SoAffable

It totally figures that a dominant sinker-ball pitcher would take the mound against the Reds on a rainy opening day in Cincinnati. They had little chance to start 1-0 at the beginning of the game, but almost no chance after Edwin Encarnacion decided to do what does best -- field like Edwin Encarnacion.

You know a great season is underway when the second ball you field can only raise your fielding percentage to .500.

Yikes.
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Since (crappy) college hoops have essentially overrided all of my thought processes over the course of the last two weeks, I haven't had much of an opportunity to ponder Detroit's loaded batting order, Santana's move to the NL, and the reality that the Redlegs have three of the top five and possibly five of the top ten prospects in baseball (which has me excited for 2010, given that Dusty Baker dispels the myth that he ruins young arms ... gulp).

But as I sit here and munch on six -- yes, six -- pieces of eclipse gum, which for some reason are losing their flavor more quickly than the time it takes me to use a word in excess of twelve letters in length, I can't move past the fact that the Reds should have four of the top five prospects in the game.

I hope Edison Volquez pans out and becomes a solid contributor to this team. I really, really do. But did we have to trade a guy whose batting average was so meteoric in the spring it was borderline unfathomable to obtain him? I recall reading a story from that other sports network that Josh Hamilton was "the best player in Arizona [for spring ball]." He hit, like, .968. The guy is a freak of nature -- otherworldly, if you will. I'm trying to imagine life post-Junior with Dunn, Bruce, and Hamilton in the outfield. That's 120+ homers and 300+ RBIs per year for the price of a piece of Bazooka, complete with corny comic strip (really on this gum trip lately). That's highway robbery.

Pair that with Joey Votto at first; BP at second; and Encarnacion at third, and the Reds have one of the best young corps in the MLB in two years. If Krivsky was smart and traded Dave Ross at the height of his production during his aberration of a 2006 campaign. there may have been another promising prospect in the mix.

As it stands now, the hopes ride on the aging Griffey, Dunn, and Brandon Phillips to continue the offensive onslaught that has buoyed Cincinnati the last few years as their pitching has floundered. If this Cueto kid is for real -- like, possibly the next Pedro Martinez real (see: http://dynastyrankings.blogspot.com/2008/03/baseball-johan-santana-wears-johnny.html) -- and Arroyo can bounce back (not all that unreasonable, considering it was one bad summer stretch that completely ruined last season for him), the Reds can seriously compete in a watered-down Central.

Consider:

Cordero should dramatically improve the 'pen, both on his own merit and for freeing up Weathers to go back to his natural setup role.

Harang-Arroyo-Cueto could very well be one of the two or three best 1-2-3 punches in the NL alongside what the D-Backs and Mets are able to put forth.

Josh Hamilton or not, the Reds will still pummel the crap out of the baseball, not to mention that Bruce and Votto could add brand new dimensions to this offense that it has not had the last two years (easily exceeding the Kearns-Griffey-Dunn-Lopez years).

Baseball is a game of hypotheticals for every team, but the Reds are now in position to be "possible" contenders along with the best of the rest. They may be a year or two away, still, but I would not be surprised if Cincinnati turns out to be this year's Colorado. There's too much talent that's flying way too under the radar for my tastes. I like them to turn heads.

Even if they sucked against Arizona today.

Barring a continued streak of awfully bad bullpen luck, Cordero will be the closing option this team has sorely lacked.

Barring injury, Johnny Cueto will be the NL ROY.

Barring further inconsistency that for no reason should continue, Bronson Arroyo will revert to his '06 All-Star form.

Barring idiocy on the part of Reds management, Jay Bruce will have the Hunter Pence effect on this team.

Barring one of his limbs completely falling off, Junior will have the veteran leadership effect in the clubhouse and on the field during a late-season run as captain of a contender.

This team has to, has to, has to come around at some point. It's one of baseball's great franchises. It won't remain in limbo much longer.

Final record: 88-74, (? in the Central)