Developed Teams 2011: Cincinnati Reds

I originally resolved to cover this developed team after I was able to see them play at Dodger Stadium. (Also because I have a certain professional interest in the team and the city from the most recent TV show I worked on.) But that was now more than two weeks ago and in the time I've let this project go by the wayside, the Dodgers have become a much more interesting and relevant team to cover than the Reds. However, a plan's a plan, and I'll get to the Dodgers next time.

When I attempted similar versions of this project in the past (once in 2000 to coincide with All-Star Baseball 2001 on the N64 and once in 2005 with MVP '05 for the PS2), the Reds were almost impossible to compile because of a pure lack of pitching. I would be hard-pressed to think of five starters developed by the Reds between those two years combined. And as you can see, all but two pitchers out of 12 on the staff are currently with the Reds, and none of the key players were around as far back as 2005. What we're seeing here is a clear trend in the direction of developing good young arms, which has seemed to serve Cincinnati well (if their 2010 trip to the playoffs is any indication).

The Big Donkey himself, in all his glory.

But young arms aren't all that's recently come out of the Reds' pipeline. In addition to future All-Star Johnny Cueto and disappointing/injured Cuban import Aroldis Chapman, the Reds have former MVP Joey Votto, budding outfield star Jay Bruce, and quietly solid Drew Stubbs to their credit. Although they're languishing around .500, their incredible offense is not to blame - they lead the league in hits and runs, and are 3rd in AVG & home runs. No, what's holding them back at the moment is a combination of ineffectiveness and injury regarding several key starting pitchers. If I had a nickel for every major league team for which that's their problem, I'd have the majority of the nickels.

What about the ones the Reds let get away? Well, the list is rather small. The only big bopper, Adam Dunn, has to play out of position with Votto occupying first base and no DH in the National League. Although the way he's playing now - in his first year as a full-time DH - I'd rather have his division rival Austin Kearns out there in left; at least he contributes a (very) little with his glove. Edwin Encarnacion was another guy in danger of being slapped with the "full-time DH" mark, until Toronto decided to give him some playing time at the hot corner.

What this team is lacking in star power, it makes up for in... actually having enough players to field a full roster. Not very impressive, I know, but the couple legitimate (at least on paper) power threats do show tremendous promise and those young arms have mostly upside. If I'm still playing videogames in 2016, I'll bet this team suddenly becomes one to watch.