At 1B I'd currently give the edge to Goldy, though that could change if Votto can rebound. Last year Matt Carpenter had a better year than Phillips. Carpenter is no longer at 2B so you may be right now that Phillips is the best 2B in the league even though he is trending down. Top 3 rotation? I'd go with the Dodgers, Giants, Braves, Cardinals, and Nationals over the Reds. The bullpen is okish IMO. Chapman is great, the rest are decent to average.
Braves? Exactly whom do they have that is world shaking? Giants have 1 maybe 2 and the rest is average at best. I would give you the Nationals and Dodgers, but I put us just above the Cards. IF healthy we are better 1-4 then anyone right now, as Dodgers have 2 Dominate and 2 so-so and Nationals have health concerns with thier ACE. Our 4 of Latos/Bailey/Cueto/Leake are as steady and dependable as you can get. If Tony C can come in and continue to produce and improve then our 5 may be best in baseball overall.
Say what you want Johnny Fan but the Cardinals are stacked. And they reduced payroll. Lot of cash to burn for a mid season move if they choose to. Much better GM than the Reds have. They got it figured out in STL.
Lost Beltran oh my! A 37 year old on the decline. Added a SS that can actually play. They made it to the World Series with Pete Kozma playing shortstop for gods sakes. And a major upgrade in CF by the way. Check out Matt Adams at first base for a full season. While the Reds have done nothing! And that bullpen is sick!
There's no guarantee that Adams will be great for a full year. The Cardinals do have depth, I'll give them that. It will take more than just 1 or 2 injuries to hurt them. I wish we could just start the season now because there are so many questions for the NL Central I want to see answered.
Yes, the Reds window with this group of players won't be open forever, but realistically I'd say they have another 3-4 years to get it done. Their core of players is mostly in the 27-28 age range save for Joey Votto who isn't going anywhere for a decade.
As a poster stated earlier, if they can just stay healthy, they will be okay. This team won 90 games this past year with a boatload of injuries to key players. At Ludwick's age, sure he can't be counted on for 2012 production - but I'm bullish on Jay Bruce entering his prime, and Cozart/Frazier/Mesoraco improving their offensive output at least a little. Let's not forget that they have one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball - that alone will make them a team to compete for a playoff spot.
Old school 1983 (12-25-2013)
Even if Goldschmidt had a better WAR, Votto is still better. Votto has the potential to hit 45 bombs and drive in 140 runs.
For 2nd, even if Matt Carpenter, Chase Utley, Neil Walker, Daniel Murphy, and Marco Scutaro had higher WARs Phillips still had more RBIs. So Phillips is tops here.
Pence, Werth, Parra might've had more WAR but Bruce is just better. I don't care if his wRC is behind the likes of Will Venable, the 3 mentioned earlier, Stanton, Beltran, Upton, Either, Byrd, and Cuddyer. I also don't care if his wRC is 10th out of 14 qualified RFers.
Bruce is simply better. End of story.
The fact is of the Reds, Pirates, and Cardinals the Reds have the better rotation, better bullpen, and better batting order. They have a better farm system and a better front office.
My only question is whether the Reds will win 100 games or 98.
Last edited by RealitySetsIn; 12-27-2013 at 05:45 PM. Reason: .
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