"Look at the Cincinnati Reds, they have the best young nucleus and the deepest pitching staff in the league."

 

- Jayson Stark on Mike & Mike

I have been saying that all winter. I see the reds in the playoffs this year. Once they are there who knows what could happen. You really resort to a 4 man rotation in the playoffs and I'll take Harang, Volquez, Arroyo, and Cueto/Owings against any rotation a NL team can put out. I like my chances with those guys. Depending on if Harang can get to true form again.

We're contenders now.

:dancingpa

I'm being cautiously optimistic. Yes, if things go absolutely right...the Reds can contend. HOWEVER...was last year's performance by Harang a bump in the road, or a sign of things to come? Can Edinson repeat his mastery, or will he come back down to earth? Arroyo had perhaps his best season ever as well, can we really count on him to duplicate it? And while Cueto has lights out stuff, we have to realize he's really, really young!

You couple all of that with the offense the Reds currently have, and the question mark at shortstop...and I believe thinking we're contenders is a bit much. There's going to be a LOT of pressure put on the pitching staff this year. They may go out there thinking that if they give up more than 3 runs in a game that they may not win it. I'd love to be pleasantly surprised if Bruce and Votto can pick up the slack and be 35/100 guys...but, I'm going to take a wait and see approach.

We're contenders now.

:dancingpa

 

We are contenders now? Don't jump the gun lol. We may be contenders on paper...let's see what they will do on the field.

We are contenders now? Don't jump the gun lol. We may be contenders on paper...let's see what they will do on the field.

 

I got carried away.

It is nice to hear analysts talking about Reds pitching in a positive manner.

I think they are a year away. I see them winning around 85 games this year.

I think they are a year away. I see them winning around 81 games this year.

I changed your sentence one little bit but I agree.

Too many offensive questions, especially at catcher and shortstop, and too many guys that don't get on base at a decent clip will short-circuit the offense.

 

The Reds have a future, especially if Bruce, Votto, Volquez and Cueto are as good as advertised and Bailey emerges as a credible pitcher. Volquez pretty much is already ... just hope he can sustain it and stay healthy.

 

Of course, they still have Dusty at the helm ...

I still think they are a 75-80 win team. I don't think it is a given that Harang bounces back and Arroyo has been hit pretty hard all spring. I also don't think they have enough offense in their ballpark. I don't think they'll be awful, but I don't think they contend.

I fear that the Reds will be the polar opposite of what we've been used to. Top of the league in pitching, bottom of the league in runs scored. Hope I'm wrong and they're at the top in pitching, middle of the road at least in runs scored. I agree with westsider, lots of questions.

I fear that the Reds will be the polar opposite of what we've been used to. Top of the league in pitching, bottom of the league in runs scored. Hope I'm wrong and they're at the top in pitching, middle of the road at least in runs scored. I agree with westsider, lots of questions.

 

Lot of potential too. Hence the term darkhorse. It's funny how people sometimes jump on that term and instead of taking it for what it is...the Reds have a lot of potential if things click...they turn it into immediate expectation.

 

I hope they do well...my interest in baseball isn't a whole lot outside of Boston and Cincy. It's nice to see them back on the radar...and with pitching. That's what really gives me hope.

Don't get my hopes up boys......this isn't an april fool's joke is it???

I think they will be much improved and should be in the wild card hunt.