2010 Roster WAG

[corkedbat]

Just a little bored so I'm making my first projections:

LF Chris Heisey
SS Macier Izturus
1B Joey Votto
2B Brandon Phillips
RF Jay Bruce
3B Scott Rolen
CF Drew Stubbs
CA Ramon Hernandez

UT Mark DeRosa
IF Paul Janish
OF Wladmir Balentein
OF Chris Dickerson
CA Ryan Hanigan

S1 Bronson Arroyo
S2 Johnny Cueto
S3 Homer Bailey
S4 Justin Duchscherer
S5 Travis Wood
LR Micah Owings
MR Logan Ondrusek (or) Enerio Del Rosario
MR Daniel Ray Herrera
MR Jared Burton
7th Arthur Rhodes
8th Nick Masset
CL Francisco Cordero

Deals:

* Aaron Harang to the Angels for Macier Izturus and a prospect(s). Not sure it's wise, but I think they will deal either BA or AH by the start of Spring Training and I've got a feeling that it will be Harang. Izturus fills the SS hole.

* Dealing Harang (or Arroyo) would leave a huge hole in the rotation. If it happens, I could see a deal built around Francisco or Alonso for a young starter

Dreams:

* Mark DeRosa - Jocketty wanted DeRosa before he went to the Cards and gets him this time. his versatility makes him valuable on a short bench and he can serve as a backup to Votto. (Reality: Frazier offers the same qualities for less money and earns a surprising spot with a hot spring)

* Justin Duchscherer - great fit, but will never happen (Reality: Justin Lehr, Matt Maloney, low rent journeyman or young acquisition)

Surprises:

* Frazier (see above)

* Travis Wood - Wood comes to camp and shows the same ability to get batters out and the fact that he throws lefty (not to mention the lack of candidates for the 4th & 5th rotation spots) lands him a chance.

* Logan Ondrusek or Enerio Del Rosario - there's always a surprise in the pen and I'm guessing its one of these two for the last spot

Prayer: a way out of town for WT

[Slyder]

I'll play along

Catcher:
Ramon Hernandez
Ryan Hanigan

Hernandez returns as the vet, unless he gets injured he will be the opening day starter. Hanigan may get a few more starts than he did last year early, but I expect Duhhhsty to return to his norm.

Infield:
1b Joey Votto
2b Brandon Phillips
3b Scott Rolen
SS Paul Janish

The FO isnt going to make that big "splash" ss and just return with what we ended the year with.

UT Jerry Hairston
UT Drew Sutton
3b Adam Rosales

Strikes the fear of God in no one, except Reds fans as Duhhhsty will try to find as many ABs for Hairston as possible.

Outfielders:
RF Jay Bruce
CF Willie Tavares
LF Chris Dickerson
Wald Balentien
Laynce Nix

I just cannot shake the feeling that any sort of stumble by Stubbs, Francisco, and Heisey will result in Duhhsty saying "they need more time" and sticking with lesser players such as Tavares, Nix, and even Balentien.

Rotation:
1 Aaron Harang (Respect dude)
2 Bronson Arroyo (If Cueto has a good spring he gets it)
3 Johnny Cueto (Depending on springs)
4 Homer Bailey
5 Micah Owings (gotta maximize his options with the bat dude!)/ Justin Lehr

Pen:
Closer: Francisco Cordero (will be SHOCKED if he gets traded)

Setup:
Arthur Rhodes
Nick Massett

Middle Relief:
Mike Lincoln (if healthy)
Danny Ray Herrera
Matt Maloney

Lincoln gets an opportunity to "knock off the rust", if he isnt healthy I expect Fischer or Burton to take his place in the pen. Fischer still has options I believe. Sutton will probably be the first one sent to AAA if we need another pitcher or a quick turn around starter from Louisville.

Louisville remains one of the best AAA teams in the entire class. Some mistake them as a Major League team as the Reds struggle to score runs and the pitching staff has to be near perfect in order to win as a bad situation is made worse by Duhhhsty's special.

CF Tavares
SS Hairston/Janish
1b Votto (with fewer RBI opportunities and pitched around more)
2b Phillips
3b Rolen (can he stay healthy and refind the power?)
RF Bruce
CA Hernandez (Will the knees hold up?)
LF Dickerson (playing out of position for the same lesser player... AGAIN)

[corkedbat]

.

Rotation:
1 Aaron Harang (Respect dude)

No disrespect meant toward Aaron. I'd keep him, but I think the FO will move either Aaron or Bronson. Something tells me it will be Harang.

[HeatherC1212]

FYI: Justin D. re-signed with the A's earlier this week.

[mth123]

My Turn. This isn't creative, but the most I see happening is Taveras and Lincoln being dealt for a PTBNL or DFA in the spring. At the deadline one of Harang or Arroyo is dealt with Volquez coming off the DL to take the spot. The Reds will win 74 games with this roster. DL Stints will get Heisey, Alonso and some of the relievers a look at some point, but they won't get an extended look until late in the year when maybe Rhodes, Burton, Bray, Balentien and Nix are dealt or cut loose. Thought is given to a Heisey/Dickerson platoon in LF, but the Reds go with Balentien so Heisey can play every day at AAA.

SP1 Harang
SP2 Cueto
SP3 Arroyo
SP4 Bailey
SP5 Maloney
SW Owings
LHRP Bray
LHRP Herrera
RHRP Burton
LHSU Rhodes
RHSU Masset
CLO Cordero
C Hernandez
C Hanigan
1B Votto
2B Phillips
SS Janish
3B Rolen
LF Dickerson
CF Stubbs
RF Bruce
OF Balentien
OF Nix
UI Rosales
UI Sutton

[Spring~Fields]

I think that between the two of Slyder and mth123 that they have it covered, barring any major positive surprises in roster changes or present player improvements.

[dfs]

OF Balentien
OF Nix
UI Rosales
UI Sutton

Ouch. Let's hope not.

[Will M]

My Turn. This isn't creative, but the most I see happening is Taveras and Lincoln being dealt for a PTBNL or DFA in the spring. At the deadline one of Harang or Arroyo is dealt with Volquez coming off the DL to take the spot. The Reds will win 74 games with this roster. DL Stints will get Heisey, Alonso and some of the relievers a look at some point, but they won't get an extended look until late in the year when maybe Rhodes, Burton, Bray, Balentien and Nix are dealt or cut loose. Thought is given to a Heisey/Dickerson platoon in LF, but the Reds go with Balentien so Heisey can play every day at AAA.

SP1 Harang
SP2 Cueto
SP3 Arroyo
SP4 Bailey
SP5 Maloney
SW Owings
LHRP Bray
LHRP Herrera
RHRP Burton
LHSU Rhodes
RHSU Masset
CLO Cordero
C Hernandez
C Hanigan
1B Votto
2B Phillips
SS Janish
3B Rolen
LF Dickerson
CF Stubbs
RF Bruce
OF Balentien
OF Nix
UI Rosales
UI Sutton

yep. pretty much agree here. couple of comments.

Is Bray healthy? I think we'll see Fisher as the 13th arm in the pen.

I too suspect Balentien makes the team out of spring training instead of Heisey. Hesiey has those beloved options. I do however think Heisey can win the LF job with a good spring.

Nix - I agree that he makes the squad as 5th OF or part of a platoon in LF

The team will likely look radically different in the 2nd half. Volquez's hopefull return plus the kids from AAA pushing themselves onto the team could mean a sale of both vets (Harang, Arroyo, Cordero, Rhodes, Phillips) as well as floatsom (Nix, Balentien,etc). I do however holdout hope that this pitching & defense team can hang tough in the dreadfull NL Central.

[Captain Hook]

The team will likely look radically different in the 2nd half. Volquez's hopefull return plus the kids from AAA pushing themselves onto the team could mean a sale of both vets (Harang, Arroyo, Cordero, Rhodes, Phillips) as well as floatsom (Nix, Balentien,etc).I do however holdout hope that this pitching & defense team can hang tough in the dreadfull NL Central.

I know I would feel pretty good about this year if we had a healthy Volquez coming of a good 2009.His injury and the fact that he will miss at least the first 4 months of the season hurts our chances dramatically.

Volquez
Harang
Arroyo
Cueto
Bailey

If these are the five guys in the rotation for the month of September I'll predict that the Reds win the Central.

[Kc61]

Infield - Votto Phillips Rolen Janish Rosales Sutton - needs one good addition.
Outfield - Bruce, Balentien, Stubbs, Dickerson - fifth outielder Heisey, Nix, or Taveras.
Catcher - Hernandez, Hanigan
Additional utility - Francisco could make team as IF-OF instead of one other bench guys.

SP-Harang, Arroyo, Bailey, Cueto - Maloney favorite for fifth spot with Lehr and Wood in running.

BP - Coco, Massett, Burton, Herrera, Owings, Rhodes, Fisher - Fisher spot not a lock, rookie or new guy or Bray/Lincoln could replace him.

Possible moves -- add an infielder, add a fifth starter, add one reliever.
Unlikely move -- add a major hitter for LF.