Starting next week, the Reds begin their 14th season since their last playoff appearance in 1995.  Cincinnati is starving for a winner, and with the recent blunders of the Bengals, it looks like the Reds are on their own.

Over the next six months (and hopefully seven), I will be posting my own opinionated game recaps, brilliant ideas, and other random thoughts on my favorite baseball nine…the Cincinnati Reds.

Briefly, a little bit about me.  I’m a lifelong Cincinnatian, born and raised in the best all-around city in America (in my unbiased opinion).  I went to college down South, but got my MBA up here in Cincinnati.  Skip Prosser was prominently involved with both schools.

I go to about 30 games a year, and I watch the rest on TV or listen on 700 WLW.  My Dad had company seats at old Riverfront in Section 213, Row 1.  Those seats were the best, and I still miss them to this day.  I was there for countless great moments, even if there are some I don’t remember.  Some of the highlights:

Pete Rose 4192

Reds winning the pennant 2-1 over Pittsburgh

Joe Oliver’s double down the line in the World Series

Ken Griffey Jr’s first Opening Day in Cincinnati

Jose Rijo’s dramatic comeback to the big leagues

Since the move to Great American, nothing has worked quite right.  Carl Lindner ended up selling the team, and Bob Castellini has been trying since 2006 to bring a winner to Cincinnati.  Every year, the stadium has been improved…whether it’s the riverboat in the outfield, or the reconstruction of the club level.  Plus, with Walt Jocketty in place as GM, this team is built to be a long-term, consistent winner.  I’m a realistic guy, and I realize that everything has to go just about perfect this year for the Reds to contend for a Wild Card spot.  However, this team is moving in the right direction, and they should be a whole lot of fun to watch.  The outfield is MUCH faster and will get to more balls, and the pitching has a good chance to be the main strength of this team.  Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, and Brandon Phillips will keep developing, and this might even be the last year we have to suffer through an Edwin Encarnacion multiple error game down at third base.

Quickly, a few takes on hot button Reds issues, just so everyone knows where I stand:

Adam Dunn – It wasn’t that he was un-clutch, it was that he refused to change his swing when the situation dictated that he do exactly that. 3rd inning, no one on, no outs?  Swing for the fences.  8th inning, tie game, bases loaded, 2 out?  Swing for the fences.  Plus, they were asking him (and Jr) to be a vocal leader and captain of this team…something that Dunn is just not meant to do.  Dunn would be a fine compliment on the right team, just not this team.  Dunn knows that without much extra work or practice, he can hit 40 HR and 100RBI’s in a season.  For Dunn, that is enough.  The Reds are better off with Dunn and Griffey gone…especially since now the new nucleus of the squad (Votto, Bruce, Phillips) can take command of that locker room.  Before, they would always defer to the elder superstar, Griffey, and his right hand man, Dunn.

Walt Jocketty – While many of the young talent was brought here by Dan O’Brien and Wayne Krivsky, Jocketty is a man that Castellini respects and trusts.  He has a World Series title to his credit, and when Castellini barks, Jocketty won’t flinch.  I am convinced that Krivsky did not have the same working relationship with his boss.  Jocketty knows how to build a winner, and we are lucky to have him here.

Dusty Baker – Not the biggest Dusty fan in the world, but he is a proven winner who has the respect of the guys in that locker room.  Jerry Narron?  No way.  Dave Miley?  Even worse.  The Reds needed to bring in someone with a track record of success, and Baker fits that mold.  Will he get them to a World Series?  Hard to say.  But he can get this team to the playoffs.

Great American Ball Park – Enquirer columnist Paul Daugherty sums it up best…Pretty Good American Ballpark.  Nice place to go down and see a game, but nothing spectacular.  And it should have been at Broadway Commons.  Too many powerful people that own garages down on 3rd street prevented BC from ever happening.  The Machine Room is on the wrong side of the ballpark, inaccessible (by car) so the lunching at the ballpark idea died after only one season.  However, I give the current Reds ownership credit, they have done a heck of the job upgrading the stadium for the fan’s benefit, and to squeeze every penny of revenue possible from the park.  For my money, however, Dodger Stadium is still the most beautiful venue to watch baseball, Fenway Park is aging but awesome, everyone should attend an afternoon at Wrigley one time, and the best facility in baseball is PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Again, I plan on updating this blog every day with Reds news, notes and opinions.  Stop by, browse around, and leave some comments if you want your voice heard.  I’m a big boy, so feel free to share your dissenting opinions…I just have two rules:

1)  Keep it clean

2)  Don’t slam each other

I’m looking forward to an exciting season of Reds baseball.  This team has a plan, wants to win, and is trying to bring a championship team to Cincinnati.  I can get behind something like that.  After 15 years, who knows…maybe luck swings up the Ohio River for a change, and I can still be writing about Reds games in late October.