do nothing.
I am in agreement with your view on this signing. If we couldn't get him I am glad he went to a team other than the usual suspects.
BTW the current incarnation of the Cincinnati Reds has NO connection to the original first professional baseball club. Connecting the two is a misnomer that the organization propagates. The current organization started in 1882.
BTW the current incarnation of the Cincinnati Reds has NO connection to the original first professional baseball club. Connecting the two is a misnomer that the organization propagates. The current organization started in 1882.
Speaking as a fan who likes to consider the Washington Nationals a CONTINUATION of the original AL team that became the Twins, and was replaced by the future Rangers, I'm not going to criticize the Reds if they consider their franchise to be a continuation (in spirit) of the first professional baseball team that formed in 1869. If they're established in 1869, than we (or at least the team's name) can be established in 1905.
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