First Posted: 4/2/2015
CINCINNATI — One might have thought that a Reds’ 76-86 season would cause management to back up the truck to the Great American Ball Park in the offseason.
But that wasn’t the case.
Sure, they dealt away starters Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon. But those were monetary moves.
Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani did come over from the Marlins in the Latos deal and he will start the season in the rotation.
But the only major offseason move was trading with the Phillies for left fielder Marlon Byrd.
Owner Bob Castellini is burning candles that right fielder Jay Bruce bounces back, first baseman Joey Votto stays healthy and Brandon Phillips proves he’s not in total, free-fall decline.
Castellini also hopes for the best from a rotation that has plenty of question marks hovering over it after ace Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake.
The Reds hit a miserable .238, which ranked 14th in the league. Starting pitching ranked third (3.37 ERA), while relief pitching ranked 14th (4.11).
Fielding was a plus, as the Reds ranked first in fielding percentage (.988) and first in fewest errors (72).
Catching
Devin Mesoraco flipped on the power switch and had an All-Star season. He hit .273 with 25 doubles and led all major league catchers with 25 home runs. Mesoraco hit .317 with runners in scoring position.
Defensively, he’s average, but has a plus arm. He threw out 26 percent (18 of 69) of the runners who tried to steal and had nine passed balls.
CATCHING GRADE: B+
First base
Cincinnati sports talk shows could have changed their name this winter to “The Joey Votto Hour.” Few this side of Pete Rose have sparked more discussions in the Queen City. Votto, who battled injuries in 2012 and 2014, had a nagging left quad strain last year and was limited to 62 games. He didn’t play after July 5.
He was limited to a .255 hitter, with six home runs and 23 RBIs.
FIRST BASE GRADE: B-
Second base
Brandon Phillips, who turns 34 this season, hit .266 two years ago and .261 last year. His home run numbers dropped from 18 to eight. His RBI took a dive from 103 to 51. Part of that was because he torn a ligament in his left thumb and missed 33 games. While he hit .280 with runners in scoring position, his bat speed is on the decline.
He remains a Gold Glove-caliber second baseman, with four Gold Gloves. Hall of Famer Joe Morgan calls him “the best defensive second baseman I’ve ever seen.”
SECOND BASE GRADE: B
Shortstop
The plus side is Zack Cozart deserves a Gold Glove at short. He set career marks for fielding percentage (.984) and fewest errors (10) last year. On the other side, he set career lows for average (.221), doubles (18) and home runs (4).
SHORTSTOP GRADE: C+
Third base
Todd Frazier tied his career high for average at .273, then set career highs for home runs (29) and RBI (80). That won him a spot on the All-Star team. He led all major league third baseman in homers.
THIRD BASE GRADE: A-
Outfield
Right fielder Jay Bruce missed only three weeks after a knee surgery in May, but he was never the same player. He posted career lows for average (.217) and home runs (18). He drove in 66 runs. He does own one of the best, most accurate arms in baseball.
Center fielder Billy Hamilton wore down at the end (.200 after the break), but still hit .250 with 56 stolen bases. The rookie was also a huge plus in center field.
Left field is Marlon Byrd’s territory. With the Phillies, he hit .264 with a career-high 25 home runs and 85 RBI. He also struck out 185 times.
OUTFIELD GRADE: B
Starters
Right-hander Johnny Cueto was a Cy Young candidate, going 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA. He set career highs for innings (243) and strikeouts (242). He owns a 95 mph fastball and has total command of all cutter and sinker.
Right-hander Mike Leake made 33 starts and went 11-13 with a 3.70. He has a low 93-94 mph fastball with a 90 mph sinker. He had career highs for innings (214) and strikeouts (164).
Right-hander Homer Bailey (9-5, 3.71) was limited to 23 starts and will start the year on the disabled list after undergoing surgery for a torn tendon in his forearm, near his elbow on Sept. 6. He’s expected back in mid-April.
Right-hander and former Marlin Anthony DeSclafani has a 94 mph fastball and good slider. He had a 6.27 ERA in 13 games, five starts with Miami.
Raisel Iglesias, from Cuba, owns four pitches he can throw for strikes. He had a 3.68 ERA this spring.
Veteran Jason Marquis (121-114, 4.56 career ERA) is coming off Tommy John surgery in July of 2013. He made nine minor league starts last year with a 4.18 ERA.
STARTERS GRADE: B-
Bullpen
Aroldis Chapman and his 100-plus mph fastball comes into a game like a rock star, with the music blaring. He had a 2.00 ERA with 36 saves. In 54 innings, he struck out 106. He struck out 52.5 percent of the batters he faced.
Improvement needs to come from the mix of Tony Cingrani (4.55), Jumbo Diaz (3.38), Manny Parra (4.66) and J.J. Hoover (4.88). Newcomers include former Locos right-hander Burke Badenhop (2.29) and Kevin Gregg (10.00).
BULLPEN GRADE: C+
OVERALL GRADE: C
PREDICTION: 81-81
