Cincinnati Reds

SportProjections.com group pages provide an all-in-one forum for your favorite team. Check out the latest headlines and rss feeds about your team. Use the message board to comment on, speculate about, agonize over, or praise the team.

Chris Fry

Chris Fry created this group on SportProjections.com.

2008 Cincinnati Reds Preview and Predictions

Contributor: Andrew Kappes, mvn.com/mlb-reds

2007 Record: 72-90 (5th in NL Central)

2007 Summary: A year of transition spelled struggles for the Reds in 2007. Aside from Aaron Harang, the club struggled to get quality outings from the rotation, and the bullpen was very unreliable.

Homer Bailey and Joey Votto were introduced to the big leagues. Bailey went 4-2 with a 5.76 ERA, but will begin 2008 at Triple-A. Votto was very productive, and hit .321 with four homeruns in 24 games.

2008 Key Additions: Francisco Cordero, Edinson Volquez, Corey Patterson

2008 Key Losses: Josh Hamilton

2008 Starting Lineup:
1. Corey Patterson CF
2. Jeff Keppinger SS
3. Ken Griffey Jr. RF
4. Brandon Phillips 2B
5. Adam Dunn LF
6. Edwin Encarnacion 3B
7. Joey Votto 1B
8. Javier Valentin C

2008 Starting Rotation:
1. Aaron Harang
2. Bronson Arroyo
3. Johnny Cueto
4. Josh Fogg
5. Edinson Volquez

2008 Closer: Francisco Cordero

2008 MVP: Brandon Phillips - Phillips had an extraordinary year in 2007, becoming a 30-30 player. There is little doubt he will accomplish that feat again, and may even push for the 40-40 mark.

The Reds will be successful if: The Reds have always been able to score runs, but pitching has been the severe down spot. The rotation is revamped, with only two guys returning from last year's rotation. Cincinnati will rely on young guns Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez to step up and live up to their potential early. Homer Bailey will always be in reserve in Triple-A. Both Cueto and Volquez are power pitchers, and should compliment Aaron Harang well, with Arroyo and Fogg mixing in. Francisco Cordero was brought in to help address the abysmal bullpen, and even though he was overpaid for, should fit in nicely being setup by David Weathers and Jared Burton.

2008 Season Prediction: If Cueto and Volquez can hold their own and throw for around 170 innings apiece, the Reds should find themselves right in contention at the end of September. The Reds will score runs through the power bats and speedy legs in the lineup, and the Reds improved pitching staff should help keep runs off the board. The Reds will be National League contenders when Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey come through, but now they just have enough to contend in the NL Central.

Standings Prediction:
1. Chicago Cubs
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

cincinnati.com

Rave reviews for Reds' Heisey

Ben Badler of Baseball America had plenty of good things to say about Reds outfield prospect Chris Heisey. Heisey has gone from a 17th-round pick in 2006 to knocking on the big-league door

Artist applauds Reds greats

Joe Morgan, Joe Nuxhall, Johnny Bench, Ted Kluszewski, Ernie Lombardi, Johnny Vander Meer, Eric Davis, Pete Rose. And too many more. World renowned illustrator C.F. Payne will display a 15-inch by 40-inch print to be unveiled at 6:30 p.m. today at the Art Museum in Eden Park.

Jocketty downplays trade talk

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty has said that payroll will likely be less in 2010 than it was in 2009. But on Wednesday, Jocketty stressed that doesn't mean big-name players have to be traded.

RSS
More…

mlb.com

Maloney targets Reds' rotation spot

Maloney sets focus on rotation spot

Alonso focusing on basics in Arizona

Cincy's Alonso focusing on basics

Head athletic trainer Mann resigns

RSS
More…

jinaz-reds.blogspot.com

BtB Power Ranking Season Reviews

Barry Larkin for the Hall

Regarding Mudgate: I will read from a prepared statement

Reds offense

CTrent on Defense

RSS
More…

redlegnation.com

Reds looking to move high salaries? (UPDATED)

Saw this link on Lance McAlister’s site (don’t know anything about the mlbfanhouse site):

The Reds’ need to slash payroll, according to a major league source, could lead them to explore trading second baseman Brandon Phillips as well as right-handers Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang.

Cincinnati’s 2009 payroll was about $71 million. General manager Walt Jocketty said [...]

Reds Notes, No Transactions

No additional Reds roster transactions have been announced yet, but we have more stories on the Reds payroll situation, and player notes on Chris Heisey and Brandon Phillips.

While mlbtraderumors.com continues to speculate on Reds trade rumors without any new sources, Fox Sports blogged that the Reds intentions are not to cut payroll, but “free up [...]

Scoreboard Stumpers

This is fantastic. I’ve never seen a Reds “Scoreboard Stumpers” board game before. Classic.

RSS
More…

redreporter.com

CHONE's projections for hitters for 2010 are out

Jeff Zimmerman's UZR projections

Farmers Only: Winter League Update and some notes

The Greatest Reds: #55 - #51

Red Reposter - GM Meetings Day 2: We still don't have Hanley Ramirez

RSS
More…

mvn.com/mlb-reds

The Slick Ball Scandal

Enough has been said about this around the internet, but I had only one question: what do the Reds gain by doing this?

I should clarify that I ask that with the assumption that the Reds didn't do anything wrong purposefully, if at all. Seriously, why would the Reds cheat or attempt to bend the rules with their record? I can't find a reason. This is why I firmly believe that the Cardinals are in the wrong here. What puzzled me even more was when Tony leaked some story about a clubhouse attendant confirming his side. That seemed really suspect to me, since I highly doubt anyone that low on the totem pole would put their job in jeopardy just to prove to an opposing manager that they aren't a cheater.

What do they gain? Nothing, so why would they do it?

Dusty Quotes

If you are mentally unstable, have brain cancer, or are succeptable to strokes, stop reading this post.

I found this quote from Dusty on Sheldon's blog, though I might have glazed over it somewhere else.

What about Chris Dickerson? He's been out for a month with a sprained ankle.

"He has to come back," Baker said. "Right now, Stubbs has played better than both of them. Dickerson's average is higher but Stubbs has been way productive. Dickerson's upside is still tremendous. There's a lot of competition out there and we'll find a way to get playing time for all that will help us - the best players at that particular time and day.

Sounds somewhat reasonable until: "We'll find a way to get playing time for all that will help us - the best players at that particular time and day."

....

uhh....

....this means...that...the best player at varying particular times and days in Dusty's opinion was Willy Taveras for 400 ABs, Alex Gonzalez for 243 ABs, Darnell McDonald for 100 ABs, Adam Rosales for 227 ABs, Jerry Hairston for 307 ABs, Corey Patterson for 366 ABs, and Paul Bako for 299 ABs.

....Interesting.

My head hurts.

Chicken Soup

This made me laugh. From this post at Mark Sheldon's Blog, I found this at the bottom:

I can't think of too many managers that would do this. With Johnny Cueto missing his start tonight because of the flu, Dusty Baker arranged to send him some chicken soup to feel better.

"I went by Izzy's to pick up some matzah balls, some rice and some noodles," Baker said. "The chef here is going to make some chicken soup."

This is so Dusty, he does the funniest things. His solution to 'Cueto with flu' = 'give Cueto soup'. This is something my Grandma would do. That said, it is a very nice gesture, and I back it 110%. Even with all the frustrating things he does as the manager, I've always felt that he's a good guy.