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I have a friend that thinks Marty Brennaman is a jerk. I’ll admit, Marty can be a polarizing figure. Generally speaking, Reds fans love him, whereas, Cubs and Cards fans do not. His audacity turns some people off. I like it. I always have.

Like many of us, I started listening to the Reds as a youngster. With my Walkman, I could get the Reds broadcast clearly from my bedroom in Bloomington, IN. The 1982 Reds lost 101 games. I didn’t care. There are some sounds that just soothe the soul. Crickets, classical music, ocean surf, gentle rain, and Marty Brennaman’s voice.
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Oct 12, 2011; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols (5) talks with Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder (28) in the second inning of game three of the 2011 NLCS at Busch Stadium. (Image: Jeff Curry-US PRESSWIRE)

The off season is coming to a close and pitchers and catchers will soon report to Goodyear for Spring Training. Most importantly, yesterday’s signing of Prince Fielder puts a wrap on all of the big name talent changing scenery in 2012. I think it’s ripe time to start looking over the transactions that have been completed and determine a hot stove winner. It’s time to evaluate the General Managers and Owners and determine, not necessarily who acquired the most talent or spent the most money to do so, but who got the best bang for their buck and which organization used the resources at their disposal to most effectively maximize the benefit to their club. The expenditure of money isn’t an instant disqualifier, nor is the conservation of it, only the mismanagement of it. I would like to take a look at some of the more active front offices and determine who used their resources most effectively to fill positions of need. It is my hope that in writing this, I will determine Walt Jocketty and the Reds front office used their resources very effectively.

I’m not going to cover every team in Major League Baseball. For the purposes of this study, let’s stick to the handful of teams that have been widely considered the focus of Winter. I am talking about the Rangers, Angels, Marlins, Red Sox, Tigers and of course, the Cincinnati Reds. I intend to make a case for why the Reds now find themselves in a position to be the biggest hot stove winners of all.
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Yesterday, the inbox for Blog Red Machine received an interesting and provocative e-mail. It was authored by reader beeker. The basis was in response (primarily) to the recent signing of Prince Fielder by the Detroit Tigers. As I read the e-mail, I was fixated on the central theme of the National League adopting the designated hitter.

If you’re a regular reader of BRM, you know beeker from his comments. Those comments add greatly to our posts. They are insightful and thought-provoking.

Well, here’s beeker’s take. I suggest you read this, take a moment to think about what you’ve read, and post your thoughts within the comments section. I know beeker and I will be anxious to see what your take is on this…

Without further ado, I present beeker…
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Just two months ago, the NL Central was known as the home to three of the game’s elite first basemen. But yesterday, Prince Fielder agreed to sign a nine-year deal with the Detroit Tigers, confirming that he would be joining Albert Pujols in leaving the NL Central for the foreseeable future.

Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder will no longer strike fear into Reds pitching

How will these moves affect the Brewers and Cardinals? Last year, Fielder hit .299 with 38 homers and 120 RBI. Pujols hit .299 with 37 homers and 99 RBI. Obviously, it’s extremely difficult to replace that kind of production.

But how will it affect the players that surrounded them in the batting order? What will happen now that those players don’t have the kind of protection offered by Fielder and Pujols?

With Fielder, it’s hard to say because he doesn’t miss games. Going back to his first full season in the majors in 2006, he has never played in fewer than 157 games.
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If any one player brought out the ire of Reds fans last season, it would have to be Drew Stubbs. It had little to do with his defense aside from the gripe that he never would dive for a fly ball. We should all know what the complaints were about…and I’m not going to dwell on it a whole lot.

We recently heard (again) that Stubbs will be working on his bunting skills when Spring Training commences. If this is yet another push for Stubbs to bat leadoff, there are matters to consider as we will detail in a bit.

Here’s how Bill James projects Stubbs for 2012 and a glimpse at his stats. (via Fangraphs)
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Photo by Mike Groll / AP

Barry Larkin’s election to the Hall of Fame has caused a stir of emotion in Redlegs Nation. There has been much discussion recently about the induction of Larkin, but also about Pete Rose, Cooperstown and the balloting process in general. I  discussed the specific issue of Pete Rose recently, but didn’t delve into the Cooperstown process much. Steve Engbloom discussed Murray Chass and the induction process on yesterday’s BRM Podcast and created a poll asking readers to vote on the current method of selection. At last glance, the polling results strongly favored a change to this method. For the record, I voted for a change.

In many ways, it becomes clear that everything in baseball is connected. You wouldn’t think you could find six degrees of separation between Barry Larkin and Murray Chass, but you can, and you can’t discuss the Hall of Fame without eventually shifting to the topic of baseball writers. I won’t even get started on my personal views of this process or the people that have corrupted it. I will however offer my idea for a fix. I also realize this will never happen.
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One player that sparked plenty of talk during the 2011 season was Chris Heisey. On almost a daily basis, someone, somewhere was screaming (either through social media or while he/she was in their home) for Hi-C to see more playing time. The same held course after the 2011 season ended.

There was a belief (on those same fronts) that the left field job was his. Then, we heard word of Walt Jocketty looking for “another bat”. The collective sigh from Heisey fans created a gust of wind that would blow the top off GABP’s neighbor, US Bank Arena.

Well, here’s how Bill James (via Fangraphs) projects Heisey for 2012…and the good and the bad.
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Roy Oswalt’s agent reportedly contacted the Reds. That information and a dollar will get you a double stacker at Burger King (two beef patties, ONE piece of cheese). But because it’s the offseason and speculation is pretty much all fans have for fodder, let’s talk about Roy Oswalt being a Red.

Roy Oswalt, or more commonly known as Reds Killer Extraordinare, would definitely be serviceable wherever he winds up. But if he were to wind up at Great American Ball Park, there would be an odd man out in the rotation. As of now, that odd man out would more than likely be Homer Bailey.

What do you think of Homer Bailey? For years, he was the prodigy. His coming was more heralded in Cincinnati than Christmas was in Bethlahem. I bet if I were to ask any Reds fan if Homer has lived up to the hype, not only would I receive an aggressive no, but I’d probably be considered a dunce and have my fanhood questioned.

Homer Bailey? Or Roy Oswalt?
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The 2010 Reds Club won the Central Division, making the playoffs for the first time since 1995. They were swept by a very good Philadelphia Phillies ballclub led by Roy Halladay. The disappointment soon gave way to anticipation. The young, inexperienced Reds club would undoubtedly grow in 2011. It didn’t happen. The club that finished 91-71 in 2010 finished 79-83 in 2011.

Not content to stand pat, Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty was active this offseason. He made key moves that have the potential to propel the Reds forward after a disappointing 2011. Will those changes result in a winning formula in 2012? Like last season, the Reds have the potential to win their division and make noise in the playoffs. The foundation is very solid. Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips are All-Star caliber veterans that perform consistently at high levels. Johnny Cueto has become a top-of-rotation starter and Bronson Arroyo eats innings. Miguel Cairo is one of the best super-utility players in baseball. A solid bullpen cemented by new additions Sean Marshall and Ryan Madson may be the club’s strength. Together with Bill Bray, Jose Arredondo, and Nick Masset, this bullpen will hold leads in 2011.

If the Reds are to live up to their potential in 2012, however, these things need to happen:
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When Barry Larkin was recently selected to be enshrined to the Baseball Hall of Fame, I thought of something.

With a smattering of players on the ballot that have been linked to PED use, that number will grow for the next election, but if you listen to the next podcast, you will also see how one writer views that era.

I think of myself as “old school” when it comes to baseball. Up until the past few years, I’ve not been a big sabermetrics guy. I point this out in the podcast as well. I’m learning. Give me time.

This all drove to ask you a question…

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It’s here! The newest Blog Red Machine Podcast!

For this installment, I look at the recent signings, what they can mean for a certain lefty, a couple Hall of Fame voters, and send congrats to Barry Larkin on his HOF election. There’s more, too!

To start listening, all you have to do is click on the logo below!

Oh, and the new poll I referenced can be found here.

After the 2009 seasons ended, all things pointed to Paul Janish landing the leading role of Reds shortstop. He was coming off a season where he posted the National League’s best fielding percentage (.991), but there was still something lacking in his game…the bat.

Reds GM Walt Jocketty proceeded to bring in verteran Orlando Cabrera in order to stabilize the position. While Cabrera no longer held the same defense as he once did (he does own a pair of Gold Gloves), his bat is what Walt desired…and his leadership.

After 2010, the Reds declined their part of a mutual option (but wanted to re-sign him) which could have led to Cabrera returning for 2011. O-Dog went the way of Ohio’s other baseball team, the Cleveland Indians. All seemed well for the Texan. In 2010, he contributed a .260 batting average. That represented his highest yearly average since 2006 when at three levels Janish batted .304. Since ’06, he had never seen .260. Shortstop was his. Finally.

Not so fast.
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