Cincinnati Reds Spring 2009 Report

 

C.J CARLSON & Tim BODAMER
for

The Cincinnati Reds have a game plan. A blueprint. A design for the future.

Call it what you will, but Reds president Walt Jocketty and manager Dusty Baker are planning to follow the successes of the low-payroll, highly talented Tampa Bay after the Rays won the 2008 American League Championship.

In the first full season of the Jocketty era, the oldest franchise in the major leagues has one of the youngest looks this season. The Reds appear to be heading in the right direction after suffering through years of a depressed farm system brought about under the leadership (sic) of Jim Bowden.

To do so, young pitching, speed, and defense will be the formula to climb into playoff contention in the NL Central. They have all three. As with the Rays, how Jocketty helps to bring the talent and Baker develop that talent could be the difference.
 
Many insiders are picking the Reds to be a surprise club of 2009, but only time will tell if the youth of today in the minors, and dominating the Cincinnati roster this year, will be enough to kick-start the rust-seized Big Red Machine.

Click on the category to see the prospects:

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