After winning back to back WS ala the 75-76 Reds fans wonder if this Reds team will hit a 14 year WS drought like their real life counterparts. As the roster stands this team should be close to as good as last season but will it be enough. GM erff would not even comment as to a guaranteed division win this year which has some fans questioning his confidence.
As usual the Reds made several trades this off-season in attempt to improve not only the big league club but bolster the farm system as well and even one lone FA signing which is a rarity in Cincinnati.
The most shocking and somewhat controversial move was sending Tony Torrealba to Santa Fe for prospects Jose Domingo, Charles Chang and Moises Pascual. RP Jorge Owen and CF Raymond Hughes were also included and sent to Santa Fe. "Although Tony's bat will be missed we feel we have adequate power throughout our line-up and we've improved our defense up the middle with a couple other guys we've got in the mix for 2nd base." GM erff had to say. "We felt that this is a good move for the future of this club. Chang should fit in well in our rotation soon and we have high hopes for Domingo in the near future. Pasqual may end up being that leadoff guy we've been looking for for a while now." Some fans are not too sure.
Other key addition were catcher Luis Maduro who will be used to back-up Chris Duran, the role FA Ryan Holtz held last year. Two guys were aquired to battle for the second base opening. Ugueth Cruz and Jerome Sobkowiak were both aquired for prospects and Jose Guzman was brought in with Cruz to be a solid defensive shortstop in the late innings. Another head scratching move was the Carlos for Carlos trade. Santiago out and Ortiz back in had Reds fans puzzled until they woke the following morning to find that Orlando Delgado, the promising RP prospect packaged with Ortiz, was promptly include in a deal which netted Veteran ace Paulie Sanders to fall in behind Yamil as the Reds #2. Spot Starter Harry Owen and prospect Mel Woods were also sent to Louisville in exchange for Paulie. Most fans believe this to be the move of the year and Sanders jerseys are already flying off the rack. However a select few believe the Yonder Diaz trade to be the move that will make this team invincible! Cubs fans were in outrage after hearing the news.
The Reds lone FA signing was veteran RP Stephen Fonville who should help fill the holes vacated by the Owen boys.
predicted opening day line-up:
Ugueth Cruz - 2b, so far he seems the front runner over Sobkowiak
Miguel Rodrigo - CF
Rocky Spencer - LF
Omar Nixon - 1b
Chris Duran - Catcher, to be backed up by Maduro
Roger Merrick - 3b, should be interesting to see roger play 3rd.
Julio Uribe - SS
Carlos Ortiz - RF
if Merrick struggles at third you may see prospect Denny Terry brought in and Merrick back in right. another option that may be available is moving Uribe to 3rd if another quality SS can be found.
Bench
Maduro
Sobkowiak
Guzman
??
??
Starting Rotation:
Yamil Pulido
Paulie Sanders
Mariano Borbao
Bruce Kinney
??? possibly Victor Chavez
Bullpen:
Midre Davis
Harry Torcato
Charles Kinney
Doug Cambridge
Stephen Fonville
Tom Waters
and closer Mitchell Ray.
Predictions:
record: 105 - 57 first place in the division. 118 will likely be unattainable again.
moves: Merrick back to right, Ortiz benched or waived, Terry or Chipper called up.
"We're optimistic," GM erff said, "but you have to realize we have the Cubs and Brewers in our division. Hell even the Pirates could be trouble this year. They've got a good team over there in steel town. That Loewer kid can throw boy. I say we'll win it and we got the team to win it but I reckon it'll be mighty tough again here in the NL North. As long as we play baseball and keep DJ's sister out of the damn clubhouse we'll be fine. She's the Cubs problem now anyways."
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