Kuzul

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s John Fay, Paul Janish is currently the Reds‘ backup shortstop, for now.

In his article “Zack Cozart healthy, rarin’ to go” he wrote, “Right now, Cozart is the only shortstop with a guaranteed spot on the 25-man roster. Paul Janish is a backup for now.”

If you’ve followed Fay at all, you have probably discovered that he appears very high on Cozart and seems to have written Janish off. Thankfully for Janish, it appears as though Reds manager Dusty Baker has not given up on him.

Last winter, when the Reds signed Edgar Renteria, both Baker and Reds general manager Walt Jocketty called Janish and expressed to him that he was their shortstop.

Janishs’ struggles last season led to the Reds calling Cozart up and demoting Janish to Triple-A Louisiville.

According to Mike Bauman of MLB.com, Baker spoke highly of Janish in July and said he was one of the best-liked guys on the team.

“Paul Janish was putting a lot of pressure on himself, and his confidence was waning some. He needs to go down there and, more than anything get his confidence together. He’s definitely a quality shortstop, definitely a proven shortstop, one of the best there is, I think. It’s just a matter of him getting his stroke together and his confidence together,” Baker said.

Cozart performed well in his brief stint, hitting .324 with two home runs and three RBI before an elbow injury led to season-ending surgery.

Janish was called back up after Cozart went down and performed much better, hitting .321 over a 13-game stretch in September.

The shortstop position does appear to be Cozart’s to lose, but according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com Baker has not yet made that declaration.

“There’s a good chance he (Cozart) is the guy,” Baker said. “You reserve that little bit to see how his health is and how his arm comes out.”

Sheldon also noted that Cozart had a minor surgical procedure to clean out his right ankle in September and was cleared last week to resume full baseball activity.

So, it appears as though the Reds have not given up on Janish just yet.

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I have never been a fan of platooning players in baseball. I always liked having a set lineup while giving the starter an occasional day of rest. Dusty Baker has a different idea when it comes to the Reds catching situation, and it has worked like a charm.

The combination of Ryan Hanigan and Ramon Hernandez has been more than productive both offensively and defensively. Hanigan catches Bronson Arroyo while Hernandez handles Edinson Volquez. The rest of the time, it usually depends on matchups and health.

Through the first three games of the 2011 season, the dynamic duo has put up some incredible offensive numbers. Here are the statistics (at least five at-bats), along with where they rank against the rest of Major League Baseball.

Are you in Reds Country?

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Let me preface this article by saying that Jonny Gomes is one of my favorite players on the Reds.

I am wondering if being ‘unofficially’ awarded the left-field job prior to the start of camp hasn’t sapped the slugger of his hunger.

He is presently batting a woeful, team-worst .158 with 2 HR and only 5 RBI. With the outfield talent at camp this season, it would strike fear into me if I were Gomes.

Dave Sappelt, in his second spring with the club, is leading the team with 18 hits and a BA of .545 and an OBP of .556.

Chris Heisey, who is beginning his second season with the Reds, is batting .317, leads the squad with 4 HR and is second in RBI with 10.

Jeremy Hermida, who spent last year with the Red Sox and A’s, is batting .385 with 3 HR.

Fred Lewis, an off-season pick-up from the Blue Jays, is having the same trouble that Gomes is in terms of offensive production.

Gomes’ intangibles are extraordinary. He has more hustle than anyone on the team, and his leadership in the clubhouse helps make the team what it is.

He is a scrapper, a fighter and is unaccustomed to things being handed to him. It is what makes him hungry and what makes him who he is, a tenacious bulldog who will fight anyone for the next chew toy thrown anywhere near him.

I did not say that Dusty Baker had promised him the job. I said that it has “unofficially been awarded to him pre-camp. I am afraid that has ruined his spring performance.

With that being said, and I realize this is just spring training, Gomes is more than likely hearing the hoof beats of the young herd coming up behind him.

The Reds will host the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park when the season begins a week from Thursday.

I can’t help but think if he doesn’t start hitting soon, he may be benched before the season progresses very far.

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I was always under the impression that the starting pitcher on Opening Day was the best pitcher on the staff. That was until last season, when Dusty Baker gave the ball to Aaron Harang for a record-tying fifth consecutive season.

That is a stiff indictment against a pitching staff. Something must be wrong for a man to start game one in back-to-back seasons while winning only six games the previous year.

Bronson Arroyo should have started in the opener last season, but watched as the Reds were routed by the St. Louis Cardinals, 11-6.  Arroyo is so mellow and type-B, that it was not a big deal to him.

This season, Baker announced (seemingly from day one of spring training) that his opener would be Edinson Volquez. Yes, that Volquez. The Tommy John surgery undergoing, steroid-taking, flat-billed hat-wearing, Josh Hamilton-traded-for, Dominican Republic-born enigma, with back-to-back four-win seasons.

So, how does he rate the big honor? I suppose he is still basking in the glory of his freshman year with the Reds when he made the All-Star team and was 17-6.

Arroyo has been one of the best work-horses in MLB since coming to Cincinnati in a trade for Willy Mo Pena in 2006.

Since then, he has pitched more innings than anyone in the National League, and is fourth overall. The only ones with more innings are Roy Halladay, CC Sabathia and Dan Haren. Nobody else has started more games than he has during that period.

I don’t recall him missing any starts since joining the Reds.

In 2010, he finished fourth in the NL in wins with 17. It is hard to see how anyone could find Volquez deserving of an Opening Day shot over Arroyo.

The last time he was seen in live baseball, he was being rocked by the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the first round of the NL playoffs. In less than two innings, he faced 11 batters and left the game with an ERA over 21, and of course was tagged with the loss.

Why didn’t Baker start southpaw Travis Wood that game? He nearly threw a perfect game at those same Phillies last year.

There is nothing magical about starting on Opening Day. But it should at least be an honorarium for work done the previous season.

Again, Arroyo let it roll off like water on a duck’s back. He said it was fine with him as he enjoys watching the opening game from the dugout.

Baker’s justification for the nod to Volquez is, “You want to go hard, soft, hard. You want to break up Cueto and Volquez so they don’t go out and out-radar gun each other.”

Nothing wrong with that logic, but what is wrong with soft, hard, soft, hard?

A rotation of Arroyo, Volquez, Leake, Cueto and Wood could accomplish the same mission. It seems weird seeing the words “radar gun” without Aroldis Chapman’s name mentioned.

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Let me make something clear from the jump: I like Dusty Baker.

I like the way he jiggles toothpicks between his teeth, popping them around anxiously as he stares at his lineup card and contemplates a double switch. I like the way he tells it like it is to reporters, avoiding the tired manager clichés and speaking from his gut.

And, I like the way that when the game is on the line, he becomes as big a fan as the rest of us, slapping his hands together after a crucial strikeout and pumping his brittle, 62-year-old fists in the air when his closer slams the door.

More importantly, however, Dusty has brought success to Cincinnati, something very few managers in recent memory have done.

Since joining the Reds in 2008, Baker made modest strides his first two seasons, only to guide his 2010 squad to a National League Central title, the Reds’ first playoff berth in 15 years.

While many will point to the emergence of young pitching talent and the MVP season of Joey Votto, the Reds’ triumphant 2010 campaign can just as easily be traced back to Baker.

When he isn’t fly fishing in Colorado, spinning yarns from his playing days or traveling to Cuba to sample jazz records, Baker has been the consummate player’s coach. He stands behind his men at every juncture, and (at least in 2010) puts them in the best position to succeed.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that when Baker signed on, his ghosts from Chicago worried me. Known to be partial to crotchety veterans, wary of youth and a Grim Reaper to young power arms (see: Wood, Kerry and Prior, Mark), Baker’s arrival in Cincinnati was met roundly by fan trepidation.

After all, Reds followers had endured years of teams led by the likes of the Rich Aurilias and Jason Larues of the world. In a transition filled with anticipation and hope, the last thing fans wanted was to witness a guy continuously ignore young talent while sending top pitching prospects Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto to the operating table.

To be fair, though, Baker set out immediately to disprove his national reputation. While starting the 2008 season with Scott Hatteberg at first, Baker soon embraced the promise of a young Votto, steadily upping his playing time until he unseated the incumbent first basemen for good.

Baker also deserves a portion of the credit for turning Edinson Volquez, fresh off the plane from the Texas Rangers and saddled with mixed scouting reports, into a 17-game winner and an All-Star his first year with the Reds.

More recently, Baker allowed himself the foresight to let rookie Mike Leake crack the Reds’ 2010 Opening Day roster. Leake quickly became the stalwart of the Reds rotation in the first half.

Yes, in Baker’s three seasons in Cincy, he’s come a long way, not only in cleansing his national reputation, but also in earning the trust and admiration of many Reds fans. However, when Baker named Edinson Volquez his Opening Day starter on Tuesday (barely a week into Spring Training), he took a step backward.

Some will support Baker’s announcement, citing Volquez’ 2008 totals and arguing he is the only Reds starter with true “number one stuff.” Others will blast Baker for the move, as he surely has two more deserving starters in Bronson Arroyo and Johnny Cueto. 

A third contingent will look at Baker’s decision and wonder if it wasn’t just a classic case of Baker over-analyzing his way into another stumble-bum move.

Now, before we consider Baker’s reasons for basically designating Volquez the ace, let’s take stock of the options he had to choose from. In one corner, we have Arroyo, a five-year Red and fresh off of two straight seasons of at least 15 wins (17 in 2010) and a sub-4.00 ERA.

In the opposite corner we have Cueto, still only 24, but who has increased his win total in each of the past three years and has been as reliable a starter as the Reds have had in that time frame. Both Arroyo and Cueto were recently awarded lucrative contract extensions, and both are assured spots in Cincinnati’s 2011 rotation.

Then we have Volquez. Proud owner of eight total wins over the last two years, Volquez spent the 2010 season adding insult to injury, as he was suspended for testing positive for an illegal drug. Volquez’ insistence that what the tests showed were female fertility drugs did little to mitigate his case in the eyes of MLB officials or Reds fans.

Conveniently, Volquez was able to serve out his suspension as he rehabbed from “Tommy John” ligament surgery, but between his injury-marred 2009 and his rehab/lady-pill-stunted 2010, Volquez saw very little of the field.

Yet, despite some very obvious signs pointing in several equally-logical directions, Baker chose the road less expected. When naming Volquez as his ‘numero uno’ to start the season, Baker attempted to explain his rationale.

First, he contended, Arroyo didn’t necessarily want the start. Okay. I suppose I can swallow that. Arroyo has long been known to despise pitching in day games (Opening Day’s first pitch is at 2:10 p.m.), preferring instead to spend his afternoons wearing sunglasses and nursing hangovers.

Fair enough.

Next, Baker said he wanted to split up his hard-throwers with a soft-tosser. Again, I am okay with Arroyo going in the two-spot if he prefers it, but that doesn’t mean I’m buying the whole “rotating the rotation” argument.

Last time I checked, the Phillies weren’t worried about pitching the hard-throwing Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee back-to-back, and I’m pretty sure the Giants are fine with their one-two studly punch of Lincecum and Cain.

Yet, let’s say for the sake of argument that Dusty’s second reason held up: It’s still not cause to send Volquez out before Cueto.

Baker went on to address Cueto in his next point. When asked why Cueto wasn’t getting the nod, Baker drew on his extensive psychological acumen, explaining that Cueto had just signed a three-year contract, and was “already under enough pressure” to perform.

Now, I may not be the MOST astute observer in the world, but to me that statement begs a couple of rudimentary questions. First, what exactly are “we” paying Cueto for, if not to step his game up a level and perform well under increased scrutiny?

If, instead of signing Cueto, the Reds went out and purchased some other young fire-baller in his prime, wouldn’t the new guy in town be expected to perform at a level commensurate with his paycheck? Why should Cueto be any different?

Also, if we want to talk about pressure, we shouldn’t forget the weight Volquez carries on his shoulders after being traded for all-world star Josh Hamilton, performing prodigiously in his first Reds season, only to crash suddenly back to Earth.

Volquez has been viewed as the Reds ace-in-waiting since the Hamilton trade (unless you count Homer Bailey—but let’s face it, who really counts Homer Bailey anymore?) and since the end of the ’08 season, has done nothing but disappoint. If anything, it seems that Volquez is the one that should be babied back to prominence, not Cueto.

Finally, Baker cited Volquez’ mental toughness, saying that even in a situation as daunting as Opening Day, nothing seems to rattle his pitcher.

I beg to differ.

One needn’t mine through the annals of baseball history to find the last time Volquez wilted under pressure. In fact, in Volquez’ most recent start (the 2010 NLDS opener at the Phillies…arguably the biggest game of his career), the National Anthem barely ended before Philly had posted four earned runs on the Reds’ overmatched starter.

Volquez labored through 1.2 innings, looking so confused that no one would be surprised if he STILL was having trouble finding the strike zone. It was that bad.

Clearly Baker isn’t remembering that game. Or, if he’s anything like the rest of Reds nation, maybe he’s still trying to do his best to forget. Either way, to (essentially) imply that Volquez is the Reds’ biggest gamer is just absurd.

It doesn’t take a sabermatrician to see that Volquez folded like a moldy card table in that loss to the Phillies; a victim of hype, nerves and quite possibly a still-weakened throwing arm.

As we sit here today, it is entirely possible that many of Baker’s reasons for crowning Volquez his ace are legit. After all, it’s been widely reported that Bronson Arroyo prefers the middle of the rotation, and who knows, maybe sandwiching Arroyo’s looping curve between the heater/slider combo of Cueto and Volquez will be enough to puzzle the Brewers on Opening Weekend.

However, there’s nothing to suggest that Cueto shouldn’t get the start over Volquez. As much as Cueto earned his three-year deal, he’s earned the respect owed to a future potential ace. And, more importantly, as much as Cueto has been the picture of progress in his three years in the majors, Volquez remains a mystery.

Baker’s last point was that Volquez was honored by the opportunity; that he would relish the chance to prove himself. So, are we supposed to believe that, if asked to cap his big offseason with an Opening Day start and the chance to be the club’s ace, Cueto would say no?

Please.

Come on, Dusty, you’re better than that.

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By mid-February, most of us are securely wrapped in our winter cocoons. A multitude of wool coats clutter our closets, nights are spent wrapped in Snuggies (don’t hate) and the thought of getting up in the morning is like an icicle to the nads.

Then, just as we’re ready to give hibernation a shot (show me someone who says hibernation doesn’t sound awesome and I’ll show you a stone-cold liar), we’re reminded of the golden age of summer by one simple phrase: pitchers and catchers report.

When baseball fans hear those four words, it’s as if some bizarre baseball dog whistle pierces through the frigid still of the season, calling us to action. It’s as if a bat signal is lit in the night sky, gleaming triumphantly and reminding us the time has come. Baseball fanatics begin to cling to their Internet feeds, hungry for any nugget of intel from the Promised Lands down South.

Yep, every year, as the temperature slowly climbs and daylight invades our evening commute, America’s pastime begins to pervade our consciousness. For baseball fans, February is the beginning.

And, of course, for Reds fans it’s no different.

This winter, the talk in Cincinnati has been about sustaining a winner. Can they? Will they? What will stand in the way? With most of the roster returning, the Reds have only a select few question marks (the fourth and fifth starters will be selected from three candidates, the last bullpen and bench spots are up for grabs) and those issues have been discussed at length already.

However, while Cincinnati may not see much roster upheaval, their success in 2011 most certainly will depend on the continued development of several key youngsters, and a few new additions. So, to celebrate the pilgrimage of the Reds hurlers to Arizona, here are five pitchers (not named Chapman) whose progress should be monitored closely as Spring Training gets underway.

Begin Slideshow

Ranking Major League Managers can be a tricky business. Managing can be, like standing on a razor edge; one wrong move and you’ll get cut. 

It seems that no matter, what the city, or team, managers are always on the hot seat.  Security in this job, is never guaranteed, so it comes as no surprise that, entering the 2011 season we have twelve teams sporting new managers. 

What may come as a shock, is that seven of these men, are rookie managers; untested in any way, shape, or form. This makes it as difficult, to rank these seven men, as a blind man judging a beauty pageant. 

With this in mind, I am going to give it, that “ole college try” and rank these men from bottom to top, heading into the 2011 season. 

Begin Slideshow

Was the Reds success of last season an aberration or a trend?  They were 43-24 against the Astros, Brewers, Cubs and Pirates, and 48-47 against everyone else.

1–Who among the Reds’ young stable of starting pitchers will take it to the next level?

Homer Bailey: 4-3, 4.46 ERA, 19 starts, 109 innings

Johnny Cueto: 12-7, 3.64 ERA, 31 starts, 185 innings

Mike Leake: 8-4, 4.23 ERA, 22 starts, 136 innings

Edinson Volquez:  4-3, 4.31 ERA,  12 Starts, 62 innings

Travis Wood  5-4,  3.61 ERA, 17 starts, 102 innings

Do you see a pattern here?  Cueto was the only one who was in the rotation all year.

 Volquez was out after Tommy John elbow surgery a year.  With his control lapses and mechanics issues, did he come back too soon?   If he can regain his fom of 2008, he may never be worth Josh Hamilton, but has the potential to be a #1 starter on the level of Jose Rijo before his elbow problems.

Wood came up at mid year, and came within two outs of a perfect game, a feat only accomplished by the last successful Reds’ left-handed starter, Tom Browning.  He seems to have the stuff for long-term success.

If Bailey is still around, 2011 may be his last shot at gaining a permanent spot in the rotation. He could fulfill the need for long relief they had[n  Pedro Borbon who kept the Reds in a lot of ball games.  But Bailey takes a while to warm up the clock is ticking…

 After getting off to a fast start that would have made Leake an early Rookie of the year candidate, Leake seemed to have evaporated after Volquez returned.  When he went to the bullpen, he got hammered.  And then he disappeared.

Although Champan is able to throw 105 m.p.h., I am more concerned with his ability to get 27 outs.  He either has to start or finish.  There is no way to justify his money for a set up man. 

If he becomes a closer. where does that put Francisco Cordero?  Cordero gets a huge salary to finish games and probably not be around after next year. To justify Chapman’s salary, he would have to be a Mariano Rivera.

In order to compete with other clubs, the starters have to go deeper into games.   Given the Brewers recent acquirisitions, they will need to get better in order to repeat.

Bullpen.

Cordero, 6-5, 3.84 ERA, 40 saves is in the last year of contract.   With eight blown saves, if half of his blown saves had been converted, the Reds playoff position and maybe results could have been different.  Even when he converted saves, it was rarely easy due to erratic control.

 Behind Cordero is Nick Masset, who was 4-4 with a 3.40 ERA, with two saves.  With Arthur Rhodes departed, Matt Maloney or the possible resurrection of Dontrell Willis filling the void.  Logan Ondrusek, 5-0, 3.68 ERA, in 60 appearances, pitched much better in his second stint with the big club.

Middle and long relief could be a weakness of this team, if a starter, relegated to the bullpen is unable to make the adjustment. 

Catching

Last season’s pickup of Ramon Hernandez (97 games, 7 home runs, 48 RBIs, .297 ave) was, for the short term, along with Scott Rolen, one of the best in recent years.  Coupled with Ryan Hannigan, (70 games, 5, 40, .306) two solid catchers, until last year’s first round draft choice, Yasmani Grandal time to develop.  Last year, Hernandez handled about 60%, to Hannigan’s 40%.  Hannigan always caught Arroyo. and usually an additional start a week.  Barring injury, the Reds seem to be in good shape.

Infield

If the Reds can pony up the dough, they seem to be set for the decade with Joey Votto (150 games, 37, 113, .328, almost unanimous MVP) at first base is the first real difference maker that has come up through the Reds’ system since Barry Larkin, meaning to the Reds what Jeff Bagwell meant to the Astros in the 90’s and Tony Perez to the Big Red Machine. 

With another potential big bat in Yonder Alonzo waiting in the wings, one or the other may have to play out of position, like Perez playing third when Lee May came up.  Votto worked hard on his defense last year, so any move of Votto that would affect his offense would be a  bad idea, and Alonzo may become to Votto what Hal Morris was to Don Mattingly, or Paul Konerko was to Sean Casey.

Brandon Phillips (150 gams, 18, 59, .275) scored a lot of runs, and had a better year than the stats due to a late season hand injury.  His remarks about the Cardinals didn’t set to well in head-to-head encounters, but seemed to set a fire under the other teams in the division,  The Cards were 12-6 against the Reds, but 27-33 against the other four teams, with much of the damage coming after Phillips’ remarks. 

When Willie Stargell wrote his book on the 1979 “We are Familee” Pittsburgh Pirates, he wrote that Dave Parker, a guy who was so talented that he replaced Roberto Clemente, played out of hate.  It doesn’t take much bitterness to shove one into playing out of hate.  They win championships and they are not happy.  Baseball is still a game that pays insane money and most of us can only dream about it.  My best advise to Phillips is to play hard but be happy. 

The 1979 Pirates were their last championship team, sweeping the Reds in the LCS, and beating the Orioles in a seven game World Series.  They haven’t had a winning season since Barry Bonds left them.

Like most Reds good second basemen, Phillips is a converted shortstop, with shortstop range at second base.  Phillips made only three errors and won his second Gold Glove.With Cabrerra out of the picture, it seems that the Reds have put the confidence in Paul Janish (82 games, 5, 25, 260)as an everyday shortstop.  Like Juan Castro, there was never any doubt about Janish’s defense, but had little confidence in his hitting.  But Dave Concepcion was not much of a hitter when he started either.  Put Janish in the eighth slot and leave him there.  They have plenty of 1-7 offense.  Geronimo batted .307 in the eighth slot in 1976, and Sparky Anderson didn’t move him. 

Who’s on third, long term: I dunno.

Last year at this time I speculated what kind of a difference having Scott Rolen (133 games, 20-83, .85) for a whole season would be.  He certainly was enough of a difference to make the Reds a division winner.  But Rolen faded in the second half of the season, and will probably be limited in starts in 2011.   Like several guys in the past, I wish Rolen would have become a Red earlier than when he was acquired.  It is possible that the Reds can have four Gold Gloves this year.

Two guys that were brought up in September, Juan Francisco (36 games, 1-7, .273) and Chris Valiaka (19 games, 1-2, .263) are possiblilties.  Francisco has the offensive pop, and Valaika can back up at second, short, or third, taking Janish’s spot as a backup.  With Miguel Cairo (91 games, 4, 28, .290) returing, it is unlikely that Francisco, Valaika and Alonzo will be with the team on opening day.

Outfield

Johnny Gomes (148 games, 18. 86, .266) was an enigma in left field.  At times he looked like the perfect #5 hitter, driving in runs in droves, and other times he looked all the things Adam Dunn’s agent never brings up in contract negotiations, strikeouts, and although he made only one more error than Jay Bruce, he had 149 less total chances than Bruce.  At 29, he could still have many productive years ahead of him, but 2010 could have been a career year.

Whenever the Reds are approached about trades, Chris Heisey’s (97 games, 8, 21, .254) name probably comes up in discussions.  He appears to be a five tool guy that could be an everyday outfielder for a decade.  When Bruce was injured, and Gomes, Heisey and Stubbs had to play every inning of every game, the team’s play suffered.  Since no one was brought up from Louisville to fill the void, it seems there is little help at AAA. 

The potential great white hope of the Reds is former #1 pick Drew Stubbs (150 games, 22, 77, .255h).  With blazing speed, he appears to be the perfect leadoff hitter.  With Stubbs it is all about contact.  How many times last season was Stubbs 0-2 without taking the bat off his shoulders?  Batting lead off is a lot of pressure, but Baker and the coaching staff are working to make him more aggressive.  If he can become even a decent bunter,he can become a terror to opposing teams.  Short fences in small ballparks are a real tempta tion for guys like Stubbs to look for a perfect pitch to drive.  In the “dead ball” era, guys like Willie Keeler were successful because, as he put it, “I hit ’em where the ain’t.”

With their speed Heisey and Stubbs can cover a lot of ground.  One aspect of the Big Red Machine that is often overlooked was that its defense was as good as its offense.  A great defensive outfield can knock off half a run off the team ERA.

The Reds made a major commitment by signing Jay Bruce (148 games, 25, 70, .281) to a long term contract.  At one point last season Marty Brenamin wondered aloud, “will this kid ever get it?

 One can summarize last season in this statement “as goes Jay Bruce, so goes the Cincinnati Reds.”  As good as Votto is, Votto cannot carry this team alone.  When Bruce is on top of his game, he can hit the first pitch 400 feet to clinch a playoff erth.  When he slumps, the whole team suffers. 

In terms of talent, Bruce is a faster version of Paul O’Neill.  O’Neill “got it” after he left the Reds, and has five World Series rings.  When O’Neill first came up, Pete Rose called him “Jethro.”

Management

When Bob Castelinni bought the team, he got Walt Jockety to be General Manager.  Baseball is different from other sports because baseball is a very long season with the fewest teams making the post season.  A franchise that was an also ran has a bright future.  Jockety sems to be pushing the right buttons like Bob Howsam in the ’70s.  I feel for Bengal fans who are stuck with Mike Brown.

When Dusty Baker was hired as manager, I had my doubts.  Like any. leader, he can only tell his people what to do.  His players have to execute.  Some guys succeed, other do not.  In 1990, people were looking for any reason for hope against the prohibitively favored Oakland A’s.  What they came up with was “the ex Cub factor,” with the Reds having less ex Cubs than the A’s.  After losing the LCS, the win 66 games the next year, Baker gets canned.  His teams weren’t very good his first two years, but found success in the third.

Outlook

Aside from starting pitching, and even then cannot keep up with the big spenders, the Reds are not very deep.  If their regulars stay healthy and continue to improve the decade of 2010 might be like the decade of 1970.  1990 was a great year.  A unique year, being in first place all season.  The rest of the decade was up and down.  I make no predictions.

My Opening Day Lineup:

Stubbs, CF

Phillips, 2B

Votto, 1B

Rolen, 3B

Bruce, RF

Gomes, LF

Hannigan, C (catches Arroyo)

Janish, SS

Arroyo, P  He deserves it.

An irony to end this piece:  only one year have they opened on the road:

 1990

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Calm down, Reds fans, just calm down.

On Wednesday, San Diego Padres manager Bud Black was named National League Manager of the Year. Black turned a 75-win club from a year ago into a 90-win team that almost took the NL West crown from the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

Black won the vote by just one point over Cincinnati Reds skipper Dusty Baker. Baker led the Reds to a Central Division title and the club’s first postseason trip since 1995.

Cincinnati sports talk radio was ripe with anger after the announcement.

Lance McAlister, host of 700 WLW’s Sports Talk, took his rage to Twitter.

“So the NL manager of year blew a 6.5 game lead on Aug 25… lost 10 in a row… went 14-17 from Sept 1 and missed playoffs,” he said.

First of all, look at what the award really means. Does it give Black and the Padres an extra win or two going into next year? No. Does it diminish the Reds accomplishments during the 2010 season in the slightest? No. Does it matter at all in the grand scheme of things? Absolutely not.

Going into the 2010 campaign, the Padres were largely an afterthought. The only time they were mentioned by analysts at all in the preseason was trying to figure out where stud first baseman Adrian Gonzalez would be traded. They were picked by many experts to finish in the cellar of their division.

The Reds were somewhat of a surprise this past season, but this was clearly a team on the come. They boast a bevy of talented young pitchers and that was before the breakout rookie campaigns of Mike Leake and Travis Wood.

Both the Padres and the Reds benefited from playing in pretty terrible divisions, but the NL Central was a much easier road to the postseason. The Reds tallied 47 wins against the Cubs, Astros and Pirates alone.

I’m not a big believer in MLB managers affecting the game. Sure, there are instances where the manager can help his team, but this is not football where schemes and strategy come into play. The manager sets the lineup and decides when to take out the pitcher. Teams win because their hitters hit and their pitchers get outs.

The Padres ranked 28gth in batting average. The Reds ranked fourth. The Padres ranked 22nd in runs. The Reds ranked fourth.

Granted, the Padres pitching staff performed admirably and Matt Latos emerged as a big-time ace, but by and large, the Reds had a deeper and more consistent starting rotation than San Diego.

Black did more with less. That is what this award is all about. Baker fielded a stronger team in a weaker division. The vote probably should not have been as close as it was.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Next week, the Baseball Writers Association of America will begin to unveil its picks for Major League Baseball’s most important end-of-season awards: Rookies of the Year, Managers of the Year, Cy Youngs and Most Valuable Players.

But Bleacher Report’s featured columnists didn’t have the patience to wait for the BBWAA to announce their picks, so we responded with our own mock vote.

With this post, we have reached the end of Week 3 of our 16-part series on the MLB awards.

Yesterday, we looked at the best skippers in the American League, so naturally today is time for the results of our NL Manager of the Year vote.

The top five vote-getters are featured here with commentary from people who chose them. The full list of votes is at the end.

So read on, see how we did and be sure to let us know what we got wrong!

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