Over the past few years, the Cincinnati Reds were a team that was very solid. They weren’t championship material, but they seemed to be on the verge of something huge every year since 2010. With an all-star & gold glove second baseman in Brandon Phillips, an MVP first baseman in Joey Votto, and the only pitcher to ever throw 105 MPH, Aroldis Chapman, the Cincinnati Reds seemed like they would bring it all together eventually.
However, things have changed in Cincinnati.
The Reds fired their manager Dusty Baker and hired their pitching coach Brian Price to fill the vacancy. It was a move that many Reds fans felt had to be done, but now having a rookie manager will come with a few bugs and issues. To add on to the fact that they have a new first-year manager, the Reds’ roster is beginning to get weak, as numerous players have hit the disabled list during the late stages of spring training, keeping them off the opening day roster. As I’m sure you all have seen, Chapman is on the DL due to having surgery after a line-drive caught him in the face, but he isn’t the only Red to be deactivated for the time being. Mat Latos, who is a major force in the Reds’ rotation and became their ace last year after Johnny Cueto’s injury, has been placed on the DL, as well as Johnathon Broxton, a crucial setup man who would have been in line for the closer position while Chapman heals.
If the injuries to crucial players wasn’t enough, the Reds offense looked downright awful on opening day against the Cardinals. They mustered up just three hits, and couldn’t produce a single run. Almost every major player on the team went hitless, including Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Ryan Ludwick, and the new speedy leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton. You may remember that I wrote an article on Hamilton awhile back, explaining how the new young center fielder would be huge on the basepaths for the Reds this season. However, I only lightly touched on his biggest issue which is hitting. In the first game of the season, Hamilton went 0 for 4, and struck out in every single at-bat. Hamilton will not be a critical factor for the Reds on the basepaths if he can not get on base. Today he failed to even put the ball in play, making him just one of the players that failed for the Reds on day one.
Simply put, the Cincinnati Reds have some work to do. In no way am I saying that this season for them will be a lost cause, there is actually a lot of potential on that team. When their pitching staff is completely healthy, it is very difficult to beat, and their batting order has some of the best offensive players in the entire league over the past few years. The potential is there, but a lot of work must be done. Once the key pitchers make their return, the Reds’ rotation in bullpen will likely be in top form. However, the offense must be able to produce at a higher level than they did on opening day for this to become a successful season for the Cincinnati Reds.
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