Randa looking good lately

[eskimo]

[quote]He's hit safely in five of his last six games, and he's hitting .464 with three doubles, four home runs and 12 RBIs in his last 10 games.[/quote]

Article about Freel on cincinnatireds.com said this. Randa might turn out to be a really good pick up.

[Guest bengalrick]

his glove is a good enough reason to pick him up... if he hits too, that is just a bonus...

[Palmer4HOF]

[quote name='bengalrick' date='Mar 30 2005, 02:27 PM']his glove is a good enough reason to pick him up... if he hits too, that is just a bonus...
[right][post="69633"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

come on now... we didn't get Randa because of his glove. Randa is the prototypical guy the Reds need. With all the power guys we have, we need more guys like Casey who can spray the ball around the field and get on base. Randa is a perfect guy for Great American Ballpark because he will hit the ball hard enough and consistent enough to get on base and help the big power guys pick up some RBIs.

[Guest bengalrick]

he got randa for many reasons... we absolutely sucked offensively and defensively at third last year... but he is about as steady as they come at third base... on top of that he can hit w/ contact and power, and his a good guy on top of all that.. plus encarnacion isn't quite ready yet...

here's a [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/scouting?statsId=5298"]scouting report[/url] of him:
[quote]Scouting Report

2004 Season
As he'd done in many previous seasons, Joe Randa gave the Royals steady play at the hot corner while displaying one of the club's most productive bats. Torn cartilage in his right knee put Randa on the disabled list for a month at midseason. The injury effected his mobility, but he was otherwise one of the few players the Royals counted on all season. He set or tied several club records in a memorable game at Detroit early in September, as he went 6-for-7 and scored six runs.


Hitting
Hitting from a relaxed stance, Randa makes good adjustments for situation and count, which helps him thrive in pressure situations. Although usually a patient contact hitter who uses the whole field, Randa will expand his strike zone and swing more aggressively in RBI situations. He can bunt or hit behind runners as the situation requires, but he's prone to chasing high fastballs when down in the count and his platoon differential gradually is becoming more pronounced. Randa rarely swings for the fences; he's at his best when hitting the ball where it's pitched.


Baserunning & Defense
Although he used to have at least average speed, Randa has seen age and nagging knee injuries erode his running game. He's a smart runner, though, who will take advantage of what the defense allows. Quick reflexes and an accurate arm have made Randa one of the game's steadiest defenders.


2005 Outlook
While Randa would like to stay in Kansas City, where he makes his offseason home, he'd also like to play for a winner, and the Royals appear to be implementing a youth movement that will supplant him at third base. A free agent who was not offered salary arbitration, Randa can be expected to join a team that needs solid third-base defense and an RBI bat in the lower part of its order. Wherever he goes, he will be a positive influence both on the field and in the clubhouse.[/quote]

[Jason]

[quote name='Palmer4HOF' date='Mar 31 2005, 12:02 AM'][b]come on now... we didn't get Randa because of his glove.[/b]  Randa is the prototypical guy the Reds need.  With all the power guys we have, we need more guys like Casey who can spray the ball around the field and get on base.  Randa is a perfect guy for Great American Ballpark because he will hit the ball hard enough and consistent enough to get on base and help the big power guys pick up some RBIs.
[right][post="69810"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

Not solely, no. But as bad as the Reds D has been, his top of the AL fielding% at 3rd base is certainly welcome!