Oh to dare to dream.  Reds will contend for a playoff berth but still a dominant starter and bat or two away from contending for a World Series Title, Buckeyes will win the National Title, but come on folks with all the off the field distractions (namely the police blotter and inconsistent play) the Bungal Gals aren't going anywhere this year even if they do manage to squeak into the dance.  They don't look anywhere near as good as the team that choked to the World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers last season.

 

I'm sure I'll be blasted for that last statement but hey I'm a big boy and it will be handled but back to the Reds before the natives wake up. 

 

Although I do like the addition of Gonzalez at shortstop which should improve our infiield defense, I see little improvement or change from last year's club.  I'm hoping as well that GAB also improves his offensive numbers as well since it’s a hitters park.  Pitching did improve in the second half of the season with all the additions but the outcome is still out there until we see how it developes together with a full training camp and season under its belt.  The improvement there was the lone positive that I drew out of the second half of the season when for a change the pitching was strong but the offense failed miserably at times late in the season when it really mattered the most as well as ultimately costing the Reds a postseason berth.

 

Here a my key areas of improvement needed for the Reds to make the postseason this year:

 

   1> Batting Average with runners in scoring postion.  The Reds got runners on second and third but quite often in the second half of the season failed to bring them home with timely key hits.  This is a key improvent needed to contend seriously in 07.

 

   2>  Defense.  Enough said.  It was pretty much atrocious other than the occasional highlight reels provided by Freel. Phillips, and Griffey last year.

 

   3>  Relief Pitching.  Even though a good many of the blown saves occurred before the acquisition of all the quality arms it still needs to improve to where we're not tossing away close games we should be winning.  An improvement in this area alone should increase our wins by 10-15 or more.  Key area #1 improvement also effects this concern because with bigger leads the pressure on the BP isn't as great.

 

   4>  Cut down on strikeouts.  Dunn was the main culprit in the area but the rest of the team contributed mightedly as well.  A big decrease in this area alone boosts the team batting average, scores more runs, and take pressure off the pitching staff allowing them to challenge hitters on a more regular basis.

 

   5>  Conditioning of Starting Pitchers.  I'd like to see our starters work later into games so that our BP isn't used as much.  Our starting pitchers have improved with the addition of Bronson but another dominent starter is still needed.  Homer Bailey shows potential to be that but I'm leaning more towards next year for him and don't quite feel he's ready for major leagues just yet.  He could be something special in the lines of Mario Soto/Tom Browning mode for which we haven't seen since they departed.  Let's not rush him and ruin that because he has the potential to be a Cy Young type pitcher we desperately need to return to Baseball Elite Status.

MJ

Merry Christmas,Alan and to the rest of the Reds fans out there.All I want fot Christmas is a World Series from the Reds a Super Bowl from the Bengals and A National Title for the Buckeyes,its not like Im asking for alot.

 

 

                                                         DAVID

Alan <alcory11@yahoo.com> wrote:

...not much activity around baseball...i am already getting
itchy...lol...hope everyone here is doing well and that you're getting
a few reasons to smile everyday...the holidays are always nice for me,
i guess just because i still like the old guy in the red suit...
...hope you're all going to have a nice Christmas...

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