Better

I've come down from the ledge I was on the other day. Not completely down, mind you, but down nonetheless. I'm at much less risk of jumping. There. I'm better. Let me tell you why...

The Dunn Trade netted a much better return than I initially thought it would. In my second Dunn Trade post (yeah... I need help), I was feeling better at the thought of the 2 PTBNLs being guys already on the D'Backs' 40-man roster. I figured it couldn't possibly be Scherzer and/or Whitesell, as those are prospects that couldn't fetch Teixeira, and Big Tex is more valuable than Dunner. Well, Wilkin Castillo is one of them, and everyone seems to think Micah Owings is the final unnamed piece.

These aren't first-round talents, but they have already "proven" themselves more than anyone who will be selected next June. Owings has shown that he can pitch successfully in the bigs (last year), and Castillo has shown that he can hit in the minors (except this year). I'm downright giddy at the thought of a starting pitcher who makes the bench deeper with his pinch-hit abilities and an athletic catcher who could easily play any position on the diamond in a pinch.

Earlier this week, I would have said that I'd rather have 2 early picks in June than Dallas Buck + 2 PTBNLs. Now? I'd gladly rather have Dallas Buck + Wilkin Castillo + Micah Owings than 2 early picks in June. So, I'm feeling much better. I still have no idea how this team plans on scoring runs next year, but I trust Dusty to figure it out can always just be optimistic, right?

Plus, I'm pleasantly shocked that they signed one of their longshots! Every team drafts guys who make it pretty clear that they aren't signable, hoping that maybe they'll be able to work out a deal. (Sometimes idiot former general managers who currently work in Washington do it in the first round when they could be acquiring players who might actually be willing to sign, but that's another story for another time.)

Well, the Reds drafted one of these such gentlemen in the 30th round, and actually signed him. That's like getting an extra 2nd round pick. He's probably 4+ years from even possibly helping the big league club, but these are the kinds of players that clubs want to get into their systems. This is how the big-money teams operate, not how Cincinnati typically operates. This would not have happened under Lindner/Schott.

This, combined with the Dominican signing already made (and one that might still be to come) gives me a little more hope that this front office is going to be able to obtain the requisite talent to win. Not this year, and maybe not next, but these are good omens for the future, in my opinion. I'm damn tired of looking to the future, and I want to root for a winner NOW, but at least there is some semblance of hope on the horizon.

Now, they have less than 14 hours to get Yonder Alonzo ("best college hitter") signed or I go into my next Red panic. After dumping Griff's and The Donk's salaries, and after spending the way they have on amateur players already, you'd think this deal gets done. But I'm not holding my breath.

Ok, ok, sure, maybe just one drink... thanks... mmmmmmm...... Kool-Aid....