Excited for the season. If all goes well I think we'll be challenging for the NL Central title. But I wonder if things go off the rail a bit, if Bell has the nerve to make some moves.
1. Trevor Bauer - We're hoping for big things from Bauer. But Bauer coughed up a furball for us last year with a 6.39 ERA. Bauer would seem to be as headstrong as anyone in the league. He wanted to pitch every 4th day. He wants to put up big numbers heading into Free Agency. If he is not pitching well, does Bell have the stones to pull him from rotation or have him on early hook status?
2. Joey Votto - Joey's had two straight declining years as he hit ages 34 and 35. Now he enters his age 36 season only 2 months away from 37. And Joey normally struggles the first couple months. If Joey is struggling coming out of the gate, can Bell sit him (even against lefties)? I don't think Joey is Bauer like, but I don't think he'd take too kindly to sitting.
Slightly lessor areas of concern
Shogo - Everyone's excited about finally signing a Japanese player. And we gave him a moderately healthy 3 year deal. But he's never hit in the majors.
Senzel - Was less then we hoped for last year, and got injured. Strikes me as kind of guy who would not be happy not playing every day.