Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty ended his winter hibernation by sending four players, including three of the organizations top 10 prospects to the San Diego Padres for starting pitcher Mat Latos.

Among the players sent to San Diego were starting pitcher Edinson Volquez, first baseman Yonder Alonso, catcher Yasmani Grandal, and pitcher Brad Boxberger.

Latos, 24, has the front-of-the rotation attributes that the Reds desired deeply.  He burst on to scene in 2010 with a 14-10 record and 2.92 ERA while allowing 150 H, 16 HR, 50 BB, 189 K, 1.083 WHIP in 184.2 innings.  He wore out down the stretch that season though and started 2011 on the DL.

The 6-foot-6 hurler struggled to get it going last season after becoming active, but finished strong by only allowing more than three runs once in his last 17 starts.  His final stat line for the season - 9-14, 3.47 ERA, 194.1 IN, 168 H, 16 HR, 62 BB, 185 K, 1.184 WHIP.

Alonso, a former first-round pick, didn't have a place to play with Joey Votto a mainstay at first base. Volquez was coming off a disappointing season, going 5-7 with a 5.71 ERA.  Grandal was considered expendable with the surge of Devin Mesoraco.  Boxberger was selected in the supplemental first round (43rd overall) of the 2009 draft.

It will be interesting to see how Latos goes from pitching most of his games in the pitcher-friendly Petco Park compared to the hot box that is Great American Ballpark.  Here is a look at some career splits that could shed some light on what to expect:

Home: 3.11 ERA, 185 IN, 17 HR, 1.15 WHIP
Away: 3.57 ERA, 244 IN, 22 HR, 1.15 WHIP
Ground balls: 538
Fly balls: 670
Career GABP: 2 starts, 14 IN, 5 H, 1.93 ERA

MY TAKE: Starting pitching comes at a very steep price and this move could prove to haunt the Reds.  The team felt that all four players, though talented, were expendable and Latos has upside, is cheap, and locked up for a few years.  I would like to know what they could of got for just Alonso and Grandal straight up. It may not have been Latos, but it may have been close. Volquez will always be remembered for be the guy the team gave Josh Hamilton for, a trade that can now join the Frank Robinson-for-Milt Pappas trade officially as the worst in the history of the franchise. For the sake of the Reds, let's hope this move doesn't enter that discussion. Latos is four years from free agency, so that is why he's considered such a valuable asset, but his nearly half a run difference in ERA away from Petco Park makes me a bit worried.

Fantasy Baseball, MLB cincinnati reds, mat latos, edinson volquez, yonder alonso, yasmani grandal, brad boxberger

Coming into this season most thought the Cincinnati Reds would have one of the strongest starting pitching rotations in the National League, if not in all of baseball. However, before the season even began both Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey hit the disabled list. Both came back around the same time but Bailey has hit the DL once again and the rotation has been a revolving door with guys coming up from the minors to fill in gaps. Cueto, on the other hand, has been the shining light in the rotation as we enter the early part of June. He's silently been taking the mound and pumping out quality start after quality start.

Since coming off the DL on May 8th, Cueto has had 6 starts, all but one of them has been a quality outing. His record stands at 2-2 but could easily be 6-0 if either the offense hadn't failed him, or the bullpen hadn't given away games. He hasn't given up more than three runs in any game which has him leading the team with an ERA of 2.27, one of the best in the league. In 39.2 innings pitched so far this season he's only given up three home runs and has struck out 23.

In Cueto's outing yesterday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he pitched a solid seven innings, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out three. The Reds offense built a nice 7-2 lead for him only to see the bullpen blow it by giving up five runs in the eighth inning. What should have been a sure win for Cueto turned into an extra innings loss for the Redlegs. The bullpen was thought to be one of the strongest in baseball coming into this season but time and time again have blown games behind solid starting pitching. Cueto did what he had to do yesterday to get his team the win. He was taken out of the game after just 88 pitches. Hindsight is 20/20. With a 7-2 lead going into the eighth inning you would think, being Dusty Baker, that you could trust your bullpen to come in and close out the game. Unfortunately for Cueto, and ultimately the team as a whole, that was not the case yesterday.

In a season that has seen it share of ups and downs already for the Reds, especially when it comes to the pitching, the one constant has been Cueto so far. Travis Wood, Bronson Arroyo and Edinson Volquez (who was sent down to the minors to fix himself and set to come back tomorrow night possibly) have been inconsistent all season, to say the least. Cueto has stepped up and at this point has become the ace of this pitching staff. Coming into the season the thought was, if he could stay under control and stay focused, he could be one of the best starters in the rotation, if not in the league. He has, and he is. If the Reds are going to get back to the playoffs this year they are going to need Cueto to continue to do what he's doing. More importantly, they're going to need some of what he's been doing to rub off on the rest of the rotation.

MLB cincinnati reds, johnny cueto, homer bailey, dusty baker, los angeles dodgers, travis wood, bronson arroyo, edinson volquez

The Cincinnati Reds dropped their eighth game in nine tries, losing their third straight series.

After back-to-back outings on Sunday and Monday where their starter failed to make it out of the third inning and the 19-inning marathon on Wednesday night, the last thing the Reds needed on Thursday was to go to the bullpen early. However, that is exactly what manager Dusty Baker had to after right hander Homer Bailey left the game due to what was called “shoulder spasms”. The injury occurred when Bailey was at the plate during the fourth inning.

It is the same shoulder that caused the right hander to miss the first month of the season. It remains unclear whether or not it is related. Bailey will fly back to Cincinnati for further examination as the rest of the team heads to Atlanta.

“He said he just felt some discomfort on the swing when he was hitting,” Baker told reporters. “You could tell his velocity went down quite a bit after that.”

Bronson Arroyo left the road trip earlier in the week to have his back examined. Bailey has been the Reds’ best starter since his return, posting a 3-0 record and 3.00 ERA over five starts.

The is expected to call up Mike Leake, who was sent to Louisville after being ineffective earlier this month, to start Friday night’s opening game in Atlanta.  He replaces Edinson Volquez, who was also sent down to the minors in attempt to get things straightened out.

The rotation, considered to be a strength at the beginning of the season, has limited the Reds due to injuries and poor performance. As a result the team now sits just one game over .500 and has gone 21-25 since starting the year out with five straight wins.

In an effort to rest the bullpen the Reds have turned to Carlos Fisher (95 pitches) and Daryl Thompson (79 pitches) to eat up innings in emergency call-up relief assignments. The team lost both of those games.

MLB cincinnati reds, homer bailey, bronson arroyo, carlos fisher, mike leake, edinson volquez, daryl thompson

UPDATE (5/23): The Cincinnati Reds optioned right hander Edinson Volquez to AAA Louisville on Monday...COMPLETE STORY

original post following Sunday's game...
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Edinson Volquez continues to struggle with getting runners out in the first inning of baseball games. In Sunday’s 12-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians the right hander lasted only 2 2/3 innings while ceding seven runs (six earned), seven hits, three walks, and a home run. Of the 38 total runs Volquez has now allowed this year 21 of them have come in the opening frame.

The team would not be unjustified if they opted to send Volquez down to the minors to work it out and prevent the team from having to dig out of huge holes every fifth day.  The best two options to replace him in the short-term in the rotation would be to move Sam LeCure back in from the bullpen or bring Mike Leake back from the minors, though he’s had struggles of his own and didn't do much to improve them in his first minor league outing.

Here is closer start-by-start look at Volquez to this point of the season:

Fantasy Baseball, MLB cincinnati reds, edinson volquez, sam lecure, mike leake

We are 41 games into the Reds’ 2011 season and it’s time to hand out some grades…

DUSTY BAKER (B+) – It’s hard to criticize Baker too much, but he fails to get an A for his over patience with Jonny Gomes and his failure to force his hand and get Edgar Renteria to budge off playing shortstop.

JOEY VOTTO (A-) – The defending MVP is currently tied for second in the NL with a .345 BA and has reached base it all but one game in which he’s played. His power numbers are a bit down though as he’s only mustered 5 HR and 23 RBI, but his walk rate is up (leads NL with 5 IBB).

BRANDON PHILLIPS (A) – Phillips has dazzled with his glove and his bat and adapted to wherever Baker has slotted him in the order. His team-leading 26 RBI put the Gold Glover on pace for his first 100 RBI season of his career. Add to it an impressive .322 average and he’s on track for a second All-Star game appearance.

SCOTT ROLEN (C+) – Limited to just 21 games due to a right shoulder injury, Rolen has a small sample size to consider. He got out of the gate slowly, but since his return to the lineup last Friday he’s had nine hits over four games and has his average up .273. His glove has been a bigger concern as he’s already has four errors after just committing eight during his Gold Glove 2010 campaign.

PAUL JANISH (C) – His glove and versatility has never been questioned and both attributes have proven to be assets to this point of the season. His bat continues to be another story. Janish has had some good moments throughout the year, but over the opening stretch of the year he’s batting just .250 while getting just two hits over his last 25 at bats.

JONNY GOMES (F) – If we were grading clubhouse and fan popularity or bad haircuts, Gomes would be at the top of the list, but on the field he is below the pack. He has 7 HR, but went over a month without one. He has gone without a hit in 18 of his 37 games and is boasting a 38-to-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Gomes hands down is the worst defender on the team and it’s not even close.

DREW STUBBS (B+) – Stubbs is on pace for career marks across and is currently hitting .281. He covers as much ground as any centerfielder in the National League and has a strong arm to boot. His strikeout rate is still high, but improving and Stubbs appears to becoming more comfortable in the leadoff spot and currently reached base at least twice in nine straight games.

JAY BRUCE (C+) – Fresh off signing a big, long-term contract, Bruce is still trying to get things going at the plate. He has homered three times over the last 10 games, but had some terrible at bats and struggles in April. His defensive prowess is a plus, though he has made a few bad judgments in right field.

RAMON HERNANDEZ/RYAN HANIGAN (A-) – Catcher remains the most underrated and non-talked about position on the team. The Hernandez-Hanigan platoon has been lethal. Both players have handled the staff well and held would-be base runners down. Throw in the dramatic homeruns delivered by each and they are even better. Since the start of last season Reds catchers are ranked second in the majors in RBIs (116), first in batting average (.301), second in OBP (.376) and third in slugging (.446).

BENCH (B+) – Chris Heisey continues to be an under-used weapon, but he’s made the most of his playing time and been invaluable as a pinch hitter and late-inning defensive replacement. Miguel Cairo filled in nicely for Rolen when he was out. Renteria and Fred Lewis appear to be nice veteran free agent additions.

EDINSON VOLQUEZ (F) – Volquez has made just six innings in two of his eight starts this season and has walked an alarming 33 batters in 42 1/3 innings. His 5.74 ERA indicates that his record should be much worse than the 3-1 mark would indicate. With an abundance of pitching depth, Volquez will be on a short leash to work out his issues at the major-league level.

BRONSON ARROYO (B-) – Consistency has always been Arroyo’s staple and to this point of the season 2011 appears to be no different. He hasn’t had many stellar outings, but has yet to get roped either. He has a 36/12 strikeout-to-walk ratio and is 3-3 with a 3.78 ERA through eight starts.

TRAVIS WOOD (C+) – After going 0-3 with an 8.39 ERA in his first five trips to the hill, the Reds’ lone lefty in the rotation has gone 2-0 with a 1.93 mark over his last three outings. He still has some work to do before getting his stats back down, but it appears as if his spot in the rotation is safe for now.

JOHNNY CUETO (Incomplete) – Cueto started the year on the DL, but going off his two starts the marks are high. He has yet to yield an earned run in 12 1/3 innings of work and has finished in the winning column each time out in wins over the Cubs and Cardinals.

HOMER BAILEY (Incomplete) – The right hander has a 1.89 ERA and is 3-0 since returning from the DL. It’s a bit early to get too excited, especially considering two starts came against the lowly Astros, but the team has reason for optimism based off the early returns.

FRANCISCO COREDERO (A-) – Easily the most criticized Red, Cordero has been fantastic through the first quarter of the season. The veteran hasn’t allowed a run over his last five appearances, picking up a three saves and a win during that span while sporting a 1.86 ERA for the year.

BULLPEN (B-) Logan Ondrusek and Bill Bray have been outstanding in middle relief. Nick Masset is starting to find a groove after a rough start. Sam LeCure has transitioned nicely moving from the rotation to the pen. Aroldis Chapman struggles and Matt Maloney’s terrible April drag down the unit’s overall grade though.

Fantasy Baseball, MLB cincinnati reds, reds report card, dusty baker, joey votto, brandon phillips, scott rolen, edinson volquez, francisco cordero

Despite a solid 6-3 start to the season the Reds have a few areas of concern surrounding the team early on with its starting rotation.

While starters Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey continue to work towards a return from the DL by month’s end, the current staff is not doing a great job of eating up innings.

That has put an early tax on the team’s bullpen and it showed this weekend as the team dropped two of three to the Diamondbacks in Arizona with bullpen proving ineffective.

Only twice has a Reds’ starter gone seven innings through nine games:

3/31 MIL - Edinson Volquez (6.0 innings)
4/2 MIL - Travis Wood (7.0 IP)
4/3 MIL - Bronson Arroyo (7.0 IP)
4/5 HOU - Mike Leake (6.0 IP)
4/6 HOU - Volquez (5.0 IP)
4/7 HOU - Sam Lecure (5.0 IP)
4/8 @ARI - Wood (5.0 IP)
4/9 @ARI - Arroyo (6.0 IP)
4/10 @ARI - Leake (4.2 IP)

It is a bit early to get too worried, but if the trend continues look for some worn out arms in the bullpen sooner rather than later.

COMPLETE PITCHING STATS (CBSSports.com)

MLB cincinnati reds, homer bailey, johnny cueto, edinson volquez, bronson arroyo, mike leake, travis wood, sam lecure

Each week I will throw out some random rants on five players at a particular position…

Trevor Cahill, OAK – After winning 18 games a year ago, many expected to see a bit a fantasy drop off for the A’s ace. I was not one of them.  He failed to get out of the fifth inning in his first start of the season, throwing 105 pitches in a no-decision against Seattle.  However, the righty was much more efficient in a stellar start Thursday against the Blue Jays as allowed just three hits and one run while striking out seven batters and waling nobody on his way to the victory. The 23-year old only averaged four strikeouts per game in 2010, but already has registered 15 K’s through two starts.

Edinson Volquez, CIN – The Reds’ Opening Day starter is 1-0, but he has been far from spectacular during his first two starts of the season. The first inning has been brutal for the hurler thus far as he has thrown a total of 74 pitches in the opening frame in a pair of outings and has given up seven runs in that span. It appears as if Volquez is overpitching right now rather than relying on the National League’s top defense to do their work behind him. The upside is there, but he needs to calm down a bit. It may be a great time to try to acquire him on the cheap.

Fausto Carmona, CLE – Carmona was lit up during his first outing of the year, yielding 10 runs in just three innings of work versus the White Sox. His second start though was much more productive as he pitched seven shutout innings against a stacked Red Sox lineup. The Indian has been as inconsistent as they come over his career, but you can’t ignore his 200 plus innings, 13 wins and his 3.77 ERA a year ago. His upside for wins is limited on a weak Cleveland team, but you can do much worse at the back end of your fantasy rotation.

Aaron Harang, SD – Over the last three years while a member of the Reds, the veteran has been awful, posting an 18-38 record and ceding over 5.5 runs per inning. Now he returns to his hometown Padres and the friendly confines of Petco Park.  His first start of the year in the pitcher-friendly yard was promising as he held the Giants six hits and just one run through six innings, struck out six and walked two. He’s worth keeping your eyes on. Another start or two like that and he’ll become a viable mixed-league option.

Kyle Drabek, TOR – It is looking like the Blue Jays got something right when they dealt Roy Halladay as youngster Kyle Drabek is looking like the real deal. Through two starts the 23-year old is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 13 innings. His seven walks are a bit alarming, but Drabek appears to be just feeling his way. He’s on over 80 percent of the rosters out there, but if he’s still available in your league I recommend scooping him up.  He remains a must-start option until proven otherwise.

Fantasy Baseball fantasy 5, fantasy advice, starting pitchers, trevor cahill, edinson volquez, fausto carmona, aaron harang, kyle drabek

The Cincinnati Reds will not go to arbitration with any players this offseason. The team secured that when they reach a one-year deal with right-handed starting pitcher Edinson Volquez on Sunday.

Though an official deal has yet to be announced, ESPN Deportes reported Saturday that the two sides agreed on a $1.6 million deal.

"We'll see if they're up for doing more later," Jocketty told MLB.com Sunday from a Reds Caravan stop in Lexington. "We tried to do a multiyear deal. They just wanted to concentrate on the one year now. [Volquez's agent] had a few cases and wanted to get the arbitration thing out of the way."

Volquez, who is under team control through 2013, posted a 4.31 ERA and 65/37 K/BB ratio over 62 2/3 innings last year after returning from Tommy John Surgery.

MLB cincinnati reds, edinson volquez, 2010 mlb offseason, walt jocketty

With the Winter Meetings starting next Monday, December 6th, and Redsfest coming up this weekend, now is a perfect time to present Cincinnati Reds management with a realistic blueprint for the home team in 2011.  The key word in that sentence is realistic.  There are no pipe dreams in this plan like free agents Carl Crawford, Cliff Lee or Derek Jeter- big market teams can afford to overpay for these guys. There are no ridiculous trades for Jose Reyes, Justin Upton, or Brain Wilson- their teams are asking too much and the Reds’ philosophy is to build from within and not trade from within.  But at the same time, some trades and some signings should happen to push the Reds from a good team to an elite team. 

TOP PRIORITIES
1.  A real ace pitcher - the 2010 post- season showed why a hammer on the staff is needed in the playoffs. The Reds have a bunch of #2, #3, and #4 starting pitchers who do not match up well in the playoffs.  The only pitcher on the current roster that could be an ace is Aroldis Chapman, but he may not be ready yet to assume that role. 

2.  A starting leftfielder who can get on base - Jonny Gomes was exposed in the second half of the season to be nothing but a fourth or fifth outfielder.  A new left fielder needs to get on base a ton (this eliminates Scott Podsednik whose career numbers are an unimpressive .279 batting average/ a middling .340 on- base percentage/ and a miserable .381 slugging percentage).  Joey Votto came to the plate too many times last season with the bases empty.  By comparison, Albert Pujols in 2010 came to bat 30 more times with runners on base than Votto did. In addition, the Reds leadoff hitters hit a combined .244 last year with a staggering .306 on- base percentage.  The main two culprits that batted ahead Votto were Brandon Phillips, who had a .332 OBP and Orlando Cabrera, who had a pathetic .303 OBP.  This has to improve.

3.  A reliable closer - Reds fans are cringing at the possibility of another season of Francisco Cordero’s high wire act.

4.  Bench help - Laynce Nix is not coming back and Miguel Cairo is a free agent.  There is some help in the Minors, but there are one or two perfect fits for the Reds in the trade market.

BUDGET
Last year’s Opening Day budget was $76,151,500 and according to Reds administration, the budget should be slightly higher this year. 

TRADES/FREE AGENT SIGNINGS
1.  The first move is a non-move.  According to our priorities, the Reds need an ace pitcher.  The Reds will get one through a trade for Yonder Alonso… at the July Trade Deadline.  There are five reasons for this: A.) The cost of an ace pitcher is awfully high at the beginning of the season compared to the midpoint of a season, particularly, for a end- of- the- year free agent.  Along these same lines we find the laws of supply and demand… B.)  There are almost no ace pitchers on the market presently so the ones that are on the market can get a king’s ransom in return.  C.)  The Reds are built for the long haul of the 162 game season and not the short- series playoffs.  They do not need the ace until the end of the year.  D.)  Zach Greinke, the only notable ace on the market did not have a very impressive season last year (4.17 E.R.A. and 1.25 WHIP).  Let him prove his worth a little more.  Remember the Reds fascination with Erik Bedard of the Orioles after his breakthrough season a few years ago?  Thank goodness the Mariners jumped on him before the Reds.  E.)  Adrolis Chapman may develop into an ace so a trade for Greinke may be premature.  Give Chapman until the All- Star break to develop and then make an evaluation for a trade.

2.  Trade Edinson Volquez and minor league center fielder Dave Sappelt (.342/ .395/ .507 over three stops in High- A, Double- A and Triple- A) to the Florida Marlins for leftfielder Logan Morrison.  The Marlins are in the midst of an impressive makeover of the lineup, but need one more starting pitching to be a serious contender.  They have an extra corner outfielder (Chris Coghlan and Mike Stanton are the other two), they have no centerfielder, and they have some money to spend after recently dealing Dan Uggla.  They take on Volquez’s $2 million and Sappelt’s league minimum salary while dealing away a $412,000 salary to the Reds.  Why trade Volquez and not one of the other starting pitchers?  Its simple- his control is as unpredictable as Lady Gaga’s wardrobe (his walks per nine innings rate over the last three years:  5.03, 5.80, 4.27; that is way too many extra base runners).  Lastly, if the Marlins cannot be convinced to turn over Morrison, throw in Juan Francisco to possibly man third base for them.

3.  Trade pitcher Sam LeCure and Jonny Gomes to the Washington Nationals for backup outfielder Mike Morse (.289/ .352/ .519 in 266 at bats).  The Nationals are desperate for starting pitching and would look at Gomes as a possible one- year starter in left.  The Reds get back a young, cheap, underrated Morse who somehow could not win a regular job in an outfield consisting of Roger Bernadina, Josh Willingham, and Nyjer Morgan. 

4.  Re- sign Arthur Rhodes to a one- year, $2.5 million deal.  This would be a $500,000 raise from last year which makes up for the one- year pact instead of a multi- year deal.  He is getting too long in the tooth to risk anything more than a year.

5.  Sign a few free agent risks to minor league contracts (with invites to Spring Training) including Eric Chavez, Chad Tracy, and Jason Giambi.  One may win the 3B/ 1B/ left handed PH job.  This is a pretty weak group, which includes Francisco if he is still here.  As a result, let’s not take any chances and let’s trade for the Royals’ switch hitting third baseman Wilson Betemit, who stands in the way of their real third baseman, Alex Gordon.  The Royals will ask for highly regarded catching prospect Devin Mesoraco, but that is ridiculous.  A fair trade includes LH starter Daryl Thompson (52K in 51 innings and a 0.96 WHIP in Double- A) and RH reliever Carlos Fisher (38K in 36.66 innings and a 0.85 WHIP in Triple-A).  Both have lots of potential and fit in well with the Royals’ plan to win in 2012.  If another arm is needed to sweeten the deal, throw in Daniel Ray Herrera.

25-MAN OPENING DAY ROSTER
Catchers (2)
Ramon Hernandez:  $3.0 million
Ryan Hannigan:  $445,000

Comments:  Both 2010 catchers return to split the duties for one more year before Mesoraco takes Hernandez’s spot.  He may take it this year because Hernandez turns 35 this season and that is the age for catchers when the clock strikes midnight.

Total cost:  $3.445 million

Infield (6)
Joey Votto:  $8 million (arbitration estimate- his long term deal is at least a year away). 
Brandon Phillips:  $11 million
Scott Rolen:   $6.5 million. 
Paul Janish:  $445,000
Zach Cozart:  $400,000
Betemit:  $2.5 million (arbitration estimate)

Comments:   Janish and Cozart (.255/ .310/ .416 with 17 HRs in Triple- A) will vie for the starting shortstop job with either one being an improvement defensively and offensively over Orlando Cabrera (.263/.303/ and a miserable .354) who, on a side note, may not get another major league contract.  The loser of the battle is the backup at middle infield or is sent down to Louisville if another pitcher is needed.  Betemit (.297/ .378/ .511 in 276 at bats) should net 350 at bats at the four corner positions.  His ability to switch hit on a team of mostly right handed hitters and play third base on a regular basis makes him a perfect fit for this team. 

Total cost:  $28.845 million

Outfield (5)
Jay Bruce:  $2.85 million (arbitration estimate, but he should be signed to a long term deal right away.  Make an investment like the Rockies just did with Troy Tulowitzki and sign him for ten years)
Drew Stubbs:  $412,000
Logan Morrison  $412,000
Chris Heisey:  $412,000
Mike Morse:  $412,000

Comments:  Bruce will be the Reds’ best all- around player by this time next year.  He is smart, well- spoken and could be the face of the franchise.  Stubbs may never bat for a high average, but his speed, power and defense make him a Mike Cameron clone.  Morrison and his .390 on- base percentage should lead off for the Reds.  It does not matter that he did not steal one base last year (though he stole nine in both 2008 and 2009) - he will be constantly on base for Phillips, Votto, Rolen and Bruce, and therefore, the Reds may score more runs as a team than last year’s league leading total of 791.  Not convinced?  Well, as we all know, Pete Rose led off for the Big Red Machine.  In 1975, he had a grand total of… zero stolen bases for the Reds.  Look in up.  You do not need to be a speedster to lead off.  You just need to get on base.  Rose had a .406 on- base percentage and scored 112 runs, something that Morrison could come close to.

Total Cost:  $4.498 million

Starting Rotation (5)
Johnny Cueto:  $3.25 (arbitration estimate)
Bronson Arroyo:  $13 million
Travis Wood:  $412,000
Homer Bailey:  $445,000
Mike Leake:  $412,000
Comments:  Sure, you would like to see Chapman in this rotation and hopefully, that happens as early as Spring Training and the cold hand gets the long role in the bullpen.  This group can carry the Reds over the long haul.  The Cardinals do rival the Reds here (and only here), but they are thin after the top four guys and have no help if someone gets hurt.

Total Cost:  $17.519 million

Bullpen (7)
Chapman:  $1.0 million
Cordero: $12.125 million with a $1 million buyout after the season that we will already add on here
Nick Masset: $1.545 million
Bill Bray:  $.875 million (arbitration estimate)
Logan Ondrusek:  $412,000
Arthur Rhodes:  $2.5 million
Jordan Smith:  $412,000

Comments:  Not many changes here.  Matt Maloney could make the team out of Spring Training instead of Cozart if he has a strong Spring and the Reds need a long relief man.  Chapman should be the closer, but if he is in the rotation, Masset should battle Cordero for the ninth inning spotlight.  Just because Cordero makes so much money, it does not mean he has to be the closer.  In case of a bullpen malfunction, the rest of the cavalry besides Maloney includes newly signed Dontrelle Willis, Jared Burton, 2010 Futures Game selection Philippe Valiquette, and closer of the future Donnie Joseph (65 IP, 103 K, 25 BB, 2.08 E.R.A., and a .182 opponents’ average across three minor leagues in 2010).  This a deep group, so losing LeCure, Fisher, Herrera and Thompson does not hurt.

Total Cost:  $19.869 million

Team Total Cost:  Yasmani Grandal ($.4 million) and Yonder Alonso ($.5 million) both have Major League contracts so with those two included, the 2011 Opening Day payroll would be a paltry $75.076 million.  That’s right- less than last year’s budget.  This means that someone (i.e. Votto, Bruce, Cueto, Morrison, Stubbs, or Betemit in that order) could be signed to a long range contract and we would still be around last year’s payroll!

******

This plan is not a fantasy - it could happen.  Very little of the Reds farm system is impacted; Todd Frazier, Alonso, Mesoraco, and Chris Valaika are still just a phone call away from helping out.  This plan will improve the Reds most importantly at the top of the lineup, but also it will strengthen their bench, get Gomes out of left field where he was an adventure, and will help at shortstop (anything will be an improvement over an incredibly overrated Cabrera).  There are no sinkholes like Willy Taveras, Corey Patterson or Cabrera for Dusty Baker to play with and ruin the lineup.  There is speed, power, on- base skill, and a fantastic defense led by Phillips, Bruce, Stubbs, and Janish.  The most important piece of this puzzle is Morrison.  With just him, this team becomes great.  With Betemit, Morse and an ace in Chapman or in a trade at the Trade Deadline, it becomes elite.

MLB cincinnati reds, 2010 mlb offseason, edinson volquez, joey votto, jay bruce, aroldis chapman

Baseball is a cruel game.  One week ago, we were on top of the world after a dramatic, pennant- clinching home run by Jay Bruce.  It was great relief after years of suffering through the likes of Jim Bowden, Willy Taveras, Carl Lindner, Eric Milton, Jimmy Haynes and Tim Hummel.  It was redemption for our well- tested faith.  Tonight, after a gem from the Phillies' Roy Halladay, we are left in pieces.  It feels like it did when we used to find out that Corey Patterson was again, playing centerfield and batting first.  Well, maybe its not that bad.  Here are tonight's top five realities...

1.  At some point, credit needs to be given to the opponent.  Roy Halladay's pitches were moving all over the place, in and out of the strike zone.  He was like a magician on the mound- locating all of his pitches wherever he wanted and he had a home plate umpire that was allowing leeway.  Tonight, he may have thrown a no- hitter against anyone.  Congrats to Halladay on throwing the second no- hitter in post- season history.

2.  On the other hand, Edison Volquez was a mess.  Reds Manager Dusty Baker said yesterday of Volquez that he is, "cool, calm... he's good time Charlie".  He may have been that way yesterday, but he was the opposite today.  In one and two- thirds innings, he received five visits to the mound from his catcher (Ramon Hernandez), his pitching coach, and his shortstop.  Volquez had reason to be nervous- he could not locate today.  Rarely did he ever hit his catcher's target.  A perfect example was the 3-2 pitch to Shane Victorino in the second inning- Hernandez set up outside for a slider and Volquez almost hit Victorino with the pitch, but the hitter fouled it off.  He was so rattled that he let the pitcher rip a single to left in the second and let Victorino easily steal third base in the first inning. 

3.  Dusty Baker deserves some credit this year for leading this team to a championship.  He has managed from his gut and played against the percentages, particularly with his untimely bunting and playing Jonny Gomes against right handed pitchers.  He has played Orlando Cabrera ahead of Paul Janish despite Janish outplaying the starter in almost every aspect of the game.  He has stuck with certain players like Drew Stubbs and Francisco Cordero way beyond what a normal person would do.  Somehow, it was a part of a National League Central title. 

Tonight, all his instincts caught up to him.  Jonny Gomes started against Roy Halladay despite hitting .257/ .301/ .408 (batting average/ on base percentage/ slugging percentage) against right handers while Laynce Nix, who is presumeably healthy since he has played a few times this past week, sat the bench depite batting .289/ .346/ .408 versus righties and playing a vastly better outfield.  Gomes struck out twice and looked lost doing so.  Cabrera started at shortstop and somehow batted second despite batting a Patterson- like .240/ .275/ .326 this season against right handers.  Meanwhile, Janish sat the bench despite batting .237/ .311/ .356 against right handers- not a lot better, but Janish's defense is amongst the best in the league and vastly better than Cabrera's.  He probably would have made that play that Cabrera could not handle in the second inning with two outs.  Lastly, Baker went with Volquez as his starter against the Phils' lefty dominant lineup because he had recently thrown well, leaving out of the rotation his lone left handed pitcher and his pitcher with great recent success against the Phils... Travis Wood.  After his relief performance tonight, Wood has now thrown over 12 innings against the Phillies and given up two hits and one intentional walk.  It was a bad selection any way you look at it.  Maybe Baker will learn from this and start Wood in Game Four on Monday.

4.  Lost in the shuffle was the excellent relief work by Wood, Logan Ondrusek and Bill Bray.  They pitched six and one- thirds innings of one hit, one walk baseball.  The Reds bullpen is strong outside of Cordero and will be an asset in this series.  On a related note, Pitching Coach Bryan Price deserves praise for the development of this group- sign him to a long- term contract before he moves on to a larger market or moves up the ladder.

5.  All hope is not lost.  At the end of the day, the Reds are only down 1-0 in the best of five series  It only seems worse because they were no- hit.  If they win on Friday, the series is tied and I think almost every Reds fan would take a split in Philadelphia.  The Reds have been resiliant all year long and times have looked bleaker than this.  Good news is that the Reds have handled Roy Oswalt this season.  He officially passed the title of "Ultimate Reds Killer" to Shane Victorino as Oswalt went 0-2 with a 6.75 E.R.A. against the Reds.  The bottom line is that Friday's game a must-win and I like our chances... as long as Nix and Janish play.

MLB 2010 mlb playoffs, roy halladay, cincinnati reds, philadelphia phillies, edinson volquez