Location: Cincinnati, Ohio | Ballpark: Great American Ball Park (42,941) | Spring Training: Sarasota, Fla.
Owner: Robert Castellini | GM: Walt Jocketty | Manager: Dusty Baker | World Championships: 5
With a few savvy moves, they could contend in 2009. The wish list starts with a corner-outfield bat and a replacement for low-energy 3B Edwin Encarnacion (Adrian Beltre via trade?). They could use a shortstop, too, as Jeff Keppinger is most useful in a super-utility role ... Dusty Baker didn't run any pitchers into the ground this season, nor did he smother any of his young players with a pillow. This constitutes progress. Now, if he could only quit Corey Patterson ...
09/23/2008
19
21
They've taken series from the Cardinals, Cubs, Diamondbacks and Brewers (two) this month ... You gotta love Micah Owings delivering the key pinch-hit that sank CC Sabathia on Saturday. That said, it's not a good sign when a pitcher ranks among your most effective bats off the bench.
09/16/2008
21
22
Based on their feistiness since the Griffey and Dunn trades, I'm awarding them the first annual Best Bad Team award, sponsored by the almost-functional Microsoft Zune. ... A lot can happen between now and April, but they appear to have a better core (Votto, Phillips, Bruce, Volquez, Harang, Cueto, Cordero) than most of their fellow low-performers. ... With games left against the Astros and Brewers, they're in prime position to play spoiler.
09/09/2008
22
23
They took two of three from the Cubs, one in dramatic ninth-inning fashion, which makes them the belle of the playing-out-the-string ball. ... Did anybody else have a slight problem with the massive celebration after the aforementioned comeback win? I'd say "act like you've been there before," but the modern-day Reds aren't exactly on a first-name basis with success or victory.
09/02/2008
23
26
Nobody cares, probably not even his mommy, but Bronson "Brandon" Arroyo has been a solid-verging-on-very-good pitcher since his 11-run, one-inning outing a few months back ... Joey Votto seems to have taken to the cleanup spot ... The Cincy/Pittsburgh series that kicks off today is, if nothing else, an existentialist's delight. Now that school is back in session and some of the good TV shows have returned, the over/under on attendance for the three games has been set at 42,500. Gamble away.
08/26/2008
26
27
From the "we have no idea how to spin this miserable season, either" department, here's a line that ran in the Dayton Daily News: "It appears the Reds will be the only team in the majors this year with two rookies owning 14 or more homers." Re-up those season tickets now, Cincy fans.
08/19/2008
27
27
I saw this Dusty Baker quote in the paper this morning, buried deep in a story about how the Reds will push back Edinson Volquez's next start by a day or two: "Volquez is approaching a number of innings he has never pitched before in one year." Good lord! Dustbag just made sense! Now, about those 265 plate appearances he has lavished upon Corey Patterson. ...
08/12/2008
27
26
Please, please, please limit Edinson Volquez's workload the rest of the way so we can enjoy his heavenly changeup of mirth and wonder in 2009 and beyond. And I ask this as somebody with a significant short-term stake in his 2008 fantasy-baseball performance. ... Quote from Homer Bailey upon being sent back down to the minors: "It's not the big leagues, but honestly I'm looking forward to it." ... Getting three scuffed prospects for Adam Dunn is better than taking the compensatory draft picks after he leaves as a free agent and paying them a ton, I guess. At least it signifies the team is serious about rebuilding around one of baseball's better young cores (Bruce, Volquez, Phillips, Votto, et al).
08/05/2008
26
21
They've won three of their past 12 against sub-.500 teams, including a three-game sweep this weekend at the hands of the Nationals. Non-baseball equivalent: getting whipped in checkers by your six-year-old niece. ... Amazing -– or sad, depending on your perspective -– stat from Sunday's Cincinnati Enquirer: the Reds haven't finished above 19th in defensive efficiency (the percentage of non-home-run balls put into play that are turned into outs) since 2000. ... It's possible Adam Dunn could've enjoyed a better July -– .310/.381/.762 -– but I don't see how, barring pregame faith healings of sickly children.
07/29/2008
21
24
It's silly to pronounce a strong-armed 22-year-old like Homer Bailey overrated, but it was hard not to cringe while watching him allow 15 hits in a mere 27 batters against the Rockies the other day. ... Somebody in this organization has to realize, on some fundamental level, that Adam Dunn is a decent hitter. ... For the last time, they're not trading Bronson "Brandon" Arroyo! Don't even ask! He's untouchable!
Preseason Power Rankings
Date
Ranking
Previous
02/28/2008
18
-
We like the direction they are headed, especially if Homer Bailey and Edinson Volquez live up to their potential behind solid veterans Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo. Joey Votto and Jay Bruce are potential All-Star caliber bats working their way up the ladder and few teams will boast a more powerful 1-2 middle than Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey.
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