| CINCINNATI REDS *NOTE - This analysis is strictly the opinion of the Red Sox GM, and was done as objectively as possible and strictly for the fun of it |
| GM NATE HUNTER RECORD 84-78 3rd NL Central |
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| Minors: Hall, Josh - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=hall%2C+josh&sort=player_name Evert, Brett - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=evert&sort=player_name Gross, Gabe - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=gross%2C+gabe&sort=player_name Christianson, Ryan - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=christianson&sort=player_name Howington, Ty - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=howington&sort=player_name Johnson, Adam - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=johnson%2C+adam&sort=player_name Lecroy, Matthew - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=lecroy&sort=player_name Ludwick, Ryan - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=ludwick&sort=player_name Ramos, Mario - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=ramos%2C+mario&sort=player_name Nickle, Doug - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=nickle%2C+doug&sort=player_name Snyder, Earl - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=snyder%2C+earl&sort=player_name Thomas, Brad - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=thomas%2C+brad&sort=player_name Young, Jason - http://www.milb.com/players/?search=young%2C+jason&sort=player_name Team History: The Cincinnati Reds are a rich and storied franchise, the 1stprofessional baseball team in MLB history. The 1st season for theCincinnati Reds in IBC history went pretty good considering. With all honesty, I predicted the reds would have great success in their 1st IBCseason. However, I overlooked a tough contender in Chicago. Then Ropers inPitts came along and changed the picture even more. The Cards proved to be very formidable. Things were not as easy as they once seemed. In all fairness, I am happy now with how my team played the 2nd half. There were some big trades that helped us put together a great second half, somethingwe should be able to build on even further next year in 2003. We went outof the 2002 season with a win, and climbed out of 4th to grab a 3rd place finish. We have lots of good young players, with a mix of Vets. We're looking to make a run in 2003. Lineup: Perhaps the most formidable lineup in the IBC. This lineup is stacked topped to bottom, the only exception may be Cruz Jr. who had a down year in MLB. However, in 2002 IBC he was a 30/30 CF. Hoping he can rebound from a down year and improve in MLB and become the player many think he can be. Rollover on Roger Cedeno(.285AVG, .345 OBP, and 78SB) will be setting the table, followed by 2B Jose Vidro. Giambi, Tejada, Chavez, Irod, and Giles - all patient hitters, each with 30-40HR power - will be getting on base and driving in runs. We're looking for this to be the most potent offensive lineup in IBC history next year. Pitchers should be very afraid. A move into our new ballpark in 2003 with a short RF porch should only help Giambi, Chavez, and Giles' numbers next year. Bench: Solid, but nothing special. Justice, Lecroy and Ludwick should provide some good pop off the bench. Snyder, Gil and Lecroy are all versatile players and can cover the infield positions. Not a big strength, but not a big weakness either. Rookies from the minors generally get the call up if one of these guys goes down with an injury. Defense: Possibly the best catcher in the league in I-rod, a 10 time gold glove winner calling games behind the plate. Solid defense up the middle with Vidro, Tejada and Cruz. On the corners, Chavez is a gold glove winner and Giambi's offensive production more than makes up for any defensive liabilities, if there even are any. Giles and Cedeno man the corner outfielder positions, and while neither are gold glove winners at their position, I don't consider them big liabilities either. Rotation: Strong 1,2,3 in Mulder, Vazquez, Wolf. 2 of them lefties and both just 25. Both had solid if not great seasons in MLB. Should improve even further. Follow that up with Nuegebauer, who at 21 has immense potential. Compared to Kerry Wood. Has 100MPH heat. The 5th spot in the rotation will be up for grabs this year. May be filling in the spot withScott Williamson as he had a great 2002 coming back from TJ surgery, and/or Sirotka, depending on his status Bullpen: If there is one weakness to my team, I feel its the Pen. I have some good arms in Williamson, Zerbe, Riedling, Lincoln, and Rivera. However, they did not play up to par in 2002 IBC, save Rivera(no pun intended). Williamson's numbers should improve vastly, and he's taken over the closer role in Cincy in MLB. May be the setup guy I need next year, but I may need to use him in the rotation. Zerbe is a good lefty, Riedling's numbers should also improve vastly, as I think the sim undervalues him tremendously. Lincoln should be solid, better than he was for me. I am counting on their sim projections to improve, but I still think there is area for improvement in my Pen. Rivera is a solid stopper, best in the league perhaps. So hopefully my starters can give me about 6-7 innings each game, and between Riedling/Lincoln/Zerbe/Williamson can take the setup duties and then hand it over to Rivera to close out the win. Minors: Some good minor league talent, please see links above to stats. Hall is one of our most intriguing pitching prospects. Lecroy absolutely beat up on AAA pitching. My other prospects, after having great 2001seasons had down years or did not play at the level expected of them. I still believe in my young guys, and that this is just a bump in the road of development. Even though they may have had poor stats in some areas, most areas I look at were still great. Good/decent k:bb ratio for pitchers and good k:bb ratio for batters. I like young patient hitters who know how to take a walk. Some power is a plus, but I also look at speed. Pitchers, the W-L Column isn't near as important to me as the k:bb ratio. This indicateshow overmatched or dominant a pitcher is. My guys have good numbers in these areas which they hopefully can continue to improve upon. Strengths/Weaknesses: Strength - The lineup - Rollover on Cedeno means more of the same leadoff hitting to come. OBP at a .350 clip, with near 80 steals. Vidro has 20 homerun power in the 2hole and gets on base at a .370+ clip. Giambi 3rd, need I say more? Perennial MVP candidate. Tejada, possibly best young SS in the game aside from A-rod, should net 30HR power with 100+ RBI opportunity in the 4th spot(the sim's projections of Tejada for 2002 are in injustice to his ability), Chavez hitting 5th, with 40HRpower (best 3rd baseman in the league hands down), Irod 6th 30 HR power, Giles 7th, 30HR power, and Cruz, the 30/30 guy 8th. Should be producingTONS of runs. Big Red Machine should be alive in 2003. Starting Rotation aint exactly bad either. 2 legit number 1's in Vazquez and Mulder, Wolf agreat pick for #3 in the rotation. The 21 year old Nuegebauer has the potential to be a #1. Solid since his return from the DL both IBC and MLB. Weaknesses - The Pen. See explanation above. some questions marks. a few good arms, but there are some holes. Over/Under: Over, Cedeno. Guy hasn't hit like this in 2 years, stolen bases like this ever. Hence why I'm rolling over stats. :) Under, Tejada. Are you kidding me? a .230AVG, a measly 20 or so homeruns? Plain and simple, an injustice to Tejada. What I feel I did right/wrong: I feel I drafted smart, didn't get all the players I wanted, but I had trading chips to get the guys I wanted. I drafted for youth and talent, and sold other GM's on their ability during the trading process. I stand behind my trades 100%, anyone who thinks they are unfair, I'd like to hear the justification. In any case, I always go into my trading sessions with the idea to improve my team. But I want togive up guys, that why may have good value, do not fit in the big picture. I try to look ahead, and not at the NOW. I built this team for a run in 2003 and beyond. What I feel I did wrong? Well, there are a couple of trades I wish I could take back. Jennings is one of em. Who knew he would do THIS good at Coors field? I mean, I live in Denver, I know how good Jennings is, but I never thought he would be THAT good. I could sure use Jennings arm right now, would help solidify the rotation. I regret perhaps trading Jose Ortiz as well, but with Vidro I have no use for him. I maybe should have held on to him to see if he could improve, but I was not as patient as I normally am. The Future.. all I have to say is, it looks awfully bright. :) Watch out NL Central, 2003 is The Big Red Machine's year!! :) |
| 2003 Starting Lineup: 1. RF - Roger Cedeno 2. 2B - Jose Vidro 3. 1B - Jason Giambi 4. SS - Miguel Tejada 5. 3B - Eric Chavez 6. C - Ivan Rodriguez 7. LF - Brian Giles 8. CF - Jose Cruz Jr. 2003 Starting Rotation: 1. Mark Mulder 2. Javier Vasquez 3. Randy Wolf 4. Nick Nuegebauer(?) 5. Scott Williamson/Sirotka(?) |
| 2003 Bullpen: Scott Williamson(?) Chad Zerbe John Riedling Craig House(?) Jim Brower Adam Johnson Mike Lincoln Closer: Mariano Rivera Bench: Benji Gil - SS David Justice - OF Matt Lecroy - C/DH/1B Ryan Ludwick - OF Earl Snyder - 1B/3B |