I tend to be one of the more not-optimistic people on here, but I think we should calm down a little bit when it comes to this Willy T. signing, I have some reasons why and some ideas of what I think we should do.

1. The Reds have the 18th highest payroll out of 30 teams, so when talking about "contending" money alone would say that is not something we could do. We can`t afford to play the power ball that contenders do, plain and simple. From years of torture, Votto and Bruce give us a chance to have homegrown power, but we are not going to land a Manny or Mark T. calibur player in free agency, and we would more than likely not make out too well by trading for that power. Adam Dunn is gone, and we are not getting him back, we can`t even afford him if we wanted him. Because of our financial past, landing a runner-up for rookie of the year player that stole 68 bases in a year is not a bad thing. Encarnacion gets enough breaks for his "upside" and "potential" on this site, so Willy with a change of scenery should not be such a dreaded pick-up.

2. Speed. This team is fast, this team is scary fast. Willy T, Dickerson, B-Phil, Hopper, and Possibly Hairston. There is a good lead-off hitter there somewhere, though now it is probably less likely Hairston will stay. Thats enough speed to keep the defense on its toes, and make up for defensive plays Ede decides to screw up. Less double plays, more ground covered in the field defensively. These guys can make 1st base scoring position more often.

3. He is not the big pick up. We know We are going to pick up another outfielder, and have younger guys competing in camp. I think we need to give Jocketty a chance, sure taking a job for the Reds was a bad move, but lets at least give him a season before we brand him as an idiot. We are shaping up to have a good pitching staff this year, and pitching wins rings. I don`t think we need to worry about picking up Juan Pierre, better known as "Slappy McPop-up". I don`t know, there are a lot of options, we all know there will be some sort of power in the corner going into camp......

4. He is better than Freel. Diving on your face every play and making a spectacular play when you are fast means you just don`t know how to judge a fly ball. Free was fast but not as fast or young or sober as Willy.

5. Not really a reason but an idea. Why not let Bonds and Sosa come to camp? Chances are they get cut, but if not you have your cheap bat for a year, and more than likely you draw press and crowds from the shear signing. I detest these guys as much as the next guy, but sign Clemens while your at it for cheap. They need money and they want their decency, then we get a higher revenue, its possible they could still play and be productive, at least platooning. If not, cut them, you wont lose much money, nobody else wants them. They used the drugs and used the game so now lets use them and dispose of them after a year. Connie Mack brought Cobb and Tris Speaker back for a year after their alleged game fix, then they split ways the next year and the A`s went to the World Series.

6. Now another not reason but question....player managers.....why not?