Cincinnati Reds

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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

Plenty of transactions for Reds

John Fay believes after all the Reds' moves today, the team will offer Jonny Gomes arbitration. If they weren't, they could have done what they did with Laynce Nix and kept Daryl Thompson.

Former Red Joe Morgan to sell cars

Former Cincinnati Reds second baseman Joe Morgan hopes to sell some red machines — and plenty of vehicles in other colors — at his new auto dealership in southwest Ohio.

Reds fill spot with signing

Re-signing Ramon Hernandez not only fills a hole for the Reds, it sends a signal that the budget might not be as tight as has been speculated.

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mlb.com

Reds make moves, fill out roster

Leake finishes whirlwind year strong

Reds won't be busy in free agency

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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

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redlegnation.com

Reds 2009 Rule 5 Reserve List

Friday, November 20 is the deadline for teams to file their 40-man roster reserve lists for the December 10th Rule 5 Draft. Players are not required to be protected on a club’s reserve list until they’ve been under club control for 4 or 5 years, depending on the age they signed. For this [...]

Reds Top Prospects List – Baseball America

From Baseball America:

Top-10 Prospects:

1. Todd Frazier, of/2b/3b 2. Yonder Alonso, 1b 3. Mike Leake, rhp 4. Chris Heisey, of 5. Juan Francisco, 3b 6. Yorman Rodriguez, of 7. Travis Wood, lhp 8. Matt Maloney, lhp 9. Brad Boxberger, rhp 10. Zack Cozart, ss

My only problem with this list is that Leake and Boxberger’s professional experience is a total of 28 1/3 innings. I wouldn’t [...]

Oh no!

Kip Wells is gone! The sky is falling!

Wells is the only Red to file for free agency, but the Reds still have some decisions to make. They’ve already made the questionable decision to bring back Ramon Hernandez. Next up: Jonny Gomes and Laynce Nix.

Should the Reds bring either of these guys back? You know I [...]

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redreporter.com

Laynce Nix a free agent, Daryl Thompson outrighted off 40-man roster

The Greatest Reds: #34 - #31

The Red Reporter Book Club (Season 2, Episode 1): The Machine - The Prologue

The Greatest Reds: #38 - #35

Dusty's Father Dies

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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.