2011 MLB Preview: Cincinnati Reds

2010 Record: 91-71

Lineup:
1 Brandon Phillips 2B
2 Drew Stubbs OF
3 Joey Votto 1B
4 Scott Rolen 3B
5 Jay Bruce OF
6 Jonny Gomes OF
7 Paul Janish/Edgar Renteria SS
8 Ramon Hernandez C

Joey Votto broke through last year hitting .324 with 37 HRs and 113 RBIs considering he is only 27 years old there is no reason to think he can't put up the numbers again. This is really an underrated lineup. Phillips, Stubbs, Votto, and Bruce give this team a young core that is going to be good for years to come. Paul Janish is great defensively, but doesn't give you much with his bat. That really doesn't matter, since they have such a balanced lineup. Plus, they went out and brought in Edgar Renteria who can add some pop to the SS position if needed, and can fill in for Rolen also. Overall this is a good lineup that is going to put up runs all year long.


Pitching:
1. Edinson Volquez
2. Bronson Arroyo
3. Johnny Cueto
4. Homer Bailey
5. Travis Wood/Mike Leake
CL: Francisco Cordero

This is one of the few teams that actually might have TOO MANY pitchers. They really have a surplus of arms, and on top of that they are young. I know what you are thinking where is Chapman. Well, Cordero is going to start the year as the closer, but that won't last long. As for the rotation, Volquez really hasn't done much since 2008, because of injury, but if he can regain his form this rotation is going to be awesome. He is still young, so there is a good chance that he can right the ship. Bronson Arroyo is an innings eater who won a career-high 17 games last year. I never take him seriously, but he has been damn consistent for the last 3 years, winning at least 15 games. Cueto was their best pitching last year with a 3.64 ERA. The guy I am really interested in is Leake, he was stellar in the first half of the year, and then completely imploded. Maybe he just ran out of gas, and if he can build up that stamina he could be another great young arm for the Reds. Overall this rotation was solid last year, but with how young they are, they are only going to get better.

Overall:

I really like what the Reds have done. It was just a couple years ago when they were filling their rotation with washed up old farts, and seemed to have no direction at all. Now, they are one of the few teams in the MLB that have a surplus of young talent and could really challenge for a nice postseason run, if things play out the way I think they will.

2011 Record: 94-68