Cincinnati Reds Unsung Heroes Continue to Produce

The Reds are chalk-full of talent.

Sure they have a possible Triple Crown candidate in Joey Votto—and fellow All-Stars Brandon Phillips and Scott Rolen. The pitching staff has been solid if not spectacular, lead by the most consistent pitcher in the majors: Bronson Arroyo.

But the glue that keeps this team together is the bench. They are unsung heroes that have proven to be the WD-40 to the Reds machine when it gets a bit rusty. The players that were expected to be after thoughts have instead been essential to the Reds success.

Dusty Baker has told media members that the team would be lost without them. Votto calls them "essential" to the team’s good fortunes. Here are the unsung heroes of the 2010 Reds:

Paul Janish

Janish is known for his spectacular defense. He has incredible range and could perform a mean two-step with the incredible footwork is posses. He also has a cannon for an arm and has shown in the past that no play is out of his reach.

The issue has always been his bat. The concern was horrific enough that the Reds had to sign Orlando Cabrera over the winter. Right as Janish was preparing for his first season as a starter, the Reds scooped up a new guy. So Janish returned to a familiar place—the bench.

Once Cabrera went to the DL it was finally his time to show he indeed can carry a decent stick. He's played everyday for a month and has produced a .286 average and a .366 OPS. He has collected 10 RBI in the eight spot in the lineup. He had the game tying single in the wacky 12-11 win over the Giants on Wednesday.

I'd argue he should stay in the starting lineup when Cabrera and his .260 average, .302 OBP and limited range at short return. Tough decision for Dusty.

Ryan Hanigan

Being the backup catcher isn't quite a glamorous job. But Hannigan has looked oh-so smooth doing it. The 30 year-old has produced a .282 batting average in 52 games. He has knocked in 32 RBI, tripling his previous career high, and has solidified the bottom of the order.

Hannigan is the personal catcher of Arroyo, but has hit his way into playing more than just every fifth day. The reliable "Hanny" has been a key tool on the Reds belt.

Chris Heisey

Heisey was brought up in early May to make his major league debut. So far, so good for the 25 year-old out of Lancaster Pennsylvania, he has been invaluable as a late game replacement. He has blasted three pinch-hit homeruns in the eighth inning of later.

He provides stellar defense wherever you put him in the outfield. He hit .323 in the month of July with a .364 OBP. He has turned into one of Dusty's top pinch hitters in the late innings.

The strikeouts need to be cut down (34 K's and only 15 walks), and the .186 August average indicates he hasn't completely figured out how to hit major league pitching.

As September approaches, the Reds will need Heisey to make the necessary adjustments to continue to be the feared bat he has been off the bench.

Logan Ondrusek

Ondrusek is another rookie, whom has come out of nowhere to be a consistent contributor out of the Reds bullpen. He went 20 straight appearances without allowing an earned run. The 25 year-old Texas native has a nasty sinker that has stunning movement.

He's 3-0 and has been the go to pitcher in the seventh inning lately for Dusty. Expect him to be placed in some huge situations over the next two months.

Jordan Smith

Yet an additional rookie, Smith didn't come to the big club until the middle of June. Since then he has been back-and-forth between Cincinnati and Louisville like a yo-yo.

He allowed only a single run in his first 8.2 innings pitched. He has excelled in his role as a long reliever or situational pitcher. His location has been terrific, allowing only six walks compared to 21 Ks. The 3.67 ERA is a little misleading due to a few bad outings, but this kid has late inning potential.

It will be interesting to watch his progress amidst a pennant race that's getting hotter than black concrete in August,

Miguel Cairo

The biggest unsung hero of them all? Cairo has been invaluable to the Reds with his ability to play anywhere on the field and provide timely hitting.

Spring Training was a last ditch effort for Cairo to hang on with a team. The journeyman made a bet with his daughter he would make the squad—even she thought his career was over.

Fast forward six moths and the Reds would not be in first with out him. After sitting next to a box of Dusty toothpicks until June, his number was called and he delivered.

He has .287 average and .353 OBP, but the stats only tell half the story. Cairo is seeing the ball better than ever in his career. His 8.1 percent walk rate is a career high. He has a 27 percent rate of scorching a line-drive—much better than the league average.

The 36 year-old Cairo also brings to the table a strong veteran presence amongst all the young Reds players. He has teamed with Rolen, Cabrera and Rhodes to show this team how to win and keep winning.

Playing for the veteran’s minimum, Cairo is a steal and a valuable piece of the '10 puzzle. A crucial ninth inning AB awaits and Reds fans can feel safe with him at the plate.

Cincinnati Reds' Laynce Nix Deserves Nod Over Ice-Cold Jonny Gomes

The Cincinnati Reds offense has been nothing short of spectacular this season. But it could be even better with one simple tweak.

The line-up has been excellent—first in the N.L. with 602 runs to be exact. It’s been a major factor in the Reds' '10 success.

Joey Votto, Scott Rolen, and Brandon Phillips have been the chief contributors. Ramon Hernandez, Miguel Cairo, Jay Bruce, Chris Heisey and recently Paul Janish have been solid if not extremely steady. Drew Stubbs as been up and down but he does have more RBI (57) than Derek Jeter, Jason Heyward, Ryan Ludwick, Lance Berkman, Chipper Jones, Jason Bay, and Jose Reyes.

But there is one part of the line-up that hasn't been producing for quite a while now. LF Jonny Gomes started the year in a platoon situation with Laynce Nix. As both players split time throughout the first two months.

Gomes blasted out of the gate as fast as a jackrabbit. He separated himself by hitting .364 with 22 RBI in the month of May. Manager Dusty Baker decided that was enough production to hand the reigns to Gomes for virtually every start since.

Since then Gomes has fallen off in a big way. He hit a mere .244 in June, followed by a .288 OBP and a .240 clip the next month—while starting all but three games in July.

In his last 54 games he's hitting a miserable .222 with four home runs and 19 RBI. Since the All-Star break (31 games) he has hit .218 with two homers and six RBI. He is one for his last 19.

Do these numbers look like starter material? I haven't even mentioned his dreadful defense that is amongst the worst for outfielders.

Yet it's not as if Gomes isn't valuable to the team. He is a great presence in the clubhouse and keeps the team's energy at a high level. But let's face it: Gomes is a career .245 hitter and the back of his baseball card is starting to show.

Enter Nix.

He had a tortoise-like slow start to the season, but has been great in limited action of late.

Pinch-hitting is as tough as it gets for baseball players. Sit for eight innings while trying to stay mentally ready, grab a bat—while having sat for three hours—face the other teams top relievers and deliver in the clutch.

Nix has made it look easy. He's 18 for his last 37 with seven starts over that period of time. He has raised his average 60 points since mid-July to .291.

His defense isn't gold glove caliber, but it's much better than Gomes. Nix has a cannon for an arm and has made his fair share of run saving catches.

So the question remains...why does Dusty keep neglecting post-May Nix? He deserves to be playing more—especially with Gomes struggling so much.

The Reds need to give Nix a shot at playing everyday again and see what happens. Imagine how much better the Reds offense would be with a guy NOT hitting .218 since the break? Imagine a stronger left field defensively?

If Gomes is the hare than Nix is the tortoise. We all know who wins the race in the end.

Brandon Phillips' Comments Backfire as Reds Get Pummeled by Cardinals

“I’d play against these guys with one leg. We have to beat these guys. I hate the Cardinals. All they do is bitch and moan about everything, all of them, they’re little bitches, all of ‘em.

“I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear: I hate the Cardinals.”—Reds 2B Brandon Phillips prior to three-game set against the Cardinals this week.

First off, let me say that the comments uttered by Phillips are spot-on. The Cardinals complain about stupid little things like balls being rubbed differently and Bronson Arroyo's hat. Manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan are whiners. The real problem is that they are whiners who are also winners.

Nobody likes the team that beats everyone in a game of basketball yet still complains that the opponents were fouling like crazy. Herein lies the problem Phillips has with the organization—they are complaining about things that don't even affect the win and loss totals for the Cards. They are the divisional powerhouse and are still not satisfied.

So in that regard, Phillips is indeed correct. Many other players around baseball nodded their heads in agreement when they read his comments.

The part of all this I disagree with is the timing of it all. The veteran Cardinals have been on cruise control for most of the 2010 campaign. Why light a 20-foot fire the day you go in the forest? Why give them the motivation needed to beat the crap out of you? Baseball is all about being steady, not getting too up or too down.

That was not the case on Tuesday.

The brawl between the two clubs was a joy to watch—by far the best one of the season, as even the two managers were jawing at each other!

Former Cardinal turned Reds third baseman Scott Rolen was playing peacemaker until the uncalled-for comments of pitcher Chris Carpenter—directed towards Reds manager Dusty Baker—enraged Rolen. Next thing you knew, starting pitcher Johnny Cueto was pinned to the backstop kicking Cardinal players away just to avoid being trampled.

Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue was the only player to get hurt, but plenty of punches and pushes were thrown. I'd say the fight was a draw. And yes, Cardinal fans, you would start kicking people away too if you were pinned against a wall with 50 professional athletes getting shoved in your direction.

The problem is that now it looks as if Rolen and Cueto will be suspended. Carpenter might be the only one on the Cardinals' side to be punished (and I'm sure they will complain about it). All of this stemmed from Phillips' comments.

Now let's talk about actual play on the field.

In a nutshell, the Cards have crushed the Reds over the past three days. A two-game lead for the Reds has turned into a one-game lead for St. Louis. The Cardinals have been playing extremely angrily, and the Redlegs weren't ready for the boost in intensity.

There is no way to judge how much of an impact Phillips' comments had on the Cardinals' performance. Former Cardinal Al Leiter places all the blame on Phillips for the brawl. So is this whole disaster of a series his fault?

No, not at all. Is it his fault that the Reds' pitching has been horrendous? Is it his fault the outfield has looked like there were three Adam Dunns out there? Sure, he only collected two hits in the series, but there were plenty of other problems that could be blamed for this debacle.

But this is not a "ship has sailed" moment either. It's only three of 162 games. There are 50-plus games to go. The two teams play each other one more time in St. Louis in early September. The Reds have the easiest remaining schedule in all of baseball. The NL Central dregs are all still on the slate.

Don't take this series as anything more than what it was. The Reds have shown they aren't ready to take down the older brother just yet—but let's see if they can a month down the road.

Chalk this up as a learning experience for the young Reds. Pennant fever is getting hotter and hotter.

The Cincinnati Reds Trade For Jim Edmonds, Turning Villian Into Savior?

The list of former Cardinals turned Reds grew again today. Cincinnati sent OF Chris Dickerson to the Brewers for the 40 year-old Jim Edmonds.

Former Cardinals and current Reds G.M. Walt Jocketty has acquired Scott Rolen, Jason Isringhausen, Russ Springer, and Miguel Cairo in the past year—all Cardinals at one point or another.

The big question: does Edmonds have anything left in the tank?

In 217 plate appearances he is hitting .286, but only has eight homers and 20 RBI after sitting out the entire '09 season. He's a left-handed stick, and has been hitting pretty consistently since the break (.333).

The majority of his time has been spent in CF, and that's where he will be starting for the Reds on Monday night. Can you guess who they are playing?

The Cardinals come to town for the biggest home series in 10 years for the Reds. There are two games separating them and Jocketty has obviously acknowledged the importance of winning this series.

Edmonds has played in the postseason seven different times. He is a .285 career hitter that will bring a great deal of veteran leadership to the club. He has accumulated eight gold gloves over his career. He can tell a guy like Jay Bruce what it's like to play in meaningful September and October games.

I don't think this move was a great idea, but giving up Dickerson isn't the end of the world. He's a guy that never seemed to fit into the Reds plans and he just coudn't get over the hump.

Dickerson has been consistently injured. He has been hurt for three months—just like last year. He was hitting just .205 in 44 at-bats with the Reds this season. Since his return, though, he's been hot while batting .442 with three homers and six steals in his first 13 games at AAA Louisville.

So, while I'm not a huge fan of Edmonds, it's not as if the Reds gave up a five-tool prospect. But I think there is a subliminal reason for Reds' fans to not like Edmonds.

He used to be one of the most disliked players when he was a Cardinal. Remember when there was a report that Ken Griffey Jr. called ESPN to complain that Edmonds was making it on "Top Plays" more than Junior? The rumor said that Griffey was jealous and wanted ESPN to do something about it.

That report really pissed me off. The guy was already a Reds killer on the field, (like many of the top N.L. Central hitters of the 00's) and now some stupid fake rumor like this was floating around? I'm sure Edmonds had nothing to do with it, but it angered me just the same.

Well now it's 2010 and Reds fans have to root for the guy. It was a low risk move that might have it's most profound effects outside of the box-score. If he's still able to play a decent CF and continue to hit in the .280's, well done Jocketty.

If not, he will certainly have a short lease with me. But then again, the starter for most of the year (Drew Stubbs) is still hovering below .240.

A move had to be made and Jocketty went with a familar face. We will know very quickly if it was the right move.

What Should the Cincinnati Reds Do With Drew Stubbs?

The Reds are starting to get to the end of the bat stub with their starting center fielder. Drew Stubbs is currently going through the worst stretch of his short major league career. In his last 36 at bats, he has just one hit and 17 strike-outs. Ewww...

That's a monster-sized slump that can't be tolerated on a team in a pennant race. Going back even further, in 52 games since June 1st, he's sporting these numbers: .222 BA/.271 OBP/.634 OPS with seven HR, 24 RBI and 58 K.

Bottom line, a .229 overall batting average is not going to cut it for a team 12 games above .500.

But it's not as if Stubbs is completely useless. He plays a great center field and has 18 stolen bases. Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman called him the fastest player he's seen in his 20 years covering the game.

The speedster has pop as well. Stubbs has 13 home-runs and 49 RBI. Hitting out of the seven-hole, 49 RBI isn't shabby.

The problem? There is another option down in the farm system. His name? Chris Dickerson.

Dickerson is on fire at AAA. He collected three more hits last night. He's hitting .421 in 12 games on his rehab assignment. He's drawing walks (.511 OBP) and stealing bases (five of six). Remember, he was the guy patrolling CF on Opening Day.

His wrist is healed and he is ready to go. What's the harm in sending Stubbs down to AAA for a few weeks and letting him get his stroke/confidence back? A fresh Dickerson, along with Chris Heisey, can man the CF spot for the next month and allow Stubbs a chance to clear his head.

Normally, the Reds wouldn't touch Stubbs during this time of year. "Give the young guy reps" is always the mantra when a team is well out of the play-off race.

This year is different. The margin for error is very slim when the competition (St. Louis) is much more experience in a pennant race. The Reds can't afford the young Stubbs time to work out the kinks in his swing.

For now, why not roll the dice and see what Dickerson can do in pressure ABs? The oft-injured California kid has never had this opportunity in three big league seasons. If he doesn't work out, Stubbs can be vaulted right back up to the Reds line-up.

But for now, Dusty Baker needs to do something. Shake up the order a bit and let Stubbs figure his swing out at the AAA level, not for a team trying to make the post-season for the first time since '95.

The Cincinnati Reds' Core Relievers Need Relief

Dusty Baker has always been criticized for overusing his starting pitching. Critics point to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior as exhibits A and B. Then there is the whole fiasco with Aaron Harang in May of '08.

I always thought he got a raw deal on that label. Wood's delivery made him destined to screw up his arm, and Prior was simply a one-and-a-half-year wonder. Harang seems fine mechanically; he just hasn't been able to avoid the home run ball.

Homer Bailey has recently been placed on the DL, and the critics are starting to blame Baker again. But his shoulder injury has nothing to do with Dusty, and Bailey looks to be ready to go in 15 days. Bailey himself got angry with the media when they tried connecting those dots.

The real problem for Baker and the Reds: his over-reliance on the back end of the bullpen. Sure, seemingly every game has come down to the final few innings. Sure, the Reds boast one of the best setup men in the league. But Arthur Rhodes, Nick Masset, and Francisco Cordero are all on pace to set personal records for appearances.

The 40-year-old Rhodes, who just pitched in his 800th career game, is on pace to pitch in a career-high 74 games. It's hard not to use a guy with a 0.47 ERA and 0.62 WHIP. The problem is that he is ancient in baseball years and needs more rest if the Reds plan on using him in September.

The 28-year-old Masset hasn't pitched well of late, blowing two games in the past week. Yet he is still a reliable setup man that can provide key outs in the eighth inning of a tight game. Giving up an Opening Day grand slam to the Cardinals' Yadier Molina has left Masset's 7.29 ERA as bloated as a Goodyear blimp.

He is projected to pitch in a whopping 88 games. That is 14 more than his career high of last year. He has closer velocity, but injuries are certainly a concern if he keeps this rate up.

Cordero, the $12M, 11-year veteran, has not been his usual dominant self this season. The 35-year-old "Co Co" has already blown three saves—he blew a total of four saves last year.

Is it because of his workload? His current career high in appearances is 77. This year Dusty has him on a pace for 90 games! That's waaay too many. Sure, he's on pace to have 54 saves, but there is no way his arm doesn't fall off before that. In a five-game stretch last week, he pitched in four of them.

Why hasn't Baker used the overpaid Mike Lincoln more? He's only pitched three times since May 8. His ERA is a fat 5.87, but that is the result of two rough outings. Give him the ball a bit more to relieve the relievers.

What about Carlos Fisher? Pitching only twice since May 7, he hasn't had a chance to deflate his 9.39 ERA. He has been better of late and is another fine candidate for a bigger part of the winning formula. After starting off the year on the DL, Fisher is 100 percent, young (27), and hungry for a bigger role. Why not give him a shot?

But the biggest head scratcher of the bunch is the lack of use of Micah Owings. I assume Baker views him as the long reliever, but why not utilize him more often? On pace for only 77 innings, the former starter threw 119.2 innings last year—including a stint on the DL. Clearly this guy has plenty of juice in his arm still. A perfect 3-0, and he averages a strikeout per inning so far.

The 27-year-old righty has a 3.43 ERA and is also a legitimate threat at the plate. Dusty always tiptoes around the pitcher's spot in the batting owner, and Owings is an easy solution. Why can't he be relied upon more often?

Baker has a bad rap for screwing up starting pitchers' arms. Yet the real problem may be the lack of rest for the meat of the bullpen. Rhodes and Cordero are getting to the twilight of their careers and are being worked harder than ever. The results have shown lately in the multiple blown leads over the past week.

The time is now to ease up on them and give some of the others a larger role. If not, Baker could have a new title: reliever wrecker.

Epic Collapse Dampens Cincinnati Reds Winning Vibes

Ouch.

The tires are flat just a few days after the Reds bandwagon was getting full.

After holding a commanding 9-1 lead, the Reds end up losing 10-9 in stomach punching fashion to the Atlanta Braves.

The Reds jumped out to a eight run lead in the second inning and everything seemed juuuust fine. Rookie Mike Leake had his seventh quality start in eight appearances, going six innings giving up five hits and three runs (one earned).

Mike Lincoln breezed through two innings before manager Dusty Baker inexplicably left him in for the ninth. At 9-3, it didn't seem like a big deal.

After getting into massive trouble Nick Masset was brought in for damage control in a 9-5 game. He walked a batter then was the victim of a Miguel Cairo error and was relieved by the 40-year old veteran Arthur Rhodes. He promptly struck out the Braves best hitter Jason Heyward (the guy that beat the Reds on Wednesday).

Then Dusty brought in closer Francisco Cordero to finish of Atlanta and those pesky Braves once and for all. Yet another questionable call if you ask me. Well, guess what happened? Pinch hitter Brooks Conrad hits a grand slam, and the Braves complete the epic comeback.

This one hurts bad. Really bad. Giving up a lead like that might stick with the club for awhile. It's a loss that could be looked at in September as one of the reason the Reds just didn't cut the mustard in '10. Losing two games in a row via the walk-off has given the Reds a taste of their own medicine.

The Cardinals have regained first place, and now the Reds are playing catch-up again. This isn't a "the sky is falling" article, but holy crap this is a tough one to swallow. The best thing the Reds can do now is completely erase it from their collective memories, and beat the living daylights out of the Cleveland Indians.

There are now legit concerns regarding the $12M closer, Francisco Cordero. He has blown three saves already, he only had four of last year! He is 35, and clearly not quite the pitcher he once was. He might be getting over worked by Dusty, but either way something aint right. Simply put, he is having trouble throwing strikes. Oh, and the set-up man Masset blew the game before.

As a strength for most of the year, the bullpen is now becoming a startling problem for the Reds.

It's not the end of the world, but this next week will be very telling about the resolve of this young Reds team. This is the time when veterans such as Scott Rolen and Orlando Cabrera need to lead by example, and make sure the team doesn't unravel. Sure it's still May but the Red Legs need to put a hurting on their Ohio rivals to regain the swagger they had built up over the past week.

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Cincinnati Reds Are Rolling The Right Way In May

The month of May has been good to the Cincinnati Reds. They have gone 7-4 through a Cardinals, Cubs, Mets and Pirates slate.

The hitting is coming around, currently ranked fifth in the N.L. with 158 runs scored. But the major turn-around as been courtesy of the starting pitching.

After a magical one-hit complete game shut-out by Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey followed suit. He gave up a whopping five hits over a complete game shut-out. The legendary Dayton Daily News beat writer Hal McCoy sums it up best:

"Reds pitchers gave up one run over 27 innings. The Pirates third base coach was as lonely as a cop directing traffic in the Arctic Circle"

Bailey (1-2) needed only 90 pitches—73 for strikes—to close out the Reds' fifth straight win. He did not go to a three-ball count the whole game and only went to a two-ball count four times.

“That's the epitome of pitch conservation right there,” manager Dusty Baker said. “He followed Johnny Cueto’s lead right there. That’s the most well-pitched two days that I’ve seen in a long time.”

Cueto and Bailey become the first pair of Reds pitchers to fire back-to-back complete-game shutouts since Jose Rijo and Tom Browning accomplished the feat on June 9 & 10, 1989 at Los Angeles.

Bailey loves the Pirates—he has a 5-0 record lifetime against the AAAA club. Sure he got rocked against the Cubs last week, but he seems to have found out how to conserve his pitches better than in the past. He is still a work in progress, but the 23 year-old is finally learning from previous mistakes.

Couple the terrific past two days with a seemingly revived Aaron Harang, a steady Bronson Arroyo a phenom in the making in rookie Mike "who needs the minors" Leake, and the Reds suddenly have one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball.

Sure the ERA and wins, loss records aren't there. Yet after a rocky month of April the Reds hold 16 quality starts—sixth in the N.L.

Sure it's only May, there is plenty of games to be played (128 to be exact), but the season is over 20 percent complete.

Still too early to declare 2010 "the year", last season the club was 26-20 at one point. But this team has the right chemistry. No more aging stars with ego's too big for the clubhouse. No Corey Patterson's or Willy Taveras'. Just a lot of youngsters that are enjoying the ride that is being a Major League baseball player.

Reds media relations guru Jamie Ramsey blogged about how manager Dusty Baker took the team out to dinner Sunday night. Baker seems to genuinely like this team:

"He gave a heartfelt post-dinner speech to the guys in which he called the group "special" and told the guys to believe they can win this season. It was nice and the team responded to it. There was a nice energy in the room"

Dusty picked up the check for the whole team too!

On the offensive side, the veterans (Scott Rolen, Brandon Phillips, Orlando Cabrera, Johnny Gomes) are starting to put up numbers usually expected when looking at the back of their respectiveve baseball cards. Joey Votto is on his way to the All-Star game, and even Jay Bruce has righted the ship.

“He’s been much better,” Baker said. “We try to give him some theories and philosophies. We have talk to left-handers who can hit left-handers.”

Baker has had Bruce talk to Luis Gonzalez and Raul Ibanez.

Bruce’s splits are pretty even this year, quite the opposite of '09. He went into Wednesday hitting .250 off left-handers and .273 off right-handers. He has two homers off LHs and two off RHs, even though he had 49 more at-bats vs. righties.

He is second on the team with 16 walks and seems to not fall for the garbage in the dirt as much over the past few weeks.

So all is well in Red Leg land, but a larger question still remains. Can this team compete with the division leading St. Louis Cardinals? Beating the Pirates is one thing, but getting Albert Pujols out consistently is a whole different beast.

Nobody likes to throw the term "must win series" out in May, but the Reds need to take two of three to let themselves know it's not just a one team race in the N.L. Central. The Reds sit only one game out of first, but it feels like the gap is much wider. This weekend the Reds can prove that's not the case.

Brandon Phillips Will Never Be the Leader the Cincinnati Reds Need

Brandon Phillips is a good player, one of the best players for the Cincinnati Reds. Yet he continually disappoints fans with his lack of hustle.

Case in point: Tuesday night against the New York Mets.

Phillips laces a pitch off the left- center field wall that ended up taking a weird bounce. Had he been hustling, Phillips would have easily cruised into third with a triple. Instead he admired his hit and managed to only make it to second.

Joey Votto followed Phillips with a deep drive to left-center. Had Phillips been on third he would have been able to trot home on sacrifice fly. Not a big deal? The Mets beat the Reds by one run.

“He’s been talked to about this,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “We’ve talked to Brandon quite often".

Phillips is one of the Reds best players. He plays outstanding defense at second base, and has a Golden Glove to show for it. He has been a career .274 hitter for the Reds and is very durable, having battled various finger and wrist injuries throughout his Redlegs tenure. He's the only Red to play every inning this year.

But he is not the leader the Reds need.

He has claimed in the past of his desire to be the "face of the franchise", and how he wants to play the rest of his career in Cincinnati. Sure, he busts out that huge grin for the annual Reds van PR campaign. He does his part in the community to ensure the Reds maintain a positive image with it's fans.

Unfortunately, he simply doesn't lead by example on the field.

"I guess he’s better than he used to be. We’re trying to get him to the point where he can be a big difference maker every day. He certainly has the skill and ability,” said Baker.

Better than he used to be?? Last year he was called out in a series against the Royals for missing a sign. He was also criticized for lack of hustle on another deep hit that could have been a double or triple. Instead, Phillips got a single out of it.

There is no need to admire the ball you hit Brandon, that's what replays on the scoreboard and game tape are for. The Reds are bad enough on offense as it is (.238 team average), they need every base they can get.

Joey Votto and Scott Rolen hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning of the Mets game, and both players practically sprinted around the bases. Was this a direct signal from the true leaders of the team to Phillips?

Baker has always been a "player's manager," and it really does show with the way he handles Phillips. A day after the gaffe he was once again in the starting lineup, business as usual.

“What’s tough as a manager is when you’ve got an A-student who’s getting Bs,” Baker said.

Time to put Phillips in detention for a few games until he learns his lesson. But will he even get the message?

History says no.

Fans Hate The Cincinnati Reds More Than The New York Yankees?

The latest article by the Wall Street Journal puzzles me to say the least.

According to the report , the Cincinnati Reds are the third most hated team in baseball with a 1.5 ranking.

An Internet algorithm built by Nielsen Co . analyzes how people feel about certain things, and the nation apparently hates the Reds. The system uses various keywords to find out whether people have positive, negative or neutral reactions to different brands and products.

The most hated team oddly enough was the Cleveland Indians (.9). What's up with all the Ohio hate? The Boston Red Sox (1.1) were second, a much more believable ranking.

My thoughts on how this could happen are directly at the self hatred for the two Ohio teams. Reds and Indians fans are extremely hard on their respective teams. The losing adds up and you would have to scour the web to find a lot of positive message board comments and blog posts praising the two franchises.

For some reason the brand logo isn't well liked either. What's wrong with a big "C"? I happen to like Mr. Red, why hate him Rosie and Mr. Redlegs? The jerseys are as plain as it gets.

It's not like there a ton of players on the team to hate. Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips,

There is no way the Reds would finsih third in a straight-up poll of fans on most hated teams. The Yankees (1.8) only finished fifth in the rankings! Clearly that isn't the case—the Yanks have been coined "The Evil Empire!"

This study might go on to prove something that fans already know, the team sucks and we are going to type, read, and talk about how much they suck. It's depressing to think about, but it's true—fans are fed up with the constant rebuilding, retooling, and reloading.

We the fans want to win NOW. I don't care about how awesome the prospects in AAA are. How good is my team right now?

Or maybe it has to do with the location of the teams. Both Ohio teams are in the top three in most hated while the Bay Area San Francisco Giants (4.5) and Oakland Athletics (4.2) were the most-liked teams on this scale.

Either way this study really perplexes me. If anybody can make some sense out of this...help me out.

2010 Cincinnati Reds Season Preview

The 2010 baseball season is upon us and that means it's prediction time.

The consensus on the Cincinnati Reds is sleeper status. They have the potential to make a run with their abundance of young talent. On the other hand, a injury here or there and the Reds will be lucky to break the horrid streak of nine straight years finishing below .500.

The problem is there are too many questions.

What if Aroldis Chapman and his 100 mph fastball are called up in June and he takes the National League by storm?

What if Jay Bruce lives up to the sky-high expectations set for him as a 20-year-old rookie?

What if Aaron Harang bounces back from a disgusting 12-31 mark over the past two years?

What if Mike Leake makes fans forget about Chapman as he shows his critics why he's the first pitcher since the '80s to skip the minor leagues completely?

Veteran skipper and ex-big league player Dusty Baker leads the Reds. Plenty of fans in Cincinnati can't wait for the toothpick-toting, armband-wearing manger to be fired. He still carries the "kills young pitching" rep that unjustly followed him from the Chicago Cubs.

He does tinker with the lineup a bit much in regards to always trying to match righties and lefties, but other than that, he has not been the issue in his two years at the helm for the Reds. He hasn't killed any young arms and has done a magnificent job juggling the innings of the No. 3 ranked bullpen.

Francisco Cordero has been the key cog in allowing fans to relax with a one-run lead. He had 39 saves in 43 chances last year, was the only All-Star for the team, and he is the vocal Latino leader in the clubhouse. He is the veteran presence that keeps the likes of young guns Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez grounded and focused.

Combine Cordero with Nick Masset and Arthur Rhodes, and the seventh, eighth, and ninth are in good hands with a lead.

When talking about starting pitching, the biggest question is Harang. I detailed the possibilities here. Long story short, he is possible of anywhere from five to 15 wins—same goes for the amount of losses.

We all know what Bronson Arroyo brings: about a .500 record with a few gems and a few atomic bomb outings. He has never missed a start since high school and will more than likely continue the trend.

The 24-year-old Johnny Cueto was on fire in '09 till the Civil Rights game against the White Sox in mid-June.

He was sporting a 2.17 ERA up until that point. Then the wheels slowly fell off, culminating in allowing nine runs in 2/3 of an inning against the Phillies. Just like that, his ERA jumped to 3.45.

This is the year to see if he can maintain success over the grind of 162 games. He didn't pitch in winter ball and should be able to finally reach the 200-inning plateau after falling about 30 innings short the past two campaigns.

Homer Bailey is also 24. He is also badly needed for the Reds to be successful. Everyone knows about his dominating 6-1 finish to the season—but let's not forget that four of those were against the lowly Pirates.

So, he is still a wild card in my mind. Adding the split-fingered fastball is what most media credit his late season success to. In reality, he only threw the pitch an average of three or four times a game. The jury is still out.

And then there is the new college grad Mike Leake. Boy, oh boy, did he steal Chapman's thunder or what? The Reds No. 1 pick in last year's draft has been flawless to this point.

But I can't say he will be anything better than mediocre considering all the adjustments he will have to make. I know he dominated in the spring, but that's a whole different ballgame. No more minor league hitters getting their reps. No more star Major Leaguers caught off guard by the lack of tape viewed on a new pitcher.

I can see Chapman taking his spot right around June 1. Chapman will blaze through the National League and finish strong. Leake will be back late in the season after a few months of fine-tuning his pitching approach.

The lineup looks good on paper, but that doesn't mean a thing especially when there isn't a sure leadoff hitter.

OF Drew Stubbs and OF Chris Dickerson will swap all year in the leadoff role. Baker is hoping that one of them will emerge as the clear-cut choice. My money is on Stubbs due to his power, but don't count out the superb defense that Dickerson contributes on a nightly basis.

Newly acquired SS Orlando Cabrera quietly hit .171 in the Spring.

Cause for concern, or just another "ehh, it's only Spring training?"

We do know he has a superior glove but it remains to be seen if he can hit in that .275 range required by a good No. 2 guy. I have a bad feeling he won’t. The 35-year-old's bat speed has looked very slow.

1B Joey Votto, 2B Brandon Phillips, and 3B Scott Rolen are the three locks on the squad. You know what to expect by looking at the back of their baseball cards.

They will not be the reason the Reds continue their losing ways in 2010.

If anything, this is the year Votto becomes a household name with a 35 HR, 100-plus RBI, and .320 batting average season. Watch out for the aging Rolen on the injury front.

The other big question mark in '10 is OF Jay Bruce, as documented here. No way can the Reds survive with Bruce hitting in the .220s, but a .260 average with about 35 HR and a decent OPS will do wonders for this lineup. Remember the guy is only 22.

The bottom of the order will be filled with OF Johnny Gomes and OF Laynce Nix. Both have decent power, but need to cut down on the strikeouts. For a team tight on payroll like the Reds, this option will have to do.

Last but not least C Ramon Hernandez will bat eighth. He is a guy that will provide support for all the young pitchers while probably batting .265 in the process. For the Reds, that is all you can ask for from a catcher.

So what does it all mean? The overwhelming trend is that this team is young at key positions. Bruce, Bailey, Cueto, Stubbs, and Leake are all under the age of 24. This means the future is very bright in the Queen City. But this year? Not so much.

As the Reds continue their push to finally have a winning record, they ultimately will fall just a bit short. The depth on the bench is great in the pitching department and awful in the batting lineup. When journeyman Miguel Cairo makes the team after he had all but written himself off? Not a good sign. Paul Janish and Ryan Hannigan? Meh.

I am very intrigued with 3B/OF Juan Francisco. While he has an awful career K/BB rate, his raw power is exciting to watch. He hit .429 in 21 AB after a late September call-up so he has the potential to consistently get base knocks. Watch for him to force his way into the starting lineup by August.

Ultimately, the Reds record will be 79-83 and they will just fall short of breaking the nine-year losing streak.

G.M. Walt Jocketty is laying the bricks, but the concrete is still drying.

The weak bench will hurt when a key offensive injury occurs. Harang will be trade bait as the Reds look to unload the overpaid ($12.5M), one-time ace.

Hate to say it Reds fans, but "wait 'til next year."

Is Jay Bruce Going To Live Up to His Potential in 2010?

Bruuuuuce.

It's a sound that Reds fans bellow every time Jay Bruce steps up to the plate.

Outsiders may think the noise is some sort of boo. The reality is quite the opposite—Bruce is a vital piece of the 2010 Cincinnati Reds, and the fans know it.

He has quickly become one of the most beloved players on the team.

After being touted as a "can't miss" prospect coming up, he has struggled to live up to lofty expectations. After a red-hot start to his pro career in '08, his bat has cooled off mightily.

Last year, Bruce began to fall in love with the long ball while failing to reach base at a consistent rate. He hit 22 home runs but hit just .223 with a .303 on-base percentage.

Bruce himself wasn't too pleased with his 2009 season.

"I was embarrassed with the way I played last year. I expect way more than what I was doing," Bruce said. "That's not me."

After breaking his wrist against the Mets in July, Bruce was able to sit back and learn from the vets.

He was immediately catapulted into a starting role and never had the chance to soak in the small details that must be grasped in order to be successful at the major league level.

He was able to come back in September, and the difference was noticeable. Upon his return, Bruce hit .375 in 12 games.

Maybe he just needed a mental break after experiencing failure for the first time in his life. Then again, it was only 12 games against the Astros and the Pirates. But he goes into this season with lofty expectations from not only himself, but his coach and teammates as well.

"He hasn't even scratched the surface on what he can do and what he's going to be," said Reds manager Dusty Baker.

"If he hits .223 or whatever he hit, I would be absolutely shocked. I think he's fine," said 1B Joey Votto.

"I think it's a good year for him. Everyone thinks having a bump along the road is a bad thing, I think it's a great thing for him. It happened in the best year for him, when we were losing."

Bruce's stats through 16 games and 40 at-bats aren't drastic improvements—he's hitting .250/.286/.475 this spring—but it sounds like he's feeling much more comfortable at the plate.

"I'm still working on that every day to be consistent," Bruce said earlier this week. "It's going well, I'm making progress, and things are going where they need to be going."

His range in right field is average, but one facet of his game never questioned is his arm strength. He has a cannon for a left arm that will certainly make runners think twice before advancing on his watch.

As Opening Day inches closer, Bruce looks to be a candidate for the five or six spot in the lineup.

Votto and SS Brandon Phillips will provide protection for the slugger. Having Scott Rolen in front of him should enhance his RBI totals.

If he can increase his OPS and cut down on the Ks, the future for Bruce and the Reds is bright.

"Every year there's a buzz around us, they always say we can be the sleeper, dark horse, whatever, but the bottom line is it comes down to doing it," said Bruce.

"We haven't done anything in 10 years and until we do, it's going to be tough to make people believe we're capable of doing it. If we go out and play this year like we know how and take care of business and people stay healthy, we've got as good a chance as anyone. We're as capable of anyone of doing it, but we've got to do it, that's the bottom line."

Bottom line: The Reds will not be successful without a major contribution from Jay Bruce.

Aaron Harang and the Significance of Starting Opening Day

Cincinnati Reds' manager Dusty Baker has announced that Aaron Harang will once again take the ball for the first game of the regular season in 2010.

He has been has starter the opener every year since 2006. Harang's fifth consecutive Opening Day ties the team record set by Pete Donohue (1923-27) and Mario Soto (1982-87).

You really have to pitch well the previous year to receive this honor right?

Wrong.

Harang is coming off consecutive six-win stinkers. His record the past two season is 12-31 with a 4.50 ERA. Does that look like the numbers of an "ace"? He has battled various injuries ever since Baker pitched him four innings on three days rest in an 18-inning game against the San Diego Padres in '08.

Last year the Reds best starting pitcher was clearly Bronson Arroyo. He won 15 games with a 3.84 ERA. He has been the model of consistency during Harang's struggles, pitching at least 200 innings all four seasons he has been with the Reds. In fact, Arroyo hasn't missed a start since high school.

Baseball is America's pastime. It has been in the DNA of U.S. citizens since 1869. The fans of the game care deeply about legacies, stats, and pride. The same simply can't be said about football, basketball, and hockey in this country.

Being named the opening day starter for your team is considered the highest of honors for a starting pitcher. It means that the manger wants YOU to have the chance to pitch the most innings for the team. The manager trusts YOU with going up against the other teams best. The opening day starter is considered the "ace" of the entire pitching staff.

But I think this old tradition certainly doesn't mean as much as it used to.

With so many off days, rain-outs, injuries, and minor league call-ups—the No. 1 will only face the other teams No. 1 a hand-full of times throughout the marathon season.

The allure of being the opening day starter has to do with the traditionalists of the game. Sure it's an honor, but it means next to nothing come May.

And this is why Dusty went with Harang. He is rewarding him for his long tenure as a Red (entering his eighth season, by far the most of any current player). He knows it's a pride thing for Harang, while Arroyo could care less:

“I’d rather enjoy that day and soak in all the festivities,” Arroyo said.

“It’s not a big deal for me to pitch in the one hole. I pitched in the five hole in Boston. I ended up throwing against five No. 1s in one season. Once you get a rain-out, one off day, somebody’s a little sore and they get bumped back a day, match-ups don’t matter—until you get to the playoffs."

Well that and the night owl Arroyo is MUCH more comfortable pitching at night than during the day—in 2009 to the tune of 13 night wins versus two during the day and over a run difference in ERA. Too bad Baker has slotted Arroyo third after the young hurler Johnny Cueto. Guess what time game three is... 12:35 p.m. So much more that logic, Dusty.

As spring training rolls on, remember that this whole naming a opening day starter thing is really not important. It certainly wont have an impact on anything that happens in the fall. Even Baker agrees:

"After day one it doesn't really matter anyway."

Reds Chris Dickerson Wants Chance To Start In Center

Spring training is barely a week old and players are already complaining. Not in a "waah I want to play" sort of way, but more of a "can i get a little respect up in here" way.

Chris Dickerson told reporters yesterday that he doesn't understand why Drew Stubbs should automatically be penciled into the starting center field position.

"It's kind of angry and it's frustration and I know it's going to come out that way, I know," Dickerson said.

The 27 year-old Dickerson has had a frustrating career with the Cincinnati Reds. He has been plagued with injuries throughout his minor league and major league career. He was only able to play in 77 games last year due to injury—while watching Stubbs tear it up from the dugout

The 25-year-old Stubbs played well in his short time in Cincinnati last season, hitting eight home runs in 180 at-bats, while hitting .267 and playing above average defense.

What irks Dickerson is that his numbers weren't that different when he came up the previous year. Dickerson also came up in the middle of August '08 and he hit six home runs in 102 at-bats, while batting .304. Like his 2009, the season was cut short by a trip to the disable list.

So what did the Reds do last offseason? Sign Will Taveras.

'Nuff said if you watched the Reds last year.

Dickerson took it as a punch to the gut to hear that the same numbers he put up in '08 now automatically gets Stubbs the starting spot in '09.

"Dickerson has as much ability as anybody, it's just a matter of him staying healthy, the same thing I said last year," manager Dusty Baker said.

"People want to know why he didn't play every day, and that's because I wanted to keep him healthy with his history of injuries."

So by not playing him you are helping him avoid injuries? Great logic Dusty.

Beginning in August '08, Dickerson has been on the disabled list three times. He also spent time on Class AAA Louisville's disabled list in 2008. So the concern is there but you can't be afraid to play him.

Dickerson played all three outfield positions last season, starting 27 games in left, 19 in center and 13 in right. He produced, finishing sixth among National League rookies in batting average (.275), fourth in stolen bases (11), third in on-base percentage (.379), sixth in walks (39) and tied for third in outfield assists (five).

Sure Dickerson can still be the starter in left field, but he will be battling Johnny Gomes and Laynce Nix for ABs all season. But Dickerson is light years ahead of the two in the defensive department. Dickerson feels that playing in center field is in his DNA.

"I've played that my entire career since I've been with the Reds," Dickerson said. "Now I've been slated as left field and even then it's not maybe he'll take over center, nope, no, he's battling for left.

"I don't understand it. You can ask anyone I've played with what my best position is and they'll give you a clear-cut answer. It's not even a question for them, it's centerfield."

Strong words from a guy that clearly sounds frustrated with Reds management.

I tend to agree with the guy; why does Stubbs automatically get the job? Every game Stubbs played in was meaningless as the Reds were already out of contention. Not to mention the fact that the Reds played the woeful Pirates and Astros a combined 16 times in the month of September.

At the very least Baker should give Dickerson a chance to win the job. He is more experienced and has a better glove. Offensively the two are very similar.

I'm not saying Stubbs isn't the best option for 2011 and beyond—but right now Dickerson gives the Reds the best chance to win. Usually that's the goal of a baseball team, I think.

Dickerson isn't going to demand a trade— but he will have to settle for using this as motivation for the new season.

"I guess I'll just have to go out and hit .450 this spring".

Cincinnati Reds Must Make One Last Addition Before Spring Training

The time has come. The date circled on the calendar for MLB pitchers and catchers has arrived.

For the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday is the day players convene in their new spring training facility in Goodyear, Arizona. Position players are to report the following week.

Most of the roster has been decided—except for left field. As of now, the Reds certainly have options...but not good options.

Yet there remains a free agent out there that the Reds need to grab.

He's a guy that can play LF, hit for average and for power, and who actually wants to play for the Reds. He hit 20 home runs and batted .267 in roughly only a half-season of work in 2009—for the Reds.

He wasn't called up till the end of May and had to settle for pinch-hitting roles up until the final two months of the season—which coincidentally is when his numbers took off.

I am talking about the 30-year-old veteran Jonny Gomes.

“There’s a still a chance (with Gomes),” GM Walt Jocketty said over the weekend. “I don’t know how soon we can get it done. We’ve got to see how much opportunity for playing time is there, and we’ve got to work out with the payroll.”

The Reds need help on offense, and this is the guy that can provide it. Besides, check out the other available options.

Chris Dickerson

He is the front-runner heading into spring training. He hit .275 in 255 ABs last season while playing in 97 games. He has a solid OBP of .370 and has a decent glove (although he admits LF is his weakest spot in the outfield).

His main problem is his durability. He has battled injuries throughout his minor league career as well as his time with the Reds. If he stays healthy and plays 140-plus games, then the Reds will be all right. Odds aren't likely.

Laynce Nix

He was red-hot for a few weeks early last season and helped pick up the slack when Joey Votto was on the DL. But he slid down the depth chart once Gomes emerged after the All-Star break. He's got pop (15 HRs in 277 ABs), but he is awful against lefties. He hit a paltry .156 against them a year ago.

Wladimir Balentien

He played his way into the fold because he hit .264 in the 111 ABs he had late in the season with the Reds. He is out of options, so the Reds have to keep him on the 25-man roster. He had stud written all over him when the Seattle Mariners brought him up in 2007. But as a career .227 hitter, he hasn't lived up to the label placed on him only a few years ago.

There are also Juan Francisco, Aaron Miles, Chris Heisley, and newcomer Josh Anderson that will be available. But Miles is more of an infield backup, and the rest will all likely start 2010 in AAA.

Clearly the Reds' options in LF aren't exactly world-beaters, but Gomes has the power the Reds crave in their homer-friendly ballpark. Since Gomes still doesn't have a team, he will be cheaper than Valentine's Day candy in March.

Despite speculation on who the Reds might be interested in, Gomes is the only free agent the club is talking to.

“We’ve pretty much shut it down,” Jocketty said.

If that's the case, please oh please make this one final move. It bolsters the depth and power in the lineup, and he won't even make a dent in owner Bob Castellini's wallet.

The Reds Hot Stove Finally Heats Up

It's the end of January and that means the Reds start their Christmas shopping.

The majority of players left are at least 50 percent off. Everything must go! Agents are beginning to sweat as they look at their list of clients that are jobless with less than a month to go before pitchers and catchers report.

The Reds are finally making noise—albeit a very hard to hear sound. This is what a team with a payroll in the bottom third of baseball has to do. A-Rod and Manny would never even give the Reds the time of day. But a washed-up Willy Taveras will. Buy low, don't expect much, that's the Reds way.

The Dusty Baker era has provided two last minute signings gone horribly wrong. Corey Patterson signed for 3M to be the Reds '08 lead-off hitter. After putting up a gaudy .205 average with only 14 steals, he was toast. Last year Taveras was the 4M bust. The Reds are on the hook for another exhilarating year of Taveras grounding out to short 200 times.

This year the Reds already made a splash by signing left handed rocket-arm Antonio Chapman to a fat contract. But his salary will only be 1M towards the cap this year. So he isn't gobbling up a Scott Rolen size chunk of the payroll. So the Reds do have a little bit of cash to work with.

Many fans are calling for a 35 year-old Orlando Cabrera to take over at shortstop. Paul Janish and his .214 average is currently slotted in as the starter. He covers a lot of ground on the field but has a minuscule 22 RBIs in 381 major league ABs. He is a great back up, but certainly not a starter for a play-off caliber team. It remains to be seen how much Cabrera is asking for at this point.

The outfield's only certainty is Jay Bruce in right. Chris Dickerson and Drew Stubbs are projected to fill left and center. That threesome doesn't exactly scare any teams. Dickerson is constantly battling injuries and Stubbs only played in the majors when the Reds were miles away from first and winning wasn't too important.

What player could bring leadership, plate discipline and excitement to Cincinnati?

Jerry Crasnick at ESPN.com reports that Scott Boras is targeting the Reds as a possible location for free agent Johnny Damon.

If they can get him for under 5M—this would be an excellent move. But considering the Yankees claim he was asking for too much money, this might all just be smoke and mirrors.

Is Boras just creating fake rumors to scare big markets teams? Would Damon ever want to play in Cincinnati after being in New York and Boston?

He would be a great fit for the Reds. If a salary cap was involved, Damon might play for a small market team like the Reds. Instead fans of financially starved teams are left dreaming.

Walt Jocketty announced the signing of RHP Jose Arredondo to a minor league deal. Arredondo, 25, went 10-2 with a 1.62 ERA in 52 games in 2008 with Angels. He led both leagues’ relievers in victories, and opponents batted only .190 against him. He was considered a lights out future closer.

So how did the Reds sign him to a minor league deal? In 2009 he went 2-3 with 6.00 ERA in 43 games. Hmm that's not going to get it done for the Nationals. He battled elbow problems all season and had surgery to fix it. Problem is, the surgery will require him to miss the ENTIRE 2010 season. The Reds are hoping that '09 was a anomaly and when healthy, Arredondo can boast the Reds 2011 bullpen.

And yes, already talking and thinking about the 2011 season is not a good omen for your 2010 chances.

Johnny Gomes is still out there. So is Jermaine Dye. There are 93 unsigned free agents looking for jobs. As a frosty January comes to an end, the Reds, and other small market teams hot stove is just beginning to heat up.

Aroldis Chapman's Signing Sends Positive Message To Reds Fans

Maybe the Reds haven't given up on 2010. As an extremely dull offseason rolled on something happened.

The Reds forgot about their mid-market status and splurged on a player that the Red Sox, Angels, or Yankees usually sign.

The Reds made an extremely high-risk, high-reward move that has the potential to either turn the franchise around—or bury them into the only place they haven't hit yet—below the Pirates. The Reds are investing a big piece of its franchise on the left arm of a 22 year-old kid from Cuba.

So $30 million later, Aroldis Chapman is a Cincinnati Red. He's a lefty and reportedly throws a 100 mph heater. The Reds haven't had a decent lefty since the 90's. But the Reds actually have a rich history with players from Cuba.

One of the greatest position players in Reds history is Cuban native Tony Perez, the only Cuban-born major league player in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was elected in 2000. In 1911, the first two Cubans to play major league baseball both played for the Reds—Rafael Almeida and Armando Marsans, who was a star.

So in a way, the historical implications make sense, and the oldest professional franchise cares a heck of a lot about its history. But reports of wildness scared away other suitors. He has allowed 200 walks in just over 400 innings of work in Cuba. He is compared to a young Randy Johnson—wildness and all.

Several scouts call Chapman, “A can’t miss,” and even though he isn’t ready to step into the Cincinnati rotation, he probably isn’t far away once he can tighten up his control.

Bryan Price, in his first year as the Reds’ pitching coach, knows what kind of chance he’s getting.

“These opportunities don’t come along too often,” he said. ”Young, left-handers who throw hard are a commodity in our sport, especially ones who are around the plate.”

Chapman’s agent cited the fact that Price and manager Dusty Baker speak Spanish as a factor in signing with the Reds.

The signing of Chapman also means Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo will most likely not be back for 2011.

Both are in the last year of their contracts, with options for 2011. The Reds could use the payroll flexibility and if all goes well, Chapman and first-round pick Mike Leake pitches to this potential, both will be in the rotation, along with Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, and Homer Bailey for 2011.

GM Walt Jocketty, who admits to the riskiness of the signing sums up the move:

“For us to compete in the market size we’re in, we have to do some things like this from time to time—a bold move. We can’t go after the high-priced free agents who are out there. This is stretched out over a long period of time. It’s a significant undertaking for this organization. But it’s something we felt we had to do. There’s a big upside.”

You have to applaud Jocketty for working with the payroll he has been given, but will it pay off? Will more Reds fans go to games this year? Will the Reds sell thousands of Chapman jerseys in 2010? Will team leaders Arroyo and Harang look at this as a precursor to their eminent departure?

This is the kind of move that will make or break Jocketty. This is the move that will let fans know there is some ray of hope. Before the signing, there was no hope going into 2010. There wasn't even a chance that they would be .500. Now there is at least a reason to be optimistic about the Cincinnati Reds.

At the very least the Reds helped Cincinnati fans brighten up a bit a day after the neighbors across the street blew a golden opportunity against a rookie QB.