Offseason analysis: Cincinnati Reds
January 19th, 2006
This completes the NL Central. Up next will be the NL East.
Additions: 2B Tony Womack; LHPs Dave Williams, Chris Hammond; RHP Grant Balfour
Losses: 1B Sean Casey
Analysis: Not much to talk about here. The trade of Casey opens up first base for Adam Dunn, and in return the Reds get a decent lefty in Williams who will move into the rotation. Hammond is a decent enough setup man in the bullpen. The team needed to upgrade its pitching more, but didn’t.
Grade: D
Having lived near Reds country (people in Louisville are generally Reds fans) and having gone to several games at that great stadium up there…. the fans there deserve a good team. They are great fans and that is a team it is easy to cheer for (when the other team isn’t the Braves). They’re just hamstrung by budgets and management issues. They desperately need some starting pitching. Their lineup will be pretty good with Griffey (when not hurt), Kearns, Dunn, and my favorite name in baseball: Wily Mo Pena all able to play at once.
So you like the new stadium, huh Alex? I’ve never been there. I did get to attend a few games in that dump they called Riverfront/Cinergy while I lived in Louisville. What a horrible place that was — and you can take your pick as to whether “horrible” is describing Riverfront/Cinergy or Louisville.
Didn’t know you lived in Louisville….
But yeah the new stadium is really terrific. I like it a lot.
Lived there from 1999-2000 while I worked at the seminary.