And this is this the Reds. Ugh.

Our lineup is nails. Pujols and Holiday will rake consistently. Colby is physically stronger and now knows what to expect. I love his bat infront of an RBI machine like Ryan L... Ryan L. hit ropes today but they were right at fielders.

Our 3-4-5-6 batters will make opposing managers lose sleep at night. Molina and Freese have plenty of pop too (see Grand Slam). For Freese to get his first hit today and RBI is huge for his confidence :)

One would think that all four of those hitters will not be in a FUNK at the same time for any prolonged periods of time this season. Skip and B. Ryan will come around.

To think we don't have Chris Duncan and Rick Ankiel in our lineup is such a blessing.

This is a good thread...

http://johngushue.typepad.com/photos..._comic_dog.jpg

... to POOP on.

Bored with the Royals game already?

:D

Heh. Scumbrano gave up six runs to Atlanta in the bottom of the 1st. ROFL

Will the Royals lose 100 games again ?

I'm going to have several cold ones tonight, this news on hambrano is frosting on the cake for me. ROFL

The Reds are going to surprise a lot of people this year.

Votto is a beast, Bruce soon will be. Phillips is among the best 2b in baseball, and Rolen showed today that he still has some pretty serious skills out there. Stubbs and Dickerson are both solid table-setters and good speed guys. Cabrera was a perfect pickup for them and even Ramon Hernandez provides a solid stick for his position.

The Reds will score runs all season. The question is going to be their rotation. Cueto's due to break down (too small, throws too many sliders, is managed by Dusty Baker); Bailey is a wild-card, Volquez is hurt, Chapman may or may not be ready, Harang is an enigma and then some, Arroyo is what he is (exceedingly mediocre). If Harang pitches to his peripherals and Bailey turns the corner, they're in pretty decent shape.

They have some nice pieces out in the pen (Masset's much better than he showed and would be our closer, no questions asked) and strong defense.

Don't sleep on the Reds. I have them finishing 2nd in the division this year and hanging in the WC hunt 'till the end (though the fact that Heyward is evidently the 2nd coming of Albert may make that a runaway as well).

Good start. Not perfect but we don't have a perfect team. We have a lot less holes than most teams. Someone will have to step up for late inning relief but a lot of teams have questionable bullpens. I think Larussa will find someone come playoff time. I think our starting pitching and lineup is way to strong for us not to win the Central division.

Our offense is going to rock this year. Unless we lose Carp or Waino that will get us into the playoffs. We got 161 more games to settle on a bullpen.

I just hope that Franklin continues to pitch like that so we have no option but to try and acquire a closer.

If he's the closer, he will end our season at some point.

I was never a fan of that trade, but I was in love with Jess Todd, sooo...

He's already on the roster.

Anybody that can make Joey Votto and Jay Bruce look like little leaguers is a guy that can close games for my team.

Kyle McClellan can close games for this club. Otherwise we're going to have to take on someone's bad contract (Wood or Cordero) or trade Ludwick for a guy like Papelbon (the Bosox need a bat and love Bard).

Kyle Mac has the stuff and the mound presence to get the job done. Send Franklin back to the 8th and give McClellan te 9th and we'll be just fine.

I wouldn't mind giving Eduardo Sanchez a look at some point. He's absolutely filthy.

Screw that. We just need someone to step up. When Izzy melted down/got injured Waino stepped up. Franklin stepped up last year. We will find someone without trading a major piece away. I'd be okay with giving Kyle the first shot.

This. Fuk the Cardinals. Die in a fire.