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| Sean Marshall is primed for a season of filling in for Ryan Madson. |
I believe that Sean Marshall's vocational paradigm shift will be one of the most important to come out of this last offseason. With Ryan Madson undergoing Tommy John surgery, Marshall will have the opportunity to lock down the 9th inning. Marshall has always had nasty stuff and limiting it to one inning can make him downright deadly. In fact, they have had a really good offseason that saw them pick up both of those arms as well as Mat Latos.
Their rotation is among the division's best boasting Johnny Cueto, Bronson Arroyo, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and the below average Homer Bailey. They have a bevy of arms which should keep them in the race into the dog days of summer.
What can keep this team from the postseason?
Their rotation is among the division's best boasting Johnny Cueto, Bronson Arroyo, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and the below average Homer Bailey. They have a bevy of arms which should keep them in the race into the dog days of summer.
What can keep this team from the postseason?
Dusty Baker.
I truly believe that Dusty can only have one big run with a team he managers. His time has passed.
The good news for the Reds is that they locked down Joey Votto. That man is invaluable to the organization. He brings along his cast that features Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs and Brandon Phillips. The problems for Cincy's offense is that they have too many holes in this "cast." Chris Heisey, Zack Cozart and Ryan Hanigan are not people I would want filling a third of my National League lineup. At third is an aging Scott Rolen who, if healthy, will still be solid in that lineup. However, the Reds do not have the lineup to win their division.
They, like the Pirates, will be around for awhile. Ultimately, this team is not built as well as St. Louis or Milwaukee is. 2012 will be more akin to 2011 than 2010.
X-FACTORS:
Lineup: OF Drew Stubbs. The Reds would highly benefit from getting the 25 HR 85 RBI season the Reds have long been waiting for.
Rotation: Mat Latos. I wonder how Latos will perform on a team with expectations. The man has a live arm and live personality. Welcome to the pennant race.
Bullpen: Sean Marshall. Taking over the Closer role is no small feat. How he makes up for the loss of Ryan Madson is going to make a difference of 5-10 games.
The Kids: RP Aroldis Chapman. After an underwhelming first full season, the Cuban fireballer could be part of one of the nastiest back of the bullpen tandems.
ROYAL LIST:
#16 C Devin Mesoraco. Should appear this season. Will eventually take Ryan Hanigan's job.
#48 SS Billy Hamilton. Speedster Billy Hamilton posted a 100 steal season in the minors. The Reds are expecting him to be the leadoff hitter of the late 2010's.
#75 SS Zack Cozart. Eldest top prospect Cozart will try to establish himself as a cornerstone of the Reds. His health will have a lot to do with that
PREDICTION: 3rd Place NL Central
-I'm giving this team no chance at a playoff berth.
The good news for the Reds is that they locked down Joey Votto. That man is invaluable to the organization. He brings along his cast that features Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs and Brandon Phillips. The problems for Cincy's offense is that they have too many holes in this "cast." Chris Heisey, Zack Cozart and Ryan Hanigan are not people I would want filling a third of my National League lineup. At third is an aging Scott Rolen who, if healthy, will still be solid in that lineup. However, the Reds do not have the lineup to win their division.
They, like the Pirates, will be around for awhile. Ultimately, this team is not built as well as St. Louis or Milwaukee is. 2012 will be more akin to 2011 than 2010.
X-FACTORS:
Lineup: OF Drew Stubbs. The Reds would highly benefit from getting the 25 HR 85 RBI season the Reds have long been waiting for.
Rotation: Mat Latos. I wonder how Latos will perform on a team with expectations. The man has a live arm and live personality. Welcome to the pennant race.
Bullpen: Sean Marshall. Taking over the Closer role is no small feat. How he makes up for the loss of Ryan Madson is going to make a difference of 5-10 games.
The Kids: RP Aroldis Chapman. After an underwhelming first full season, the Cuban fireballer could be part of one of the nastiest back of the bullpen tandems.
ROYAL LIST:
#16 C Devin Mesoraco. Should appear this season. Will eventually take Ryan Hanigan's job.
#48 SS Billy Hamilton. Speedster Billy Hamilton posted a 100 steal season in the minors. The Reds are expecting him to be the leadoff hitter of the late 2010's.
#75 SS Zack Cozart. Eldest top prospect Cozart will try to establish himself as a cornerstone of the Reds. His health will have a lot to do with that
PREDICTION: 3rd Place NL Central
-I'm giving this team no chance at a playoff berth.
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