Reds Fans Have Reason to Be Optimistic in 2010

Since Oct. 4, 1999 Reds fans such as myself have had little to rejoice over. We have repeatedly heard the cries of upper management for fans to be patient.

It was that autumn night when I, along with the rest of sold-out Cinergy Field, watched Al Leiter dominate the game and pitch a complete game five-hitter, to send the Mets to the playoffs.

The Reds closed the decade of the 1990s with a 96-win, unforgettable season even though they fell just short of the playoffs.  

The next decade of baseball in Cincinnati didn't go so smoothly. It began with a middle of the road 85 wins, 10 games behind the division-leading Cardinals.

For the next eight seasons we have suffered watching the Reds hire inept management (Dan O' Brien), clueless managers (Bob Boone, Dave Miley, Jerry Narron), and an endless number of players that didn't deserve to be on a major league roster.

Although their shortcoming sometimes seem endless, the Reds will have an opportunity to make a strong bid for the 2010 MLB playoffs.

The Reds, like most teams, are strapped for cash, but unlike in the past, they have a creative general manager in Walt Jocketty, who knows how to build a winner (see 2006 St. Louis Cardinals). They also have a manager in Dusty Baker who has been a great influence on the young team and knows how to get the most out of his players.

The Reds pitching staff has a big gap to fill with Edinson Volquez recovering from midseason Tommy John surgery. This should not stop the rotation from being a force that has a chance to go the distance on any night.

Bronson Arroyo was one of the best pitchers in the league to finish the season, posting a 1.99 ERA in August and a 1.83 ERA in September. Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey showed potential to be top of the order pitchers at times last season and will have newly hired pitching coach Bryan Price to help them reach their potential.

Aaron Harang in 2009 was the product of terrible run support and is only two seasons removed from back-to-back 16 win seasons.

These Reds have possible young arms, such as LHP Matt Maloney, or could invest in an inexpensive free agent to anchor the rotation.  

The bullpen has the potential to be the strong point on this Reds team. Led by All-Star closer Francisco Cordero, the Reds bullpen has immense talent.

Jared Burton, who was slowed by injury in 2009, should regain his position as a strong setup man. Nick Masset and Danny Herrera had breakout seasons, both posting ERAs around 3.00. These young pitchers, along with lefty Arthur Rhodes, who seems to get better with age, will shut down opposing hitters in the back end of games.

One major worry of this 2010 Reds team is the hitting. The Reds' midseason acquisition of Scott Rolen could be the final piece of the puzzle for Reds hitters, as they went 27-14 in games that he played.

Rolen is not the only excellent hitter in the lineup though. Joey Votto was an early MVP candidate until he unexpectedly went on the DL in May. This did not stop the young first baseman from putting together a spectacular year, hitting .325 with 25 HRs and 84 RBI.

Another middle of the order bat for the Reds will be former prospect phenom Jay Bruce. Though his batting average suffered early, Bruce was on pace for a 40-home run season before he broke his wrist in mid-July.

The Reds also have a player in Brandon Phillips who seemingly has hit at every spot in the lineup and has potential to put together another 30-30 season.

Although the middle of order seems set, the Reds have moves to make elsewhere. Willy Taveras struggled in his debut season with the Reds with a measly .275 OBP, which won't cut it as a leadoff hitter. Though young OF Chris Dickerson looked overmatched to begin the season, he settled down and showed that he could contend to start in center or left field.

There is a currently a vacancy in left field, but if the Reds could re-sign Johnny Gomes, he looked like he could be a .280, 30 HR hitter if he had a chance to be an everyday starter.

As for the catcher position, the Reds have re-signed Ramon Hernandez, who didn't turn any heads but came up big in clutch situations and showed his versatility to play first base when Votto went to the DL.

The biggest question for the Reds lineup will be the shortstop position, but they do have options. The clearest option would be to follow the status quo and keep defensive specialist Paul Janish as the starter. The next option would be to offer most of the money the Reds have available to a free agent such as Khalil Greene or Orlando Cabrera.

The third option would be to move the former Gold Glove second baseman Phillips to shortstop and call up Todd Frazier, who has hit well at every minor league level.

Fans of the Cincinnati Reds have struggled through some hard times recently, rooting for a team that has not been to the playoffs since 1995. Fans have repeatedly gotten hopes up in the offseason only to soon be let down by an underachieving team.

Although it at times seems like a long shot to contend in 2010, the Reds certainly have the possibly to put the pieces of the puzzle together and contend for the NL Central crown.