Sunday, February 19, 2012

Spring Training Begins

And the Reds look like the best team in the division:
After winning the National League Central in 2010, the team rested on its laurels in the off-season and didn’t do much to alter the face of the team. The laurels collapsed and once again the Reds were under .500.
GENERAL MANAGER Walt Jocketty didn’t make the same mistake twice. He was busier than a tax consultant on April 14 during the off-season.
He made trades. He acquired starting pitcher Matt Latos. He acquired relief pitcher Sean Marshall.
He signed free agents. He signed closer Ryan Madson. He signed outfielder Ryan Ludwick.
Was that enough to push the team back to its 2010 level — or better? Was the cost of players like Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal, Brad Boxberger, Travis Wood and Dave Sappelt in the trades too much for the future?
Based on what Jocketty has done, the future is now. Now is the time for all good teams to surface in the NL Central.
DIVISION CHAMPION Milwaukee is crippled. The Brewers lost Prince Fielder through free agency to the Detroit Tigers and will lose MVP outfielder Ryan Braun for 50 games after he tested positive for a banned substance. That means the Brewers are without their 2011 one-two punch for nearly one-third of the season, a difficult punch in the gut from which to recover.
St. Louis lost Albert Pujols through free agency to the Los Angeles Angels. Pujols, the heart and soul of the Cardinals, is a heavy hit to St. Louis, but the Cardinals remain pitch-rich in their rotation, especially with Adam Wainwright returning.
The Reds pitching rotation looks good.  The lineup is pretty solid.  Pitchers and catchers report today.  The weather is breaking, the days are getting longer, spring training is starting.  Things will be starting to green up.  It is always a good time of year.

2 comments:

  1. Sounds like at least 88 wins

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  2. That's what I thought last year. Maybe the Reds will pleasantly surprise me like the Bengals did.

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