Azubuike24;1658892 wrote:The Reds success hinges on 2 things.
1. The return of a healthy Votto, Bruce and BP. We all know Cozart and LF sucked this year. Barring a miracle, neither will find significant upgrades in 2015. Cozart will be tough to upgrade from and we just have to hope someone finds some short-term success in LF. However, combine an improved BP and no-fluke years from Mesoraco and Frazier along with these guys just at their career averages, it's a different ballgame.
2. The bullpen, outside of Chapman, finding its niche. This is what cost the Reds so many games this year. Hoover, Ondrusek, LeCure and Parra, 20 LOSSES! I'm sorry, but that's a lot of games being decided by the arms of guys who honestly, aren't even necessarily major league caliber. Finding another bullpen arm to pair with Chapman, and then finding a TRUE lefty, could make 2015 successful.
How is this done? Well, a decision has to be made on a few of the starters. Cueto, Latos, Leake and Simon are all free agents after 2015. How do Cingrani, Stephenson and Lorenzen fit into your future? 2015? 2016? This is the spot where the Reds have a significant advantage over other teams. Major league ready arms. Everywhere else, they are behind the eight ball and will need to be creative with a trade or 2 to upgrade the team.
For as doom and gloom as I was this season, I'm still confident in 2015. Look at Boston in 2012? They win it all in 2013. They suck in 2014, after some big moves. I wouldn't be shocked if they are a major contender in 2015. Baseball isn't as difficult as it once was to build a contender for a year, and the Reds, barring some luck on their side in 2015, can still contend for a title.
C Mesoraco
1B Votto
2B Phillips
SS Cozart
3B Frazier
LF ???
CF Hamilton
RF Bruce
Schumaker
Pena
Heisey (arb eligible)
Negron (did he earn a spot?)
???
Cueto
Latos
Bailey
Simon/Leake
Cingrani
Chapman
Diaz
Marshall (healthy?)
Parra
LeCure
???
Ludwick and Hannahan's options won't be picked up. Hoover, Ondrusek and Santiago will be non-tendered. One of Leake or Simon should be traded, likely Leake given he has more value.
I have to agree for the most part.
You need your best players to be your best players. Votto and Bruce need to have very good years and Meso and Frazier to continue to get better. BH did better than expected and he can take another step. LF is an issue big time. Phillips needs to produce as well. If all of that happens they can still use Cozarts glove.
Pitching is good. For some reason...I am confident but the guys getting paid to put up big numbers have to do their jobs'