With the acquisition of pitcher Mat Latos from the San Diego Padres, the Cincinnati Reds have made it as clear as a crisp post-season October sky; they plan to compete in 2012.

Great American Ballpark – Home of the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Game
2009

The Reds began 2011 with a bang and fans were excited to enjoy a successful season. However the team faltered, in large part due to inconsistent starting pitchers, and the team eventually slipped slowly but surely out of contention. Granted the Reds are in a tough division as they battled regularly against the two teams that eventually made it to the National League Championship game in 2011 – the Milwaukee Brewers and St Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals, of course, went on to win the World Series.

However the days of Marge Schott are gone, and Reds management no longer favors players based on their lack of facial hair, nor do they rely on the fur from a dearly demised saint bernard for good luck. Reds general manager Walt Jocketty knows what needs require attention and controlling owner Bob Castellini is willing to do what it takes put together a winning team.

Mat Latos is a young, powerful addition to the Reds where they need it most – starting pitching. In 2011 Johnny Cueto (9-5, 2.31 ERA), Mike Leake (12-8, 3.86 ERA) and Homer Bailey (9-7, 4.43 ERA) were the only Reds starters with winning records. Veteran Bronson Arroyo was iffy at best, finishing the season at 9-12. Latos went 9-14 for the Padres in 2011 , but that was without the strength of a stellar offense he will have backing him up as he pitches for the Reds. Latos ERA was 3.47, and he held opponents to a batting average of .233; he is only 24 and the Reds clearly anticipate long term success from him.

In exchange for Latos, the Reds gave up pitcher Edinson Volquez who ended 2010 with a less than impressive record of 5-7 and 5.71 ERA. They also lost Yonder Alonso, who was ranked as the Reds number two prospect; yet Alonso was unable to reach his full potential at first base with Joey Votto firmly entrenched in the starting lineup. Other top prospects were included in the trade as well, but the Reds aren’t overly focused future potential, they are about winning in the here and now.

Walt Jocketty told reporters, “Our offseason objective was to try to upgrade our rotation and add a top-of-the-rotation starter.” Though only time will tell, Lato does indeed seem to fulfill this objective, and if nothing else it is clear the Reds are taking the steps they find necessary to succeed moving forward. It’s hard for any fan to take issue with that.

Lisa has been a fan of the Cincinnati Reds since her family moved to Cincinnati when she was in elementary school. Her favorite player is the great Barry Larkin and she looks forward to him receiving his just rewards and being inducted in the Hall of Fame. Lisa was away at college when the Reds won the World Series in 1990 and forever regrets not being in town to celebrate appropriately. She longs for the day when her Reds win it all again.

Cash Kruth, “Cincinnati Reds land Mat Latos in five-player deal with San Diego Padres,” reds.com

Player Stats, reds.com

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In an off-season that has so far seen them improve by standing pat and witnessing their division foes succumb to attrition, the Cincinnati Reds have finally started making a little noise of their own. After watching Albert Pujols leave the St. Louis Cardinals via free agency and Ryan Braun leave the Milwaukee Brewers , at least temporarily, at the hands of a suspension for the use of performance enhancing drugs, the Reds on December 17 pulled off what I would consider to be a blockbuster trade. In the deal, the Reds paid a king’s ransom to bring in starting pitcher Mat Latos from the San Diego Padres, although the young hurler has a chance to actually be worth the price. What is really encouraging to me about this trade, though, is that it represents the first sign that Cincinnati might make an honest effort to retain Joey Votto beyond this season.

In order to acquire Latos, general manager Walt Jocketty shipped starting pitcher Edinson Volquez, first baseman Yonder Alonso, catcher Yasmani Grandal and right-hander Brad Boxberger to the Padres. Grandal and Boxberger are two highly-regarded prospects with high ceilings, but Alonso is the key name among the castoffs. The young first baseman has been viewed alternately as the heir apparent to Joey Votto at first, or as being blocked by Votto, depending on who is speaking and how cynical the mood. With Alonso moved out of town, it would seem that the Reds don’t plan to pluck Votto off the sack in Great American Ballpark anytime soon.

Votto is in his final season before free agency, and we’ve been debating his future with the Reds for a couple of years now. Votto is 28 and in his prime, so he is likely to command something close to the contract that Pujols inked with the Los Angeles Angels, which would put him in the neighborhood of $20 million per season for 10 or more years. That seems like a lot for the Reds to pay any one player, but with Alonso gone, they don’t appear to have a ready alternative as a slugging first baseman. With second baseman Brandon Phillips hitting free agency this off-season, the Reds also have the opportunity to open up a little salary room simply by letting Phillips walk.

Whether or not Votto sticks around after 2012, it will be very interesting to watch the results of this deal develop from both sides. Latos is coming to a decidedly hitter-friendly park, so we may be in for a period of adjustment. If he can make that leap and stay healthy, though, all indications are that he could be a legitimate top-of-the-rotation starter. That’s a rare creature in these parts.

Adam Hughes was raised, and still lives, in rural Indiana. He has been a Cincinnati Reds fan since the early 1980s, when gods like Dan Driessen and Cesar Cedeno roamed the ethereally green Riverfront turf. He thinks that Dusty Baker is the anti-Davey.

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By Jaclyn Shambaugh

Athlete’s Choice Batting Center is hosting a baseball seminar Saturday that will feature three guest speakers.

Headlining the event is Peter Faulk, the former South Brunswick baseball coach who went on to be a pro scout with the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves. He’s currently a scout with the Washington Nationals.

Neil Buie and Cliff Allred are also scheduled to speak at the seminar. Buie has nearly three decades of umpiring experience at the high school level, and is now a booking agent for baseball and softball officials in the area.

Allred is a showcase coordinator at the Greensboro Batting Center and used to be an assistant coach at Pfeiffer University.

The three men will be giving information on umpiring and recruiting at NCAA Division I, II and III colleges, as well as JUCO and NAIA colleges. The seminar is designed for youth and high school baseball players and their parents who are interested in getting more information about playing at the collegiate level and getting drafted to play professionally.

Athlete’s Choice Batting Center owner and coach Derick Graham will serve as the seminar’s emcee. Graham was a member of the Hoke County baseball team that won the state championship before being drafted by the Cincinnatti Reds.

The seminar will be at the batting center on Rankin Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $30. For more information about the seminar, contact the center at 487-4487.

Girls on the Run returns

Registration is now open for the spring session of Girls on the Run, the wellness program for girls ages 8 to 12 that focuses on healthy living by training girls to run a 5k race.

The program debuted in the Fayetteville area in the fall, and is expanding to hold the 10-week training program at a number of elementary schools across the county.

Registration is available through the YMCA of the Sandhills at the Fayetteville location on Fort Bragg Road or the Hope Mills location on Ellison Street.

For more information, contact the Y at 426-9622.

A week or two ago Brandon Phillips tweeted optimistically about working out a contract extension with the Cincinnati Reds. Nothing happened right after that — if I was the Reds I’d be a bit miffed that Phillips was tweeting about that — but it’s being reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer today that the Reds have made an offer.

Nothing seems imminent, but it certainly does seem that the Reds are going to lock up their second baseman at some point in the not-too-distant future.