Predominantly pleased persimmon

Not that I'll miss them, but I'm just wondering if they'll be in the minors, looming.

As for the formatting, I discovered that if you push SHIFT-ENTER instead of just ENTER, it only does a single line (i.e. it doesn't start a new paragraph). Just for future reference. Hope you don't mind that I cleaned it up a bit.

Stinkton gone - good news
Hairiston not on - good news

Corey Patterson CF - Rather see Noho

Jeff Keppinger SS - Good news for the offense

Ken Griffey Jr. RF - here's for a great final year Grif

Brandon Phillips 2B - Still has a strong upside

Adam Dunn LF - Should be in the 4 hole - 50HRs plus in 2008

Edwin Encarnacion 3B - Breakout year - count on it.

Joey Votto 1B - Nothing to prove at AAA

Paul Bako/Javy Valentin C - It is what it is

Bench - I didn't know he was out of retirement

Ryan Freel INF/OF - good way to use Farney

Juan Castro INF - Why oh Why ?

Scott Hatteberg 1B - glad to have this guy, will contribute or could later be part of an important trade if he's doing well.

Norris Hopper OF - should be the starter over Corey

Rotation

Aaron Harang - What's to say - awesome

Bronson Arroyo - What's to say again - great

Johnny Cueto - Here's coming of age

Josh Fogg - Good luck to Foggheadleghorn

Edinson Volquez - Good acquisition, could be a sleeper

Bullpen

Francisco Cordero - WhooHoo

David Weathers - Someday could be a great manager

Todd Coffey - Here's to a sustained remarkable turn around

Kent Mercker - Will be able to collect Social Security this year - but probably a good guy to have in the pen, clubhouse and to
use in certain situations

Jared Burton - Whang that ball up there boy!

Jeremy Affeldt - Hope he is as good this year as last

Mike Lincoln - Sounds more like a mystery writer than a ballplayer

DL: SS Alex Gonzalez, C David Ross and P Matt Belisle. - I think that all 3 of these guys will contribute BIG this year, esp. Belizzle.

Although this team is not as strong defensively as it could be or as strong offensively as it was last year, with the added pitching
both in the SR and pen, this team appears to be competitive.As soon as Bruce is ready and available, he could really be a difference maker as to whether or not the Reds make the playoffs. All in all Id give this roster as is a strong B-.

It looks like I'm out a book and a blow job.

This never happened when I was teaching at the Citadel.

is Castro gone? If not, who is? It's gotta be him, right?

The rotation looks good. The lineup doesn't look terrible (I'm willing to give Corey Patterson the benefit of the doubt right now because he had a good spring, and the beginning of the season is all about optimism). The batting order is a little whacky. I don't like Dunn and Edwin as low as they are, but that comes from the insistence of batting Patterson in the leadoff slot. Dumb.

The bench is only okay. I like Hatteberg, who will give you a good at-bat every time. Hopper's where he should be, and that's as your fourth outfielder. Freel has always been best when he's the utility guy, so I'm hoping he can put last year's disappointment behind him. Strictly on reputation, I'm willing to buy Castro as a defensive replacement for Keppinger, but I will be mighty glad when Gonzalez comes back. Of course, that would mean ditching Castro; we'll see if Castellini's willing to eat two bad contracts. My question is who should be the starting catcher. I think I'm leaning towards Bako (or maybe have Javy catching the young Dominicans). Ok, that's what I like. He can converse with them in Spanish and help them through the games, then provide a decent bat off the bench when Harang, Arroyo, and Fogg are pitching. Bako's just killing time til we get Ross back.

The 'pen... worries me. Cordero hasn't really shown to me that he's the automatic ninth we're all hoping he is. Weathers could be fine, but he's also old and been used A LOT the last two seasons. The bullpen leader, but still a question mark. Affeldt and Burton have struggled this spring. Coffey has looked good, but has he put his past behind him? Mercker is basically just a LOOGY and potentially more valuable as a clubhouse presence than a pitcher. Lincoln... freed the slaves, so that's something. To me, the bullpen is still hold your breath until they start to prove otherwise, but at least we have some options like Coutlangus and Roenicke that we can bring up.

So I'm okay with the team, but not crazy about it. I'll feel better when Gonzalez and Ross are back, and I will feel MUCH better when Bailey and Bruce can come up and contribute.

X-Factor: Despite all the cringeworthy material we've gotten from Dusty this season, everything I've read from the players sounds like they're all responding very positively to him and are willing to play their hearts out for him. That's gotta be worth a couple wins there, right?

And Mercker is the primary lefty. I like Mercker, but I'd rather have Bray in that spot. I hope Kent has some good innings left in the tank.

I think Hannigan, Anderson, and Ramirez will be dropped from the 40-man, though I agree that Pelland and probably Gardner are candidates as well. It probably doesn't make sense to hold onto Anderson since Bruce will need a 40-man spot when he's called up, and I'd expect him to be the next outfielder called up.

I feel like I've missed something with this guy. He's 33. He hasn't pitched since '04, and wasn't that good to begin with. Since then he's had TJ surgery (twice - first time was unsuccessful) and hasn't pitched at all professionally. He's a righty. His spring doesn't look impressive - 11 IP, 5 K, 4 BB, 7 ER. Someone remind me why he made the team over McBeth, Bray, Roenicke, etc.

I wasn't around yesterday, and I'm especially lazy today.

Did the Reds really not trade Stanton straight up for Helms? At least if they then dropped Helms, they'd have saved $400k.

Or did McCoy pull that story out of his ass?

Seriously, try to name the teams in all of MLB that have their best hitter hitting 6th.

Has to be just us, right?

I was counting up from the bottom...and the P wasn't listed in the lineup.

I think he should hit 4th

We know he's sure as hell not gonna be SAC flying, that worthless son of a...

I like this roster. You can't say Baker favors the vets, after cutting Stanton and adding Cueto and Volquez to the roster. I like that we have the depth to be patient with Bruce and, to a different degree, Bray. Patterson and Mercker are simply keeping things warm, hopefully providing good play in the meantime. if not? It's no big thing to jettison them.

In general, I really like our depth. I think it's a stretch to bring the playoffs to Cincy this year--possible, though, and I can write that with a straight face--but I really like 2009, with Cueto, Volquez and Votto a year in, Bailey and Bruce seasoned and ready, and Dunn signed for five years.

Anyone have a link?

Cueto so far . . . 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R (unearned), 3 BB, 6 K

this lineup is not bad. not near as bad as it could be. i'll have to give wayner and fistbands a few atta boys here. the lincoln thing is a bit of a mystery, but if that is the most baffling thing to come from all this i think we can call it a success.

*its statistically irrational, but im gonna give Patterson the benefit of the doubt, for now. i know past performance predicts future production, but....i have a weird feeling that he just might have a decent season. not great, not good...but decent. (good to have him on board, over the course of 162,especially considering fragile Freel and Junya.

*i like the fact that Bruce and Bailey could provide shot in the arm additions by Mem Day.

*Im still concerned with the overall organizational situation at C, its pretty, pretty thin.

*Kepp has to play, bottom line. His bat will outproduce Sea Bass' glove. Perfect top of the order hitter to boot.

*I have a hunch Roenicke will be up after the AS break.

if opening day is going to be on ESPN, like it is every year? Just checked my local schedule out here in L.A., and all I see is f-ing American League games.

Anyone know?

Or at least set to start... if Hatteberg was blocking Votto... grrr...

Needs to be Casto-off.

What a waste of a roster spot.

At least there aren't three catchers on the roster.

but a first-time poster, I agree that this isn't the worst roster Dusty could've put together--given what he had to work with, anyway. I'm with Geki--I'd prefer Freel over Patterson in a heartbeat, and Paul Bako??--come on, man! Otherwise, though, it could be worse. My fear is that Dusty will make it so.

According to the Fay, Votto may have made the team but Hatteberg is still gonna be our starting 1B. Pathetic.

"(The starting first baseman) is whoever's playing that day. Joey Votto has a great upside," Baker said. "But Hatteberg had a great spring. We'll go with matchups. (The seven spot) is an important spot in the lineup. Adam Dunn had an OK spring. Edwin (Encarnacion) struggled."

Obviously, what Adam Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion did has a lot to do with who should start at 1B. Dusty is a two-faced piece of shit and I hope he gets run over.