Feb 16, 2013; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) poses for a photo during photo day at the Reds Spring Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

If, God forbid, Chapman would have several terrible starts to begin the season, would the tent fold and Mike Leake be sent to the rotation? If so, that would probably send Chappy scurrying to the bullpen, in a shell-shocked frame of mind.

If he starts out giving five or six average innings and keep the Reds in the game, everyone will surely take that as a sign of success. Good on ya Walt! Or how about if Broxton has a bad start and blows more saves than he converts? Would that necessitate change?

In my humble opinion, chances are better for Broxton to implode than Chapman. I was not totally impressed with his performance in the short time he was in Cincinnati last season. I thought it was pretty poor so I did some journalistic investigating. Out of all current relief pitchers, he is 20th in saves with 111. I did a check on all current relievers with 100 or more saves and he leads only one pitcher in converted save percentage. His is 74 percent which on this list puts him at No. 22. The last on this list is Octavia Dotel at 69 percent.

What this list is telling me is that Broxton has blown 39 saves out of 150 chances. That is just not good. Ex-Red closer Francisco Cordero, who happens to be No. 2 on the career closer board for active pitchers, has a career mark of 81 percent and he had me sent to a halfway house for addiction to Maalox.

In 137 games Chapman has yet to start a ball game. That is kind of unnerving. I recall that when he was first being used in the bullpen, Dusty Baker would have him start off an inning instead of coming in the middle of someone else’s distress.

Chapman was the most effective starter on the staff in Arizona in 2012. He appeared to be all set for a spot on the rotation until Ryan Madson went down. After Sean Marshall showed why he is one of the best setup men in the league, and only a so-so closer, Chapman became arguably the best closer in the National League.

He has the potential of being one of the best starters in the National League, even perhaps a CYA winner, he has a remarkable upside and only time will tell what happens.

Back to the original question, how short is the leash with which he will work this season?

December 23, 2012; Orlando, FL, USA; Santa Claus cheers in the first half of the game between the Orlando Magic and the Utah Jazz at Amway Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

Kids all across the fruited plane, and indeed all over the world submit a list of their Christmas wishes to Santa Claus. Then they sleep and wait with baited breath as the jolly interloper does what he can to fulfill those wishes.

I realize the poem actually says that “…the stockings were all hung by the chimney with care…”, but when you are attempting to come up with something clever you tend to grasp.

Back to the headline, did he?

The Reds needed a leadoff batter. They got it in the person of Shin-Soo Choo.

They needed a center fielder, they procured that as well, perhaps in the same person. If not he will switch positions with former center-fielder Jay Bruce in right field.

Oct 6, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Jonathan Broxton (50) pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning of game one of the 2012 NLDS at AT

They needed/wanted a qualified closer so they could move Aroldis Chapman into the starting rotation. That slot was filled when the Reds signed free agent and 2012 part-time closer Jonathan Broxtonto a multi-year deal.

Choo actually filled three holes in the Reds stocking considering the fact that he bats from the left side. Prior to obtaining his services they only had Bruce, Joey Votto and Xavier Paul. After getting Choo they acquired another batter from the left side in reserve third-baseman Jack Hannahan.

Discounting any injuries or unforeseen deals the Reds 2013 lineup appears to be set before Spring Training even begins, which is a good thing. Yes?

Choo hit the Reds pitching, sans Cueto, as if it were 5:00 p.m. instead of 7:00p.m. Spending more time in Great American Ball Park, I would submit that you can see at least a career high of 25 HR from his bat this coming season. His current high-water mark is 22 in 2010.

He really enjoyed success against Bronson Arroyo, slashing .571/.600/1.643 with 4 HR, 3 2B and a walk in 15 PA and knocked in seven runs. Wow! I bet he wishes Bronson was traded to the Cardinals or Brewers.

Thanks to Santa, even though he showed up early for the Reds, they should be the front-runners not only for the Central Division title but also the National League pennant.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good 2013 season.

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In fairness to the Boras Corporation, and I am not really inclined to be fair to them, I am quite certain they did not wish for Madson to undergo Tommy John surgery in April.  That surgery cost them dearly in terms of commission this year.  While Madson resigned for $3.5 million with another $3.5 million in incentives dangled out like a carrot, the Reds have agreed to pay Jonathan Broxton$21 million over the next 4 years and Walt Jocketty can once more avoid dealing with Scott Boras for all intents and purposes.  Kind of a win-win in my mind.

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Jonathan Broxton (50) pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the 8th inning of game one of the 2012 NLDS. Photo Credit: Kelley L. Cox US PRESSWIRE

I don’t blame Madson in the least for returning home to Southern California.  His responsibility is to his family and himself.  The distaste I have for Boras and his agency revolves around the ‘crimes’ he commits against the poetry of the game itself.  Baseball is a business but I do not need to be reminded of that fact.

Miraculously, the Reds will be alright after this unfortunate series of events.  Jonathan Broxton appears ready to assume the closer role.  Aroldis Chapman can at last transition into the starter role he was born to fill.  Sean Marshall can continue to flourish as the Reds setup man leaving just the job Broxton handled during the last half of the 2012 season to be addressed.  Can Logan Ondrusek fill this role or will the Reds seek another candidate as a second setup option?  It is far to early to tell, we may not know until opening day.

One truth does remain.  With Madson gone the only Boras Corporation client left with the Cincinnati Reds is former number 1 draft pick and Moeller High School alum Andrew Brackman.  He signed a one year deal last January and started the season with the Louisville Bats but in an underwhelming display of pitching control he finished the season in the Reds Advanced A affiliate the Bakersfield Blaze.  Not exactly the fairytale story he was hoping for.  I have no idea if the Reds will sign him again and I am guessing at this point he is not a high priority for either the Reds or the Boras Corporation.  With any luck, Brackman will dump Boras, sign a new deal with the Reds, and finally live up to the promise he showed the Yankees back in 2007.

We can only hope!

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