Pittsburgh Pirates Series Preview Q&A With Blog Red Machine

Catching up with Drew Koch of Blog Red Machine prior to the upcoming series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds

This afternoon the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds begin a three-game series at PNC Park. Prior to the series, we caught up with Drew Koch of FanSided’s Cincinnati Reds’ site Blog Red Machine to discuss all things Reds.

Before we begin, we want to thank Drew for taking time to answer some questions for us. That said, let’s begin!

RB: This offseason there were a lot of trade rumors surrounding Billy Hamilton, do you think he’ll be a Red in 2019?

DK: I think the fan base hopes that he’s not, but I have a feeling he will be. Hamilton is in the final year of arbitration eligibility, will likely win a Gold Glove this season, and is a favorite of the Reds owner Bob Castellini.

Hamilton’s speed and defense are huge assets to the team, but his inability to hit is a giant detriment. I look for Hamilton to be on the Reds next season, but he may not be the full-time starter in center field as he has been the majority of his career. Phillip Ervin is playing too well not to get a look in CF.

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RB: Other than Nick Senzel, who are some Reds’ prospects that could make an impact beginning in 2019?

DK: Senzel is a no-brainer and could be a stud at the Major League level. A few names to keep an eye on are Lucas Sims and Jimmy Herget. Sims got the call up this last week and pitched two solid innings versus the Cardinals on Sunday. He has the potential to be a No. 4 or No. 5 starter. I really like Jimmy Herget. This kid has some nasty stuff and his release point changes from pitch to pitch. He may be the Reds closer of the future, or at worse a solid setup man.

RB: Through all of their trades in recent seasons the Reds have added a lot of young pitching. However, with the exception of Rasiel Iglesias, none of them have seemed to pan out. What do you think is the main reason for this?

DK: If I had the answer, I’d have the Reds on the phone right now.

Honestly, I think coaching has a lot to do with it. Mack Jenkins and Bryan Price might not have been what these young pitchers needed. Since Danny Darwin took over as the pitching coach, several of the young pitchers like Luis Castillo and Anthony DeSclafani seemed to have turned the corner. Relievers like Michael Lorenzen and Amir Garrett have upped their game as well.

RB: In your opinion where does Joey Votto rank among the best players in Reds’ history? In my opinion, he is a sure fire Hall of Famer and one of the best players I have ever seen.

DK: Joey Votto, in my opinion, is the best hitter in Reds history. I know that may offend some of the diehard Pete Rose fans, but it’s the truth. Votto goes to the plate every time with a purpose. Unlike a lot of players, I don’t think Joey goes up to bat with the idea of hitting one over the wall. That’s been pretty evident this year, as he only has 9 homers.

I’d actually love to see Votto move up from his traditional No. 3 spot in the lineup to No. 2 or even lead off. That guy needs as many plate appearances as he can get. Votto may be the most cerebral hitter we’ve ever seen. I agree that he’s a Hall of Famer, and one of the best to ever lace ’em up for the Reds.

RB: Speaking of Votto, would the Reds be better off looking to trade him or keep him?

DK: This question comes up a lot, and I always give the same answer. Joey Votto is beloved by the Cincinnati Reds fans. I know being a fan favorite isn’t everything, but in Cincinnati, it means a lot. Votto has also always spoken about wanting to bring a championship to Cincinnati. I think he’s committed to Cincinnati and Cincinnati is committed to him.

Votto has never been one to actively seek out attention, even though he could be very marketable. I think he enjoys avoiding the bright lights of a place like New York or Boston, even though he’d be a perfect DH in the American League. I don’t see Votto leaving the Queen City anytime soon, and that’s okay by me.

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