What's in store for Reds?
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
This week, I want to take a break from writing about Highland County winter sports and talk about the warmer days ahead. I have baseball on the brain. I don’t know about anyone else, but this snow and cold can go away, as I dream of warm summer days at the ball park.
So let’s get away from this cold weather and talk about the upcoming season of the defending NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds.
In case you have been hibernating like a grizzly bear in the winter, you have noticed the Reds have made some big moves in the offseason. Whether it be signing players to long-term deals, bringing in free agents or letting players that have been productive in the past go, the Reds have put the rest of the teams in the division on notice that they don’t plan to be unseated in the division for quite some time.
The Reds re-signed 2010 NL MVP Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto and Jay Bruce to larger contracts, not to mention they had Scott Rolen, Brandon Phillips and Bronson Arroyo all win Gold Gloves last season. But questions still remain for the 2010 NL Central champs as they continue their quest to not only defend their crown, but gain their first playoff series win since the 1995 season when they swept the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last season, the Reds were swept in three games by the Philadelphia Phillies in the divisional round.
Speaking of last season, the Reds went 91-71, winning the Central by five games.
So with the optimism as high as it has been in quite some time in Reds Country, here are a few questions that will need to be answered if the Reds want to repeat as champions of the NL Central.
• Will the pitching be as
productive as last season?
Going off of 2010, the Reds pitching was something the team hadn’t been used to in previous seasons … productive. Here is my prediction for the Reds staff once spring training is complete: The starting five: Arroyo (17-10, 3.88), Edinson Volquez (4-3, 4.31), Johnny Cueto (12-7, 3.64), Travis Wood (5-4, 3.51) and Mike Leake (8-4, 4.23). I am guessing long relief will be Homer Bailey (4-3, 4.46) and Sam LeCure (2-5, 4.50). And most of the bullpen should be the same with Jared Burton, Aroldis Chapman, Francisco Cordero, Logan Ondrusek, Jordan Smith, Nick Masset and a few others.
They did lose Arthur Rhodes in free agency, but if some of the young talent produces, it could honestly be a blessing (remember he was slightly injured near the end of last season). If this staff can stay healthy, who knows how far the Reds can go? The potential is there, and I’d rather take my chances with the potential that is there than spend money on veteran players.
• Will Joey Votto have an encore performance in 2011?
The road to the NL MVP had its ups and its downs for the Canadian-born first baseman. Last year, Votto batted .324 with a .600 slugging percentage. In 150 games (547 at-bats), Votto scored 106 runs with 177 hits (36 doubles, two triples, and 37 home runs). He knocked in 113 runs and walked 91 times. If he continues his current route, Votto is set to have an even better 2011. In 2009 (131 games), Votto had 25 home runs and batted .322. In his first full season (2008), he batted .297 with 24 home runs. Just by looking at those stats, Votto is set to have an even better 2011 campaign.
• Who is going to be the
lead-off hitter?
This is the $1 million question, so to speak. Last season, this was a spot that was occupied by many players on the roster, but a majority of the time it was occupied by either Phillips or Drew Stubbs. For the season, the Reds hit .244 from the No. 1 spot, including a .306 on-base percentage. That’s not the numbers teams want from their lead-off spot. Though it was Jay Bruce who hit .583 at lead-off (three games), he’s too important further down the lineup. Here is my fearless prediction for the leadoff hitter on Opening Day: Drew Stubbs.
• Who are the new players on
the roster?
The Reds added Fred Lewis, Edgar Renteria and José Arredondo this offseason. (I almost forgot they signed Dontrelle Willis to a minor league deal.)
I’ll be honest, I didn’t know much about Arredondo (who is 27 years old), but by looking at his stats, he may be one of the missing pieces to the earlier question to fit in the Reds bullpen. He missed last year with Tommy John surgery, but he’s played in 95 games for the L.A. Angels. He has a career win-loss record of 12-5, but his most important numbers are these: 106.0 innings pitched, 89 hits, 45 runs (41 earned) and 45 walks. He has 102 career strikeouts (55 in 2008).
We know who Renteria is. The two-time World Series champ. The 2010 WS MVP for the San Francisco Giants. Though he is 35 years old, he hit .412 with two home runs and 6 RBIs against the Texas Rangers in the Fall Classic. One of the pitchers on the Rangers team was Cliff Lee, who is now a member of the Phillies. As I am writing this, Renteria is scheduled to be a bench player behind Paul Janish as short stop this season. Janish has a golden glove, but he batted .263. I don’t worry about his hitting numbers, because if he can play the field at a high level, he will stay in the starting role.
As for Lewis, again, I’ll admit I was like, “Who is Fred Lewis?” That was my fault because I should have known he played for the Toronto Blue Jays. But after hearing him during an interview on the radio, you never know, on days he’s playing in the outfield he could be the Reds’ lead-off hitter. He had good numbers last season, including 31 doubles and 17 stolen bases. In the press release about his signing, it says he was third last season in doubles among AL lead-off hitters and eighth in runs scored with 70. He also had five triples and eight home runs (four from the lead-off spot.) His slugging percentage was .423 and tallied 36 RBIs.
• Will “The Mayor” be just as
good in the broadcast booth?
OK, this one is just for fun, but in case you didn’t know, Sean Casey, the former Reds first baseman, will be in the TV booth for 15 games this season. Casey was one of my favorite people in baseball when he played. In fact, I attended his first game back in Cincinnati when he played for the Pirates. That game, after a long rain delay, he hit a home run in his first at-bat. I believe it was a Friday night game, and the rain delay allowed me and my buddies to go from having OK seats to third-row seats by third base. Back then (I was in college), that was a big deal to us.
• Can Jay Bruce take the
next step?
Some say Jay Bruce has already arrived, but can he take that next step and become one of “the” big-time players in the NL? Well, I think he’s really close, and some may argue he should have won a Gold Glove for his play in centerfield last season. (I am one of them.)
Last season, Bruce raised his batting average from .223 to .281, but he also went from 345 at-bats to 509 at-bats. His RBIs increased from 58 to 70, and his on-base percentage increased 50 points to .353.
I think getting the six-year extension with the club helps a lot, and if he can be productive at the plate for an entire season (he batted .200 in July as he had 19 hits in 95 at-bats. In August and September/October he had batting averages of .333 and .326), he will be a force the rest of the NL Central will not want to face.
• How many wins will the
Reds get this season?
Now if I knew this answer, I would be in Las Vegas betting on games. The NL Central looks as if it can be a better division in 2011. The Cubs have Matt Garza and the Brewers now have Zack Greinke. The Astros could be a surprise this season, and the Cardinals are always going to be in the mix of things.
And then there are the Pirates who haven’t had a winning season since Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla played for them. I feel the Reds are the best team in the division, followed by the Cardinals and Brewers. (I read online where some feel the Reds’ pitching overachieved last year. I think it was just the start of something really good.) The Cubs will either win the division or be next to last because, well … they are the Cubs.
With the division being vastly improved from last season, I still think the Reds win between 92 and 94 games. None of this really matters until spring training starts and we have an opportunity to see how some of the players prepared this offseason for their title defense.
Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in early February, and when that day comes, Ohio will seem just a bit warmer.
Remember, Opening Day is only 61 days away.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
So let’s get away from this cold weather and talk about the upcoming season of the defending NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds.
In case you have been hibernating like a grizzly bear in the winter, you have noticed the Reds have made some big moves in the offseason. Whether it be signing players to long-term deals, bringing in free agents or letting players that have been productive in the past go, the Reds have put the rest of the teams in the division on notice that they don’t plan to be unseated in the division for quite some time.
The Reds re-signed 2010 NL MVP Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto and Jay Bruce to larger contracts, not to mention they had Scott Rolen, Brandon Phillips and Bronson Arroyo all win Gold Gloves last season. But questions still remain for the 2010 NL Central champs as they continue their quest to not only defend their crown, but gain their first playoff series win since the 1995 season when they swept the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last season, the Reds were swept in three games by the Philadelphia Phillies in the divisional round.
Speaking of last season, the Reds went 91-71, winning the Central by five games.
So with the optimism as high as it has been in quite some time in Reds Country, here are a few questions that will need to be answered if the Reds want to repeat as champions of the NL Central.
• Will the pitching be as
productive as last season?
Going off of 2010, the Reds pitching was something the team hadn’t been used to in previous seasons … productive. Here is my prediction for the Reds staff once spring training is complete: The starting five: Arroyo (17-10, 3.88), Edinson Volquez (4-3, 4.31), Johnny Cueto (12-7, 3.64), Travis Wood (5-4, 3.51) and Mike Leake (8-4, 4.23). I am guessing long relief will be Homer Bailey (4-3, 4.46) and Sam LeCure (2-5, 4.50). And most of the bullpen should be the same with Jared Burton, Aroldis Chapman, Francisco Cordero, Logan Ondrusek, Jordan Smith, Nick Masset and a few others.
They did lose Arthur Rhodes in free agency, but if some of the young talent produces, it could honestly be a blessing (remember he was slightly injured near the end of last season). If this staff can stay healthy, who knows how far the Reds can go? The potential is there, and I’d rather take my chances with the potential that is there than spend money on veteran players.
• Will Joey Votto have an encore performance in 2011?
The road to the NL MVP had its ups and its downs for the Canadian-born first baseman. Last year, Votto batted .324 with a .600 slugging percentage. In 150 games (547 at-bats), Votto scored 106 runs with 177 hits (36 doubles, two triples, and 37 home runs). He knocked in 113 runs and walked 91 times. If he continues his current route, Votto is set to have an even better 2011. In 2009 (131 games), Votto had 25 home runs and batted .322. In his first full season (2008), he batted .297 with 24 home runs. Just by looking at those stats, Votto is set to have an even better 2011 campaign.
• Who is going to be the
lead-off hitter?
This is the $1 million question, so to speak. Last season, this was a spot that was occupied by many players on the roster, but a majority of the time it was occupied by either Phillips or Drew Stubbs. For the season, the Reds hit .244 from the No. 1 spot, including a .306 on-base percentage. That’s not the numbers teams want from their lead-off spot. Though it was Jay Bruce who hit .583 at lead-off (three games), he’s too important further down the lineup. Here is my fearless prediction for the leadoff hitter on Opening Day: Drew Stubbs.
• Who are the new players on
the roster?
The Reds added Fred Lewis, Edgar Renteria and José Arredondo this offseason. (I almost forgot they signed Dontrelle Willis to a minor league deal.)
I’ll be honest, I didn’t know much about Arredondo (who is 27 years old), but by looking at his stats, he may be one of the missing pieces to the earlier question to fit in the Reds bullpen. He missed last year with Tommy John surgery, but he’s played in 95 games for the L.A. Angels. He has a career win-loss record of 12-5, but his most important numbers are these: 106.0 innings pitched, 89 hits, 45 runs (41 earned) and 45 walks. He has 102 career strikeouts (55 in 2008).
We know who Renteria is. The two-time World Series champ. The 2010 WS MVP for the San Francisco Giants. Though he is 35 years old, he hit .412 with two home runs and 6 RBIs against the Texas Rangers in the Fall Classic. One of the pitchers on the Rangers team was Cliff Lee, who is now a member of the Phillies. As I am writing this, Renteria is scheduled to be a bench player behind Paul Janish as short stop this season. Janish has a golden glove, but he batted .263. I don’t worry about his hitting numbers, because if he can play the field at a high level, he will stay in the starting role.
As for Lewis, again, I’ll admit I was like, “Who is Fred Lewis?” That was my fault because I should have known he played for the Toronto Blue Jays. But after hearing him during an interview on the radio, you never know, on days he’s playing in the outfield he could be the Reds’ lead-off hitter. He had good numbers last season, including 31 doubles and 17 stolen bases. In the press release about his signing, it says he was third last season in doubles among AL lead-off hitters and eighth in runs scored with 70. He also had five triples and eight home runs (four from the lead-off spot.) His slugging percentage was .423 and tallied 36 RBIs.
• Will “The Mayor” be just as
good in the broadcast booth?
OK, this one is just for fun, but in case you didn’t know, Sean Casey, the former Reds first baseman, will be in the TV booth for 15 games this season. Casey was one of my favorite people in baseball when he played. In fact, I attended his first game back in Cincinnati when he played for the Pirates. That game, after a long rain delay, he hit a home run in his first at-bat. I believe it was a Friday night game, and the rain delay allowed me and my buddies to go from having OK seats to third-row seats by third base. Back then (I was in college), that was a big deal to us.
• Can Jay Bruce take the
next step?
Some say Jay Bruce has already arrived, but can he take that next step and become one of “the” big-time players in the NL? Well, I think he’s really close, and some may argue he should have won a Gold Glove for his play in centerfield last season. (I am one of them.)
Last season, Bruce raised his batting average from .223 to .281, but he also went from 345 at-bats to 509 at-bats. His RBIs increased from 58 to 70, and his on-base percentage increased 50 points to .353.
I think getting the six-year extension with the club helps a lot, and if he can be productive at the plate for an entire season (he batted .200 in July as he had 19 hits in 95 at-bats. In August and September/October he had batting averages of .333 and .326), he will be a force the rest of the NL Central will not want to face.
• How many wins will the
Reds get this season?
Now if I knew this answer, I would be in Las Vegas betting on games. The NL Central looks as if it can be a better division in 2011. The Cubs have Matt Garza and the Brewers now have Zack Greinke. The Astros could be a surprise this season, and the Cardinals are always going to be in the mix of things.
And then there are the Pirates who haven’t had a winning season since Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla played for them. I feel the Reds are the best team in the division, followed by the Cardinals and Brewers. (I read online where some feel the Reds’ pitching overachieved last year. I think it was just the start of something really good.) The Cubs will either win the division or be next to last because, well … they are the Cubs.
With the division being vastly improved from last season, I still think the Reds win between 92 and 94 games. None of this really matters until spring training starts and we have an opportunity to see how some of the players prepared this offseason for their title defense.
Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in early February, and when that day comes, Ohio will seem just a bit warmer.
Remember, Opening Day is only 61 days away.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]