Ohio sports fans have little to cheer about right now, but that doesn’t mean springtime will bring anything more exciting. Baseball lovers inevitably get their hopes up in April, but Reds and Indians fans seem likely to get theirs crushed.
Cincinnati is coming off a division title; however, they are also coming off a three game sweep out of the ALDS against the Phillies. That’s the fourth consecutive year that the NL Central champion has been swept out of the playoffs: Cubs (2007), Cubs (2008), Cardinals (2009) and Reds (2010). Perhaps the Red did not win the division as much as everybody else in the NL Central simply lost it last season. The Indians lost 93 games last season, so Tribe fans have smaller expectations entering 2010 than Reds fans; however, both teams appear primed for a troubling season thanks to their horrible off seasons. AL Central and NL Central teams amped up their rosters as Chris Antonetti and Walt Jocketty’s BlackBerrys saw little activity this winter.
In the Senior Circuit, the Brewers additions of Zack Greinke and Sean Marcum make the Milwaukee rotation a legitimate force that should get real consideration for a possible playoff run when teamed with an offense that finished fourth in NL runs scored (750) in 2010. Milwaukee also seems poised to hold onto Prince Fielder (who will be a free agent at the end of the 2011 season) and make a stab at a run this year. Although the Cubs seem stuck in an awkward phase of expiring contracts (4 more years of Alfonso Soriano, 2 more years of Carlos Zambrano, and 1 more year of Aramis Ramirez and Kosuke Fukudome), general manager Jim Hendry made some solid additions that may not make the Cubs instant division favorites, but certainly propel the club into a better direction. Chicago’s North Side team looks slightly more like the Rays after acquiring former Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Pena and right-handed pitcher Matt Garza (or was that Joaquin Benoit that the Cubs traded for).
In the American League, the Indians watched their central division foes prime themselves for a division run. White Sox sign free-agent left-handed power bat Adam Dunn and resign gold glove first baseman Paul Konerko. Meanwhile, the Royals restocked their farm system by acquiring youngsters Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, and Jeremy Jeffreys in exchange for departing with 2009 Cy-Young Zack Greinke. The Tigers added Victor Martinez to their core of young ballplayers (Austin Jackson, Brennan Boesche, and Will Ryhmes) and the 2010 AL Central Champion Twins … well they’re coming back with Gardy and co.
Reds rotation troubles make them look questionable for a repeat in 2010. What follows are Cincy’s five probable starters in 2011 with their 2010 ERAs in parenthesis: Edinson Volquez (4.31), Bronson Arroyo (3.88), Johnny Cueto (3.64), Mike Leake (4.23), and Homer Bailey (4.46). Note: Dusty Baker hinted that Aroldis Chapman might remain in the bullpen for all of 2011. When you’re facing top-heavy rotations in your division such as Carpenter-Wainwright and Greinke-Marcum, the Reds’ lack of an ace, much less two aces, may prove to be a fatal flaw. They scored the most runs in all of the National League last season (290), but their bats grew mighty quiet in the three game series against Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt in which they scored all of 4 runs on 11 hits during the three game Philly sweep.
Indians fans have had very little to cheer about since they won the ALDS over the Yankees in 2007 with the help of some pesky bugs and next Summer looks as if it will follow the recent trend. San Francisco Giants fans had plenty to cheer about in October despite pre-season skepticism from the “experts”; therefore, you never really know what to expect from the Indians lineup that appears weak at first glance.
The Browns and Bengals seasons have finally come to a close and Cavs fans recently saw their team lose 10 straight to cement themselves into the bottom of the entire NBA standings. Looks like the pride and joy of Ohio right now is … the Blue Jackets.
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