SI predicts Reds will finish 4th in the division

[Mike Honcho]

8. The Reds will finish fourth in the NL Central.
Their offense was already top-heavy in 2013 -- with Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Shin-Soo Choo levying a disproportionate amount of damage -- and now it will be without Choo, who signed with the Rangers. (Brandon Phillips' 103 RBIs last year were deceiving in light of his poor .706 OPS.) While the first five in the team's rotation is strong with Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Homer Bailey, Tony Cingrani and Mike Leake, there's no depth should anyone get injured (unless Bronson Arroyo, another free-agent, returns). The Cardinals will continue to be a power, the Pirates will remain strong and look for the upstart Brewers to finish a game or two ahead of Cincinnati.


Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb...#ixzz2rKKjKkAg

[indyscott]

8. The Reds will finish fourth in the NL Central.
Their offense was already top-heavy in 2013 -- with Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Shin-Soo Choo levying a disproportionate amount of damage -- and now it will be without Choo, who signed with the Rangers. (Brandon Phillips' 103 RBIs last year were deceiving in light of his poor .706 OPS.) While the first five in the team's rotation is strong with Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Homer Bailey, Tony Cingrani and Mike Leake, there's no depth should anyone get injured (unless Bronson Arroyo, another free-agent, returns). The Cardinals will continue to be a power, the Pirates will remain strong and look for the upstart Brewers to finish a game or two ahead of Cincinnati.


Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb...#ixzz2rKKjKkAg

We wont finish 4th

[kaldaniels]

Not really SI's "official" prediction. Just "some guy" at SI's prediction.

Yawn.

[RedTeamGo!]

Wouldn't be surprised.

[Mike Honcho]

Not really SI's "official" prediction. Just "some guy" at SI's prediction.

Yawn.

Even so that is pretty ridiculous

[RedTeamGo!]

Why is it ridiculous for a team that lost it's 2nd best player to drop from third to fourth? The Reds got worse and the Brewers got better.

I do not necessarily think it will happen, but I will not be surprised if it does.

[Kc61]

The pre-season predictions for the Reds will not be pretty.

Doesn't mean anything, but if that sort of thing upsets anyone, get ready to be upset.

[kaldaniels]

Even so that is pretty ridiculous

I don't see the Reds finishing fourth, but its not a total stretch to predict that.

I imagine a crowdsourced prediction of "experts" would have the Reds coming in 3rd this year myself.

[kaldaniels]

If memory serves me this same guy predicted the Reds would win the World Series in 2013.

[CySeymour]

What the prediction fails to mention is that the Pirates are also weakened, with the loss of Burnett and the lack of having many options at firstbase.

[Larry Schuler]

The Reds lost their chance to be ESPN darlings in 2011 when they hiccuped and Joey Votto's power numbers began to go south. If Bailey and Latos can put up ace numbers starting from week 1 and Joey Votto leads the league in home runs at the all star break, and Aroldis Chapman starts getting trade interest from the Red Sox or Yankees, the Reds might start getting some of the 2010 love again.

[Larry Schuler]

They can also get ESPN cred by making it to a World Series.

[Trajinous]

I don't see the Reds finishing 4th.....The Brewers are getting some love with the Garza signing but that will disappear in a week. ESPN won't "respect" the Reds til they go deep into the playoffs.

[mth123]

What the prediction fails to mention is that the Pirates are also weakened, with the loss of Burnett and the lack of having many options at firstbase.

Agreed, I think the Pirates fall behind the Reds. But LA, AZ, WAS, ATL, STL would be my play-off picks. MIL, CIN, PIT, SF and even PHI all have a chance as well. Too much competition to lose guys and stand pat IMO.

[757690]

If memory serves me this same guy predicted the Reds would win the World Series in 2013.

Different guy. Joe Sheehan wrote the SI. prediction piece last year.

But the point about the accuracy of pre season predictions is still well taken.