Analyzing the Indians-Reds-Diamondbacks Trade

Sin-Soo Choo is moving across the state of  Ohio to join the Cincinnati Reds due to a trade completed on Tuesday. (Peter G. Aiken)

The Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks all decided that change would be necessary to bring about higher levels of success in both the long and short term. On Tuesday, they agreed to trade some integral parts in order to help facilitate this change. As with any trade, there are winners and losers to be determined. My blog post looks at the three teams and what they received it return.

In my opinion, the Indians are the clear winners in this trade. They did up their best hitter in Sin-Soo Choo, but he is scheduled to be a free agent in 2013. They also gave up lefty reliever Tony Sipp and an aging first base prospect in Lars Anderson. In return, the Indians are getting a top prospect in starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, veteran outfielder Drew Stubbs and relief pitchers Bryan Shaw and Matt Albers.

Choo was expected to leave to join a contender next offseason. Rather than get nothing for him, the Indians found a deal where they could still net a large return while giving up only one year of Choo's contract. Bauer is still very young and has all of the potential in the world. Stubbs will fill in nicely in the Indians lineup.

The Reds did well with this trade too. They acquired Choo for at least this coming season. He will be a force in his new lineup and always finds a way to have a very high on-base percentage. I like the addition of Choo into the lineup offensively. The only concerns I have are about the down grade defensively and the ability to sign Choo long term. Both issues will affect just how good this trade ends up being for the Reds.

The Diamondbacks did not fare nearly as well as its two counterparts. I know that Bauer did not always listen to those in authority over him and had a bit of strange personality, but they gave up on him way too soon. After all, he reached the majors at age 21 and was the third overall pick in the 2011 draft. I would have preferred they be more patient with him.

The package of prospects the Diamondbacks got in return for Bauer is disappointing as well. They must have huge expectations for shortstop prospect Didi Gregorius. Shortstop was a major need for this team, but Gregorius must show he can hit at a major league level before he can be an everyday player in the big leagues. The Diamondbacks will also hope to revive the career of another disappointing prospect in embattled first baseman Lars Anderson.

The full effect of this trade will still need a lot of time to be played out completely. I really like what Choo can add to the Reds offense this coming season. I also really like the potential Bauer has with the Indians if he is given time to develop fully. The Diamondbacks seem to have their work cut out for them. Gregorius and Anderson will have to produce in big ways to make up for the loss of Bauer.

Hill Hits His Second Cycle in 12 Days

Aaron Hill became the fourth player in MLB history to hit for a cycle twice in the same season. (Benny Sleu)

When I blogged about Aaron Hill hitting for a cycle 12 days ago, I thought it would of the few chances I would get to blog about someone hitting for a cycle all season long. As it turned out, Hill enjoyed his first cycle so much that he decided to do it again tonight. In doing so, he became just the fourth player in MLB history to hit for a cycle twice in the same season.

Tonight, Hill got started with a ground rule double in the first inning. In the third inning, he singled to center. Hill got a pitch he could crush from Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Randy Wolf in the fourth inning. It went out for a two-run home run to left. In the sixth inning, Hill knew what he needed. He hit the ball to deep right center and hustled around to third to complete the cycle.

While a repeat of a feat such is this is completely unexpected, it's not that crazy when you consider how well Hill has been playing as of late. In his last ten games, he has hit for a .465 average with four home runs, 11 RBI, and a .953 slugging percentage. In fact, of Hill's twenty hits during the stretch, eleven of them have been extra base hits.

No player has ever hit for three cycles in the same season. If Hill keeps playing like this, he will certainly have a shot at accomplishing it. The Diamondbacks have 86 games left in which he would be able to do it. Aaron Hill's hitting for a cycle was definitely blogworthy. His doing it for the second time in 12 days left with me with no choice but to honor him once again.

Aaron Hill's Cycle Helps Lead Diamondbacks to Victory

Aaron Hill is congratulated by teammate Jason Kubel following his home
run that completed his cycle in the seventh inning. (Jennifer Stewart)

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Aaron Hill started his game off quietly with a single off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Hector Noesi in the first inning. In the third inning, Hill returned to the plate and belted a ball to the warning track, which he turned into a triple. A few whispers from fans keeping score might have been released into the hot evening air of Chase Field. Sure enough, when Hill returned to the plate in the fifth inning, he ripped a ball down the left field line for a double. Soon, everyone was aware that Hill was only a home run away from the cycle. His opportunity came in the seventh inning. Hill got a pitch from Mariners reliever Shawn Kelly that he crushed to deep left for a no doubt about it home run.

Hill became the second MLB player to hit for a cycle so far this season. The first was when New York Met Scott Hairston did it against the Colorado Rockies on April 27. For a long time, people have compared hitting for a cycle and throwing a no-hitter as similar in difficulty. This is because there have been 294 cycles and 272 no-hitters total in MLB history. So far this season, we have had five no-hitters and just two cycles. That trend is similar to the past two seasons. Last season, there were three no-hitters and two cycles. In 2010, there were six no-hitters and four cycles. The 2009 season was the last time there was more cycles than no-hitters, when there was eight cycles and just two no-hitters.

Do you think you know all about the history of cycles in MLB? See if you can answer these trivia questions to complete a cycle of your own. The answers will be posted in the comments section of this blog post.

Single: What is the special term used for when a player hits for a single, double, triple, and home run it that exact order?
Double: Name one of the nine players to hit a grand slam as the home run of their cycle.
Triple:  Name one of the five players to hit a walk-off home run as the final hit of their cycle.
Home Run: Name one of the three players to hit for a record three cycles in their MLB careers. (You hit a grand slam if you can name all three.)