Possible Moves Could Lead to Young Rotation

Reports from the last few days are that Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang, the top two pitchers in the Reds starting rotation, could be moved to opposite ends of America. Arroyo, who will make $11 million in 2010, had one of the greatest second halves in his career, as his last 12 starts lasted no shorter than seven innings and no more than three runs. Harang, who will make $12.5 million in 2010, was one of the best pitchers in the National League in 2006 and 2007 before he lost his touch, giving up a run more a game in 2008 and 2009.

Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti has been in contact with the Reds about acquiring Aaron Harang. The talks are in the early stages, but if it were to happen, the Reds would most likely have to send some money to L.A. along with Harang. The Reds are looking to acquire to players on the Dodgers roster, and I would expect one to be an infielder. The way this club went after Craig Counsell, which still doesn’t make any sense to me, you would have to guess that even the older players, Casey Blake and Rafael Furcal, could be involved. It would be nice to get two prospects that are just about big league ready, but the Reds need to watch out on acquiring more lefty’s, as the club is already loaded with them.

The New York Mets have also been in contact with the Reds, as General Managers Walt Jocketty and Omar Minaya are in “serious talks” about a trade involving Bronson Arroyo. Just like with the Dodgers, don’t expect this trade to happen quickly as there are multiple players involved-more Reds than Mets-along with the Mets having “a player under contract that needs to be moved in order for the deal to be expanded.” The way this sounds, with more Reds than Mets players, a fire sale could come soon. But I didn’t expect one until at the earliest, after the 2010 season depending on where the Reds finish. Who the Reds may acquire is also a big question mark, as Arroyo has been the Reds most durable starter since his arrival, continuing his streak of throwing at least 200 innings which has reached five years.

Depending on whether or not these trades go through, and who may be involved, losing these two starters would leave the Reds with a young and rather raw rotation. Homer Bailey, the young phenom who showed flashes of brilliance and domination toward the end of last season, and Johnny Cueto, the young Dominican with strikeout king potential would be the front runners to start Opening Day.

Edinson Volquez, the Reds lone All-Star in 2008, won’t be back until the earliest September. He is coming off Tommy John Surgery, and he will need a year, 2011, to get back into the groove of pitching every fifth day. Reds fans should not expect the ’08 Volquez back until the earliest, 2012. If the trades do go through, the Reds will need young, inexperienced guys to step in and win games. Expect 2008 long man Micah Owings, Justin “King” Lehr, Daryl Thompson, Matt Maloney and 2009 first round draft pick Mike Leake to all compete for a rotation spot come spring.

All is Good in the World of Sports

With the New York Yankees winning their 27th World Series Championship last night over the Philadelphia Phillies, everyone in the world of sports is at ease and happy.  Unless you're a Boston Red Sox or New York Mets fan that is.  You see, in today's society, everybody loves to write about the controversy and the drama.  What city has that more than all?  New York.  What team displays these traits more than all?   Whether it be A-Rod on steroids and dating Madonna and Kate Hudson, Jeter getting old, or a new set of Joba rules, the New York Yankees are Kings of Controversy and Drama in Major League Baseball.  The Yankees fit the bill pretty well in the entire professional ranks, as no team in history of professional sports is under the scrutiny and microscope of the New York Media like the Yankees.  True, the Mets are in the same city, but they don't have the Steinbrenners steering the ship. 

We as fans and writers love to talk and blog about the best thing in sports, and that's the New York Yankees.  I'm a Cincinnati Reds fan, and not so much of a Yankee fan, but i still enjoy when the Yankees are winning, losing, or just flat out full of drama.  When the Bronx Bombers are winning, you can talk about the payroll of the Yankees has ascended this team to the best in baseball.  When the Yanks are losing, you can talk about how Girardi is going to get fired, how A-Rod is getting booed, and how the giant payroll of the Evil Empire doesn't help lift the team over the Kansas City Royals.  New York is the perfect background for controversy, and over the years there has been plenty of hostility and drama within the Yankees Organization.  Remember when Jeter was at a birthday party til 3 A.M. in the 2002 season, and George Steinbrenner criticized Jeter for it, and said he "wasn't totally focused" and that the incident "didn't sit well with him?"  Of course you do, you wrote about it.  As did every other guy in the country that follows sports.  You had those on the fence saying both were wrong, both were right, there were writers saying it's George's team, Jeter needs to listen, and then you even had people saying that it's Jeter's life, and at the time, he was 28 years old, and Steinbrenner needed to stay out of his business. 

Point?  The Yankees make for great stories.  When the Yankees are winning, it means the world of sports is doing great, because at that same time, the Lakers are winning and the Patriots are winning. 

When the odds on favorites and power houses are winning, everything is great in sports.  Fans are happy, the writers are happy because they have the chance to be the 5,000th person to write about the topic in a 2-day span, and the teams are happy because they're making money.  When the traditional powerhouses win, everyone wins.  The PTI guys have another topic to yell at each other about for 30 seconds, and we don't have to listen to ten different analysts on SportsCenter say the same thing over and over.  Although, having those ten analysts is probably better than Michael Wilbon or Tony Kornheiser holding up a picture on a stick trying to "Be Like (Insert Name Here)."

Yankees win, be happy, write your stories, copy and paste blogs as your own, and be happy.  Come to terms with who and what we are as a SportsNation and as fans.  I have, why haven't you?

The Easy