MLB Baseball Betting - Cincinnati Reds

Manager: Dusty Baker (first season).

2007: 72-90, fifth place, NL Central

Training: Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, Fla.

Home Park: Great American Ball Park, Cap. 42, 271, Grass, Opened March 21, 2003

World Series Titles: (5) 1919, 1940, 1975, 1976, 1990.

Acquisitions: RHP Jon Akins, LHP Jeremy Affeldt, 2B Drew Anderson, C Paul Bako, RHP Jim Brower, 2B Jolbert Cabrera, RHP Francisco Cordero, RHP Josh Fogg, 3B Andy Green, INF Jerry Hairston, LHP Danny Herrera, RHP Justin Lehr, RHP Mike Lincoln, CH Corey Patterson, LHP Adam Pettyjohn, 1B Andy Phillips, LHP Scott Sauerbeck, RHP Sergio Valenzuela, RHP Edinson Volquez.

Departures: 1B Jorge Cantu, OF Buck Coats, LHP Phil Dumatrait, CF, Jeff Fiorentino, OF Josh Hamilton, SS Pedro Lopez, LHP Mike Gosling, LHP Eddie Guardado, RHP Kirk Saarloos

Outlook: While the Reds have hired likable players’ coach Dusty Baker as manager, the old ‘Duster’ won’t be able to help the Reds much unless he can get the team’s mediocre pitching staff to overachieve this season.

The Reds’ best player these days is second baseman Brandon Phillips who jacked 30 homer runs last season while driving in 94 runs last season. Cincinnati has a solid infield all the way around with first baseman Scott Hatteberg, (.310, 10 HR 47 RBI), third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, (.289, 16 HR, 76 RBI) and shortstop Alex Gonzalez, (.272, 16 HR, 55 RBI).

Veterans Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. are also fixtures, but leftfielder Ryan Freel had better step up to the plate or sit down altogether after posting a .245 batting average last season.

Cincy’s pitching staff thins out immensely after starters Aaron Haarang, (16-6) and Bronson Arroyo, (9-15) and will need immediate improvement from hurlers Edinson Volquez, (2-1, 4.50 ERA, 34.0 IP) and Matt Belisle, ( 8-9 5.32 ERA, 177.2 IP)

The Reds decided to make their biggest free-agent move of the winter to bolster the bullpen, signing closer Francisco Cordero to a four-year, $46 million contract after he converted 44 of 51 saves with a 2.98 ERA for the Milwaukee Brewers last season.

The Reds start the season listed at +6500 to win the 2008 World Series in the BetUS Sportsbook. Check out all the latest MLB odds in the BetUS Sportsbook futures section.

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Official Website: www.cincinnatireds.com