Now Hold on a Minute

As I was thumbing through this morning edition of the Dayton Daily News sports section (yes, in print form), I glanced around and a couple of headlines grabbed my attention.

First, a hearty BRM congratulations are order for the Dayton Dragons. After their 6-0 victory coupled with a loss by the Fort Wayne TinCaps, the Dragons secured not only a playoff spot, but the Eastern Division title for the second half of the season. The Dragons will begin the MWL playoffs at home in a best-of-three series againt eh Lansing Lugnuts beginning at Fifth Third field on September 7. Game time is 7:00 PM.

But that wasn’t the headline that grabbed me the most. Here’s the one that did…

“Commentary: Reds’ lack of transactions costly”

Upon my initial glance of this piece, I was nodding in agreement. It’s hard to argue that point at all when you think about it. And as I began to indulge myself in the commentary by B.J. Bethel, I was beginning to agree even more.

Until…I ran across this.

"“Seeing this play out, it’s no surprise Milwaukee has a double-digit lead in the National League Central. The Brewers tied up players it needed (Ryan Braun) and acquired players it needed more (Zack Greinke). The result — Milwaukee is having its best season in 30 years. “Resting on one’s laurels isn’t smart — especially when a team has no laurels on which to rest.”"

Um, excuse me, but didn’t the Reds also make a couple of guys pretty rich during the offseason? I believe Reds GM Walt Jocketty signed a trio of guys to multi-years deals. Would that not qualify as tying up those you need to keep?

I suppose that six-year, $51 million deal that Jay Bruce signed means nothing. For the extended slumps Bruce hits, he was NL Player of the Month for May and was recently named NL Player of the Week for a second time. He may not be Ryan Braun now, but he very well could be on down the line. And for good measure, the Res hold an option for a seventh year. He’s only 24 now, and while some will argue that he needs to be more consistent, he should (I won’t say will) over time. Just in case…

And didn’t Jocketty also lock up the Reds newly found ace for four years? In case you have forgotten, his name is Johnny Cueto. He only leads the majors in ERA (2.05). He should have no less than 12 wins (even after missing a month at the beginning of the season) and may receive some votes (not for first) for the NL Cy Young. He won’t win it, but I think he could be in the top 10. Four years at $27 million may turn out to be a bargain.

The one that could be argued is the contract concerning Joey Votto. It did not include any free agency years, but it did cover the remaining years in which Votto is arbitration eligible. Three years for $38 million.