Joey Votto should be the MVP for the National League this year. He has played tremendously this year, hitting in the clutch for countless number of times, leading the league in batting average, homeruns (2nd) and RBI (2nd) and playing as flawlessly as you can on the field (4 errors only) with a .996 fielding average. His contribution to the team wins total is so important that it turns the Reds team around into a winning contender in the NL Central this year. Playing on a winning team is why the MVP should be Joey Votto's this year and not Albert Pujois's.  

Unfortunately Joey is quiet and almost did not make the All-Star game with the regular ballots and some biased choices difficult to be explained by the Phillies manager in his selection of alternates. if the Reds and baseball fans everywhere did not lobby strongly at the last minute and vote on the internet for Joey Votto to be included, it is quite likely that he would miss this year's All-Star game.

So before the baseball writers everywhere get distracted and for some very strange and unknown reasons looked beyong Joey Votto in this year's MVP voting, we as Reds fans and fans of Joey Votto everywhere, should be rallying our support for Joey. The Reds winning the NL Central race is definitely an important target for Votto in dispensing Pujois in the MVP votes and if Joey Votto can contribute strongly in the playoffs and further games down the road, that will further solidfy his selection. 

Go Reds go. Let's win the NL Central first. Individual honours will also follow.  

We have seen enough Masset pitching the 8th and Cordero pitching the 9th. Tonight against St. Louis (second in this series) where the Reds won 4-3 was really too close for comfort. This save should be taken off Cordero's record. He is really making everyone chewing hard. I would like to suggest that Baker stop bringing Cordero in at the start of the 9th inning and let Masset, or whoever is pitching in the 8th, to continue until he gets in trouble and needs to be replaced. I saw no problem with Masset tonight striking out two in his 8th. I would let him continue. Consistently bringing in Cordero at the start of the 9th and we have seen enough games when he walked batters and allowed hits that even though he may have gotten the save, we always seem to have the tying or winning runs on board. May be Chapman will help later but he has got to learn control and to throw strikes consistently when they are needed.

After the Braves game this afternoon, I re-edited the heading of this Fanpost by adding the "NOT" word. Baker has done almost the Mission Impossible, showing the Reds fans "How to lose a baseball game - I did it my way" - by Dusty Baker. By the way, Cordero has not been used at all for at least 3 or 4 games and this performance certainly puts a lot of doubt into whether he can be the designated closer or not. I know we don't have much choice here because of Cordero's salary and contract, etc. There are younger and more lively arms in the farm system although they lack the majors experience. Either Lincoln or Masset or both deservedly should go to Louisville to re-tool.

The Reds played well and won their last 5 games with every starter winning their own game and each issuing one or less walk per game. Obviously the combined ERA was awesome (only 6 runs scored by opponents in 5 games with 2 shutouts) and the Reds' bats were booming also at the right time (scoring 35 runs in 5 games). Yes, we know the opposing teams were the bad Cubs and the terrible Pirates but wins are always welcomed in Cincinnati. This makes life much easier for Baker who must be wondering what did he do right. Perhaps not needing to go to the bullpen for the last two games definitely helped because it eliminated the possibility of his over managing by making the wrong choice of relief pitchers at the wrong time.

The next 3 games with the Redbirds are important at least from the Reds' winning streak standpoint and when you have the chance of kicking the Redbirds when they are down, this is it. I am especially pissed when the baseball writers already gave the division championship to the Redbirds back in April. So we need to mark this upcoming series and it is pay back time at home. Harang, Leake and Arroyo will draw Wainwright, Penny and Lohse respectively. The only reason the Redbirds starters have good looking ERAs (besides having good velocity and variety of pitches) is because they seldom walk any batters. Redbirds defense is not great. Their relievers are so-so. Their best, Reyes, was a Reds reject. Reds  starters won their games when they did not walk batters. Our pitchers need to slow down and focus on the game one pitch, one batter, one inning at a time. I believe we can win 2 out of 3 in this series (with Carpenter and Garcia not pitching) and continue with the success as the winning attitude is rubbing off on every player.


Go Reds go.

Raptors extended Bargnani's contract to $50 million for 5 years. They signed Hedo at a reported $50 million for 5 years. Calderon is not far behind and several others (Jack, etc.) are at $5 million per year. We may or may not have a salary cap next year but that should not have any bearing on what Bosh will likely get paid. Bosh is a great player but not really a dominant player like Bryant, Duncan, Howard, Wade, etc. We want Bosh to get fair value so how much is Bosh worth? If you look at numbers for the other Raptors and comparable figures for the best player on each team, you can argue that Bosh should get a contract at $100 million for 7 years. How much is BC willing to hand out? Raptors future ticket price increases will likely match these new contract values.

Reds are playing lousy. I am sure even the players would agree. What is at the root of this problem? Yes, the team has injuries, but which team does not? Yes, we have a young team, but so do other teams. What are the roles and responsibilities of the manager and his coaches? When you see poor execution, do you agree it is the manager and the coaches problem of not preparing the players adequately? We are not talking about high school or class A players here when they are still learning the game. Why should fans pay top dollars to see a quality discounted team to perform? Historically, the Reds never had any quality pitchers coming up from their farm system. Why is that? Are the scouts too busy checking other things out? Or was it because of the old Schott's days of running a cheap scouting system? Everywhere we read, the Reds have excellent prospects coming up through Louisville, their top farm team. Why do almost all the top prospects fizzle out in Cincinnati? May be we had been spoiled by Sparky days. Where are the proud Reds players? Stand up and be heard.