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JohnU
Aristocratic Hoosier
No polling needed.
I think some fan-based analysis of our favorite teams would be sort of fun. Since I have been saddled with the albatross of the Reds for more than 6 decades, I have some pretty interesting highs and lows to compare across history.
In the middle of this is the mess that's been generated in Cincy since 2013 when the last successful manager, D. Baker, was exorcised for failing to win. He has been replaced by B. Price, who has been rewarded for failing to win.
Alas, it's not the managers who matter, is it?
Why the Reds will be better this year depends on which part of the game needed to be fixed.
Better bench. We're thinking that was a priority last year and appears to be something they will address. More outfield depth with new guy Jess Winker about to impress some people. Mesoraco, now the backup catcher, is a nice bat when he's not playing. Reds may go with a 5-man bench.
Adding Jared Hughes and David Hernandez makes the bullpen better, which wasn't hard to do.
The pitching remains a case study in depending on people who can't ... um ... pitch.
From foul line to foul line, the Reds should be 3 or 4 games better this year. Not enough to contend?
Probably not, but the crawl up the side of the hill is noticable.
Players to watch this year: Winker, 3B Suarez, RHP Luis Castillo.
Weaknesses: Middle infield, low OBP by the leadoff man, Billy Hamilton.
Strengths: Votto can still hit. This team will score runs.
Rookie to watch: Nick Senzel may get the call in mid-May. The kid can play.
A guy I like but nobody seems to notice: RHP Rafael DePaula.
Trying not to do a 500-word essay on this. Anyhow, who wants to give it a go?
I think some fan-based analysis of our favorite teams would be sort of fun. Since I have been saddled with the albatross of the Reds for more than 6 decades, I have some pretty interesting highs and lows to compare across history.
In the middle of this is the mess that's been generated in Cincy since 2013 when the last successful manager, D. Baker, was exorcised for failing to win. He has been replaced by B. Price, who has been rewarded for failing to win.
Alas, it's not the managers who matter, is it?
Why the Reds will be better this year depends on which part of the game needed to be fixed.
Better bench. We're thinking that was a priority last year and appears to be something they will address. More outfield depth with new guy Jess Winker about to impress some people. Mesoraco, now the backup catcher, is a nice bat when he's not playing. Reds may go with a 5-man bench.
Adding Jared Hughes and David Hernandez makes the bullpen better, which wasn't hard to do.
The pitching remains a case study in depending on people who can't ... um ... pitch.
From foul line to foul line, the Reds should be 3 or 4 games better this year. Not enough to contend?
Probably not, but the crawl up the side of the hill is noticable.
Players to watch this year: Winker, 3B Suarez, RHP Luis Castillo.
Weaknesses: Middle infield, low OBP by the leadoff man, Billy Hamilton.
Strengths: Votto can still hit. This team will score runs.
Rookie to watch: Nick Senzel may get the call in mid-May. The kid can play.
A guy I like but nobody seems to notice: RHP Rafael DePaula.
Trying not to do a 500-word essay on this. Anyhow, who wants to give it a go?