Rolen was injured, along with most of the starting pitching staff on an off most of the season. I believe the Reds were expecting Gomes to put up the same numbers as the previous season. He was a big let down. Shortstop was an issue before Cozart. The most productive player on the team was Phillips, last season. Stubbs is not a lead off hitter, and that was pretty evident.

Last years team was not as good as St Louis or Milwaukee's. Hence, all the trades and free agent pick ups. I view this years team as about the same talent wise, as St. Louis and Milwaukee. The Reds are in for a dog fight to win the division.
Arroyo might be finished.
I know you are pounding Stubbs, but he has the talent to be a star in the league. Heisey is no more than a situational player. Frazier and "Chubby Taco" Francisco have more ability than Heisey.

In a tiny bandbox like GABP, the single most important thing for a hitter to do is put the bat on the ball. Just making contact can result in a purty HR. One doesn't need to swing hard. One doesn't even need to hit it on the sweet spot. Just make contact and good things will happen.

Yet for some reason our players stroll to the plate swinging as hard as they can on every pitch. It's as if they think those fences are 500 ft away and that singles or doubles don't count.

Just make contact, kids! Sheesh!

Gene I think you are the most knowlegable person on the board, but I do not agree with you about Stubbs. He was fish out of water last season. His confidence was broken last season. Baseball statistics are thought of differently today verse ten or twenty years ago. I find strike outs to be counter productive, also, but I see a much more positive side of Stubbs that many of you look past. His defense is as good as any center fielder in baseball. He steals bases, and can hit with power to all fields, and those are givens. He is a free swinger not a contact hitter. You can not change that. Some people on here want to make a horse out of a donkey. Very seldon do players come along with that much god given ability, like Bruce we all need to be just a little bit more patient.

Show us how its done "D".

I understand but my experience with baseball does not agree with your post.