2011 Cincinnati Reds Preview
Spring break is over, school is back in session for another 11 weeks, my NCAA tournament bracket has been shot to hell and looks more like Swiss cheese, but all is good because, baseball is back.
It's one of the best days in the city of Cincinnati and one of the best in the whole country, this Thursday is Opening Day. Time to dust off the mitt that has been sitting in the closet all winter, break out the baseball gap and head out to the diamond to watch some baseball. 2010 was the best year of baseball I've ever witnessed as a Cincinnati Reds fan and 2011 will be even better.
With the Reds winning the NL Central in dramatic fashion with Jay Bruce's walk-off home run on September 28th, the Reds are going to struggle to top last season, but it's not impossible. Last season was magically from the start, the Reds started slow out of the gate, but caught fire and never looked back.
Last season the Reds had Joey Votto play the best baseball of his young career and win NL MVP, the first Red to win the award since Barry Larkin in 1995. Votto, along with Arthur Rhodes, Scott Rolen and Brandon Phillips, went to the All-Star game in Anaheim. Rolen, Phillips and Bronson Arroyo all received Gold Gloves for their outstanding defense. And GM Walt Jocketty was executive of the year, according to Sporting News, for bringing in guys like Rhodes, Rolen and signing the Cuban Missile, Aroldis Chapman.
Aroldis made his much anticipated debut in September and gave the Reds a much needed boost out of the bullpen. From his nasty curve, to his 105 mph fastball, Chapman had fans all over the country watching in awe and wonder. The Reds came from behind to win over 40 of their games en route to one of their best seasons since the Big Red Machine days with a record of 91-71.
Like Chapman, rookies stole most of the spotlight for the Reds last season, from the excellent start of Mike Leake, who never even pitched in the minors. To Travis Wood going toe-to-toe with Phillies ace Roy Halladay and taking a perfect game into the 9th in only his third career start. Other young players like Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, Drew Stubbs and Chris Heisey all contributed in a major way.
Then there was the brawl at GABP against the Cardinals in August that really set the tone for the rest of the season. Everyone waited for the Reds to fall after fight, but it never happened and the Reds cruised to an NL Central Division crown, the first since 1995.
Quite a year, but like I said last year, I think 2011 is their year. The Reds are still a very young team, but they return almost everybody from last year's team and all that young talent gained a lot of valuable experience last season.
MVP Joey Votto, Bronson Arroyo, Jay Bruce and Johnny Cueto all signed extensions to remain Cincinnati Reds for years to come in the off-season. Also back is Edinson Volquez, who will have his first full season since Tommy John surgery. Veterans Scott Rolen and Brandon Phillips remain in the infield along with Votto and newly acquired World Series MVP Edgar Renteria. Jonny Gomes is still in left field and will still be doing that crazy thing with his helmet before every pitch. Drew Stubbs looks to have the best year of his career, as the speedy centerfielder could possibly steal 50 bases. Mr. Clutch, Jay Bruce, will still be out in right field and is quickly becoming one of the best outfielders, offensively and defensively, in the game.
Pitchers Travis Wood and Mike Leake are back for even better sophomore seasons. Homer Bailey is in a contract year and looks to finally become the pitcher everyone thought he would be. Arthur Rhodes is gone, which will hurt, but the Reds will have the Cuban Missile for a full season to ease the pain. Francisco Cordero is still the closer, hopefully with a lot less drama in the 9th inning this year. The farm system is stocked with top level prospects, Dusty Baker is back in the dugout with his toothpicks, calling the shots and Walt Jocketty is still in the front office pulling some strings to make the Reds even better.
The future could not be brighter and the expectations for the 2011 season could not be higher. We went into 2010 thinking the Reds would have a decent shot to go .500 and finish with a winning record. Never did we imagine an NL Central crown and an October playoff game at Great American Ballpark. The Reds are built to win right now, they have all the tools in place to win and now is the time.
I truly believe that 2011 will go down as one of the best seasons in the long history of the Cincinnati Reds and will be even better than 2010. The New Big Red Machine is ready to take on the rest of Major League Baseball and it won't be easy, but the Reds are ready. 2011 might be the most highly anticipated season since the Big Red Machine days back in the '70s and it's just great to have a winning baseball team back in Cincinnati.
The season starts March 31, at 2:10, as the defending NL Central Division Champion Cincinnati Reds take on the Milwaukee Brewers at GABP
It's one of the best days in the city of Cincinnati and one of the best in the whole country, this Thursday is Opening Day. Time to dust off the mitt that has been sitting in the closet all winter, break out the baseball gap and head out to the diamond to watch some baseball. 2010 was the best year of baseball I've ever witnessed as a Cincinnati Reds fan and 2011 will be even better.
With the Reds winning the NL Central in dramatic fashion with Jay Bruce's walk-off home run on September 28th, the Reds are going to struggle to top last season, but it's not impossible. Last season was magically from the start, the Reds started slow out of the gate, but caught fire and never looked back.Last season the Reds had Joey Votto play the best baseball of his young career and win NL MVP, the first Red to win the award since Barry Larkin in 1995. Votto, along with Arthur Rhodes, Scott Rolen and Brandon Phillips, went to the All-Star game in Anaheim. Rolen, Phillips and Bronson Arroyo all received Gold Gloves for their outstanding defense. And GM Walt Jocketty was executive of the year, according to Sporting News, for bringing in guys like Rhodes, Rolen and signing the Cuban Missile, Aroldis Chapman.
Aroldis made his much anticipated debut in September and gave the Reds a much needed boost out of the bullpen. From his nasty curve, to his 105 mph fastball, Chapman had fans all over the country watching in awe and wonder. The Reds came from behind to win over 40 of their games en route to one of their best seasons since the Big Red Machine days with a record of 91-71.
Like Chapman, rookies stole most of the spotlight for the Reds last season, from the excellent start of Mike Leake, who never even pitched in the minors. To Travis Wood going toe-to-toe with Phillies ace Roy Halladay and taking a perfect game into the 9th in only his third career start. Other young players like Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, Drew Stubbs and Chris Heisey all contributed in a major way.
Then there was the brawl at GABP against the Cardinals in August that really set the tone for the rest of the season. Everyone waited for the Reds to fall after fight, but it never happened and the Reds cruised to an NL Central Division crown, the first since 1995.
Quite a year, but like I said last year, I think 2011 is their year. The Reds are still a very young team, but they return almost everybody from last year's team and all that young talent gained a lot of valuable experience last season.
MVP Joey Votto, Bronson Arroyo, Jay Bruce and Johnny Cueto all signed extensions to remain Cincinnati Reds for years to come in the off-season. Also back is Edinson Volquez, who will have his first full season since Tommy John surgery. Veterans Scott Rolen and Brandon Phillips remain in the infield along with Votto and newly acquired World Series MVP Edgar Renteria. Jonny Gomes is still in left field and will still be doing that crazy thing with his helmet before every pitch. Drew Stubbs looks to have the best year of his career, as the speedy centerfielder could possibly steal 50 bases. Mr. Clutch, Jay Bruce, will still be out in right field and is quickly becoming one of the best outfielders, offensively and defensively, in the game.
Pitchers Travis Wood and Mike Leake are back for even better sophomore seasons. Homer Bailey is in a contract year and looks to finally become the pitcher everyone thought he would be. Arthur Rhodes is gone, which will hurt, but the Reds will have the Cuban Missile for a full season to ease the pain. Francisco Cordero is still the closer, hopefully with a lot less drama in the 9th inning this year. The farm system is stocked with top level prospects, Dusty Baker is back in the dugout with his toothpicks, calling the shots and Walt Jocketty is still in the front office pulling some strings to make the Reds even better.The future could not be brighter and the expectations for the 2011 season could not be higher. We went into 2010 thinking the Reds would have a decent shot to go .500 and finish with a winning record. Never did we imagine an NL Central crown and an October playoff game at Great American Ballpark. The Reds are built to win right now, they have all the tools in place to win and now is the time.
I truly believe that 2011 will go down as one of the best seasons in the long history of the Cincinnati Reds and will be even better than 2010. The New Big Red Machine is ready to take on the rest of Major League Baseball and it won't be easy, but the Reds are ready. 2011 might be the most highly anticipated season since the Big Red Machine days back in the '70s and it's just great to have a winning baseball team back in Cincinnati.
The season starts March 31, at 2:10, as the defending NL Central Division Champion Cincinnati Reds take on the Milwaukee Brewers at GABP
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