Watch Out For The Reds in 2011.

The Cincinnati Reds in 2010 were a surprise team to most people only because of the type of pitching they had in 2010 and the division they played in with the St. Louis Cardinals, but they proved everyone that they were going to be the team to beat in National League Central and they were. The Reds in 2010 won their first division title since 1995 and the nickname "The Big Red Machine" really kicked back into gear in 2010.


The Reds have one of the most dangerous line-ups in the NL and they have so much young talent that after getting a little taste of the postseason last year you know they will be ready for 2011. The key for the Reds are how good will their pitching be this year? I think there pitching will be the same as last year but this year they will have a Edinson Volquez for a full season and he will be the ace of this pitching staff. Their bullpen is very young but they do have three very good bullpen pitchers in Nick Masset who had an ERA of 3.40, 20 HLD, and 85 strikeouts, then they have their closer in Francisco Cordero who had a pretty good year, his ERA was a little high for a closer with 3.84 ERA, 40 saves, 59 strikeouts, and finally they have a young flame thrower in Aroldis Chapman

who some might believe might be the Reds new closer in 2011 or maybe have a shot at starting a game this year. This kid throws 105 MPH and has a great arm. Only problem with him starting is that he won't be able to throw 105 MPH every inning, we saw what happened to Stephen Strasburg who throws 102 MPH threw out his arm after starting 8 games and will now be out of baseball for two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The Reds will have to let this kid know if he starts he cannot continue throwing 105 every inning. I think he will stay in the bullpen and be the set-up man or the Reds new closer in 2011.


The Reds line-up is by far one of the best in the league; they have speed, power, and consistency. They have guys who can come off the bench and hit in big moments, and they the guy by name of Joey Votto who is a big time treat to any pitcher. Votto in 2010 won the NL MVP award where he hit .324, 37 home runs, and drove in 113 RBI's. Votto is such a good player and a great power hitter. Also he is one of the premier first baseman in the league, he has a great eye and is the key to this Reds line-up and if the Reds want to have another shot at winning another division title and going deep into the postseason they will need him to be a big part of this team to do so.

The Reds do have other players that they can count in this club house like Laynce Nix, Drew Stubbs, Jonny Gomes, Scott Rolen, and Jay Bruce who is another great power hitter. Most teams have that one power hitter on their team well the Reds have two power hitters. Bruce in 2010 hit .281, 25 home runs, and drove 70 RBI's. Another great point about this Reds line-up is that there all young players and they will be around for some time and maybe one day could be a World Series type team; maybe even win a World Series in the next few years.


The Reds this offseason signed 11 major free agents that will keep this team together for the next 3 to 5 years and they are showing they won't back down this year. I think the Reds will be that one team that you might not want to play in the postseason just like the Giants wore last year. Now I don't think they will have the pitching to get them to the World Series but I do think they will put up a better fight then they did last year when they played Philadelphia were they got sweated right out of the postseason in three games. I think whoever they play in postseason this year if they get there, it will go to a five game series and if they make it any feather maybe a six or seven game series. Watch out, "The Big Red Machine is back in action!



List of free agent signings.
1. Starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis signed to a minor league contract
2010 stats - ERA 5.59, 2 wins, 3 losses, 47 striekouts
2. Starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo agreed to a three - year contract
2010 stats - ERA 3.88, 17 wins, 10 losses, 121 strikeouts
3. Infielder Miguel Cairo agreed to a two - year contract
2010 stats - BA .290, 4 home runs, 28 RBI's
4. Right fielder Jay Bruce agreed to a six - year contract
2010 stats - BA .281, 25 home runs, 70 RBI's
5. Outfielder Jeremy Hermida signed to a minor league contract
2010 stats - BA .216, 6 homes runs, 29 RBI's
6. Shortstop Edgar Renteria (2010 WS MVP) signed to a one - year contract
2010 stats - BA .276, 3 home runs, 22 RBI's
7. Outfielder Fred Lewis signed to a one - year contract
2010 stats - BA. 262, 8 home runs, 36 RBI's
8. Starting pitcher Johnny Cueto agreed to a four - year contract
2010 stats - ERA 3.64, 12 wins, 7 losses, 138 strikeouts
9. First baseman Joey Votto (2010 NL MVP) agreed to a three - year contract
2010 stats - BA .324, 37 home runs, 113 RBI's
10. Starting pitcher Edinson Volquez agreed to a one - year contract
2010 stats - ERA 4.31, 4 wins, 3 losses, 67 strikeouts
11. Manager Dusky Baker agreed on a two - year deal through the 2012 season. Won the Reds the 2010 Notational League Central Division Tilte.