Woman involved in Aroldis Chapman robbery pleads guilty to disorderly conduct

 

Hey, do you remember that bizarre story about Aroldis Chapman getting robbed in Pittsburgh back in May? Well, the fallout of it has finally come. Chapman's, uh, hotel guest has been hit with a $164 fine after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct after fabricating a wild lie to the police.

From the Associated Press:

A Maryland woman has been fined $164 for falsely reporting a robbery of a Pittsburgh hotel room belonging to a Cincinnati Reds player.

After learning 27-year-old Claudia Manrique of Silver Spring, Md., completed 50 hours of community service, a judge reduced her misdemeanor false report charge Thursday to summary disorderly conduct, and she pleaded guilty.

Police say Manrique was in town with Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman when she claimed a man posing as a maintenance worker robbed the player's room at the Omni William Penn Hotel on May 29. Chapman was playing against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the time.

Shin-Soo Choo a fit in Cincinnati?

by: Parker Perry
Staff Writer

Time is ticking down at an incredibly fast pace for the Cincinnati Reds in their pursuit for a replacement for Drew Stubbs.

B.J. Upton has signed with the Atlanta Braves, Denard Span is also playing in the National League East with the Washington Nationals, and MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the Colorado Rockies are no where close to moving Dexter Flower--a price that will likely only rise now that supply has fallen.

Cincinnati could decide to sit back and go with what they have. Chris Heisey could platoon with a struggling Stubbs, and have a chance to take the starting position all together. However, neither candidate are in a position to be a good leadoff hitter, something the Reds lacked in 2012.

Reds may boast best rotation in baseball

The Cuban Missile could be enough to
push Cincy's rotation over the top

by: Chase Fitzgerald
Staff Writer

With the news of a Jonathan Broxton 3-year deal, Aroldis Chapman will assuredly be moving to the rotation. Now, I hope you all know how incredible the Reds rotation was last year. None of the Reds pitchers missed a start and four of them had an ERA of below 4.00, but the Reds did have a weak link; Mike Leake. Don’t get me wrong, I love Mike Leake. He is one of my favorite baseball players but emotions aside for a second, he was bad last year. Good news is, Chapman is taking Leake’s spot in the rotation and I guarantee you he can get a lower ERA than 4.58. Now, with Chapman in I don’t see a weak link and that is why I think this rotation is the best in baseball. Let’s break it down.

1. Johnny Cueto
Johnny Cueto is basically the man. He is without a doubt the Reds ace and is also one of the best pitchers in the league. He is at least a top-ten pitcher in the MLB and that is a great way to headline the best rotation in baseball. Cueto just dominates teams and he does it without strike outs to allow him to go deeper into games. He seems mentally tougher and he keeps improving each season. He could easily win the Cy Young next year and I promise you that he will be at least a candidate.

Midweek Reds links, news, and notes

We are beginning to approach a few major offseason milestones soon. The first of which will come next Monday (Dec. 3) when the Major League Baseball world converges on Nashville for the Winter Meetings. That event will run through Thursday, which leads up to the Rule 5 Draft. The following day marks the beginning of the greatest fanfest in all of sports -- Redsfest. The two-day extravaganza is slated to take place in the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati.

Here's some links, news, and notes to help keep you occupied until then.

+ The biggest news this week is the signing of free agent closer Jonathan Broxton to a multi-year deal. Check out our coverage of the story by following this link.

Reds lock up Broxton for three years


The Cincinnati Reds inked a new closer on Wednesday.

The Reds and free agent right-hander Jonathan Broxton have reportedly agreed to a 3-year deal worth approximately $21 million, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. The signing likely means a move to the starting rotation for Aroldis Chapman (barring injury) as Broxton will be inserted into the closer role.

Broxton's contract also includes a $9 million club option for 2016 and a limited no-trade clause. If he is traded, it becomes a $22 million contract with a mutual option. He has already passed a physical.

The 28-year old Broxton was initially acquired by the Reds on July 31 from the Royals and finished out the season quite well in a setup role. He produced a 2.82 ERA, 3-3 record, and four saves in 25 appearances for the NL Central Champs last year. He owns a 3.10 ERA and 111 saves in his 8-year big league career.

Jocketty: Reds look to bolster roster with trades, not free agents

By: Parker Perry
Staff Writer

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty told reporters Thursday that the front office will continue down the path that has led to success in this 2012-2013 MLB off season.

According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Jocketty answered “no sir” when asked if the Reds plan to spend big money on a free agent during the upcoming winter meetings.

And why would they? Why start now?

Since the beginning of his tenure in Cincinnati, promoting within the system and trades has landed Jocketty one of the highest job securities in the league. He has managed the system well, and has orchestrated trades that has revolutionized the franchise.

Nominate your community field for a makeover by the Reds

A press release from the Reds....

CINCINNATI (Nov. 26, 2012) — Do you know of a park, ball field or neighborhood recreation area that is in need of a renovation? This summer, P&G and the Reds will makeover one special community in the surrounding Greater Cincinnati area.

Nominate your community today!

1. Interested communities should complete the application at reds.com/community by Jan. 15, 2013.

2. Communities must be located within the surrounding Greater Cincinnati area.

3. Projects must include a minimum of one baseball and/or softball field and should also include a significant community park or asset in need of renovation.

Reds nearing a multi-year deal with Jonathan Broxton?

Good news for Queen City eateries today.

The Reds and free agent closer Jonathan Broxton are close to reaching a multi-year deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. If an agreement is indeed met, it likely means a move to the starting rotation for Aroldis Chapman (barring injury) as Broxton will be thrusted into closing.

The 28-year old Broxton was acquired by the Reds on July 31 from the Royals and finished out the season quite well pitching out of the setup role. He produced a 2.82 ERA, 3-3 record, and four saves in 25 appearances for the NL Central Champs last year. He owns a 3.10 ERA and 111 saves in his 8-year big league career.

Is Stubbs on the brink of a breakout season?

Let's be honest, folks. Drew Stubbs did not have a good season in 2012. He batted a measly .213 overall, got on base at a clip of just .277, and whiffed 166 times in only 493 at-bats. That's right. He failed to even put the ball in play in nearly 34% of his official trips to the plate, which equates to about one in three at-bats for all you mathematics majors out there.

His lack of production has forced the Reds to explore other options in center field, but Dave Cameron of FanGraphs seems to think that Stubbs may be on the cusp of a bounce-back year. Cameron tabbed the 28-year old as one of three players to bounce back in 2013, and quite possibly with another team.

Here's exactly what he had to say about Stubbs:

Nine Reds up for GIBBYs awards

Don't miss your chance to help decide the winners of this year's 2012 GIBBYs (Greatness in Baseball Yearly) Awards. The winners are decided based on votes by media, front-office personnel, MLB alumni, and fans. There are several Reds players in the mix to bring home the hardware.

They include Johnny Cueto (Best Starting Pitcher), Todd Frazier (Best Rookie), Sean Marshall (Best Setup Man), Ryan Hanigan (Best Defensive Player), Aroldis Chapman (Best Breakout Pitcher), Dusty Baker (Best Manager), and Walt Jocketty (Best Executive).

Fans can also choose among several other categories as well. Homer Bailey is up for Best Pitching Performance while Brandon Phillips is vying for Best Play.

A collection of Reds news and notes for the weekend

With Thanksgiving and Black Friday now in the rear view mirror, we inch a little bit closer to the beginning of baseball season. Although there still remains many wintry days between now and then, it never hurts to bask in a little Reds-related news and notes. So, grab you a plate of leftover turkey, pumpkin pie, or whatever else your heart so desires, and read up some interesting Reds stuff.

+ On Tuesday, six players were added to the 40-man roster to keep them from being plucked away by another team in the Rule 5 Draft. Those players included RHP Daniel Corcino, RHP Carlos Contreras, RHP Josh Ravin, OF Yorman Rodriguez, RHP Curtis Partch, and LHP Is
mael Guillon. Here's the full story.

Serving up some Reds for Thanksgiving

Happy Turkey Day everyone! I would like to use this time to express my sincere gratitude for everyone who reads or frequents this blog on a regular basis. You all are very much appreciated.

Secondly, I would also like to provide an interesting and somewhat humorous post on this glorified day of gluttony. While most of America will have food, family and football on tap today, Redlegs Review is going to add a fourth dimension to that list....Reds baseball.

For your pure comedic entertainment, I give you what select members of the Reds would be if they were a traditional Thanksgiving dish. So grab yourself some pumpkin pie or another dessert of your choosing and enjoy...

On this day in Reds history: The club is unable to field a professional nine

 

November 21, 1870 - The Cincinnati Baseball Club announces it will hire no professional players for the 1871 season, and instead will develop its amateur players. Unable to sign its star players to contracts for the 1871 season, and uncertain of being able to field a competitive first-class nine that would live up to the standards of the Red Stockings, the Cincinnati Baseball Club simply bowed out of the professional arena. The rise in payroll and other miscellaneous expense was what led to the financial demise of the team.

The decision meant that Cincinnati - which pioneered the professional game - would not be represented in the first professional league, which formed early in 1871.

The greatest Reds fan gathering of the year is looming near

Believe it or not, Redsfest 2012 is now only 16 days away. It presents a great opportunity for fans to interact with fellow fans, current and former players, coaches, and team personnel. There will also be interactive games, autograph booths, exhibits, and much more on tap during the weekend. Here's a little information regarding the annual event thanks to a press release from the team...

CINCINNATI -- FOX Sports Ohio Redsfest presented by PNC Bank will expand to the third floor of the Duke Energy Convention Center to create a bigger and better Reds Heads Fun Zone for kids of all ages featuring a photo opportunity with Santa, arcade games, inflatables, player story time sessions, live music, circus performers and more.

The annual fan festival will be held at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Downtown Cincinnati on Friday, Dec. 7 from 3 to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 8 from 11 am to 6:30 p.m.

An interview with Reds pitching prospect Josh Ravin

 

by: Chase Fitzgerald
Staff Writer

Josh Ravin is a 24-year old pitching prospect in the Cincinnati Reds system. The right-hander was drafted by the Reds in the fifth round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Chatsworth High School in California. Ravin split time between Single-A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola this season while appearing in 23 games as a reliever. His playing time was cut short due to an oblique injury which sidelined him for nearly two and a half months.

I just want to thank him for taking the time to do this interview. Make sure to follow him on Twitter at @FreshSqueezed22.

Q: What is your best personal achievement in baseball?
A: I would have to say being drafted is my greatest achievement this far. I'm blessed to have the opportunities I've had.

Document banning Pete Rose from baseball fails to sell at auction

The document with which banished Pete Rose from baseball was up for auction on Saturday. However, the five-page copy failed to meet its reserve price, which has not been revealed.

In the agreement, inked on Aug. 23, 1989, Rose does not admit to gambling on baseball specifically, but it does make him ineligible to get a job in Major League Baseball and for the Hall of Fame.

The document was signed by then commissioner A. Bart Giamatti, deputy commissioner Fay Vincent, and "Peter Edward Rose". The document apparently received bids up to $235,000 yet it wasn't enough for Goldin Auctions to part ways with it.

Other items in the auction that did sell included an expired American Express card signed by Michael Jordan on the back ($3,146), a 1995-96 Michael Jordan game-used jersey ($22,413), a game-used Roger Staubach jersey from the 1977-78 season ($14,271), Rickey Henderson's copy of his 1993 World Series trophy ($9,434), and a bat used and signed by Derek Jeter in 2009 ($8,982).

Recapping the season of Drew Stubbs

Did Stubbs take a step down this year?

Many Reds players experienced tremendous individual success during the 2012 season, but Drew Stubbs wasn't one of them. The 28-year old actually experienced a regression. The Reds hoped this would be the season when the speedy Stubbs finally put it all together, unfortunately it was not. Stubbs struggled mightily at the dish all year long, and it has forced the team to look elsewhere for a solution at the leadoff spot this offseason. In spite of his offensive woes, the Texas native did manage to play his usual stellar defense in center, and that definitely counts for something.

Here's a look back at Stubbs' 2012 campaign:

The evolution of baseball video games

Yep. That's a baseball game.

Yesterday we posted a list of some of our favorite baseball video games. I've always felt baseball is one of the most video-game friendly sports and one of the easiest to sort of replicate in the virtual world. A lot of people love their Madden and NBA games, which I like to, but baseball has always been the go-to game for me.

Now as promised, here is a timeline of the evolution of baseball video games through my eyes and thumbs. In other words, these are the most prominent games that I remember playing from my years as a kid up till now. They may or may not have been the most popular games at the time, but I spent hours upon hours playing them and keeping track of my seasons and stats. For frame of reference, I was born in 1987 so there will be plenty of games before my time that I probably don't even know about which aren't on this list. There will be plenty of other games missing from my timeline of course too, so please comment with what games would have been on your timeline. It's a fun way to reminisce about your childhood.

*As a disclaimer, I haven't purchased a new game since 2010 and probably won't for quite a while now that I never seem to have much time for anything since I'm all "grown up" whatever that means. I can't wait till I have kids old enough to play them.

1992 - Legends of the Diamond

Alright. I'm getting off to a bad start here because I actually didn't play this game till much after it was released. It is not the first baseball game I remember playing. I remember borrowing this from a friend in the late 90s and playing it. It was so awesome though. I wanted to include a game for the original NES system though and this one is it. Most of my NES-playing days were reserved for Super Mario Bros. 3 and the gold-cartridged The Legend of Zelda. I never played Legends to the extent that I played any other baseball game so I couldn't tell you a whole lot about it. It was pretty simple though. Pitch, hit, run, catch, and throw and the rosters consisted of all of the most famous baseball players in history up to 1992, hence the title of the game.

1993 - RBI Baseball '93

Crasnick says Reds in desperate need of a leadoff hitter

Hamilton is destined to be Cincy's leadoff
man in the future, just not yet

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com recently published a pretty interesting read regarding the challenges facing the Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason. Since this is a blog dedicated to the Reds, and since no true Reds fan cares much for the Redbirds anyway, we're going to focus primarily on what Crasnick wrote about the reigning NL Central champs.

Keep in mind that the two biggest things on the agenda right now are acquiring a leadoff hitter and figuring out what to do with Aroldis Chapman. Here's a snippet from Crasnick's lengthy post:

After spending almost $300 million to sign Joey Votto and Phillips to long-term deals, the Reds aren't in the mix for free agents Michael Bourn or B.J. Upton -- and even Shane Victorino might be looking at a longer-term deal than Cincinnati would prefer. Jocketty said it's more likely the Reds will try to address their leadoff void through a trade for someone who can be a place-holder until Billy Hamilton arrives from the minors.

What is your favorite baseball video game to date?

Well it's November. There is no Major League Baseball to follow; not any games anyways. There will be plenty of free agent and offseason trade talks heating up soon. Will the Reds make any significant moves or surprises in the trade market like they did last year? We shall see. Until then, we can resort to one of the things that can get us closer to on-the-field baseball than anything else and that is the realm of video games.

Here are a few of our favorite baseball video games. Obviously it's way subjective because it's impossible to have played every game out there and once you find one you like you tend to play it longer or at least stay within that franchise. Part two will list a couple of my favorites in what will be somewhat of a timeline of the evolution of baseball video games. Look for that tomorrow.

Jimmi's Pick (@Redlegs_Review, @jimmiadair)

 

MVP Baseball 2005 for PS2
I must have logged a trillion hours playing that game during my sophomore year of high school. I'm not sure why it would be my favorite baseball video game other than the fact that it was the one I played the most.

The Reds won many World Series during my reign of dynasties on there. Some were made possible by turning the "fair trades" option off and acquiring oodles of talent through lopsided trades. Hey, if you ain't cheating you ain't trying. In all seriousness, that game delivered plenty of enjoyable times.

Video: Should Aroldis Chapman start or relieve?

 

The hottest topic up for debate this offseason is whether or not the Reds plan on using Aroldis Chapman as a starter or reliever in 2013. Of course, the team was facing the very same predicament last offseason as well. Injuries eventually forced Cincinnati's hand to stick Chapman in the bullpen for the 2012 campaign. Needless to say, he did quite well (68g, 1.51 ERA, 38 SV), finishing 12th in NL MVP voting. But many wonder if he would be better served in the starting rotation.

Here is Tim McMaster, Jim Duquette, and Matthew Leach of MLB.com giving their thoughts on what the team should do with their prized left-hander. They appear to have mixed opinions as well.

Here's my quick take for what it's worth: Don't fix something that isn't broke.

Recapping the season of Ryan Ludwick

Many weren't too thrilled when the Reds opted to fill their void in left field by signing Ryan Ludwick to a free agent deal last offseason. And it was difficult to blame them at the time. Ludwick was coming off back-to-back mediocre seasons and it appeared as though his skills were declining with his increase in age. The 2012 season proved to be a bounceback one for the Las Vegas native as he quickly won over the support of Reds fans with his hustle, passion, and good play on the field. By the time the year was over, the $2.5M invested in him for a one-year contract looked to be an absolute bargain.

Let us now reflect back on Ludwick's terrific '12 season:

Cueto finishes fourth in Cy Young voting

The voting results for the National League Cy Young Award were revealed on MLB Network on Wednesday and two Reds finished in the top eight. Cincinnati ace Johnny Cueto came in fourth after collecting 75 total points while southpaw closer Aroldis Chapman nestled into a tie for the eighth spot with one point.

New York Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey won the award convincingly by garnering 27 out of 32 first-place votes and 209 points overall.

Cueto boasted a 19-9 record and tidy 2.78 ERA in 33 starts. He set career highs in wins, innings pitched (217), strikeouts (170), games (33), K/BB (3.47), and WAR (5.8).

Chapman took over the Reds closer role in May and never relinquished it. He tallied 38 saves while maintaining a 1.51 ERA in a career high 68 appearances.

Getting up to speed on all the latest Reds news and notes

The 2012 season is nothing but a distant memory at this point as the frigid air of the offseason begins to take its grip on Reds country. And to make things even worse, spring training doesn't commence for another three months. Festive holiday gatherings, football, and snowy weather are what Reds fans have to look forward to between now and then, but hopefully this blog post full of Reds-related news and notes will satisfy your craving for Reds baseball...for now at least.

+ The Reds are considering switching to a dynamic pricing model for tickets which could make prices rise and fall, writes Business Courier reporter Steve Watkins.

+ Tyler Duma of the Bleacher Report suggests seven free agents who the team may be wise in trying to sign this winter. One of them is a Cincinnati native.

+ The staff at Sporting News recently published an offseason to-do-list for the 2012 NL Central Division champs. See what they had to say by following this link.

Didi Gregorius homers as Javelinas and Desert Dogs play halfsies

It was a loss for Peoria on Monday afternoon as they were outscored 6-4 by Phoenix. Both teams committed an error, but the Javelinas were outhit 8-6 by the Desert Dogs in defeat. The Reds prospects played a substantial role in this one, but the results were not hugely positive.

-CF Billy Hamilton was 1-4, with a run scored and a stolen base (10). He's hitting .273 on the season with just a couple games left. He did commit his first error, which allowed a run to score.

-1B Travis Mattair went 0-4, with a strikeout.

-RHP Tim Crabbe started the game and allowed four earned runs in three innings. He gave up five hits and two walks, while striking out one.

Baker finishes second in National League Manager of the Year voting

On Tuesday, the Redlegs were once again snubbed of a major postseason award as Dusty Baker finished in second place for the National League Manager of the Year Award, which is voted upon by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). Washington Nationals skipper Davey Johnson took the prize after garnering 23 out of a possible 32 first-place votes and totaling 131 overall points. The announcement was made on MLB Network shortly after the six o'clock hour (EST).

Baker, who guided the Reds to a 97-65 record and their second division crown in three seasons, collected five first-place votes, 14 second-place votes, and 10 third-place votes to tally 77 overall points, which fell well shy of Johnson's mark. San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who's team ousted Baker's in the playoffs, collected 61 total points.

Recapping the season of Sean Marshall

The Reds made a surprising move when they acquired Sean Marshall from the Cubs last December. They thought so highly enough of the southpaw to reward him with a 3-year, $16.5M contract extension before he ever threw a pitch as a Red. So far, that deal has paid solid dividends. The 30-year old proved to be a solid option as a setup man and played a key role in helping Cincinnati boast the league's lowest bullpen ERA in 2012.

Here's a quick look at some notables from his '12 campaign:

Todd Frazier finishes third in National League Rookie of the Year balloting

Frazier's bid to become the team's first NL ROY
since 1999 came up short on Monday

Reds infielder Todd Frazier was among three finalists for National League Rookie of the Year honors, but ultimately finished third after the announcement was made on MLB Network Monday night. Washington Nationals 19-year old phenom Bryce Harper topped the voting after edging out second-place finisher, Arizona Diamondbacks southpaw Wade Miley, by a tally of 112-105.

Frazier received three first-place votes, seven second-place votes, and nine third-place votes to record a total of 45 points. The voting was determined by 32 ballots cast by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). John Erardi (Cinncinati Enquirer), Kevin Cooney (Bucks County Courier Times), and Chris Jenkins (U-T San Diego) were the lone writers to give first-place nods to Frazier.

Peoria drops two in a row over weekend

Despite a four-run eighth inning, Peoria was unable to rally and lost to Surprise 11-8 on Friday. They tallied 11 hits to the Saguaros' 12 and both teams committed an error in the game. Reds players played a big part in this game, but weren't able to assist in a victory.

-SS Didi Gregorius went 1-4, with an RBI (7) and a walk.

-1B Travis Mattair was 0-3, with a strikeouts, but drove in a run (2).

-RHP Drew Hayes started the game, allowing two unearned runs in two innings. He gave up one hit and one walk, while striking out one to bring his ERA to 4.85.

List of Reds attending Redsfest 2012

The greatest fanfest in all of professional baseball is set to get underway December 7-8 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati. The majestic event I am referring to is the annual bash known as Redfest. It's a place for fans to interact with the past, current, and future stars of the Reds.

With that in mind, here is a list of the players, coaches, and broadcasters expected to make an appearance:

Reflecting back on the Phillips and Votto extensions

Votto is slated to remain in Cincinnati
for the next decade

by: Chase Fitzgerald
Staff Writer

All the talk before the season on how the Reds were going to go on without Joey Votto meant nothing on April 2nd when Joey Votto signed the longest deal in baseball history for 12 years and for the price of 251.5 million dollars to remain a Red for his entire (presumably) career. This may have been the single-happiest I’ve been from something to do with sports and I’m still in shock that we are lucky enough to have the greatest baseball player on the planet be with us for 12 more years. This allows the Reds to build around Votto with other great players and it is very nice to know that we’ll never have to worry about first base for years to come.

Words of praise for the 2012 Reds bullpen

by: Chase Fitzgerald
Staff Writer

The Reds bullpen this season was just flat out nasty.They boasted the best ERA in baseball at 2.65 and also led the league in saves, fewest earned runs, and fewest homeruns allowed, which is just amazing if you consider that they are pitching at GABP most of the time. This was the best bullpen the Reds have had in a long time. Yes, even better than the one they sported in the 1990's...

Reds reportedly interested in Michael Bourn

The Reds are interested in acquiring the services of outfielder Michael Bourn, according to this report by CBS Sports. It suggests that Cincinnati isn't considered the favorite to land Bourn - that title belongs to the Washington Nationals - but they are expected to make a solid run at him.

The 29-year old free agent boasted an on-base percentage of .348 last season to go along with 42 stolen bases, 26 doubles, and 96 runs scored. That production would be a major upgrade over what Dusty Baker and the Reds received out of their No. 1 hitter in 2012. Reds leadoff hitters ranked dead last in the league in average (.208), OBP (.254), OPS (.581), hits (146), RBI (38), stolen bases (10), and walks (37) last year. Plus, Bourn brings to the table Gold Glove caliber defense - he has two to his credit in his career - with top notch speed. His 42 bags in '12 ranked second in the National League.

Reds prospects aid as Javelinas roll to fifth and sixth straight victories

Peoria was a well-oiled machine on Wednesday, routing Phoenix 8-0. The Desert Dogs, the Reds AFL affiliate last year, managed just four hits and committed an error, while this year's version, the Javelinas, banged out nine hits. There was plenty of Reds action in this one, with six of the runs being scored by Reds prospects and overall actually having a hand in all eight runs.

-CF Billy Hamilton is starting to hit better now. He finished 2-3, with a double, two RBI (9), a walk, and two runs scored. He struck out once, but also stole his ninth base of the year. He's now hitting .275.

-1B  Travis Mattair was 1-2, with a walk and two Ks. He also scored twice.

Analyzing all the trades from the past year

Acquiring Latos proved to be fruitful this season

by: Chase Fitzgerald
Staff Writer

Walt Jocketty made quite a few trades this season which is actually pretty unusual. It is very hard to determine who wins trade at first glance so, now that we have a season in the books, let’s find out.

Reds get: Sean Marshall

Cubs get: Travis Wood, Dave Sappelt, and Ronald Torreyes

Sean Marshall was a huge acquisition for the Reds this season. I know many fans did not like Marshall and some turned against him but at the end of the year, he was our second best relief pitcher. He finished 2012 with a 2.51 ERA, 74 strikeouts, a 1.16 WHIP, and was a humongous reason why the Reds had the best bullpen in baseball. Despite all of that, it was somewhat of a rocky season for Marshall. He started the season as the Reds closer but that didn’t last long at all. He had absolutely a horrible start to the season. His ERA at one point got to over 5 and just no one felt comfortable when he came in for the save. He always added drama and blew a couple saves. He didn’t blow that many when he was a closer but it didn’t take long for Dusty to realize that Marshall was much better in the set-up role. He slowly lowered his ERA down to that 2.51 mark and he became the Reds most reliable reliever. Including the playoffs, Marshall pitched 16 consecutive scoreless innings to finish the season which is truly remarkable. He allowed zero earned runs beyond August 27th while surrendering 5 hits during that span. Without this trade, the Reds bullpen would not have been the best in baseball and I definitely applaud Jocketty for making this trade.

Jay Bruce wins first career Silver Slugger

Major League Baseball handed out some hardware on Thursday night and one Red was among the ones who received a share.

Jay Bruce earned his first career Silver Slugger Award after claiming the title as the National League's top offensive right fielder. The 25-year old produced a slash line of .252/.327/.514 with 34 HR and 99 RBI in a team-leading 155 games this season. He set career-highs in homers, RBI, OPS (.841), doubles (35), runs scored (89), triples (5), extra base hits (74), and slugging, among others. He also made his second consecutive trip to the All-Star Game.

Bruce becomes only the second Red to win a Silver Slugger since 2005 (Brandon Phillips, 2011) and the first Reds outfielder to win one since Eric Davis in 1989.

Mike Leake and Phillips were considered contenders to win a Silver Slugger at their positions, but they were ultimately beat out by Washington's Stephen Strasburg (P) and Arizona's Aaron Hill (2B), respectively.

Frazier, Baker up for major awards

On Wednesday, Major League Baseball revealed its finalists for the major awards voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). And two members of the Cincinnati Reds made the cut.

Reds rookie Todd Frazier is among three vying for National League Rookie of the Year honors. His competitors are Arizona Diamondbacks hurler Wade Miley and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper. The winner is slated to be announced next Monday (Nov. 12).

Frazier batted .273 with 19 homers and 67 RBI during his first season in the majors. He was recently recognized by his peers as the NL's top rookie for 2012, which is voted on by the MLB Players Association.

Recapping Bronson Arroyo's 2012 season

It was a bounce-back year for veteran right-hander Bronson Arroyo in 2012. After suffering through a dismal campaign in '11 (5.07 ERA, MLB-leading 46 HR allowed, 1.367 WHIP), the 35-year old experienced a strong resurgence this time around. As the longest-tenured Red on the roster (7+ years) and the only starting pitcher over 26, Arroyo was heavily relied upon for providing plenty of leadership to the youngsters. And that proved to be huge as he helped the club win their second division crown in three seasons.

Here is a better look at the notables from Arroyo's 2012 season:

Tim Crabbe gets one of two Javelinas wins

Peoria came up with a 10-7 win over Salt River on Monday, in the first game since the AFL Rising Stars Game. The Javelinas racked up 12 hits to the Rafters' eight en route to a third straight victory. There wasn't much Reds influence in this one, but one guy played.

-SS Didi Gregorius was 2-5, with a run scored. He also was part of a double play with the right fielder.

On this date in Reds history: Cincinnati voters shoot down plans to build new stadium

November 7th, 1939 - Fresh off winning their first National League pennant in 20 years, a vote on a $6 million bond to help fund a new 60,000-seat stadium is executed. The results? 81,941 Cincinnatians against and 46,955 Cincinnatians in favor.

The plan was led by the Build Greater Cincinnati Committee with architect Charles Koch at the helm. In addition to the construction of the stadium, Koch also proposed a 15,000-seat auditorium to be used for basketball, hockey, boxing and conventions. The location of these facilities were to be nestled between Front Street, Broadway, Third Street, and Main Street. A glass roof was to cover the stadium in order for it to be utilized year-round while a 15,000-car parking garage was also to be built beneath the site.

Keith Law ranks Reds free agents

There isn't a lot of star power available in the free agent market this time around, but there are plenty of quality role players. Keith Law of ESPN.com recently noted this while compiling his list of the Top 50 Free Agents in the 2012-13 class. Three players who were members of last year's Reds squad landed in the rankings and here is a look at what Law had to say about them:

#41 Jonathan Broxton

After Broxton returned in the NL in July, his ground-ball rate dropped closer to his career norm while his strikeout rate jumped and he stopped walking guys.

The sample with Cincinnati was smaller, but he was much more aggressive when behind in the count after the move from Kansas City, especially when he was in a three-ball count. (Interesting if possibly meaningless factoid: Broxton walked just one batter in his last 18 appearances of the year.)

ESPN's Schoenfield suggests a move to help the Reds win it all

Who is it?

ESPN Sweetspot blogger David Schoenfield recently published an article titled Five crazy free-agent ideas in which he explores five scenarios with five different teams and a number of free agents that he thinks make complete sense. I clicked on it, not necessarily expecting to find the Reds on the list, but lo and behold there they were at no. 3 on his list. Cincinnati doesn't exactly have a whole lot of money to spend on free agents, so it was a little bit of a surprise to see them on the list given the title. I figured to see the Reds on this list would mean a big splash, crazy idea of a signing like that Josh Hamilton everyone on Twitter seems to think is a logical idea. Nonetheless, the one mentioned certainly does seem to make sense.

Without further delay, the player Schoenfield says the Reds should sign is none other than OF Angel Pagan, who played for the World Champion San Francisco Giants last year. You may remember them from the playoffs. (I know you couldn't hear it, but I was cursing while typing that.)

It's this guy.

Dazzling catch highlights Billy Hamilton's appearance in AFL Rising Stars game

Saturday showcased some of the best minor league prospects in the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game. There were highly touted prospects all over the field, with the Reds having two players on the AFL West roster, but it was the AFL East team who emerged victorious with a 9-4 win.

The two players from Cincinnati's organization did not disappoint however.

An interview with prospect Brian Pearl

by: Chase Fitzgerald
Staff Writer

Chase recently had the chance to sit down for a Q & A session with Reds minor league pitching prospect Brian Pearl. Brian was tabbed by the Reds in the ninth round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of Washington. In 51 appearances split between Single-A and Double-A this season, he posted a 2-4 record, 3.75 ERA and 13 saves over 60 innings pitched. He boasted a whopping 5.13 K/BB in his time in Bakersfield alone.

Here is the transcript for Chase's interview with the right-hander:

Q: Walk us through the night you were drafted. Did you have any idea what round/team you were going to get picked by?

Recapping the season of Aroldis Chapman

Dominance is an appropriate term
to define the bulk of Chapman's season

The biggest question concerning Chapman heading into this season was whether or not he should be a starter or reliever. Although the Reds were once leaning toward sticking him in the rotation, injuries to Ryan Madson, Nick Masset and Bill Bray coupled with the fact that the team already had five qualified arms to fill the starting roles, forced their hand into using him for relief instead. That move turned out to be a rather good one as The Cuban Missile went on to become one of the most dominant closers in Major League Baseball in 2012.

Here are some notables regarding the southpaw's campaign:

Would Michael Bourn be the answer at leadoff for the Reds?

One of the biggest needs heading into the offseason for the Redlegs is a more productive leadoff hitter. Cincinnati received next to no help from the guys at the top of the batting order in 2012, and that must change in 2013. To give you an idea of just how bad it was, check out the following.

The Reds ranked dead last in the majors at the No. 1 slot in average (.208), on-base percentage (.254), and OPS (.581) last season. They also ranked dead last in the National League with one homer out of the leadoff spot. That's right. One stinkin' homer. While nobody expects the man at the top to lead the team in longballs, people do expect them to be a spark and get on base.

ESPN.com's Jim Bowden recently addressed the club's woes in this area and suggested that they make a big splash this offseason to solve it.