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."