Reds May Not Play in October

If there was ever a manager on the seat coming into the 2010 season, it was Dusty Baker.  Before the 2010 season, Baker had lead the Reds to a fifth place finish in 2008 and a fourth place finish in 2009.  Coming into the 2010 season, Cincinnati had not had a winning season since 2000 under Jack McKeon.

The Reds got off to a nice start in 2010 by wrapping up the first half of the season with a 49-41 record.  The team proceeded to take off in the second half finishing 42-30, including a 19-8 month of August.  Despite playing above .500 throughout the whole season, the Reds had trouble against winnings ball clubs.  Against the Phillies, Giants, and Braves during the regular season, the Reds were 7-12.  The team also struggled against their division rival St. Louis Cardinals.  They finished with a record of 6-12 against them and were outscored 63 to 94.  Their struggles definitely showed in the postseason.  The Phillies swept the Reds right out of the playoffs in the first round.  They were outscored 13 to 4 and were no-hit by Roy Halladay in Game One of the Division Series. 

This offseason, the Reds kept their team intact for the most part.  Their key losses during the offseason were shortstop Orlando Cabrera and left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes.  The Reds added 2010 World Series MVP, Edgar Renteria to replace Cabrera at shortstop.  Because the team is pretty much the same from last season, the offense will once again be one of the best in the National League.  Last season, Cincinnati finished first in the National League in batting average at .272, runs with 790, hits with 1515, home runs with 188, RBI with 761, and slugging percentage at .436.  National League MVP Joey Votto who was deserving of the award led this offense.  The first baseman finished second in the National League with a batting average of .324 and third with 37 home runs and 113 RBI.

Just like the lineup, the rotation is looking like one of the best in the National League.  The rotation will feature flamethrowers Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto, innings eater Bronson Arroyo.  The last two rotation spots are open between three younger pitchers; Homer Bailey, Travis Wood, and Mike Leake.  It’s good to have this type of problem in spring training.  All three pitchers finished the season on a high note. Bailey finished the second half of the season 3-1 with an ERA of 3.55 in 10 starts.  Wood had a great rookie season posting an ERA of 3.51 in 17 starts and holding batters to a .222 batting average.  Finally, Mike Leake also had himself a pretty good rookie season going 8-4 in 22 starts.  Leake got off to a great start in the first half going 6-1 with an ERA of 3.53.  In the second half of the year however, Leake went 2-3 with an ERA of 6.91 in 28 and two-thirds innings.  However the back end of the rotation pans out, the team cannot go wrong.

Interestingly enough, of the pitchers battling for a rotation spot, Aroldis Chapman is not one of the candidates.  The left-hander who was clocked as fast as 105 mph will stay in the bullpen as the set up man to closer Francisco Cordero.  Whether Chapman will be in the Reds’ bullpen for the whole year is remained to seen, but if the rotation struggles, Chapman should get consideration to take over.

The Reds have a lot to prove despite winning the NL Central last year.  

The team has to prove that they can hit as well as they did last season; this is especially evident after their offensive collapse in the playoffs.  The pitching has to perform a lot better if they are going to succeed in 2011.  The Reds do have a legitimate shot at repeating as division champs but I feel that it won’t happen this year.  Look for another to team to claim the NL Central.