Reds on Comeback Trail

The Cincinnati Reds have invited 54 players to their spring training camp this year in Sarasota, Florida at the Sarasota Sports Complex, and 27 of them are pitchers hoping to earn one of the 12 spots. Pitching was where the front office's main focus was this offseason, not unlike other clubs. But Reds management feels its club has a real shot at contending, to turn around their losing trend in the last four past seasons, their longest losing streak since the mid-'50s.

And for the first time in a long while the Reds actually put their money where their proverbial mouth is by laying out over 20 million dollars in order to acquire starting pitching in addition to fielders for the 2005 season. The Reds, with a reputation for being known as one of the cheapest organizations in baseball, finally went to the bank.

Owning the second highest ERA in all of Major League Baseball in 2004 other than the Colorado Rockies, the Reds went out and signed ace left hander Eric Milton, formerly with the Philadelphia Phillies, for a three-year deal worth $25.5 million dollars. He will join the ace of the 2004 staff, Paul Wilson, signed for a two-year deal at $8.2 million dollars. The third spot will be occupied by former Anaheim Angels pitcher Ramon Ortiz, who avoided arbitration in signing a one-year deal for $3.55 million dollars with a one-year option. Ortiz will try and reinvent himself in 2005 following his most disappointing year in MLB. While initially used as a starter in 2004 by Anaheim he was eventually relegated to the bullpen where he did manage to pitch well.

Competition in the rotation will be for the fourth and fifth spots, not to mention a bullpen up for grabs. Pitchers Aaron Harang, Luke Hudson, Josh Hancock, and Brandon Claussen were impressive at times for the Reds in 2004, with all four hoping to make the rotation. Harang and Hudson are the prospected frontrunners. While Harang has a head start in the selection process, he also is only suited to start, given is extensive warm-up time required. And Hudson, pitching in nine games for the Reds after a call-up at the end of 2004, finished with a 2.42 ERA.

The bullpen remains fairly wide open with closer Danny Graves the only true known entity at this point. Although Graves has imposing numbers for 2004 with his 41 saves, he lost steam in the second half and will benefit from a team of reliable setup men. They include left-hander Kent Mercker, acquired from the Chicago Cubs, and making his third return to the Reds. The 36-year-old finished 2004 with a 2.55 ERA and a career-high 71 appearances.

Joining Mercker in the bullpen will be Ben Weber, who was released by the Anaheim Angels after a miserable 2004 having suffered from carpel tunnel syndrome. Weber had three stellar years for Anaheim from 2001-2003 and was one of the American League's most dominating setup men with a 2.86 ERA in 181 appearances. He only was able to pitch in 18 games in 2004 and is now believed to be healthy.
The 35-year-old veteran welcomes starting fresh in a new league and with a new club in his effort to revive his career.

Expected to fill the fourth spot in the bullpen is right-hander David Weathers, sought for middle-relief from the New York Mets, where he had 64 appearances. His knowledge as a 36-year-old adds to the veteran leadership out of the 'pen, with the remaining three spots to be shored up by pitchers with minimal or no experience there. Those vying for a spot include Jose Acevedo, who did not impress as a starter in 2004, but did so as a setup man. He could be successful as such for the entirety of 2005. Brandon Claussen, while competing for a spot in the rotation, is also being looked at as a swingman out of the 'pen. Also in the running and on the 40-man roster are Ryan Wagner, Joe Valentine, Todd Coffey, Elizardo Ramirez, Brian Shackelford, and Phil Dumatrait.

In the power department, the first question, of course, is the health of Ken Griffey, Jr. After playing in a truncated season in only 83 games in 2004, Griffey returned to the DL for the fourth season in a row, needing surgery to repair his torn hamstring originally injured in 2001. Questions about him remaining in centerfield always surface, but in Griffey's mind it does not warrant an answer. If healthy, Griffey could be nicely complimented by leftfielder Adam Dunn, who hit 46 homers in 2004 while driving 102 runs and first baseman Sean Casey, who batted .324 with 99 RBI in 2004 in providing production. Right field will see Austin Kearns battling it out with Wily Mo Pena, with both as potential backups in center.

In addition to Casey in the infield, D'Angelo Jiminez will be at second base beside newcomer Joe Randa, playing third. Randa signed a one-year deal after spending the past six seasons with the Kansas City, Royals. He batted .287 in 128 games after missing a month due to knee surgery and at 35 is eager to prove himself again as a good contact hitter. The Reds have not had a consistent hot corner player since Aaron Boone was traded to the New York Yankees in 2003. Jason La Rue will be returning behind the plate backed up by Jose Valentin.

But for the first time in 19 years, the Reds will have a new face at shortstop. Barry Larkin decided in the offseason to hang up his spikes as the captain and team leader of the Reds. They failed to offer him a new contract, and he did not want to start with a new club at the age of 41, especially being only Reds-identified throughout his career. Instead, he will be a special assistant in the front office for the Washington Nationals.

A player like Larkin with his longevity and the meaning he brought to Cincinnati cannot be overstated. Although speculation that first baseman Sean Casey will take over the club's leadership role, it will pale in comparison to Barry Larkin's. He played with class and skill and as one of the last players to play the entirety of his career with one team. His presence will be sorely missed.

So taking over the position of shortstop will most likely be between Rich Aurelia and Felipe Lopez. Aurelia, signed to a one-year minor league deal after struggling in 2004 with both the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres, is returning after recovering from a hairline fracture in his hand.

The other luxury the Reds have is the availability of Ryan Freel, who is the quintessential utility man, playing no less than five positions for the Reds in 2004. Also important to their lineup, he is the ultimate leadoff hitter, stealing 37 bases in 2004 with a .368 on base percentage. As he is so versatile, it sometimes works against him in landing a permanent spot, but the Reds like the fact that they have a guy they can plant anywhere and know he will get on base.

So at the outset one can conclude that the Reds are much improved over 2004 should everyone remain healthy. And given the number of veterans on the pitching staff as well as in the field, injury is an issue, which cannot be ruled out. In that sense, it is nice that they have 15 pitchers who will not make the 25-man roster in 2004, but might still be available as the season proceeds. And given the health of the infield, they can never have too many Ryan Freels.

But for Cincinnati fans, spring training is a welcome relief not only after last season, but for the last four seasons, and the appearance of a healthy Ken Griffey, Jr. cannot come soon enough.