Filed under: Free-Agent Signings | Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Daryle Ward, Jacque Jones
You know that long list of still-unsigned Free Agents? Evidently, all of those players were signed by other ball clubs today, because the only deals the Cincinnati Reds managed to pull off today were the signings of Daryle Ward and Jacque Jones.
{Pause for gasps of excitement/guffaws}
Gee, do you think Dusty Baker had any say in these moves?
Granted, Ward and Jones (a.k.a. Fat Man & Little Boy) were signed to minor league deals, but still — are there truly no better options out there? Even for bench help?
Jones hit a mouth-watering .147 last season in 134 ABs, and just recently elected to have laser eye surgery. If I was a 34-year-old struggling ballplayer, I would’ve had the surgery ten years ago, but that’s just me.
Besides, you should never trust a man named Jacque who doesn’t play hockey.
You might remember Daryle Ward as that tub of lard (don’t let the baggy jersey fool you) who lumbered around the bases for the Astros and Cubbies in recent years. He hit .216 in 119 ABs last season for the World Champion NL Central-winning Cubbies.
If either of these fine young players manage to make the Big League Club, I’m sure their contributions to the team will be invaluable.
7 Comments so far
Leave a comment
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
[...] also check out the analysis of Chris Sabo’s Goggles and Dunn and Dunner. Both are worth a read, as [...]
Pingback by More on the newest Reds – Redleg Nation February 6, 2009 @ 7:01 AMso which one of these guys are dating dusty’s daughter this year? the reds are making me not even excited about going to opening day now
Comment by chuck February 6, 2009 @ 7:15 AMDusty is infatuated with mediocre talent. The GM apparently learned nothing from last year when the former GM signed a player based on Dusty’s recommendations. It did not go well. Jocketty is supposed to be the older, wiser GM, but so far he is looking pretty pathetic.
So far he has signed an old nearly broken down reliever (Rhodes), a catcher in clear decline (Hernandez), and 2 scrap heap rejects (Ward, Jones). Am I missing something? How in the hell is the team supposed to improve with these additions?
Comment by smartelf February 6, 2009 @ 2:46 PMsmartelf, you’re being mighty kind calling Ward and Jones “mediocre talent.”
Comment by chatchi February 6, 2009 @ 3:28 PMwhen i look at the picture in the enquirer this morning it looks as if jacque jones missed the ball . it seems to be outside if his glove which is clinched shut. i went to the enquirer website and was able to zoom it bigger and it does not appear that the ball is even in the gloves webbing.if so we are in for even a bigger treat no defense, no home runs, no rbi, no brainer.
Comment by chuck February 6, 2009 @ 3:58 PMthe reds are making mike brown look smart
Beside all that, Jones was a .270/.280, 20 HR hitter before 2007, averaging 25-30 doubles a season. What are our options?
Comment by Jimbo February 11, 2009 @ 11:03 AMHe has better power than Hairston, (much) less strikeouts than Dickerson. Dick so’d 35 times in 102 at bats last season. Phenomenal.
I won’t be surprised if Jones is in the LF rotation by May.
Jimbo – from what I remember of Jones’ 2007 season, a bulk of those homers came in a short period of time, and the rest of the season he flailed away at the plate. He was then booed out of Chicago for being a bum.
Keep in mind, Cubs fans are the same people who thought Corey Patterson and Felix Pie were going to turn into good ball players, so if they thought Jones was bad, imagine how bad he really is.
My biggest complaint about Jones and Ward is that they’re not going to help this very average 2009 team. So why sign them? I’d much rather see the young guys in our organization get a shot, then use this “rebuilding” year to evaluate what needs to be done a couple of years from now.
Comment by chatchi February 11, 2009 @ 11:25 AM