Five Concerns for 2013

[medford]

1) rotation depth. They didn't need it last year, it never felt like they had it last season, they most certainly will need it this season, is Cingrani & Corcino enough to provide that depth?

2) Sophomore slump. Read recently that 74% of all players who recieved votes in the Rookie of the year balloting b/w 2007 & 2011 saw a dip in either their OPS or their ERA. I know Frazier finished 3rd last year, didn't Cozart pick up a few votes as well???

3) Votto's knee/power. As Votto goes, so will this team go, take the best hitter away from any lineup and it will suffer, this lineup is no different.

4) CF defense..Obviously they're not getting the range they had last year in stubbs, probably won't be a big difference in Cincy, but could be huge in places like San Fran.

5) Mes' development. Things obviously went less than swimingly last year, can he adjust this season to sharing time w/ hannigan?

Things I'm not worried about, that I worried about at the start of last season:

1) The Bench, for the first time in a long while, it feels like they're going to have a complete bench. Some lefties that can pinch hit, some defense, some versatility...

2) Back of the bullpen. Chapman settled in, Broxton provides another power arm, marshall was great in the 7th & 8th, LeCure came into his own, etc...

[lollipopcurve]

More concerning is the sense that this team is all set. It rarely plays out that way. I'm never comfortable with overconfidence.

Could not agree more. I've been sensing a real 1971 vibe to this team for a few weeks now.

[50YrRedsFan]

Thin air in Arizona. The breaking ball doesn't break like it does here. The ball flies more than it does here. Not worried about guys who have had success.

It seems our hitters haven't been taking advantage of the thin air. We have not hit very well, especially two critical players we MUST have production from.
Bruce has had a poor spring (yes, he has 4 HR's, but that's about it)with his average around .220 and quite a few K's. Ludwick has been dreadful, considering he has had more at bats than anyone except Heisey. Only 2 rbi's for Luddy and 1 walk in about 50 ab's. 1 walk? He is swinging and missing a lot.
Many K's. Phillips hasn't been very good at all since he's been back from the WBC. Yes, I am ranting about our lack of hitting already. I see it as our biggest problem this year. IMHO, Ludwick is not a #4 hitter.

[dougdirt]

It seems our hitters haven't been taking advantage of the thin air.

Some of them absolutely have. I love Devin Mesoraco's bat. But he isn't a 1.000+ OPS guy. Yorman Rodriguez has an OPS over 1.200. Zack Cozart isn't an .877 OPS guy. Derrick Robinson has an .875 OPS. He has OPS'd over .670 once in his minor league career and never over .730. Ryan Hanigan is slugging .524. Cesar Izturis has an OPS of .870.

[Benihana]

The Top 10 things to worry about in order of likelihood

1. Cueto health/effectiveness
2. Frazier regression
3. Cozart not being able to hit
4. Votto's knee/power
5. Broxton's contract looking horrible from the get-go
6. Ludwick regressing
7. Bailey regressing/imploding/injury
8. Phillips starting to age/fall off AVG-wise
9. Mesoraco not improving
10. The back of the rotation (Arroyo/Leake ineffectiveness)

[50YrRedsFan]

Some of them absolutely have. I love Devin Mesoraco's bat. But he isn't a 1.000+ OPS guy. Yorman Rodriguez has an OPS over 1.200. Zack Cozart isn't an .877 OPS guy. Derrick Robinson has an .875 OPS. He has OPS'd over .670 once in his minor league career and never over .730. Ryan Hanigan is slugging .524. Cesar Izturis has an OPS of .870.

Agreed, these guys have done pretty well, but several won't even make the club. Rodriguez, Robinson, and Izturis may not be here next week. Mes is the backup catcher. I only think Cozart and Hanigan are starters.

[dougdirt]

Agreed, these guys have done pretty well, but several won't even make the club. Rodriguez, Robinson, and Izturis may not be here next week. Mes is the backup catcher. I only think Cozart and Hanigan are starters.

Sure, but those guys are all absolutely taking advantage of the Arizona atmosphere, which you said you weren't sure we were doing.

[Red in Chicago]

Only one for me:

Cueto health issues

[757690]

1. It will be harder to get good seats for cheap from scalpers outside the stadium.

2. Marty will get sick, which will force Brantely to do more solo innings.

3. They run out of skyline coneys at games I attend.

4. The "Howl" continues this season.

5. The Reds clinch the division so early that the September games become meaningless.

[UPRedsFan]

I'll leave out injuries because that's every team's concern every year.

1. Ludwick. Who plays left and who bats clean up if he can't get it going?

2. Leake. I just don't know. He seems to be regressing. Have hitters figured him out or what?

3. Can they beat the Nationals in a 7 game series? That's an awfully good pitching staff over there.

[malcontent]

I have been a huge dusty hater over the past few years but I also am man enough to admit when I am wrong and dusty is one of the reasons this team has done so well, the players love him and I think they play better when they are comfortable with the manager.....

I think I'm evolving on the Baker question, as well.

Not that I'll ever forgive T-Virus and Seabass batting 1/2.

[Tony Cloninger]

Could not agree more. I've been sensing a real 1971 vibe to this team for a few weeks now.

I got that vibe in 2011.......I feel a 1973 vibe here for this year.

[texasdave]

1) Washington
2) Atlanta
3) Philadelphia
4) St. Louis
5) Milwaukee
6) Los Angeles
7) San Francisco

[757690]

I got that vibe in 2011.......I feel a 1973 vibe here for this year.

Me too, I also think Tony Orlando will make a big comeback this year.

[reds44]

My only two real concerns are Frazier and health. You might include Ludwick or CF defense, but there may already be a solution to those potential problems in AAA.