In Case You Haven't Heard...

Arthur Rhodes

Arthur Rhodes is gone and headed for Texas, as of a few days before Christmas. (Sorry I've been a little slow, but that's the holiday season.) He wanted a multi year deal from the Reds, and Walt Jocketty said no. Instead, Arthur opted to head home, and pitch for the Rangers. Presumably the teams offered the same deal, with the same basic terms. The only difference is that the Rangers included a vesting option. This means that if Rhodes performs like he did in 2010, his one year deal suddenly becomes a two year deal, and he will be back in a Rangers uniform for 2012. Essentially, they gave Arthur what he wanted in a multi year deal, but only if he pitches well. If he struggles, the option never activates, and they can let him walk after a year. Smart move by the Rangers. I'm not sure where the Reds were in all of this. I wish they would have signed Rhodes, but at the age of 41, well, frankly I'm not sure how much he has left in him. Especially considering he struggled mightily down the stretch, and was essentially a first half pitcher. Am I nervous about a trio of Aroldis Chapman, Bill Bray, and either Dontrelle Willis or Danny Herrera? Yes and no. I'm fine because (other than Herrera) they all have great stuff. I'm nervous because they all can be wild, and at times, hittable (though Chapman less so than the others). Arthur Rhodes was hardly ever wild, and hardly hittable, especially against left handers. We will see how it plays out. I think this answers the question of where Chapman will be, though.

I also have no problem with the Reds passing on Brandon Webb (who also signed with the Rangers), though I indicated they could be interested in him here, because of the depth in the rotation. Let's assume Volquez, Arroyo, and Cueto all have starting spots locked up. Webb would be competing against Leake, Wood, Chapman, Bailey, Maloney, and LeCure for a spot. I would be fine with Webb over Maloney and LeCure, but for anyone else...I think I would be worried he would only inhibit the progress of the youngsters that need to be getting innings up here now. Plus, no one knows if Webb's shoulder can hold up for 200 innings, or even 180 innings, like it has in the past. I'm not sold that he can still be a reliable option for the rotation anymore. I'd rather watch the Reds continue to develop their young talent, rather than waste time on old talent.

Bengals vs. Reds; Scott Podsednik?

I couldn't help but notice some cartoons of the Bengals that had been posted here, on Cincinnati.com. There were two that involved the Reds that I just had to laugh at. It's funny how times have changed, isn't it?

Meanwhile, rumors have begun to swirl that the Reds are interested in Scott Podsednik, the former leadoff man and World Series hero for the Chicago White Sox. Scott is a career .279 hitter, with a .340 OBP and 301 stolen bases. He doesn't have any pop in his bat, but he knows how to get on base, and how to get himself in scoring position afterwards. After a few miserable seasons in Chicago and Colorado, he bounced back to hit .304 and .297 over the past two seasons. At 34 years old, he is no longer a centerfielder, which is alright since Drew Stubbs is one of the best for the Reds. He does play an adequate left field, though, which means he could platoon with Johnny Gomes out there. Podsednik made $1.65 million last year, and considering the Reds haven't signed Arthur Rhodes yet, one can't help but wonder if they can afford him. The budget is already tight as it is. And how much does the highest scoring team in the National League really need him?

I hope you and your family have a great Christmas!

NL Central 2010 Grades, Including Offseason

As 2010 winds down, let's take a look back at the year that was, including each NL Central team's offseasons and regular season, and how each team faired.

Starlin Castro

The Chicago Cubs acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd last season, hoping to solidify their outfield and roster, while believing they could rebound from a so-so 2009 to regain their form that had garnered them back to back division titles in 2007 and 2008. As the season began, though, it became clear that the Cubs would not be contenders. It was a tumultuous season, including the trading of Derrek Lee, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, and Ted Lilly. Manager Lou Piniella unexpectedly stepped down near the end of the season, and got out as fast as he could. There was the blow ups of Carlos Zambrano, and then his resurgence at the end of the year, as he reemerged as the ace. However, there were positives, as 20 year old shortstop Starlin Castro emerged as a future superstar, and outfielder Tyler Colvin could be a solid slugger for many years. And Byrd was productive for the team, making the All Star team. At the end of the year, though, it wasn't enough, as the Cubs finished 75-87, and in 5th place. This offseason has followed with the signing of former All Star first baseman Carlos Pena, who has 40 home run power, but hit under .200 last year for Tampa Bay. They also brought back Kerry Wood, to help solidify the bullpen. Final grade for 2010: C-

Aroldis Chapman

The Cincinnati Reds were one of the more active teams last offseason, surprisingly signing Aroldis Chapman to a six year deal. Then they brought in utility man Miguel Cairo, and shortstop Orlando Cabrera. All three of these players would have major roles in a remarkable season. After a slow start, the Reds surged in May, and overtook the Cardinals. For the next 3 1/2 months, those two teams would go back and forth, never being able to pull away. The Reds battled back from adversity after adversity, including going on a long winning streak after being swept by the Cardinals in August. Their run gave them the lead for good, and they pulled away, winning the NL Central in late September, with a 91-71 record. The failures in the playoffs could not detract from the success the regular season held. This offseason, they've brought back Miguel Cairo, resigned Bronson Arroyo and Jay Bruce long term, and have begun negotiations with Joey Votto and Johnny Cueto. The only thing they've lacked is finding a true leadoff hitter, a shortstop to compete with Paul Janish, and bringing back Arthur Rhodes. Final Grade: A

Brett Myers

The Houston Astros main move last offseason was signing Brett Myers, who used to be a solid starter and closer for the Philadelphia Phillies. It proved to be a smart signing, as he quickly became the ace of the team, winning 14 games for the Astros. However, the team struggled mightily throughout the season, until late, when they went on a surge. The biggest mark they made was trading their two big names, and last links to the Astros that were formidable in the early 2000's. Roy Oswalt was shipped to Philadelphia, bringing back young starter J.A. Happ, and Lance Berkman to New York. Despite the poor start, Houston finished 76-86 on the season, which wasn't too bad considering they were once the worst team in baseball early on. Nonetheless, they made a curious move this offseason, trading Felipe Paulino, who can throw 97 and has the stuff to be a top of the line pitcher, to the Colorado Rockies for an average second baseman in Clint Barmes. Until the Astros can rid themselves of Carlos Lee's contract, they won't be able to contend regularly. Final Grade: C

Zack Greinke

Last offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers focused on solidifying their weak pitching staff. That meant bringing in veteran starters Doug Davis and Randy Wolf. Davis struggled with health issues, and was never consistent, while Wolf was up and down but was still solid. During the season, the Brewers offense was prolific, with Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Casey McGehee, Ryan Braun, and Corey Hart all hitting at least 20 homers and driving in 80 runs. Their lineup was scary good at times, and inconsistent at other times, which led to their up and down season, and a third place finish at 77-85. Their, season grade is worthy of a C, but the grade of their offseason has been an A+. Instead of addressing their pitching needs with over the hill starters, the Brewers have nabbed a pair of aces to go along with their own ace, Yovani Gallardo. Two weeks ago, they received Shaun Marcum from the Blue Jays, who went 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA. Then, this morning, they acquired the 2009 AL Cy Young winner, Zack Greinke, from the Kansas City Royals. Greinke was a pedestrian 10-14 with a 4.17 ERA, but was 16-8 with a 2.18 ERA in 2009. The trio of Greinke, Gallardo, and Marcum give the Brewers as good of a top three as it gets in baseball. Final Grade: B

Pedro Alvarez

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a major league embarrassment, and have been the little brother of the entire National League for almost 20 years. After doing essentially nothing last offseason, the Pirates were terrible in the regular season, going 57-105. They had no pitching, and had few bright spots on the team. Andrew McCutcheon continues to look like a future star in center, and Jose Tabata wasn't bad when he came up in left. First round draft pick Pedro Alvarez was solid at third, and looks like a potential superstar. This offseason has been curious, as the Pirates brought in former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle as their new manager, and have signed veteran first baseman Lyle Overbay, starter Kevin Correia, and outfielder Matt Diaz. All three of these guys are nice pieces to a contender, but are trade bait for bad teams. They won't help the Pirates now, but will only impede some players' progress. Final Grade: D-

Jaime Garcia

The favorites coming into the season were the St. Louis Cardinals, and they did little in the offseason, other than lock up Matt Holliday long term, and bring in Brad Penny, who made just a handful of starts before going down with an injury. Their most significant move was giving Jaime Garcia a spot in the rotation, as he rewarded them with a solid season. The Cardinals took off early in the season, but played up and down after that, failing to beat the lesser teams in the league, which ultimately cost them. An 86-76 season left fans disappointed and demanding change, as they were out of it by the time September began. What made it more difficult was watching former Cardinal Scott Rolen lead the Reds, and knowing they were losing to a team that was put together by the man that was the architect of theirs: Walt Jocketty. This offseason has been about changing the character of the team, by acquiring Ryan Theriot and Lance Berkman, and locking up Jake Westbrook for two more seasons. Whether these changes prove fruitful or not, only time will tell. Final Grade: C+

2011 Outlook: The Reds should still be the favorite for the coming year. The offense hasn't changed, and the kids are a year older and wiser, with the experience of a playoff run and October. The dynamics of the division have changed, though. In my eyes, the Brewers have surpassed the Cardinals in the standings, and will be a huge threat to Cincinnati's division title hopes in 2011. This isn't to say that the Cardinals can't or won't win it, as they are still a good team. But, the Brewers look better on paper right now then St. Louis does.

The Heist of the Offseason

Sometime past midnight last night, I heard the shocking news of the baseball offseason: Cliff Lee had shunned the Texas Rangers AND the New York Yankees. What? He decided to take a pay cut and return to Philadelphia.

On one hand, good for you Cliff. For once, a baseball player decided to take less money to go to the place he really wanted to go. All along, everyone believed Lee wanted to return to Texas. It seemed apparent he wasn't going to New York, but the Rangers were essentially offering him the same as the Yankees. Somewhere around that $140 million range. There had always been a "mystery team" involved, but no one knew who. Until last night, when Lee inked a 5 year deal worth $120 million for the team he led to the World Series 12 months ago. Apparently, despite having Roy Halladay, the Phillies realized how much they missed him.

On the other hand, this nearly makes the Phillies unbeatable with that starting rotation. Two time Cy Young Roy Halladay is the ace, followed by postseason hero and Cy Young Cliff Lee, followed by former 20 game winner and 3 time All Star Roy Oswalt. Last but not least, former World Series MVP Cole Hamels. Oh. My. God. Really? It looks nasty, doesn't it?

Despite pulling off the heist of the offseason, I'm not about to hand the World Series trophy to the Phillies. Why? Because I still think the Braves can give them a run in the East. Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, and Derek Lowe aren't a bad foursome. Neither are Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and Madison Bumgarner for the Giants (who beat the Phillies, remember). And those St. Louis Cardinals still loom with Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Jaime Garcia, and Jake Westbrook. Should they make it to the World Series, what if they play the Red Sox? Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, and John Lackey don't look too bad.

So, it's far from over. As we saw last year in the World Series, Cliff Lee was beatable. And remember: this guy rose up from nowhere three or four years ago. He could just as easily fall back there in two years. He's not 23, he's 33. And Halladay is older. So is Oswalt. Let's see if they can all keep throwing in the mid 90's for much longer. Finally, that Phillies offense looked on the decline at times. Where has Chase Utley gone? Ryan Howard didn't look like he was worth $125 million. And Jimmy Rollins was a no show with that bad wrist and hamstring. Now Jayson Werth is gone. How effective will that once brilliant offense be? All of these will be answered in time. Just don't hand Philly that World Series trophy quite yet...

All this being said, the NL Championship runs through Philadelphia once again. The Reds now need to set themselves up by being able to beat both the Cardinals and the Phillies. How do they do this? By doing nothing. Wait them out. The Reds are built for the long haul, the Phillies and Cardinals, much like the Cubs of three years ago have put a lot of big contracts on 30+ year olds. That rarely holds up. Ask the Yankees of the early and mid 2000s. I would love to see Walt Jocketty acquire Zack Greinke from the Royals, but it would cost too much. And they wouldn't be able to give him a contract extension, because then they couldn't afford people like Cueto and Votto. Even with his current salary, giving new extensions would be made difficult. The Reds won the NL Central last year by building from within. They're now standing pat, and it's the right thing to do. Let your own ace develop. Whether that's Chapman, Bailey, or Volquez, just let it happen. It's what the Phillies did three years ago with Hamels. They built from within, and they won it all. Maybe the Reds can follow suit.

Bruce, Cairo, and the Boston Red Sox

Huge news out of Reds country. Not "Joey Votto just signed a long term deal" huge, but huge nonetheless. The Reds locked up Jay Bruce to a six year, $51 million deal. They also hold an option for a seventh year that would bring the contract to $63 million. And of course there are bonuses included that he could hit based on performances. At the end of the day, though, Bruce took less money in order to sign a long term deal in Cincinnati. That's the key. Jay Bruce wanted to stay here. Both were willing to sign a deal now, and keep Bruce from hitting arbitration and making big time money. Now the Reds will keep Jay for the majority of his prime, and the Reds have showed they want to keep this team together long term. Not to mention he hasn't even tapped into all of his potential. Remember, Bruce was the top prospect for this franchise, and has every tool in the book to be a superstar. If the final month and a half of the season was any indication, he will be. Bruce may also be the key piece in getting Votto to sign here. Joey, though, is a littler older than Bruce, and both sides would probably be looking to sign a 4 year deal, not the 6 year deal Jay got. But now that one of Votto's good friends will be here in the future, he may be more inclined to stay. Also, the Reds have begun to work out a deal with Johnny Cueto to keep him here long term, and avoid arbitration.

Another important contract was given to utility man Miguel Cairo, who signed a 2 year $2 million deal. Cairo proved to be extremely valuable last year, when Rolen needed a day off, or when Votto was injured from time to time. He can play around the infield, and did a good job working the count and keeping the line moving last year. Cairo is a professional hitter that is an asset in the Reds' clubhouse. For a utility player, he was just as important to the club's success last year as a lot of other players. Remember, Cairo hit .429 when Votto went down a neck neck injury in late May. The return of his presence (and hopefully Arthur Rhodes') will keep the team stabilized going throughout the 162 game grind.

Finally, if you haven't heard, the Boston Red Sox are making waves in the AL East. After letting third baseman Adrian Beltre walk, they traded for superstar first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, formerly of the San Diego Padres. This means Kevin Youkilis will move back across the diamond to third base, to make room for the Gold Glover. Then, they signed superstar left fielder Carl Crawford to a 7 year $142 million deal. These two moves make the Boston Red Sox the prohibitive favorites to win the World Series in my mind. They nearly made the playoffs last year with an encyclopedia of injuries to their players. When healthy, they have a strong defense, with an offense that can slug, slash, and run. They also have a strong rotation, backed by aces Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester. Even if the Yankees sign Cliff Lee, the Red Sox have become the best team in the AL East, and probably all of baseball.

Reds Lock Up Bronson; Cardinals Making Moves

After already having picked up Bronson Arroyo's option for 2011, the Reds went ahead and extended him for two more years beyond that, giving him a new 3 year $35 million contract. This will take Arroyo to his 36th birthday, and I would assume the Reds will try and keep him here for the remainder of his career. After all, he has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the history of the club. He's thrown at least 200 innings in all five of his seasons in the Queen City, and won at least 14 in four of the five years, including having won at least 15 in a row for three straight seasons. Arroyo won a career high 17 games last year, and posted a career best 1.15 WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Innings Pitched). He's the best pitcher the Reds have had in years, and is the unquestioned leader and staff ace, though he isn't the prototypical shutdown ace. Arroyo is 70-60 in his career as a Red, and will undoubtedly get to 100 wins in his career with Cincinnati. One day, we may see #61 up in that ring of retired numbers.

And here's a shocker throughout the baseball world: Jayson Werth, formerly of the Philadelphia Phillies, has signed a 7 year $126 million contract with the Washington Nationals. This is the same Werth who hit .296 this year, with 27 homers, 85 RBIs, and an NL best 46 doubles. He helped the Phillies to the 2008 World Series title, becoming a pivotal piece to their title run. He is undoubtedly a solid player that would help any lineup. But, this deal came out of nowhere and surprised me. Why? Not from Werth's perspective. The Nationals were willing to overpay for him, and he is going to a young team with a lot of talent that could be a contender in a few years. But why did the Nationals do this? Werth isn't a centerpiece type of player. He's not Joey Votto, he's Jay Bruce. He flashes the potential to be a great player, but never becomes it. The only difference between him and Bruce is that Werth is 31, and Bruce is still 23. This deal has Alfonso Soriano written all over it. The Nationals aren't in position to make the playoffs for another two or three years, and Werth will begin deteriorating by then. He's going to a massive ballpark, where fly balls go to die. Jayson will give them three or four good years, before he begins to deteriorate, just like Soriano has in Chicago. He will become a liability to a good, young, contending team in four years. Then the Nationals are stuck with an aging has-been that they have to play because of his contract. I love the aggressiveness of the Nationals, just not the decision, or the contract.

Meanwhile, to Cincinnati's west, St. Louis has begun to make its move, in an attempt to regain the Central crown. They traded for infielder Ryan Theriot, and plan to play him at shortstop, signalling the end of Brendan Ryan's time in St. Louis. They also signed former Houston Astros star, Lance Berkman to a one year $8 million contract. What? I understand they're trying to upgrade what is truly a pathetic offense, but there's only so much you can do here. They already have an okay defensive third baseman, and are now planning to play, essentially, a second baseman with not a lot of range at short, in Theriot. Meanwhile, the guy they will get rid of, Brendan Ryan, was one of the slickest fielding shortstops in the league. Maybe St. Louis would be okay with Theriot at short, if they didn't have a converted outfielder (Skip Schumaker) playing second base, who was absolutely terrible there in 2010. And, they will play the 33 year old Lance Berkman in left field, when the Astros moved him from the outfield to first base four years ago, because his knees and weight were an issue, and he could no longer adequately field the position. Then, St. Louis will move a guy in Matt Holliday, who was an okay left fielder, to right field, where he doesn't have the arm or speed to play. This has disaster written all over it for the Cardinals' defense. They now have five below average defensive players, for a pitching staff that pitches to contact. But that will be made up by the offense right? Theriot is a singles hitter, and Lance Berkman has been on the decline for two years. Not only that, but St. Louis continues to add these slow moving sluggers to their lineup. They now have 5 players that would rank in the top 37 of double plays grounded into (Pujols - 23, Molina - 19, Berkman - 18, Holliday - 13, and Theriot - 13). So, on the surface, many would argue that the Cardinals have significantly upgraded their offense. On paper, yes, I suppose they have. But that is a lot of baserunners they will lose via the double play. And for an offense that struggled to score last year, that could be a big problem. Especially with the lack of defense the Cardinals will be showcasing now.

A Reds Fan's Christmas List

With Thanksgiving over, many are now looking towards Christmas. As a Reds fan, here is my Christmas list for my team. (Note that some of these moves would be dependent on all of them being made.)

1. A shortstop that can be the leadoff hitter. Assuming Jonny Gomes and Chris Heisey take up the majority of the playing time in left field, this is the only position that is open where they could plug in a leadoff hitter. Let's assume they don't re-sign Orlando Cabrera, who was ineffective as the leadoff man anyway. If you know me, then you know I'm not a big fan of Paul Janish. I don't think he's as good defensively as everyone makes him out to be, and I think his offensive numbers last year were a fluke. Let's also assume Brandon Phillips is a better number two hitter, because he failed as the leadoff hitter too. And Drew Stubbs is more suited in the middle of the lineup because of his power. That leaves shortstop as the guy to set the table.

Jose Reyes

So who is that guy? How about Jose Reyes of the New York Mets. He's as dynamic a shortstop as you can get. Speed, power, flair for the dramatic, and a good arm. Yes, he's a little bit of a head case, but why not take the risk on him? A change of scenery and he could be the leadoff hitter the Reds have lacked since Barry Larkin. New York has expressed interest in possibly trading him, and the Reds have the pieces to pull off a deal. I would make an offer of Edinson Volquez, Juan Francisco, and Yonder Alonso. That gives the Mets a good power arm in their rotation, as well as a potential man to replace David Wright at third should they trade him, or someone to play right field. Alonso could be someone they flip to another deal in a second trade, or could man first if they move Ike Davis to another position.

2. Move Aroldis Chapman to the rotation, and keep him there. Don't keep messing around with him in the bullpen, it's not worth it. I don't want him to become gun shy and not be effective as a starter OR a reliever, like Joba Chamberlain. Give the kid a defined role as a starter on this team, don't bounce him back and forth. It will only screw him up. The sky is the limit for Chapman, who has the best arm the franchise has ever had, and could be the best pitcher since Tom Seaver.

Brad Boxberger

3. Trade Francisco Cordero. I don't want to go through another year of heart attacks in the 9th inning, like this year. Especially when the relief corps is so deep. Nick Masset or Jordan Smith could easily fill in as the closer. If that doesn't work for you, then take a chance and let the 2nd round pick from last year's draft, Brad Boxberger out of USC, have a shot at the role. He struggled down in double-A, but is in line to be the closer in a few years, though he did have several starts in the minors as well. But with that power arm touching 98 mph, why not take a chance on him?

Dave Sappelt

4. Call up Todd Frazier, Zack Cozart, and Dave Sappelt. Frazier and Cozart could both end up being solid back ups to Scott Rolen, with more power than Miguel Cairo can provide. Also, Frazier could be the future at third base, with Cozart being the future at shortstop, should Jose Reyes not work out. Sappelt, meanwhile, may very well be the future in left field, after hitting .342 over all three levels of the minors. He hit well at each stop, has decent power and good speed. He projects as a Chris Heisey, Drew Stubbs type of player. They are only the start of what continues to be a bright, bright future for the Reds.

5. Use the money saved in trading Francisco Cordero to lock up Joey Votto. I'm thinking a 7 year $98 million contract. That gives him a reasonable $14 million per year, which is a substantial increase of what he is making. Of course, the contract should be loaded with potential clauses that allows him to make more. But this team cannot allow Joey Votto to walk when he is eligible for free agency. He is undoubtedly one of the three best players in the game, and is the best player this farm system has produced in years. Votto's value can't be put in numbers, or dollar figures, though the Reds certainly should try.

D-Train Departs for Cincinnati

I know this is a little late on the uptake, but the Reds signed Dontrelle Willis to a minor league contract.

The left hander was a former starter that once won 22 games for the Florida Marlins, as well as a Rookie of the Year award. He was a power pitcher with a funky delivery that made him one of the more feared pitchers in the game at the time. But like many pitchers with strange deliveries, Dontrelle went into a slump towards the end of his run in Florida. They sent him to Detroit while he still had value. The Tigers thought they could fix his delivery, and failed. So last year, he went on to Arizona, and continued to struggle. The strikeouts went down, and the walks went up. That isn't a formula for success. And with the delivery messed up, his velocity has disappeared. It's a perfect storm of disaster for the former All Star.

However, it's a gamble worth taking, and I love it. You can never have enough pitching, especially left handed pitching. If Dontrelle Willis ever corrects that delivery, he could be very effective again. The Reds have nothing to lose here. He will only be competing for a spot in the bullpen, not in the rotation. They would only look at him for the rotation if there were injuries, or Willis becomes highly effective again. He did hold lefties to a .216 batting average, with just three extra base hits in 75 at bats. So, as a left handed specialist, he could be extremely effective.

At the same time, signing Willis worries me somewhat. I continue to wonder if the Reds will re-sign Arthur Rhodes. Obviously, this move is insurance for that situation. They wouldn't want to go into spring training with just Bill Bray and Daniel Herrera. Especially since Herrera was so ineffective in both the majors and triple A. But Rhodes was a key piece to that bullpen. He held the bullpen together while Nick Masset was ineffective. I understand sports is about "next man up," but I like having the insurance of that sure thing in Rhodes. Maybe the Reds think Arthur has become too old, I mean, he is 41. He became ineffective at the end of the year. But for that first half? No one in baseball was better than him. Control his innings next year, and he could still be effective.

Speaking of Arthur, the Reds declined to offer he or Orlando Cabrera arbitration, which means teams are free to negotiate their signings without having to give up draft picks to the Reds. I understand not offering it to Cabrera, because he would have taken it, and the Reds would have owed him what they did last year, which is not feasible for a small market team and an aging shortstop. But Rhodes? I doubt he would have accepted, seeking instead a two year deal. Now, this opens the window for a team needing a good lefty to get him without consequence. A team like St. Louis immediately comes to mind.

Most Valuable Indeed

Albert Pujols may be a better player, hitter, and first baseman. You can argue for either he or Votto in almost any category. So perhaps Pujols is better than Votto.

But he isn't as valuable, at least not in 2010.

Joey Votto took home the NL MVP today, after a season where he hit .324 with 37 homers and 113 RBIs. He also led the NL in slugging percentage (.600) and on base percentage (.424), which have become the recent trend to look at for those pundits that love numbers, and the measurement of how good a player is.

At the end of the day, Votto was only slightly better than Pujols in some categories, and Pujols slightly better than Votto in other categories. No doubt the fact that Votto hit better in the clutch than Albert played a factor in the decision, but also that the Reds pulled away from the Cardinals in the division. And, while the Cardinals slumped, Pujols disappeared.

Votto won because of something that was unquantifiable. He was the most important player, with the biggest impact on the field every night, for any of the four teams that made the playoffs in the National League. It's not that he was better than some guys, though he certainly was. It's that the Reds would not have been where they were without him. We saw that last year, when he missed a month while struggling with depression. The Reds collapsed during that stretch, after having been over .500 for the first two months.

And everyone that voted clearly saw how important Votto was. That's why he got 31 of the 32 first place votes, leaving Albert in the dust, and in second place, just like his team.

Now, Joey Votto will forever be remembered as a legend in Cincinnati. He joins Ernie Lombardi (1938), Bucky Walters (1939), Frank McCormick (1940), Frank Robinson (1961), Johnny Bench (1970 and 1972), Pete Rose (1973), Joe Morgan (1975 and 1976), George Foster (1977), and Barry Larkin (1995) as an MVP winner in a Reds uniform.

And in twenty years or so, it will be we who are speaking to our children about what a great player we saw with the Reds. And how valuable Joey really is to this team.

Brandon Webb a Red?

I have heard rumors in the baseball world that Brandon Webb has interest in becoming a Cincinnati Red. Three or four years ago, this was my dream. He was a Cy Young winner, and then on his way to winning 22 games. Webb was a true, dominant ace, and his name belonged in the conversation for top pitchers in the game. His sinker was as nasty as it gets, and he often looked unbeatable if you didn't get to him early. And, he's from Ashland, Kentucky, just across the river from Cincinnati. He grew up a Reds fan. He'd hit free agency and bolt for the Queen City, hopefully. How perfect could it get?

But, as I said, that was three or four years ago. Now, Webb is a shell of his former self. Shoulder injuries and surgeries limited to just an Opening Day start in 2009. He hasn't pitched in the majors since. Does he still have that sinker? Can he be an ace again? Is he still durable? There are so many questions, and little to no answers. Webb says he is ready to deliver 28+ starts in 2011.

So, why not take a chance? Webb could bounce back and become an ace again. Or, he could be a solid middle of the rotation starter, that would win at Great American because of his sinker. He could be a bust and absolutely suck. But he'll never be cheaper than he is now. Take advantage of the home town discount. Get him here for a few million, with incentives in a one year deal. If he makes the team, and proves to be valuable as a starter again, give him a reasonable contract extension. Then, you may have the true ace on this staff to match up with Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum. If he's a middle of the road guy, just keep him for the year. And if he's terrible, use the ailing shoulder excuse and slap him on the disabled list for the year. Problem solved. Ask Bob Castellini to open his wallet a little wider for a potential ace.

If it works out, it's the steal of the year. Or the decade. It could bring a World Series home to Cincinnati again, if they have an ace. What do you have to lose? The Reds have the starting pitching depth so they wouldn't get burned by investing in him. As strong as this roster is, it's time to take a flyer on someone like this.



As I mentioned, the reason they can do this is because of the strong rotation. Every time a Reds starter takes the hill, they have a chance to win. They have 8 legitimate starting pitchers. That's tough to match by any team in baseball. I believe only the Giants, Reds, Red Sox, Yankees, A's, and Rays have a rotation where all 5 of their guys give their team a legitimate chance to win every day.

I bring this up because the Cardinals re-signed Jake Westbrook. He slots in as their number four starter, as he did for two months after coming over from Cleveland. Why did they need him? Because they only had three good pitchers. Now they have four. Which is still four less than what the Reds have stockpiled, and one less than having an excellent rotation. Carpenter and Wainwright were terrible down the stretch. What if one of them gets hurt? Then St. Louis is done. Jaime Garcia could struggle in his second year, and then they'd be in trouble. It's because of a lack of depth. The Reds could lose Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto, and slot in Homer Bailey and Mike Leake. Then they're good to go. Little to no drop off. St. Louis has no backup plan. Westbrook helps even their rotation somewhat, but its not enough. The fact the signing happened almost a week ago, and no one is talking about it outside of St. Louis tells you all you need to know: it does not matter.

Why?

Because the better team has a 2010 NL Central Champions banner hanging outside of Great American Ball Park. They both have the same teams as they did when Cincy went on their run, and the Cards collapsed in the second half. Nothing has changed, except the Cards got a little older and the Reds a little more seasoned. The Cardinals have superstars and big names. The Reds have depth. This is a 162 game season, not an 82 game season. Baseball is a marathon sport, not the star driven league that the NBA is.

Dusty Just Misses on Manager of the Year

Dusty Baker is one of the most controversial managers in the game. Many (and probably most) know him for pitching Mark Prior and Kerry Wood so much and so often in Chicago. This may have led to their subsequent arm injuries. He's known for sticking with the veteran players over the younger players. Others know him as the man that brought the San Francisco Giants back to prominence, taking them within just outs of a World Series title. In Cincinnati, he and Walt Jocketty turned around what was a sputtering franchise.

Baker has won 3 Manager of the Year Awards, all with the San Francisco Giants (1993, 1997, and 2000). Subsequently, it means he is one of the better managers in the game. A so-called players' manager, his guys love playing for him, and the passion he has for the game is translated into their play. We saw that in Cincinnati this year. Today, he just missed out on winning his fourth Manager of the Year Award. Bud Black of the San Diego Padres won it with 104 votes. Dusty had 103.

Make no mistake, both of them deserved it. Dusty brought the Reds back from a lost decade, and turned them into a relevant contender again. The St. Louis Cardinals were expected to run away with the division, and instead the Reds beat them by five. Truly, the lead by the end of the year was never that close.

Dusty broke the stereotypes everyone had of him this year. He stuck with Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce all year long. He entrusted rookies like Mike Leake and Travis Wood to help anchor his rotation. He knew when Aaron Harang was finished, and didn't push to keep him in the rotation because he was a veteran. Yes, he was guilty of keeping Francisco Cordero in too long at times. But don't look at this blindly. Remember, he pulled Cordero in a tight situation in Chicago, and gave the ball to Nick Masset, who slammed the door and got the save. Dusty was willing to role the dice there. He wasn't the same guy he had been in San Fran and Chicago.

Baker adapted to his team, and they responded with a 91 win season.

But Bud Black needed to win this award today. The Padres won 90 games when most didn't think they'd win 70. Their payroll was under $40 million. Beyond Adrian Gonzalez and closer Heath Bell, I would have been hard pressed to name more than five other players on their roster come last spring. And they led the division for most of the year, before collapsing in September. Yet they still had a shot come the final day of the season.

Dusty Baker was not short changed here. The voters could have chosen either him or Black and gotten it right. They chose Bud Black, and he deserved it.

Reds Bring Back Hernandez

On Monday, the Reds announced they had come to terms on a one year $3 million deal with catcher Ramon Hernandez. Ramon caught a team high 85 games last year, and hit .297 with 7 homers and 48 RBIs. Combined, he and Ryan Hanigan created one of the most dynamic tandems at catcher in the league. They (along with Corky Miller) combined to lead all NL catchers with a .296 batting average and 168 hits. Hernandez doesn't have the arm behind the plate that Hanigan does, nor does he call as good a game as Hanigan, which is why I think Ryan will get the majority of the playing time next year, but it will still pretty much be a 50/50 split. Ramon was originally acquired from the Baltimore Orioles for Ryan Freel and a pair of minor leaguers. I'd say the deal has turned out pretty well, considering Freel is out of the league, and Hernandez has become a team leader on the Reds. This move also means that top catching prospect, Devin Mesoraco, will likely remain in Triple-A for the majority of 2011. Make no mistake, though, he is the catcher of the future in Cincinnati, along with 2010 first round draft pick, Yasmani Grandal.

The Reds also put in a waiver claim for Hisanori Takahashi, a left handed pitcher of the New York Mets. Takahashi declined the claim, and became a free agent. The Reds could still pursue him in free agency, but the move was curious to me. Why go after him? Yes, you can never have too many lefties on your team, and Takahashi was a solid 10-6 with a 3.61 ERA last year. However, he has expressed the desire to be a starter (which he obviously would not be on the Reds), even though the Mets used him as a starter, reliever, setup man, and occasional closer last year. The only thing I can make out of the Reds' attempted acquisition of him is that they, a) think they will have trouble signing Arthur Rhodes, or b) want someone to replace Bill Bray and/or Daniel Ray Herrera. The latter is the likely, which would indicate the Reds are going along with the plan to put Aroldis Chapman in the rotation. Overall, this attempted move doesn't make too much sense to me. I'm glad Takahashi declined the waiver claim, because it would have just given the Reds far too many options, and not enough spots.

Reds Are "Golden"

The awards season of baseball continues, and the Reds dominated the Gold Glove awards, while the Yankees dominated the AL winners.

For the complete NL winners, click here: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5788835.
For the AL, here: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5784846.

There were three Reds that won Gold Gloves, and there could have been more. Third baseman Scott Rolen earned his 8th Gold Glove in his third different uniform (he won 4 with the Cardinals, and 3 with the Phillies before that). Brandon Phillips took his second, and Bronson Arroyo won his first.

The Arroyo award surprised me a little, but he is a solid fielder, and didn't make any errors all year. Rolen and Phillips were very much deserving, and you can make the argument that Votto should have won at first, Bruce in right, and Stubbs (maybe) in center. Certainly Bruce deserved one.

Nonetheless, it was good to see the media recognize the fact that the Reds were built with solid defense this year. And they played that way all season long.

I'm most happy to see the 35 year old Rolen win his award. Don't let anyone fool you. No one deserved it more than him. I can't even remember him making errors this year. Not to mention, at third, his defense was more valuable to this club than any other third baseman in the game was to their club.

Free Agent Outlook

This is a list of who I believe are the top 25 free agents. Of course, I didn't include players such as David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitte, because there is absolute zero chance they won't return to the Red Sox and Yankees, respectively. So here's my list, along with where I believe they are headed.

1. Carl Crawford OF, Tampa Bay Rays
New Team: Los Angeles Angels - LA needs a new leadoff man since Chone Figgins left for Seattle last season. Crawford is as dynamic a player you can get.

2. Cliff Lee SP, Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers - I've got a gut feeling that Lee will buck the trend of most big free agents and will stay in Texas.

3. Jayson Werth OF, Philadelphia Phillies
Boston Red Sox - The loss of Jason Bay from last year was huge. They need a power bat in left, and Werth fits that mold.

4. Adrian Beltre 3B, Boston Red Sox
Los Angeles Angels - There's a gaping hole at third in Anaheim, and Adrian Beltre can provide solid defense, as well as protection for Kendry Morales and Torii Hunter.

5. Adam Dunn 1B, Washington Nationals
Chicago Cubs - The Cubs need a big bat in the heart of their order, and Dunn would prefer to stay in the NL.

6. Victor Martinez C/1B, Boston Red Sox
Detroit Tigers - The Tigers are without a big name catcher, and Martinez certainly is that. He will give protection to yearly MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera.

7. Paul Konerko 1B, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox - There's no way the Sox can let their captain walk away.

8. Jorge de la Rosa SP, Colorado Rockies
New York Yankees - Losing out on the Cliff Lee sweepstakes will leave the Yankees going after the second best lefthander on the market.

9. Rafael Soriano CP, Tampa Bay Rays
Atlanta Braves - Billy Wagner's retirement means Atlanta needs a new closer. They had Soriano as a setup man one year, but now he will be returning as their closer.

10. Vladimir Guerrero DH, Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers - The Rangers need that veteran power bat behind Hamilton. Nelson Cruz is very good, but Vladdy is a hall of famer.

11. Carlos Pena 1B, Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays - Pena is the leader on that team. I don't think he'll leave Tampa.

12. Carl Pavano SP, Minnesota Twins
Milwaukee Brewers - The Brewers, after several failed attempts to acquire good starting pitching on the open market, will go get a good one this time. He'll be a fine number two behind Yovani Gallardo.

13. Aubrey Huff 1B, San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants - He was the MVP of the Giants' offense for the entire year. Enough said.

14. Juan Uribe IF, San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants - Most versatile player on their team, and far too clutch to be let go.

15. Jim Thome DH, Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins - Thome provided thump when Justin Morneau went down. Even at 40, he's still one of the more feared sluggers in the game.

16. Hiroki Kuroda SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
New York Mets - There's no telling when Johan Santana will be healthy again. The Mets need another top of the line starter.

17. Manny Ramirez OF/DH, Chicago White Sox
Detroit Tigers - The Tigers will need more thump in their lineup, and Ramirez can DH there.

18. Kerry Wood RP, New York Yankees
St. Louis Cardinals - Dave Duncan loves those power arms, and Kerry Wood can provide relief for the aging Ryan Franklin at closer.

19. Jake Westbrook SP, St. Louis Cardinals
Los Angeles Dodgers - Chavez Ravine will be a pitcher's paradise for this sinkerballer.

20. Jon Garland SP, San Diego Padres
St. Louis Cardinals - If they fail to sign Westbrook, they'll need another starter to avoid the failure that were exposed last year. Garland is a Dave Duncan type of player.

21. Orlando Hudson 2B, Minnesota Twins
San Diego Padres - Hudson is a winner, and fits the mold of the slash, instead of slug, offense San Diego is developing.

22. Miguel Tejada 3B, San Diego Padres
St. Louis Cardinals - This pains me to think the Cardinals could get him, but he would provide the thump and depth to their offense that they were missing last year. Not to mention he can play every infield spot.

23. Hideki Matsui DH, Los Angeles Angels
Oakland Athletics - The A's need a veteran power hitter, and Matsui could help bring some life to a stagnant offense.

24. Johnny Damon OF, Detroit Tigers
Atlanta Braves - This will give Atlanta a true leadoff hitter, and solve the left field problem.

25. Derrek Lee 1B, Atlanta Braves
Toronto Blue Jays - The Jays need another slugger to go with potential MVP Jose Bautista. If Lee is healthy, he's as good as it gets.


Bargains (these are former stars, or players off the radar that could make a big impact):

Brandon Webb SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
St. Louis Cardinals - Remember when this guy won a Cy Young? And was one of the most feared aces in the league? If he finds that form again, imagine a rotation of Carpenter, Wainwright, Garcia, and Webb. St. Louis could never pass on that.

Joaquin Benoit RP, Tampa Bay Rays
Los Angeles Angels - The Angels need a closer, and Benoit was the best setup man in baseball last year. Why not give it a shot?

Magglio Ordonez OF, Detroit Tigers
Tampa Bay Rays - Ordonez will just be looking for a job after fracturing his ankle. He can provide more offense to Tampa Bay, and bring that veteran leadership.

Adam LaRoche 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
Atlanta Braves - With Lee going to Toronto, and the failed Troy Glaus experiment, LaRoche can return to Atlanta, where he could be very productive again.

Javier Vazquez SP, New York Yankees
Los Angeles Dodgers - Vazquez is an NL pitcher, that is clear. It will be even more so when he goes to a big ball park, like in LA.


Buyer Beware (these are former stars that teams will buy purely on name, and probably get burned):

Lance Berkman 1B, New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox - They need another hitter, and the Red Sox will gamble on the aged and crumbling Berkman.

Brian Fuentes CP, Minnesota Twins
Washington Nationals - The Nationals are looking for a closer, but Fuentes smoke and mirrors style no longer works in this era.

Rich Harden SP, Texas Rangers
Kansas City Royals - The Royals always make a dumb move at some point in the offseason. Count this up as one.

John Buck C, Toronto Blue Jays
Boston Red Sox - He had a good year in a homerun hitter's paradise. The Sox need another catcher and will gamble that 2010 was not just a career year.

Orlando Cabrera SS, Cincinnati Reds
Houston Astros - Cabrera is obviously on his last legs. He's a great player, but not what he once was. Houston will gamble, though, needing a leader and a shortstop.

Sparky, Joey, Walt, and the Options

The award season has started now that the World Series is over, and the first two of what could be many awards for the Reds have come their way. Joey Votto was named the 2010 NL Hank Aaron Award winner, as the National League's top offensive player. We all know the season that Joey had, and I'm sure that come November 22nd, he will be crowned the league MVP as well. Perhaps the most impressive stat? He reached base in 41 consecutive games from May 15 to July 3, the longest such streak by a Red since Pete Rose reached in 48 straight in 1978. General Manager Walt Jocketty was named MLB's top executive by his peers. It's the third time he's won the honor, also earning it in 2000 and 2004 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Jocketty had a plan all along for the Reds, and it clearly took shape with the acquisitions of Orlando Cabrera and Scott Rolen, as well as the bold move of signing Aroldis Chapman. The Reds became relevant once again with their first division title since 1995.


The Reds exercised Bronson Arroyo and Jonny Gomes' options today. Arroyo will come back for $11 million, while the Reds work towards an extension for him. Meanwhile, Jonny Gomes will return at $1.75 million. Cincinnati declined to pick up shortstop Orlando Cabrera's $4 million option, as well as Aaron Harang's $12.75 million option. Look for Cincinnati to try to keep Cabrera at a lower price, and if not, they will go with Janish next year, who proved himself worthy of being a major league shortstop last year. Aaron Harang is most likely done in Cincinnati, unless he cannot find a job elsewhere, in which case I think the Reds would give him an invitation to Spring Training, with the chance of potentially making the club. If he's smart, though, he should make his way out to Los Angeles, where he can pitch at the pitcher's paradise in Chavez Ravine for the Dodgers.


Today, former Cincinnati and Detroit manager Sparky Anderson was placed in hospice in his hometown of California for complications with dementia. He managed in the bigs for 27 years, 8 with the Reds and 19 with the Tigers. At the time, he was the only manager to ever win 100 games with a team in each league, and win a World Series with a team in both leagues. He won in 1975 and 1976 with Cincy, and then in 1984 with Detroit. After winning that one with the Tigers, he could have managed as long as he wanted. He won 2,194 games and is officially in Cooperstown as a Red, in honor of former Reds GM Bob Howsam, who gave him his first job. His #10 is retired in Cincinnati, and he is synonymous with the Big Red Machine. Sparky is truly one of the greatest of all times. He called it like it was, and piled heaps of praise on his players. He was the ultimate players manager, and is still an inspiration to what a major league manager should be. To me, I never saw him manage a game, but he's the greatest there ever was and will be.





"I don't believe a manager ever won a pennant. Casey Stengel won all those pennants with the Yankees. How many did he win with the Boston Braves and Mets? I've never seen a team win a pennant without players. I think the only thing the manager has to do is keep things within certain boundaries."


"The man I marvel at is the one that's in there day after day, and night after night and still puts the figures on the board. I'm talking about Pete Rose, Stan Musial, the real stars. Believe me, especially the way we travel today, flying all night with a game the next night and then the next afternoon, if you can play one-hundred and sixty-two games, you're a man."

Misfits Win the World Series

That didn't play out like I envisioned it.

I foresaw the Rangers' potent lineup slugging the pitching of the Giants, scoring enough runs to take control of games. I also thought their pitching would shut down a strangely shaped San Francisco offense.

But the funny thing about baseball is that when things go wrong, they go wrong in a hurry. And there's no correcting it in this game. Especially in the playoffs.

So when the Giants bombed Cliff Lee in Game 1, I figured things were going to end up strangely in this World Series. A pair of Vladimir Guerrero errors in the 8th inning allowed the Giants to blow the game open. Game 2 was a masterpiece for awhile between Matt Cain and CJ Wilson. Wilson left with a blister though, and Cain rolled on through the game, dominating the Rangers. Ian Kinsler missed a homer by fractions of an inch, barely missing a chance to take the lead. Instead, Edgar Renteria hit a go ahead homer, and the Rangers bullpen blew up in the 8th inning, leading to a 9-0 rout. 

But there still was hope. Texas was headed home, where they got a three run homer by rookie Mitch Moreland, and another outstanding performance from Colby Lewis. With a victory, Texas had its sights on evening the series. Rookie Madison Bumgarner had other plans. He shut out the Rangers through 8 brilliant innings, proving why he's been considered a top prospect for the last several years. Then, tonight, it was a rematch of the aces. Cliff Lee versus Tim Lincecum, in the Rangers' last stand. It was a pitcher's duel through 6 innings, until Edgar Renteria struck again. A three run blast was all the Giants would need. Lincecum turned it over to closer Brian Wilson, who struck out Nelson Cruz to capture San Fran's first World Series since 1954. 

This was a club whose starting 8 changed drastically over the year. By the end of the year, 7 of the 8 position players in the lineup weren't were they were on Opening Day. Buster Posey was called up to catch, leaving the Giants to trade incumbent Bengie Molina. Aubrey Huff was an Orioles castoff, who was the MVP of the club for much of the year. Freddy Sanchez was hurt at the beginning of the year, but the former batting title winner was solid down the stretch. Juan Uribe, who started at 2nd to start the year, ended up playing both shortstop (replacing Edgar Renteria) and third (replacing Pablo Sandoval). Former Cub Mike Fontenot played third down the stretch. Pat Burrell became the slugger in the heart of the lineup, after failing in Tampa. Andres Torres took over in center, and was the catalyst at the top of the order. Postseason hero Cody Ross wasn't even on the team until late August. Former World Series hero Edgar Renteria, who hit three total homers in the regular season, jacked two in the Series. He was up to his old tricks, like when he beat the Indians in Game 7 back in 1997 with an RBI single up the middle in the 11th inning. There were important bullpen pieces added in August, as they became the setup men. And how about the guy they were setting up? Brian Wilson? Talk about a misfit, with that beard and the mohawk. This was a group of players that many didn't want and didn't believe in. 

They proved the whole world wrong.

The Texas Rangers were the story of this season and the postseason. They had so many things going on. Hamilton, Cliff Lee, the bankruptcy, finally winning a playoff series, and on and on. The Giants stole the headlines. They ripped the carpet right out from underneath Texas, and ran with it.

Pitching wins championships. That was no clearer than in this World Series, where Lincecum, Cain, and Bumgarner dazzled in the four wins.

Congratulations San Francisco. You've waited long enough for a winner.

Enjoy this one.

The Fall Classic

There's nothing in sports like the World Series. Especially when it's competitive. The last great World Series we've seen was the 2001 thriller between the Yankees and Diamondbacks. That was a series for the ages, with the underdog DBacks winning on a bloop single from Luis Gonzalez in the 9th inning.

This series could have the same kind of drama. And it starts tonight.

We've got too very different, yet similar teams. Texas is appearing in their first ever World Series, and the Rangers have, arguably, the greatest postseason pitcher in the history of the game with Cliff Lee. Behind him are a bunch of no namers, but look out for Colby Lewis. He's on some kind of run, and pitched an unbelievable game to clinch the ALCS. Neftali Feliz is as electric as it gets at the back end of the bullpen. They have a youthful, energetic team, led by rising star Elvis Andrus at shortstop. If you don't know who this kid is, learn his name quickly, because he's the next Ozzie Smith/Omar Vizquel. Unbelievable hands, footwork, and arm at the shortstop position, as well as great foot speed. He's a singles hitter right now, but he will develop into the best leadoff hitter in the game within two years. Obviously there's the superstar in Josh Hamilton, with sluggers Nelson Cruz and future hall of famer Vladimir Guerrero to protect him. But there's the unsung heroes, like second baseman Ian Kinsler, outfielder David Murphy, and rookie first baseman Mitch Moreland. This is a club that can beat you with their pitching, flash some leather, and blast away at the opposition with a high powered, multifaceted attack.

The Giants are looking for their first World Series title since 1954, when they were the New York Giants. San Fran has co-aces Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, with Jonathan Sanchez behind them, who isn't too far away from being an ace. All of them, including 20 year old Madison Bumgarner, have pitched an excellent game in the playoffs. Because of their depth, and a solid back end of the bullpen with Brian Wilson being the anchor, I like the Giants' pitching more than Texas'. The offense isn't constructed like Texas', and they struggle at times, but make no mistake that anyone in this lineup can take you deep. Cody Ross has channeled his inner Reggie Jackson this October, and Aubrey Huff has had a career revival at first. Don't forget clutch hitting Juan Uribe, who hit the series clincher in Game 6 of the NLCS, and stud rookie Buster Posey. And I haven't even mentioned former 30 homer man Pat Burrell, or the ever dangerous Pablo Sandoval. This lineup isn't quite as fluid as the Rangers' though, so I like Texas in that aspect.

As for how this series will go, I think San Francisco is making a huge mistake by starting Lincecum in Game 1. Yes, I realize he matches up best with Cliff Lee, but no one can truly match up with Lee. The Rangers will be heavily favored to win Game 1, and will most likely, whether it is Lincecum, or say, Sanchez on the hill. So why not start Sanchez? That saves Lincecum and Cain for Games 2 and 3, which gives San Francisco a massive advantage. Instead, I think Texas' offense will come up big again, and Cliff Lee will do what he does. I like Texas in a dramatic seven game series.

Baseball At It's Finest

This is why I love baseball.

After the Rangers historic collapse in Game 1 to the Yankees, I was second guessing my pick that they would go to the World Series. The Yankees did what the Yankees do. They were that professional team that waits the other team out, then strikes when they smell blood. It's why they've won 27 championships. I couldn't help but shrug after the game and realize the Yankees were going to win because of experience.

Texas was finished. Only they weren't. Not even close.

Their postseason rotation is Cliff Lee, CJ Wilson, Colby Lewis, and Tommy Hunter. Other than Cliff Lee, I had no idea who the last three were before this season. Wilson? A former starter, turned reliever, turned starter again who once failed miserably at being a closer. Lewis? He spent the last few years pitching in Japan. Hunter? He was just a farm hand down in the minor leagues, not even a top prospect, just somebody to fill a roster spot. And now they've played a huge role in sending this team to the World Series.

After the blow up in Game 1, Colby Lewis pitched one of the biggest games in team history, as the Rangers lit up 18 game winner Phil Hughes. Then, everyone knew Cliff Lee would win Game 3 in New York, which he did, 8-0. And the Texas offense broke out again scoring 10 runs in Game 4 to take a stunning 3-1 lead in the series. They're the only team in history to score at least 8 runs in back to back games in the postseason in New York against the Yankees. Even after the Yankees thumped Texas to force a Game 6 back in Arlington,  Lewis delivered again. Eight innings of dominant pitching set the stage for a huge victory. By the end of the night, the Yankees had surrendered the 2nd most runs they've ever given up in a playoff series.

So now the team that had won just ONE playoff game in their history before this year, marches to the World Series. Whoever they play, it won't matter. They've overcome the biggest road block already. Between a team that had played in the ALCS 40 times versus a team that was there for the first time, anyone would have taken the Yankees. Especially after Game 1. But the young, deep, and explosive Rangers ran circles around the Yanks, making them look like the aging team they were for much of the 2000s. Youth has set the precedent in baseball. The Rangers have that, the Yankees don't.

The Rangers snubbed the Yankees' history.

Now they're making their own.

What If... (Part Two)

After inquiring what would have happened if the Reds had kept Josh Hamilton, I couldn't help but wonder about the Reds season again, after watching Cliff Lee dominate the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS last night. Lee threw 8 shutout innings, and struck out 13. He now has pitched 24 innings this postseason and is 3-0 with 34 strikeouts. In 8 career postseason starts, he's 7-0 with a 1.26 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings. Wow. No one, and I mean truly no one, compares to what he has done in the playoffs.

What if the Reds had acquired Cliff Lee?

This isn't as farfetched as you might think. Just four days before he was shipped to Texas, there was an Enquirer article (here: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100705/SPT04/307050053/Reds-interested-in-acquiring-Cliff-Lee) about how the Reds had talked to the Mariners about Lee in mid-June.

Lee would have garnered at least one impact bat, an impact pitcher, and another good player. A Yonder Alonso, Travis Wood, and Juan Francisco deal would have gotten the job done. Parting with Alonso and Francisco would have been no big deal. But Wood? That's a tough call. Would they have taken Homer Bailey over him? Maybe.

Is a potential 7 years of what you will get from Wood worth the 3 months and the postseason from Cliff Lee?

The Rangers would tell you yes. They're on a run towards destiny right now.

And the Reds are stuck at home watching. Obviously Lee doesn't make a difference in Game 1 of the NLDS for the Reds. Halladay was all but perfect. You can't beat that. But what if the Reds had won just two more games with Lee? Then they're playing the Braves in the NLDS.

Could they have won that?

We don't know the answer, but we see what might have been by watching these Rangers now.

What If...

On Friday night, when Josh Hamilton ripped an 0-2 pitch in the first inning from C.C. Sabathia down the right field line for a three run homer, I couldn't help but wonder....

What if?

Hamilton's bullet electrified the crowd in Arlington, the way he electrified the crowd in New York on that July evening in 2008 in the Homerun Derby. Then, the next day, the Yankees decided to pitch around him, walking him four times. That's Barry Bonds-like respect.

If Josh Hamilton was still in a Reds uniform, how good would Cincinnati be? (Read this Enquirer article for some interesting stuff on Josh: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101017/SPT04/10180327)

As good as Hamilton is in center, he would be in left in Cincy, with Drew Stubbs remaining in center, in order to protect Hamilton's health. He would experience less wear and tear on his body, especially his legs, which would allow him to continue to produce the power we see from him. Can you imagine him putting up the kind of numbers he put up in 2008 (.304, 32 HR, 130 RBI) and 2010 (.359, 32 HR, 100 RBI) behind Joey Votto? The Reds already have one MVP candidate for years to come, and they could have had two.

Granted, at the time, the trade was not a bad one. The Reds needed pitching, and the Rangers need a fresh player to be the face of their team. Edinson Volquez was a 17 game winner, an All Star, and a true ace in 2008. He hasn't done much since, though he was out because of Tommy John surgery for the majority of that time period. 

Nonetheless, with the now surplus of pitching, and the fact that Cincy seemingly has lacked another big time impact bat at times in the past year, many would redo that trade. I can't decide what I would do. Because Volquez is really the only pitcher on the staff that has the true potential to become a lock down ace (besides Aroldis Chapman). I think in the end, I would have kept Josh. Granted, hindsight is 20/20, but he's the most talented player I've ever seen, other than Ken Griffey Jr. and Albert Pujols.

LCS Set; Reds Awards

With wins by the Giants and Rangers, both League Championship Series are now set. We've got the San Francisco Giants vs. the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL, and the New York Yankees vs. the Texas Rangers in the AL. Both should be good series, dominated by great starting pitching. 

Let's start with the NLCS. How about Tim Lincecum vs. Roy Halladay in Game 1? You couldn't have picked a better pitching match-up. Overall, there's no question that Philadelphia has a better, deeper lineup. And I would take their pitching staff over the Giants, as well, because of the experience of Roy Oswalt and former World Series MVP Cole Hamels. I think the Giants have a better shot of slowing down Philly's offense than the Reds did, but Philadelphia is far too strong to be stopped now. Only an American League team has a shot at beating them. Give me Philadelphia in 5 in the best of 7 series.

Now for the ALCS. First, congratulations to the Texas Rangers on winning their first ever series in the playoffs. It's tough to be able to watch other team's games throughout the course of the year, so I truly didn't have a good bearing on how good the Rangers were. I knew they were good, but I didn't think they were as solid as they showed in their series against Tampa. So kudos to Texas; and to my buddy Jeff, yes, you were right, the Rangers are legit. So here we go, Texas and New York. I love the pitching staff of Texas, especially with Cliff Lee and CJ Wilson at the top, and the back of their bullpen. I think New York's lineup may be a touch stronger, but Texas has more flexibility, with speed up and down the order. This series will be as close as it gets, but with four home games for Texas, I'll take the Rangers in 7.

MVP: Joey Votto - Is there even any doubt? I mean really. He's been the best player on the team for the last several years, and now he's taken it to another level. Votto hits for power, average, and in the clutch. His defense has even improved. He carried this team on his back for stretches, like all the great ones do. One moment always sticks in my mind about him this season. They were down three to Philadelphia, with two out in the 9th inning. Thom Brennaman kept saying they need to get Votto to the plate, representing the tying run. Well, with two down, Phillips and Cabrera both got on, and sure enough, Joey Votto lined a game tying homer into the seats in left center. How much more clutch can you get?

Cy Young: Bronson Arroyo - Arroyo is too important to the team as a whole to ignore. It was his 5th straight season with at least 200 innings, and his 3rd straight season with at least 15 wins, notching a career high 17 wins. Arroyo has been defined by his consistency in Cincinnati. He takes the ball every five days, and I know that any manager in baseball would love to have him on their staff. This guy isn't an ace, but he can sure pitch like one at times, as evidenced by his performance in the playoffs. And he's undoubtedly the glue to this rotation.

Reliever of the Year: Arthur Rhodes - Raise your hand if you thought he'd be an All Star before this season. Yea, that's what I thought. After giving up a homerun on the first weekend of the season, he went on some kind of run. He was the most reliable reliever in all of baseball for a long stretch, and though he faded, Sir Arthur was vital early in the season with all of those bullpen issues.

Rookie of the Year: Mike Leake - As vital as Rhodes was to the bullpen, this guy was to the rotation. While Homer Bailey and Aaron Harang were consistently ineffective, Leake was seemingly throwing 6 or 7 innings of two run ball every time. His arm tired down the stretch, and he became highly ineffective, but for Mike Leake to be this kind of starter without ever throwing a pitch in the minors is absolutely unbelievable.

Surprise of the Year: Miguel Cairo - When Cairo made the club out of spring training, I thought for sure it was a sign that the Reds were doomed for another bad season. Really? He didn't hit in spring, and he didn't hit in April. I thought he was a worthless bum. Little did I, or many other Reds fans know, that he would become vitally important when Votto or Rolen needed time off or were hurt. He stepped right in and would come up with two or three hits and a couple RBI's every game, like clockwork. I don't think the Reds would have been anywhere near where they were without him.

Disappointment of the Year: Aaron Harang - I don't have much to say. I hope he goes to a big ballpark where those cheap homers don't hurt him next year. I'm really not sure what happened with the big guy. Maybe it was that relief appearance in San Diego three years ago. Maybe it was that Jerry Narron let him pitch until his arm would practically fall off in games. He hasn't been good for quite awhile now, which is a tough break for someone that was consistently the Opening Day starter.

Most Important Player: Scott Rolen - I didn't know what to call this award, but I had to throw Scotty in here somewhere. He deserves recognition for having a great season, and really being the engine that got this whole thing started. When Rolen played, the Reds won. Period. He gave this team a presence on the field they haven't had in a long, long time. And when he struggled down the stretch, Cincinnati slumped too. It was a rough end to the year, but it was unbelievable for awhile there in May and June.

Season Ends....Remember When?

The Reds season ended last night on what was a picture perfect October day. Everything was beautiful, and downtown and Great American Ballpark was rocking with 44,599 fans. And the fans were into it. They did everything they could to urge Johnny Cueto to keep them in the game. They got behind the players. It was exactly the kind of atmosphere anyone could have asked for. But the offense never showed up.

The team that led the league in almost every offensive category disappeared for the final month and a half of the season. It was May and June when they surged, behind the hot bats of Scott Rolen and Jonny Gomes. But when they slumped, everyone else did. Good pitching got them through a terrific August, and they slept walked to the division title in September.

But despite the emergence of the offensive presence of Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs, the offense struggled. Why? Gomes didn't do that badly late in the year. Votto held up his end of the bargain.

The answer is Scott Rolen. After the All Star Break, he resembled more of the old, broken down third baseman he was in St. Louis than the MVP candidate he was in the first half of 2010 in Cincinnati. His bat slowed while his shoulders and back ached, and as if overnight, his power disappeared. From July 1st on, Rolen hit just 3 homers after knocking out 17 in the first 3 months.

Then the playoffs came. Joey Votto got nothing to hit, because the Phillies knew they could get Rolen out. And they did. Rolen went a miserable 1 for 11 with 8 strikeouts. And that's from the cleanup hitter. Throw in the fact that Votto was 1 for 10, and the Reds never had a chance.

They really didn't have a chance. 11 hits was all they could muster, which is a record low for the Divisional Series.

Remember when we said the offense would be there, and that the pitching had to hold up their end of the bargain? They did. It was the two things this team could rely on that let them down: offense and defense.


Nonetheless, what a season it has been for the Reds. I mean really, consider all of those amazing (both good and bad) moments over the course of the year:

Do you remember....

Drew Stubbs' grand slam on the first weekend of the year that beat the Cubs?

All of those wild last at bat wins in that first month plus of the year, including the 5 walk off homeruns over the whole year?

That the Reds actually started the season 7-11? How many thought they were dead in the water then?

Chris Heisey, Orlando Cabrera, and Ramon Hernandez teaming up to throw out Skip Schumaker at the plate to win the Civil Rights Game against St. Louis?

Bronson Arroyo tossing a complete game and driving in two runs as the Reds took first place from St. Louis in mid-May?

Beating Trevor Hoffman in the bottom of the 9th, where he could not even record an out?

Johnny Cueto's one hitter, followed by Homer Bailey's 90 pitch shutout?

Scoring just one run in three games in Seattle?

Bronson Arroyo's 5th career homer, a three run shot against the Dodgers?

Joey Votto's game tying three run homer off of Brad Lidge with two outs in the 9th inning against the Phillies?

The Reds rallying for 4 runs after being down 3-0 to Roy Halladay?

Travis Wood's near perfect game?

Being swept in Philadelphia before the All Star Break, including a pair of extra inning losses, along with two 1-0 losses?

Edinson Volquez's return to the majors?

Chris Heisey robbing the Braves of a homerun to keep the game tied?

Getting swept by St. Louis, and the brawl?

Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs' three homer games, each against the Cubs?

The 6-3 West Coast swing, including a dramatic game in San Francisco, where they blew a 9 run lead, and rallied back to win?

Aroldis Chapman's debut?

Travis Wood's homer off of Adam Wainwright?

Joey Votto's walk off homer on the night the Reds honored Pete Rose?

Jay Bruce's walk off to win the division?

The Reds' season is over. But the memories will last until March 31st, 2011. When a new season dawns, and the defending NL Central Champs will look to make another run at a Reds October.

Christmas in October

Who knew the Reds would play Santa Claus Friday night in Philadelphia?

Behind homers by Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce, and great pitching from Bronson Arroyo, the Reds jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Philadelphia. They chased their ultimate nemesis in Roy Oswalt. You could have heard a pin drop in Philly it was so quiet. 

But then the Reds found themselves staring at the adversity of all adversities this year. And it was of their own doing.

Two errors by Phillips, one by Rolen, and another by Bruce, where he lost the ball in the lights, led to an astounding 5 unearned runs for the Phillies. Rolen also made a poor decision in trying to cut down the lead runner in the 7th, when he had a sure out at first. Throw in three hitbatsmen and six walks, and the Phillies must have felt like kids on Christmas morning.

Cincinnati gift wrapped this one. And all of the sudden the crowd was roaring like Roy Halladay had thrown another no hitter.

The defense that was so good all year failed miserably. 

A win would have given them a good shot at home to win the series. Now they return home, with their backs against the wall.

Maybe they'll rally, put up a fight, and send it back to Philadelphia. It would be nice.

It's been one unbelievable ride, from start to finish. I just don't think anyone thought it might be coming to an end like this. Not the way it did Friday night.

Just One Game

You with me now? Take a step back from that edge, and take a deep breath. The season and this series is far from over. 

Roy Halladay was nearly perfect for one game. A walk was all that prevented him from attaining perfection. It was still only the second no hitter in the history of the playoffs. (The other being a perfect game by the Yankees Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series.)

Once the Phillies got that early lead, it was all over but the crying. There was still seven innings to go, but there was that feeling the Reds wouldn't sniff a run off of Halladay.

In the end, they couldn't sniff a hit. Travis Wood's lineout was the closest thing they got to a hit against the ace of aces.

Maybe Edinson Volquez was the wrong choice for game one. That's easy to say now. 

The '27 Bronx Bombers couldn't have beaten Halladay tonight.

But maybe the 2010 Reds will beat Oswalt Friday.

Right now, the no hitter is just a part of history. Hopefully the Reds can make it history with a win Friday night.

Playoffs Set to Begin; Reds, Phillies Clash

Cincinnati finished up their season at an impressive mark of 91-71. They now enter the playoffs as the third seed, with Philadelphia and San Francisco both having better records than them. They're set to take on the Phillies, and it's time to break down each series.

ALDS (best of 5):

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers: This might be the best series that the playoffs will have to offer. Game one features an incredible matchup between Cliff Lee and David Price. Both teams have elite offenses, can run, and play outstanding defense. The Rays have the experience and a deeper rotation, but I love the Rangers lineup. If Josh Hamilton is healthy, Texas is the clear favorites, I think. I also like the fact that the Rangers' bullpen is so deep. So I'm going with the upset, and I'll take Texas over Tampa in 5.

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees: I know the Phillies are on a roll, and the Rays won the division, but I can't shake the feeling that New York is still the team to beat in the playoffs. If Andy Pettitte is healthy and ready to go, the Yanks will be tough to beat with their rotation. But without him, I don't think they have a clear guy behind CC Sabathia. Minnesota is without Justin Morneau, and their lack of an ace in October could hurt them. I like the Yankees in 4.

NLDS (best of 5):

San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves: It has been a tremendous run for both of these teams, and it's nice to see Bobby Cox back in the postseason. But I think the Giants lineup is much deeper, and Lincecum and Cain are both awfully tough to beat, especially out in their home ballpark. Atlanta is banged up, and I'm not sure how ace Tim Hudson will hold up after slumping down the stretch. I'll take the Giants in the sweep.

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds: Oh, the Phillies haven't already won this series? It seems like everyone in the national media has just looked past this series, and advanced Philadelphia to the next round. Not so fast. The Reds beat Roy Halladay once this year, pounding out 13 hits off of him, and they've beaten Roy Oswalt twice this year as well. I like the Reds bullpen and defense better than Philadelphia's. I also think Cincinnati's lineup matches up well against the bunch of fastball throwing pitchers that the Phillies will use. Cincinnati proved the doubters wrong all year, and there's an air of destiny to this team. Can they do it one more time? Cincinnati in 4.

For the Reds, Nothing Could Have Been Sweeter...

It was everything any Reds fan could have asked for.

It was symbolic of the entire season.

They scratched across a couple of runs on infield hits through the first eight innings. They battled and tried to grind their way to runs all night. It seemed like the big hit wouldn't come.

But it had to, didn't it?

Rolen got things started in the first. 

Edinson Volquez was lights out.

Drew Stubbs may have made the defensive play of the season, robbing a two run shot to center. 

The pitching and defense was there, as it had been all year. But where was the offense?

In front of a playoff type atmosphere, the crowd waited for that offense. And then the lightening struck. 

Jay Bruce, who had struggled all year off of lefties, until just recently, launched a bomb to center off of a lefty to win the division.

How bout that? Nobody understood why Dusty stuck with Stubbs or Bruce all year. How could he keep running out those struggling, young players?

It was for this. This moment.

And who came through? The kids. Volquez on the hill, Stubbs in center, and Bruce at the plate.

The playoffs are back in Cincinnati. And with these kids, we should get used to it.