rayonsports.com

One of the early season surprise teams in the National League this season is the Cincinnati Reds, who have a slim lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the Central Division. Of course, every year seems to start with a few “pretenders” getting off to fast starts, then fading as the long season unfolds. The question is – are the Reds good enough for the long haul? They have one thing going for them – a smart, veteran manager in Dusty Baker who knows how to keep a young team interested and competitive for 162 games. Their starting pitching, after veterans Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang, is young and impressive. Arroyo and Harang will give the team consistency and innings, and the youngsters behind them, Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, have been especially strong. Leake has maintained a low E.R.A. so far in his first 10 starts, which is impressive for a rookie who did not get any seasoning in the minors. Closer Francisco Cordero is a veteran who can do the job but has had a lot of shaky moments in his career. The Reds’ offense is amazingly built around the infielders, with power coming from 1B Joey Votto, 2B Brandon Phillips and 3B Scott Rolen. The club is a bit thin in the outfield, and maybe could make a trade at the deadline for an outfield bat. Ken Griffey Jr. would look good back in this lineup, if they could keep him awake in the clubhouse. (ouch!) What will also help them sustain their success over the long season is the presence of veterans like Rolen, Orlando Cabrera and Johnny Gomes, who are battle-tested. The Reds may eventually be overtaken by the powerhouse Cardinals for the division title but should at least stay in contention and possibly compete for a wild card spot.