Reds

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 [...]

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. 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 [...]

Drew Stubbs and 2012? Finding lost power and more contact, please.

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, [...]

How does Chris Heisey look for 2012?

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 [...]

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 [...]

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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 [...]

After a brief taste in 2011 we will now be able to sit back and witness the rookie campaign of Devin Mesoraco.  He has been charged with a great responsibility given the departure of free agent catcher of Ramon Hernandez.  He can probably expect to share time with Ryan Hanigan as most MLB catchers do these days to protect them from the constant abuse of crouching on the job all day, but a lot of weight will descend on his young shoulders as he enters what will be considered his rookie season.  With encouragement from a reader of this blog [...]

Each and every hot stove season we induct another batch of legends into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. With the recent announcement of Barry Larkin’s selection to this year’s class, there is more reason than ever to consider Cooperstown. But when any Cincinnati Reds fan thinks of the Hall of Fame, there is an association he or she will almost always make. No Reds fan considers Cooperstown without harkening back to Charlie Hustle and his absence from those hallowed halls. I consider myself a baseball junkie, and when I imagine the National Baseball Hall of Fame, I picture Cooperstown [...]

Having Ryan Madson as the Reds closer brings a feeling of some relief to Reds fans. With four years of Francisco Cordero (or as some dubbed him “Uh-oh” Cordero), looking at the pen and seeing Madson at the back end can bring a smile or two. Shortly after the news was made public (but yet to be official), I published a post about the Madson addition. Little did I know what would follow. While we’re lauding the praises on Walt Jocketty for the deal, he may not be the only one to thank. If you ask former Phillies closer and [...]