Location: Cincinnati, Ohio | Ballpark: Great American Ball Park (42,941) | Spring Training: Goodyear, Az. (2010 inagural season)
Owner: Robert Castellini | GM: Walt Jocketty | Manager: Dusty Baker | World Championships: 5
Season in seven words: "Dull and mediocre: A truly winning combination." ... Hero: Too bad they didn't get a full season out of Joey Votto ... Loserhead: I find Willy Taveras' play more offensive than sign-stealing and post-homer posing combined ... Key need: Purging the roster of slappy, impatient hitters like Taveras and Paul Janish, who Dusty just can't help but pencil into the batting order's first two slots ... Prognosis: Despite the OK core -- Bruce, Votto, Phillips, Stubbs, Bailey, Cueto -- they're not all that close. The sooner they secure a restraining order that keeps Dusty Baker at least 100 yards away from Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto, the better.
09/29/2009
22
24
They're finishing strong: Since August 23, they're 23-11 ... Stunningly, Bronson "Brandon" Arroyo has led the staff during this resurgence, with 12 consecutive quality starts. They might be able to shed his cement-molded albatross of a 2010 contract yet.
09/22/2009
24
26
Drew Stubbs currently boasts a 38/10 strikeout/walk ratio and an on-base percentage of .315. He's fast and plays a passable centerfield. Dusty Baker is, predictably, smitten.
09/15/2009
26
25
The game's biggest mess outside Kansas City? If you're a Reds fan, there is precisely nothing positive you can take away from this season. Owing to their various frailties, you don't know whether Joey Votto and Jay Bruce are stars or merely outstanding complementary pieces. Your Volquez/Cueto/Bailey trio lies in a smoking heap on the side of the highway. Bonus kick in the shin: You go to bed every night knowing that your team lavished 428 plate appearances on Willy Taveras this year, most atop the batting order. Meanwhile, no matter what you do, don't sneak a glance at the salary commitments on the book for 2010. I won't be held responsible for any acts of self-mutilation.
09/08/2009
25
27
If Drew Stubbs has truly added power to his speed/patience mix, well, we might have a little something here. Of course, it figures that the Reds' hitters would start coming along right around the time the pitchers started flailing. This franchise needs a bath.
09/01/2009
27
29
This week's leader-of-men quote, courtesy of weary general Dusty Baker: "No matter where we are in the standings, we are trying to win every game, because that's important." ... The Reds whiffed 20 times in 12 innings on Sunday. Even given the high-caliber opposing pitcher -– Clayton Kershaw –- that's embarrassing. ... Homer Bailey's past two starts gave Reds fans some small scintilla of hope, which he'll soon obliterate with one of his patented if-I-don't-throw-strikes-nobody-can-hit-me nibblefests. ... Nobody would ever confuse Brandon Phillips with pillars of constancy and prudence like Cal Ripken Jr. or Chase Utley, but apparently the guy has been playing with a chipped bone in his wrist the past few weeks. Given how undermanned the Reds are nowadays, that's borderline noble.
08/25/2009
29
28
The Mets have been on the receiving end of most of the injury condolences, but the Reds have lost just as many guys to the disabled list. Crucial players, too, like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and 60 percent of their starting rotation. ... On the other hand, damn, they're inept. Since Independence Day, the Reds have gone 12-32. Administratively, they're on the hook for another $4 million worth of Willy Taveras and $15 million of a newly power-deficient Scott Rolen. If there's a plan here, I can't see it.
08/18/2009
28
27
If Johnny Cueto were a horse, they wouldn't just take him behind the barn and put him out of his misery. No, they'd burn his corpse just to ensure that its virulence spreads no further. ... Say what you want about Bronson "Brandon" Arroyo, but his I'll-take-whatever-supplements-I-want-even-if-they're-not-on-baseball's-kosher-list-and-hey-little-girlie-do-you-want-to-take-a-ride-on-my-awesome-moped rant was profoundly, superlatively entertaining. It makes his $11 million contract even more toxic, of course. But you have to bump the guy up past Jason Varitek on the list of ballplayers with whom you wouldn't mind sharing a taxi.
08/11/2009
27
27
Well, Jared Burton set Albert Pujols down with the bases-loaded on Monday night, an achievement that has memorably eluded five other pitchers this season. Beyond that, good news is hard to come by.
08/04/2009
27
27
I realize they really, really, really wanted to rid themselves of Edwin Encarnacion and his wrong-way approach to the sport. But Scott Rolen will be 35 next April and his power has plummeted in recent years, plus 30-something players can no longer resort to happy pills to give them a boost when their legs get heavy ... So much for Edinson Volquez. We can't pin this one on Dusty Baker and his toothpick of pitching death, though: Most of the damage seems to have been done during a winter-league start, plus WBC participation couldn't have helped much. Or maybe Volquez's elbow simply couldn't bear the unnatural act of hurling a small projectile plateward. Whatever.
Preseason Power Rankings
Date
Ranking
Previous
02/16/2009
16
-
Chris Dickerson ain't great, but he's a far better player in most ways that matter than Willy Tavarez, the guy he'll back up. ... When was the last time the Reds had a front four as strong as Harang/Volquez/Arroyo/Cueto? 1976? ... Utility wisp Jerry Hairston projects as the prime-time guy in left. Insert could've-used-Abreu-or-Dunn blurb here. ... I own Edinson Volquez in like 31 Fantasy leagues. The idea that his baseball adolescence will be managed by a certified arm-shredder like Dusty Baker makes my teeth hurt.
