Playing Pepper 2010: Cincinnati Reds

Last year before the season began, I posed five questions to a blogger for each team, so as to get to know the rest of baseball.  I focus so heavily on the Cardinals that sometimes the rest of MLB can pass me by.  That went very well, so much so that it spawned not only a postseason edition but was part of the impetus for the formation of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

So this year, I've brought Playing Pepper back, with a little bit of a twist.  Instead of five questions, I posed 10 questions, and this year every team got the same set.  Plus, tapping into those BBA connections, I sent them to every blogger representing that team in the BBA.

We'll try to do two a day in a general alphabetical order, but things may change depending on responses.

Cincinnati Reds
2009 Finish: 78-84, fourth in the NL Central

I've said numerous times on this blog that the team I probably follow the most besides the Cardinals are the Reds.  They are in the same division, which helps, plus my father-in-law is a big Reds fan, so keeping up with them keeps our conversations going.

I've been one that keeps thinking the Reds are going to be a surprise team soon and I asked Shawn from Cincinnati Reds Blog his thoughts on the upcoming season.


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C70: How was the off-season? What kind of grade would you give it?

CRB: The best part of the Reds' offseason was signing Aroldis Chapman, which was a signing for the future. They did little to improve themselves for 2010. Inking SS Orlando Cabrera is at best station-keeping. Overall, I'd give it a B, just because Chapman becomes the organization's best prospect.

C70: What is the key to success for 2010?

CRB: What the Reds need most is for Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey to take a step forward and establish themselves as solid players. In general, the Reds need for a number of their young players to take a step forward, but Bruce and Bailey especially must come to the forefront.

C70: What will be the team's strength?

CRB: Hopefully, their starting pitching.

C70: What could be their Achilles' heel?

CRB: This is a team that could struggle mightily to score runs.

C70: Who will be the team's MVP?

CRB: The team's best player is Joey Votto, so he is the most likely to be team MVP. Other possibilities are Brandon Phillips and Bruce, but Votto has the best chance.

C70: Will a rookie make a significant impact on the team in 2010, and if so, who?

CRB: Any number of rookies could emerge: Chapman, Matt Maloney, Travis Wood, Chris Heisey, Juan Francisco, Todd Frazier, and any number of relievers. It all depends on who gets the chance.

C70: Who will be the breakout player for the team?

CRB: Bruce and Bailey are the best candidates.

C70: Which player will drop off the most from 2009?

CRB: Scott Rolen, who could spent significant time on the DL, or Bronson Arroyo, whose peripherals were down, could both crash. Few others are up high enough to fall much.

C70: Who is the most likely player to be dangled as trade bait?

CRB: Arroyo or Aaron Harang, especially as young starters emerge. Both are in the last years of their contracts.

C70: What will be the team's final record and divisional standing?

CRB: I am optimistically looking for an 82-80 record and second place. A lot will have to go right, but I am sticking with that.

My thanks to Shawn for answering these questions.  I hope he's wrong about Scott Rolen, though, as I'm still a big fan of the former Cardinal.  Reports make it sound like Chapman could be the real deal, something Cardinal fans may have to deal with for quite some time.