Cincinnati Reds: 10 Burning Questions for Opening Day 2012

Opening Day is only a few days away for Cincinnati Reds fans, and the hype surrounding the club is at a fever pitch.

After an impressive offseason that saw the Reds vastly upgrade their roster, the club is considered the favorite to win the National League Central division.

The arrival of a new season also means the arrival of a plethora of new questions concerning the Reds. Opening Day won’t necessarily answer all of the questions, but that won’t stop MLB fans worldwide from asking them.

2012 is a critical year for the Cincinnati Reds. A new TV deal is looming. They have important players to extend. Most importantly, they look like contenders.

Here are 10 burning questions facing the Cincinnati Reds as Opening Day approaches.

How Long Will Brandon Phillips Remain in Cincinnati?

Gold Glove second baseman Brandon Phillips is entering the final year of his contract with the Reds. The club has been negotiating with Phillips for quite some time now, but progress has been stagnant.

Phillips is looking to make more than $12 million a year over five-to-seven years, and the Reds may not be able to afford that after giving Joey Votto a massive 10-year, $225 million contract.

The Reds could probably afford Phillips on a three-to-four-year deal since Votto’s contract doesn’t get huge until then, and Bronson Arroyo’s monster contract comes off the books. That’s still a pipe dream with Phillips looking to cash in.

One has to wonder if the Reds would consider trading Phillips at the deadline. Some club would give up a ridiculous package to land Phillips.

Trading Phillips seems like a long shot, but so did having Joey Votto on the team through 2023.

How Will Sean Marshall Fare as a Closer?

Sean Marshall is one of the better left-handed setup pitchers in all of baseball. After closer Ryan Madson suffered a season-ending injury, Marshall was promptly named the closer since the club didn’t have any other viable options.

Marshall would have been great in his usual setup role, but he has the potential to be just as good at closer for the Reds. In six years with the Chicago Cubs, Marshall recorded seven saves to go along with a 3.96 ERA.

Marshall recently received an extension, so the Reds are hoping they have found a long-term closer. The Reds and Marshall weren’t expecting him to have to close this season though, so how prepared Marshall is for the challenge is a question worth asking.

When Will Aroldis Chapman Join the Rotation?

The Reds were grooming Aroldis Chapman this offseason for a starting role, but he won’t get an opportunity just yet. Reds manager Dusty Baker has confirmed that Chapman will start the season in the bullpen in lieu of spring struggles from Bill Bray.

Homer Bailey will take Chapman’s spot in the starting rotation—for now. Chapman looked good this spring, starting four games, a stretch which resulted in a 2-0 record and a 2.12 ERA. He hasn’t started a regular season game before, but his time is soon.

When Chapman gets to start is anyone’s guess. Injury or ineffective play from a starter could propel Chapman into a starting role prematurely. If not, it’s hard to tell when Chapman will finally be worth his contract.

Which Bronson Arroyo Will Show Up in 2012?

Bronson Arroyo had an outstanding 2010 season before transforming into the Reds' worst starting pitcher for the 2011 season. Arroyo gave up an inordinate amount of home runs last year as his velocity dipped, and he won’t survive in 2012 unless he gets it together.

As of now, Arroyo is a solid fourth or fifth pitcher in a rotation. It’s safe to say his position is safe given manager Dusty Baker’s infatuation with veterans.

Ideally, Arroyo would be effective if he isn't pushed to 200 innings this year—but knowing Baker, he’ll fail to use the impressive depth and run Arroyo into the ground.

If Arroyo is healthy and Baker doesn’t overdo it, Arroyo could be a critical piece to the Reds in 2012. Or not.

How Will Left Field Play Out?

Chris Heisey and Ryan Ludwick appear to be in a bit of a duel for who gets the most starts in left field this upcoming season. Heisey has been effective the past few years in spot-duty, and Ludwick has been on-and-off with various clubs in that same time span.

Heisey has the unique ability to play all three outfield positions, so that versatility could see Ludwick and Heisey playing together on some days. When they aren’t playing together, it’s anyone’s guess who will see more playing time.

It’s likely the right-handed Ludwick will see more time in the hopes of doing damage against left-handed pitchers. Other than that, the job appears to be Heisey’s to lose.

Can Jay Bruce Elevate His Play to Elite Status?

Yes, Jay Bruce was peppered with awards last season, but he’s hardly scratched the surface of what he’s capable of doing. He’ll be 25-years-old when the season begins, so he has plenty of time to make improvements.

Bruce struck out a career high 158 times last season. His eye at the plate has to improve, and his average needs to improve after dropping 30 points from 2010 to 2011. He’s lost a lot of weight this offseason—15 pounds to be exact—and appears to be in top shape.

If Bruce manages to pull it all together, especially offensively, he has a real shot at propelling the Reds to having the best offense in MLB in 2012. The Reds scored 735 runs last year, second best in the National League. Bruce can take them even higher if he takes the next step.

Can Drew Stubbs Decrease His Number of Strikeouts in 2012?

Drew Stubbs had a bit of an issue at the plate last season. He struck out 205 times. 205.

With that being said, Stubbs is a rare combination of speed and strength. He’s great at stealing bases—he finished second in the National League last season with 40. Now imagine if Stubbs improved his plate discipline and raised his on base percentage—the number of steals would skyrocket.

Stubbs is a young player with a chance to truly be something special. If he tones down the strikeouts, he’ll be yet another deadly weapon for Dusty Baker to utilize in 2012.

How Many Games Can Scott Rolen Play?

Scott Rolen had trouble staying on the field in 2011, and that could continue into the 2012 season. Rolen says his oft-injured shoulder feels great, but Rolen has never been short on optimism. The same shoulder caused him to hit the disabled list twice last season.

Rolen’s injuries make sense. He’s getting older, plays a very physically demanding position and gives it his all on every play. He’s an amazing defensive third baseman, but one that is beginning to physically decline.

If the Reds are lucky they will get more games out of Rolen than they did last season. If Dusty Baker gives him enough rest Rolen could be healthy for a postseason run.

How Does Joey Votto’s Record Contract Impact the Reds’ Future?

Joey Votto’s contract was huge. The fourth-biggest contract in MLB history to be exact. The 10-year, $225 million deal begins when Votto’s current contract expires after 2013. It’s great that the Reds locked up arguably the best hitter in the game, but it could also backfire.

One of the terms of the deal is Votto can’t be traded. The Reds are on the hook for Votto’s contract if he happens to get injured. He has been very durable thus far, but if he is hurt, that’s a huge chunk of the Reds' total salary tied up in one player.

The Reds are looking for a new TV deal this upcoming offseason, and that had to be in the back of the organization’s mind as it dished out the monster contract. Retaining Votto could see the Reds land a ridiculously large TV deal, which would in turn give the organization more money to spend on players to build around Votto.

Regardless of how it plays out, Votto’s deal will have a drastic impact on the course of the franchise for a decade or more, good or bad.

How Far Can the Reds Truly Go in 2012?

The Reds are being picked by many experts to win the National League Central division this season, which makes some sense. The team looks good on paper. Really good. But that doesn’t always translate to the field very well.

The Reds are facing a weakened division this year, primarily because Albert Pujols elected to ditch the St. Louis Cardinals. The Milwaukee Brewers will still be stiff competitors to the divisional title, but that’s about it.

So the Reds have a good shot at the NL Central crown. But what about after that? The roster is young in most areas. It will be hard to tell how the club responds to the high-pressure environment of the playoffs.

The Reds are poised to have a big 2012 campaign. Just how long that campaign lasts is up for debate.

Follow @Chris_Roling