After watching Dave Concepcion (1970-1988) and Barry Larkin (1986-2004) man the position for nearly four decades, the Cincinnati Reds have struggled to find their next great shortstop.

The team called up Zack Cozart earlier this week. It remains to be seen rather or not Cozart is going to be able to fill those shoes. Most analysts don’t expect him to reach those heights.

Second base hasn’t been nearly as big of a problem, at least not since Brandon Phillips arrived in 2006. Considering that Phillips has had 20 different double-team partners during his five-year tenure with the team you can see the team’s dilemma.

Here’s the complete list:

--Zack Cozart
--Paul Janish
--Edgar Renteria
--Orlando Cabrera
--Miguel Cairo
--Drew Sutton
--Chris Valaika
--Alex Gonzalez
--Jerry Hairston Jr.
--Adam Rosales
--Jolbert Cabrera
--Juan Castro
--Jeff Keppinger
--Danny Richar
--Enrique Cruz
--Pedro Lopez
--Rich Aurilia
--Royce Clayton
--Felipe Lopez
--Ray Olmedo

MLB cincinnati reds, brandon phillips, dave concepcion, barry larkin, zack cozart, paul ranish, edgar renteria

The Reds’ brass finally caved in and promoted shortstop Zack Cozart from Triple A Louisville. He is expected to join the team tonight in Milwaukee. No official move has been made as of yet, but one is expected before tonight's game.

The former 9th-Round pick was added to the 40-man roster this offseason after a promising 2010 campaign that saw set career highs with 17 HR, 67 RBI, 30 doubles and 30 while leading the International League in fielding.

He was one of four Reds named to the International League All-Star Team last week. Cozart is currently hitting .310 with .825 OPS, 26 doubles, 7 HR, 32 RBI, and 9 SB. He enjoyed a torrid June where he batted .347 with 14 multi-hit games.  He has been in a mired in a bit of a slump of late (.150 in July).

Defensively, he hasn’t been sharp this season with 10 errors already to his credit.

After getting next to nothing out of Paul Janish and Edgar Renteria, the Reds had no choice. Did they wait too long?

The duo has combined to hit .227, 1 HR (barely cleared GABP fence last week), 32 RBI and score 33 runs in 489 at bats. In addition, the defense has been mediocre with the two contributing 17 errors and a .960 fielding percentage (an error about 4 percent of the time).

The ceiling of measurement for Cozart’s success and ability to improve the Reds is extremely low and the upside is definitely there.

MLB cincinnati reds, zack cozart, paul janish, edgar renteria

The Cincinnati Reds continued to add depth by signing free agent outfielder Fred Lewis on Tuesday as well as making official the signing of Edgar Renteria.

Lewis, 30, is left-hander bat that can be placed at the top of the order and is capable of playing all three outfield positions.

The team desperately needed someone that has proven success in the leadoff role.

During his stint in Toronto last year, Lewis hit .262 with a .332 on-base percentage and 17 steals. Since beginning his career in San Francisco in 2006, the veteran has 199 starts from the leadoff spot - and is batting .271 with a .343 OBP and 38 steals. 

"Fred fits the category of what we were looking for,” Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty said on with Lance McAlister on 700WLW on Monday night, “He’s a left-handed hitting outfielder that can run, play all three outfield positions, leadoff and steal some bases."

The signing now leaves the Reds outfield with Jay Bruce in right field and Drew Stubbs in center with Lewis, Chris Heisey and the recently acquired Lewis battling for time. Don’t be surprised to see Lewis and Gomes work into a platoon situation in left.

It appears the Reds are done at adding free agents with the 40-man roster now at full capacity and most of the team’s needs addressed. However, don’t rule out a trade as the Reds have many young arms at their disposal.

MLB 2010 mlb offseason, hot stove baseball, cincinnati reds, fred lewis, edgar renteria, walt jocketty

After deciding not to pick up the option on shortstop Orlando Cabrera earlier this offseason, the Reds filled his spot on the roster on Thursday as they reached an agreement with 34-year old free agent Edgar Renteria.

ESPNChicago.com’s Bruce Levine is reporting the one-year deal could be worth up to $3 million with incentives.

Renteria played on the World Series champions, the San Francisco Giants, last season but was disappointed with the team’s $1 million offer to resign.

The Reds will be the seventh team Renteria will suit up. He started with the Marlins and won the World Series MVP in 1997.  After leaving Florida he played for six seasons in St. Louis during current Reds’ GM Walt Jocketty’s run with the Cardinals.  Since leaving the Cards, Renteria has also played for Boston, Atlanta, and Detroit.

Renteria, a career .288 hitter, had a .250 average with .307 OBP for the Giants a year ago.  Once known for his speed, he has only managed 13 stolen bases over the past two seasons. 

Expect Renteria to work into the mix with Paul Janish at shortstop with the younger Janish getting the bulk of the starts. The youngster has much more range and is stronger defensively than the newly acquired Renteria. Don’t be surprised to see Renteria also spell Scott Rolen some at third base along with Miguel Cairo.

Renteria’s right-handed bat could prove to be valuable of the bench and his veteran presence should have an impact on the Reds’ young clubhouse.

Fantasy Baseball, MLB cincinnati reds, 2010 mlb offseason, hot stove baseball, edgar renteria

The Cincinnati Reds quite offseason continued through the holidays, but as General Manager Walt Jocketty returns from the break he could be getting closer to adding some final pieces for the 2011 season via free agency. The team is reportedly in the mix for left-hander outfield Scott Podsednik and infielder Edgar Renteria.

“What we’re looking for is veteran outfielder, preferably a left-handed hitting outfielder and an infielder who can back up at shortstop,” Jocketty told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

After missing out on re-signing Arthur Rhodes, who left for Texas via free agency, the Reds appear to have $3 to $4 million in the budget and that could be enough to lure both veterans to the team.

Podsednik is a left-handed bat who could fit in nicely as the team’s fourth outfielder, spelling both Jonny Gomes and Drew Stubbs in left field and center field respectively. His bat’s addition to the top of the batting order could give the lineup a bit of a boost and he’s not going to kill you defensively.

Renteria would likely serve as a backup shortstop to Paul Janish, who is slated to be the team’s every day starter at the position. He played under Jocketty before in St. Louis and it doesn’t appear the Giants are going to re-sign him.

The free agent market is thin so if the Reds are going to round out the roster and there aren’t too many names that fit their needs still available. Another option could be to trade of their young arms which could happen regardless of the free agent additions.

Fantasy Baseball, MLB cincinnati reds, walt jocketty, edgar renteria, scott podsednik, 2010 mlb offseason, hot stove baseball

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The San Francisco Giants are the World Champions. Here’s how they did it…

PITCHING, PITCHING, PITCHING
After disappointing in Game 1, Tim Lincecum was masterful in Game 5, striking out 10 batters and picking up his fourth win of the postseason.  Matt Cain was nearly unhittable with a 0.00 ERA in the post-season starts. The bullpen, led by colorful closer Brian Wilson, was dominant. In the year of the pitcher, it was pitching that led the Giants to a title. The Giants won six games this postseason scoring three runs or fewer and held the highly-touted Rangers offense to just five runs over the last four games of the World Series.

TIMELY HITTING
The Giants had 17 two-out RBIs in the five-game series, tied for the third-most in a single World Series. Only the 1997 Indians (21) and 1982 Brewers (20) had more. Both of those teams went on to lose their World Series. When the chips were down San Fran came up with hits when they needed to.

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
San Francisco became just the second team to wrap up all three postseason series on the road. However, their home-field advantage was a major factor.  They should send some gifts to Cubs’ outfielder Marlon Byrd for his All-Star game heroics that gave them the edge in the final series. Ironically, Byrd is a former Ranger and was rooting for Texas.

BATTLE TESTED
Consider the Giants didn’t wrap up the division and its playoff spot until the regular season’s final day.  That actually proved to be a plus in the playoffs as the team was already in playoff-mode when the postseason started.  They also spent just 36 days in first place in the NL West, becoming the first team to spend so few days atop the division to win a World Series since the 1985 Royals, who spent 30 days in first.

NO “I” IN TEAM
From Edgar Renteria to Cody Ross, the Giants had many post-season heroes. But it was a total team effort. The team had a great mix of young talent and experienced veterans. They didn’t have a superstar, but the chemistry is priceless. It’s just another example you can’t just buy championships, you have to build them.

LEADERSHIP
Hats off to Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy and his coaching staff! They had their team ready to play and managed their rotation and batting orders perfectly. Putting Juan Uribe in over Pablo Sandoval was a bold move that paid off early in the series. Whatever buttons Bochy pushed it seemed to work. Bochy mixed and matched with a lineup that had its occasional offensive dips, and the team thrived. In the three games in Texas, for instance, Bochy used three different designated hitters.

MLB 2010 mlb playoffs, san francisco giants, texas rangers, edgar renteria, tim lincecum, bruce bochy

Let's be honest.  If you are reading this, you probably already know about the Holy Trinity of shortstops (that's what we call them here at GSI)--Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez and Jimmy Rollins.  You also probably know that they will be drafted early in the first round of almost everyone's draft, including yours.  If you are one of the fortunate to a draft slot that high, you can stop reading now.

Seriously.  Stop now.  You're set at this position.  Move on.

But what if you're not one of the fortunate?  What if you know that there is no chance in H-E-double hockey sticks that one of the Trinity will fall to you?  What do you do?  Be patient and wait. 

An old adage says, 'Patience is a virtue'.  It works in life.  It works in a fantasy.

Shortstop is one of the deeper positions in the game, especially if you are participating in a mixed league.  It is also a position where you can get good value later in your draft. 

Why?  Because there is a second, and even third-tier of shortstops that can be had in the middle-to-late rounds of your draft that are going to provide you with excellent production, and as an added bonus (wait for it....wait for it....) they are interchangeable. 

That's right.  I said interchangeable.  As in you don't have to think, just name one. 

Choosing anyone of the second-tier shortstops is like being in the middle of a Florida orange grove and being asked to pick an orange.  Any orange.  In much the same way you would just reach up and grab the first orange you see, you can simply reach out and snag a shortstop whenever you feel like.

Here's what I mean.  I believe the second-tier of shortstops to be Jeter, Carlos Guillen, Tulowitski, Michael Young, Edgar Renteria.  That's because all of these guys are going to give you solid production in all five categories (AVG, HR, RBI, R, SB), without forcing you to have to compensate in a particular area because of a deficiency.  Using ESPN's fantasy guide (you should be using GSI's, but for the purposes of remaining unbiased, I chose to go outside the company), let's take a look at the projections for these five.

Derek Jeter:  .327 / 14 / 79 / 109 / 20
Carlos Guillen:  .305 / 19 / 91 / 91 / 14
Troy Tulowitski:  .288 / 24 / 99 / 107 / 13
Michael Young:  .305 / 11 / 97 / 90 / 10
Edgar Renteria:  .311 / 10 / 62 / 100 / 12  

You can now see what I mean by interchangeable.  Select anyone of these guys and you're going to grab someone who hits over .280, steals you double-digit bags, scores in the neighborhood of 100 runs, and drives in around 80 RBI or better.  The only difference is in home run stats, and even there, there isn't a significant gap that would cause you to lose an overall point or two in that category.  

Now for the patience side of things.  You don't have to grab any of these guys too early.  You don't need to spend your first-round pick on them.  You don't even have to feel antsy if you still don't have one of them in the third round.  According to Mock Draft Central, the first one of the above being chosen is Jeter.  On average, he's going with the 37th pick.  If you play in a standard 12-team league, that's early fourth round.  Tulowitski follows closely after, being drafted around the 46th pick (also 4th round).

Our own mock draft here at GSI bears that out as well.  Jeter and Tulowitski both went in the fourth round, with Guillen following in the fifth.  Renteria may be the best value as he isn't even listed in the Top 75 picks by Mock Draft Central, and in the GSI mock he didn't go off the board until the 11th round.  Not bad to pick up a guy that will hit above .300, score 100 runs and steal double-digit bags in the 11th round, huh?

But the great thing about shortstop right now is that you can even wait longer.  Value can still be had even after the second-tier group.  Players like Orlando Cabrera, Jhonny "Who put this H in my name?" Peralta, Miguel Tejada and Kahlil Greene can be selected even later in most drafts.  However, this group of players' value is limited.  You have to draft anyone of these with that caveat in mind.

Tejada may not play for 50 games because of the Mitchell Report's investigation.  Peralta will kill you in stolen bases.  Greene will kill your average.  Cabrera will kill your power.  If you are prepared to draft so as to compensate for those deficiencies, then even these guys will be valuable late in the draft.

So if come draft day you don't have a top selection slot, don't worry.  You let the owners ahead of you grab the Holy Trinity.  You'll be secure in the knowledge that you can build your team around other studs like Howard, Fielder, Holliday or Pujols, or maybe develop a serious rotation with arms like Santana, Peavy, Webb or Beckett, and still have plenty of juice at the shortstop position waiting on you in a couple rounds.

Like picking oranges in China Grove (had to get a Doobie Brothers reference in). 

Fantasy Baseball shortstop, jimmy rollins, jose reyes, hanley ramirez, derek jeter, michael young, troy tulowitzki, michael young, edgar renteria, miguel tejada, jhonny peralta

The Atlanta Braves won't quite look the same this season when they hit the field. Mark Kotsay will be in centerfield, not Andruw Jones. Tom Glavine is back in the rotation and who knows who will be at shortstop (Yunel Escobar frontrunner) with Edgar Renteria having been dealt to Detroit.

There will be at least one familiar cog that fantasy owners can count on though, Mark Teixeira. The team avoided arbritration with the power-hitting first baseman by inking him to a $12.5 million, one-year deal on Thursday. In one of the best deadline moves last year the Braves landed the former Ranger and his play rewarded them for their efforts. He hit .306 with 30 homers and 105 RBIs in 132 games in 2007, including .317 with 17 homers and 56 RBIs in 54 games for the Braves after a July 31 trade that brought him to Atlanta from Texas.

Teixeira is going to be a nice fit once again in the heart of Atlanta's offense. Bobby Cox's batting order is going to look a bit different this season, but there is enough there to provide protection to Teixeira. Plus, with only a one-year deal you better believe that he has something to play for. However, that philosophy didn't work too well for owners last season that took Andruw Jones early on.

Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard are the only two guys that I am going to say are clearly ahead of him on my cheat sheet right now at the position. Teixeira is a second-round pick and a top 20 overall player in any format.

Fantasy Baseball mark teixeira, andruw jones, edgar renteria, mark kotsay, tom glavine