The Big Red Machine Is Back

[Fred The Hammer]

I'm getting fired up for Cincinnati Reds baseball 2019 version!!

They picked up pitchers Alex Wood, Sonny Gray, and Tanner Roark. I'm not that high on Roark but he had a 2.83 era in 2016. Luis Castillo had a 2.44 era last year after the AS break. Anthony "Disco" Descalfani was pretty good a few years ago before he got hurt. Michael Lorenzen has great stuff and I've wanted them to give him a shot in the rotation for years now. They can definitely put together a pretty good rotation out of these guys! Better then Milw and prob as good or better then the Cubs. Granted Great American Ballpark is a tough place to pitch.

Question is will the offense, bullpen, and defense hold up? Puig could really help the lineup, but I'd try to trade to Matt Kemp to the AL (DH) for some help elsewhere.

Its going to be interesting for a change!

[sheedy17]

Roark is very under rated.. The Reds could be in for a decent year , they have a pretty good rotation , tough division with the Cubs Cards AND Brewers though... They should do good against the Pirates though.

[Fred The Hammer]

Roark is very under rated.. The Reds could be in for a decent year , they have a pretty good rotation , tough division with the Cubs Cards AND Brewers though... They should do good against the Pirates though.

We shall see? Bleacher Report's MLB Power Rankings are like this for the NL Central:

4th - Cubs
8th - Brewers
9th - Cards
14th - Reds

Personally I only see the Cards as an improved team with Goldschmidt & Andrew Miller. The Cubs pitching isn't getting any younger and their pen isn't that great. They score runs, but they'll get 11 one game then score 5 total in a 3 game series. They don't have much speed if they're not hitting the ball out of the park. Milwaukee can definitely score, but I don't like their rotation that much? Chacin overachieved imo and will come back to earth. Chase Anderson is pretty decent (3.93 era) but just C+ stuff imo. Of course Hader and Jeffries are amazing but could get burned out?

I think the Reds could be in the mix for a wildcard if everything pans out? They probably need some help in the bullpen. I haven't even mentioned Jesse Winker (.857 ops in the majors so far) or super prospect Nick Senzel (.887 ops at AAA). I don't know where they're going to play? Is Matt Kemp still better then them?

[Cincy Courier]

Don't forget that right before the AS Break last year,the Reds were one of the hottest teams then Schebler and Winker got hurt and they came back in the 2nd half with a completely different OF after trading Duvall.Hamilton was the only mainstay and he can only hit against lefties.I have no idea why he just doesn't bat from the right side where he hits 40 points higher.

I like their upgrades in SP except for Gray.He had a 4.90 era last year and I can see that ballooning to over 5 this year pitching at GABP.I hope i'm dead wrong.I think Sal Ramono might be the biggest surprise this year.He pitched lights out against the AL Central last year where he completely owned them but then again,it was a weak hitting division.If he can perform at that level then yes,The Reds can def play for a wildcard.We know the offense can put the hits and runs,we just need the pitching to overachieve and anything can happen.

[Cincy Courier]

Romano slimmed downThere's always one player each spring who stuns with a dramatically slimmed-down look. In 2019, that player is undoubtedly Romano after he dropped 28 pounds in the offseason -- going from 278 to 250 pounds."I've never been fat. But I thought I could condition my body to improve my game all around," Romano said. "I think it will definitely benefit me."