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The Cincinnati Reds bring their 97-65 regular season record and the No. 2 seed in the NLDS to the bay shores of San Francisco. It is here that they begin a five-game series against Buster Posey and the Giants. With two teams that are so evenly matched battling it out, every last advantage or disadvantage could mean the difference between a win or a loss.

It’s in this type of environment that questions are bound to arise. So let’s look at five key questions surrounding the Cincinnati Reds and their success during this upcoming showdown.

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Holy moly, the Cincinnati Reds‘ Homer Bailey tossed a no-hitter Friday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. You read that right folks. Mr. No-No Bailey’s no-hitter is proof that you NEVER give up on a top arm too early.

Homer Bailey began his professional career as the seventh-overall pick in the 2004 MLB draft. The young phenom would progress quickly and be named Cincinnati’s top overall prospect by Baseball America andBaseball Prospectus prior to the 2007 season. Baseball America billed him as “the next great Texas fireballer in the tradition of Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens,” while also naming him as one of Major League Baseball’s top five prospects.

But my oh my how one can fall from glory at lightning speeds.

Homer Bailey’s second professional season of 2006 saw him post a 2.47 ERA with 156 K’s in 138.2 innings pitched at Single-A and Double-A. Fans and media alike, clamored for the then 20 year old kid to make his debut.

As the start of the 2007 approached and Baseball America, scouts and fans where all singing their praise of the young right-hander. Little did they know that the next six years would be a roller coaster ride full of ups, downs, trade declarations and disappointments. 

As the 2007 season approached fans and media alike clamored for his Major League debut. But when Homer Bailey finally hit the scene, he did so with a thud that would have knocked King Kong on his backside. He would post a 5.76 ERA in nine starts during the ’07 campaign and follow that up with a 7.93 ERA in eights starts during the ’08 season. These not-so Ryan and Clemens like stats brought out the pessimistic personalities of many.

Bailey would continue to show slight progression for the next three seasons. He posted ERA’s of 4.53, 4.47, and 4.43 from 2009 to 2011. He would even improve his WHIP by nearly 10 points in each successive season. But the hype and buzz that he had created as a young prospect had long dissipated—the fans had grown impatient, the media had grown impatient, and it even seemed as though the Cincinnati Reds had grown impatient.

Rumors surfaced on Fox Sports in 2011 when Ken Rosenthal reported that Bailey was being shopped for Ubaldo Jimenez. Before the 2012 season began, Reds beat writer John Fay speculated that Bailey could be moved in order to make room for a possible Roy Oswalt signing. Let’s also not forget that Homer Bailey was not even guaranteed a spot in the Reds’ starting rotation this year. He, Mike Leake, Aroldis Chapman, Brett Tomko and Jeff Francis were all battling it out for the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation.

But in the end the Reds stuck with him and it has paid off in 2012. Bailey has been amazingly consistent this year. He ranks second on the club with 21 quality starts. Johnny Cueto leads the pack with 22 and ace-in-the-making Mat Latos ranks behind Bailey with 18.

We should also not forget that Homer Bailey is but 26 years old. It can sometimes be easy to get frustrated and give up on top arms that do not develop quickly. You need look no further than the top of the NL ERA leader board at examples of arms that were thrown to the curb only to pay dividends to the next team waiting in line.

R.A. Dickey didn’t hit his stride until the age of 34. The Rangers, Mariners, and Twins had all given up on him. Now at 36 he owns a 20-6 record with a 2.69 ERA for the New York Mets. Kyle Lohse would spend seven years frustrating the Twins, Reds, and Phillies. Then at 29 years old, the Cardinals took a shot on him in 2008. Lohse has not looked back since. He owns a 16-3 record with a 2.77 ERA this season.

Homer Bailey is having his breakout season. He owns a 13-10 record with a 3.75 ERA as well as that always elusive no-hitter. Bailey dominated the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. On September 28 of 2012, Homer Bailey lived up to the hype—he was Nolan Ryan-like—he was Roger Clemens-like.

The patience of the Cincinnati Reds paved the way for Bailey to produce one of only 15 no-hitters in team history—the first since Tom Browning’s perfect game in 1988.

Homer Bailey’s no-hitter is proof to NEVER give up on a top arm too early. This career defining moment may just be the spark that sets off career full of highlights. Bailey’s next stop—playoff dominance? We will see.

You can follow Josh Ramsey on Twitter @JRamCincy

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The Cincinnati Reds have clinched the NL Central and are now battling it out for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs—who would have thought this is where they would find themselves after losing Joey Votto for most of the second half of the season? Not many, I can assure you.

Now October draws near, and it’s time to begin thinking about October play. With so many possibilities still ahead, let’s take a look at the potential playoff opponents Cincinnati could find themselves facing. While we are at it, let’s also check out how the Reds match up against each possible opponent. 

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The Cincinnati Reds are about to gain what could be regarded as the best late-season acquisition of any team in baseball when slugger Joey Votto returns to the lineup. The club has gone 26-13 during Votto’s absence—thanks in big part to two players named Ryan Ludwick and Todd Frazier.

Ludwick has essentially locked down the left field spot, going .321/.388/.693 with 13 home runs and 36 RBI since the All-Star break.

But following suit has been Rookie of the Year candidate Todd Frazier. The youngster has produced a .324/.371/.566 slash line with nine home runs and 30 RBI since the break. He has gotten most of his playing time since the break while taking over at first base for one Joey Votto.

It is here that the Reds find themselves with a dilemma.

Once Votto reclaims his throne, the hot-hitting Frazier will be left without a permanent position. Third base is the obvious option, but veteran Scott Rolen has been no slouch in his return since the break going .344/.429/.552 with three home runs and 15 RBI. As long as the veteran is producing at that clip, third base will remain his.

So what do the Reds do with Frazier?

Rolen is most likely going to play only 4-5 games per week. Manager Dusty Baker may also be inclined to sit Votto once a week to insure the health of his surgically repaired knee. Theoretically, that would leave three games per week open for Frazier—is that enough, though?

I say no.

The team leader in offensive WAR is Votto—who is second? None other than Mr. Frazier, of course. How can you play your second-best offensive-producing player only three games per week? 

The answer will have to include resting the aging Rolen more. Rolen and Frazier need to be at least splitting time at the hot corner. It may even include Frazier spot starting in left field.

The answer is going to be complicated, but there should be no argument that Baker needs do everything he can to ensure Frazier’s bat is consistently in the lineup.

What would you do? Chime in with your thoughts.

You can follow Joshua Ramsey on Twitter.

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It’s not often that the debate between the top two Cy Young candidates for a specific league becomes a debate over two teammates. But, that is exactly what is going on in the National League and in Cincinnati in 2012.

What makes this even more rare is the fact that it is going on in Cincinnati.The Reds have won their fair share of league MVP awards (12), Rookie of the Year awards (seven), and countless Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

But, they have never won a Cy Young award. Simply put, it is a statistical anomaly that the Reds legitimately have the top two candidates to take home this season’s award.

Johnny Cueto and Aroldis Chapman are without argument the front runners to take home the N.L. Cy Young award this season—no questions.

The real question remains though, which of them will actually win it?

You can make a great case for both of them, and personally I find it very difficult to choose. Let’s take a look at what makes them the top two candidates.

Johnny Cueto has developed into the ace and anchor of the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff. Many so-called experts called Cueto’s stats of a year ago a fluke. Cueto has stepped up this season and continued right where he left off and said “fluke this.”

Cueto owns a 15-6 record with a 2.45 ERA, leading the league in wins and coming in at a close second in ERA. What about the infamous WAR category? Johnny is one of only two pitchers with a WAR above four. Jordan Zimmerman owns a 4.4 WAR while Cueto is weighing in at a whopping 5.4—one full win (23 percent) more than Zimmerman’s second place ranking.

For those who are not familiar with WAR, in simple terms, it is a measurement of how valuable you are to your team based on how others perform at your position throughout the league during the same season. It isn’t the “be-all, end-all” stat that many make it out to be, but it is a very reliable measurement when evaluated in context with other performance stats.

That being said, many have been clamoring for knuckleballer R.A. Dickey to take home the award and I say nah-baby-nah.

Dickey has had a great season, but great does not equate to the best season. His peripheral stats look very good—15 wins and a 2.89 ERA—but his true value to his team has been nominal compared to the likes of Cueto. Dickey owns a pitching WAR of only 3.6. Cueto’s rating is an astronomical 50 percent greater than Dickey’s. 

Let’s switch over to Aroldis Chapman for a bit. Read this next potion very closely. Chapman owns a 3.1 WAR, ranking ninth in the league in this category.

Hold on, let’s say that again in a different context.

A relief pitcher has accumulated a WAR larger than the likes of Stephen Strasburg, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Gio Gonzalez, Zack Greinke, Cliff Lee and a list of other staff aces.

This is one stat fact that I cannot even find words to describe how astonishing it is. Most impressive is not the names I just listed but, that he has done it in only a third (58 IP) of the innings pitched.

Chapman would project to have a WAR of nearly 10 in a comparable amount of innings—that’s 85 percent greater than Cueto’s current number.

I am not normally a supporter of relief pitchers winning the Cy Young award. But every once in a while a player makes himself so valuable to his team that you must to look closer at it. The argument can be made that Chapman is the most important pitcher to his team. If you have not yet read Jason Stark’s recent article about why Chapman is the N.L. Cy Young, then you need to. He points out some even more eye-popping facts.

The debate will continue for the rest of the season. But one thing is for sure, the N.L. Cy Young hardware belongs and will end up in Cincinnati at the conclusion of the 2012 season.

Johnny Cueto for N.L Cy Young—Aroldis Chapman for N.L. Cy Young—who would you choose?

You can follow Joshua Ramsey on Twitter @JRamCincy.

Check out more B/R articles by Josh here.

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Ryan Ludwick—mentor, veteran, x-factor.

We knew back in May that there was going to be an x-factor in the Cincinnati Reds lineup who would push this club over the hump. We hypothesized that it was Jay Bruce, that it was Zack Cozart and that it was Todd Frazier, but in the end, it has turned out to be Ryan Ludwick.

It has been the case all season that Cincinnati has needed a cleanup hitter. Brandon Phillips did an admirable job during his time there, but the offense has truly been clicking in Joey Votto’s absence because of Ludwick’s production. 

Let’s look at this claim through numbers. But, let’s also debunk one myth before we get started.

Many think that the offense has been rolling because of better production from the No. 1 and 2 slots in the lineup—I say nah-baby-nah. The Reds have gone 22-8 since their All-Star break, but during that time, Zack Cozart has only hit .218/.261/.373 while Drew Stubbs has only hit at a .259/.325/.435 clip.

Combine their numbers and you still end up with that same sub-.300 OBP that has haunted the lineup from the git go—no improvement over the first half. The two have combined for some great games during this 30 game run that has created a distorted perception of their performances—perception lies but, numbers tell the truth.

Now that we have cleared that up, let us look at the No 3 and 4 spots in the lineup. Before the All-Star break, Joey Votto put up a .348/.471/.617 slash, followed by Brandon Phillips putting up a .280/.322/.428 slash primarily from the cleanup spot.

Since the break, BP has been the primary replacement for Joey Votto in the three hole—hitting .347/.371/.531. Following BP and taking over the cleanup duties has primarily been Ryan Ludwick. Phillips has put up comparable numbers to Votto over the past month. It is Ludwicks .323/.387/719 performance since the break that has been the major difference.

We knew all along that Cincy needed a cleanup hitter. Leading up to the trade deadline we heard names like Carlos Quentin and Josh Willingham being tossed around as possible trade candidates, but none of them ever even sniffed a Cincy uniform.

The Reds’ answer at leadoff is Brandon Phillips. With Ryan Ludwick’s recent increase in production, it makes BP’s possible move to the top of the order possible—once Joey Votto returns to the lineup, that is.

The underlying slogan for the Reds the rest of the season is going to be; “As Ryan Ludwick goes, so do the Reds.” Ryan Ludwick is the x-factor. 

With all other circumstances remaining the same—if Ludwick remains productive, the Reds continue to dominate. But, if Ludwick cools like he is prone to do, the Reds will have to continue to scrap the bottom of the barrel for every run they can get.

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The Cincinnati Reds made a relatively small splash before today’s MLB trade deadline by acquiring relief pitcher and Kansas City closer, Jonathan Broxton, according to Jerry Crasnick on ESPN.com.

In return, the Reds send minor league pitchers J.C. Sulbaran and Donnie Joseph to the Royals. Sulbaran has continued to put up solid numbers but is still a ways away from earning a shot in the bigs, while Joseph is a flame-throwing reliever that is expected to be in a Reds uniform later this season.

Broxton joins an already impressive collection of arms in the Cincinnati Reds bullpen, that has seen Aroldis Chapman put up ridiculous numbers as Cincy‘s closer. With that being said, one must begin to wonder just what Broxton‘s role will be?

Chapman is and will remain the Reds’ closer for the time being, so Broxton will join Sean Marshall and Logan Ondrusek in the revolving door for set-up man and most likely be the go-to choice to close when Chapman is not available.

This move by Cincy could also be an attempt to free Chapman or Alfredo Simon up to start—in the instance that a rotation spot were to come available because of injury. In this case, Broxton could easily slide into and take over the spot at the end of the bullpen if needed.

Either scenario is a possibility and no matter which way it goes, Jonathan Broxton is going to bring some rather impressive numbers to the table. Through 35 appearances and 35.2 innings pitched this season with the Royals, he has posted a 2.27 ERA while notching 23 of 27 save attempts.

Broxton isn’t quite the power arm that he was early in his career, but he maintains the ability to be a very good and reliable piece to this 2012 version of the “Nasty Boys.”

While assessing this trade it would be mute to ignore the fact that this was the only move of significance the Reds made at the deadline.

Many will argue that relief pitching was not at the core of their immediate needs—I would happen to agree. But early on as trade rumors first began to fly, it was still a need—even with its’ current success.

The Reds have been rather lucky to avoid the injury bug to this point in the season with their arms. Insurance was needed—especially to open up Chapman or even Alfredo Simon to start if needed down the road.

The Reds were linked to many other players throughout the past two months and especially leadoff men like Denard Span, Shane Victorino and Juan Pierre.

It looks as though the price was just more than the Reds were willing to pay—and if the price wasn’t right, they were better off standing pat. Let’s just hope they are able to solve their leadoff issues in-house.

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In the hopes of bolstering their playoff chances and taking over the N.L. Central, Tom Singer of MLB.com reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired left-handed pitcher, Wandy Rodriguez from the Houston Astros.

Pittsburgh will be shipping left-handed hurlers Rudy Owens and Colton Cain and outfielder Robbie Grossman to Houston, while Houston will be absorbing $12-$13 Million of the $30 Million owed to Rodriguez throughout the remainder of his current contract.

Rodriguez, who has had a stellar career in Houston, has gone 7-9 with a 3.79 ERA for the Astros this season. The Astros are 34-63 this year and have struggled mightily in the last year before switching over to the American League.

Wandy Rodriguez will join a Pittsburgh pitching staff that has helped lead their team to a 54-41 record while maintaining a 3.46 team ERA, sixth best in all of baseball.

The Pirates maintained a similar record last season at the trade deadline, before falling fast after they made major trades that they hoped would push them over the hump.

They hope to avoid repeating history this season. The team has been playing excellent ball lately, and Rodriguez is sure to only add to that stellar play.

It was the offense that was holding the team back last season. The offense looks to be finding it’s way and finding it’s groove with MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen at the helm.

Look for Pittsburgh to continue giving Cincinnati a challenge in the coming months.

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The Cincinnati Reds are now eight games into their stint without Joey Votto. This was supposed to be a difficult time for the N.L. Central leaders. It was being labeled as a stretch where we would find out who this team really is and what they are really made of.

Six wins and two losses later, the picture seems to be clearing up. In the absence of their Gold Glove first baseman and offensive leader, this team has stepped up to the challenge.

Every season, teams are presented with moments that define their season, and this is what is happening right now. The Cincinnati Reds are in their moment. They hold a 9-2 record since the All-Star Break and are a half game away from the best record in the National League.

We knew at the onset of the Joey Votto setback that supporting cast members were going to have to step up, and that is exactly what multiple members of this team have been able to do.

From the pitching staff that has allowed three or fewer runs in 10 of the 11 games to an offense that overcame a six-run deficit in the staff’s lone poor performance, the Cincinnati Reds are winning as a team. Banding together as one and picking up each other along the way.

The offense is being led by BP, Brandon Phillips, who is hitting .429 with 10 RBI, Ryan Ludwick with three home runs and nine RBI, and Scott Rolen with a .375 BA and five RBI. The three veterans are carrying the load and paving the way for the supporting rookies who have even came up big—like Todd Frazier’s game-winning RBI in the six-run comeback against Arizona.

What can you say about this Reds pitching staff? They continue to lower their team ERA to a staggering 3.31 and continue to give a so-so offense a chance to provide them the lead. Aroldis Chapman has returned to his unhittable form, notching six saves with 15 K’s in 6.1 innings pitched. Homer Bailey is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA and Johnny Cueto has done what Johnny does best—go 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA.

In the words of Barry Larkin (during his Hall of Fame induction speech), “un-stinking-believable!”

Remember this moment, Reds fans. This is a defining moment for this club and it is setting the stage for their stretch run towards the postseason. The Reds are developing an identity of resiliency and it is happening before our eyes.

Let’s focus on one other subject real quick that is playing a major role in Cincy’s 2012 success—the rookies. Zack Cozart and Todd Frazier are both legit front runners for the ROY award. Cozart has provided solid rookie offensive numbers (on pace for 17 HR and 37 doubles) while putting himself in contention (front runner in my mind) for the N.L. Gold Glove award for shortstop.

Todd Frazier has put up the best offensive numbers of all N.L. rookies—Bryce Harper included, and yet Harper gets all the hype (article coming on this soon).

Frazier maintains a .285/.347/.542 slash with 10 HR and 33 RBI while Harper boasts only a .279/.343/.449 slash with nine HR and 29 RBI. I don’t know the exact numbers, but I would venture to say that Frazier has more game-winning RBI as well. He has continually come through in situations late in the game to give the Reds the lead.

Whether it’s the veterans or the rookies, the Cincinnati Reds are playing as a team, winning as a team and proving to be the team to beat in the National League. The short-term loss of Joey Votto may actually turn out to have been a positive for them.

Sounds crazy, I know.

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During one weekend in mid-July each summer, the Major League Baseball spotlight shines on the small town of Cooperstown, NY—where the National Baseball Hall of Fame turns boyhood heroes into immortalized icons of the game.

The hallowed halls of the National Baseball Hall of Fame opens its doors this weekend to welcome two most-deserving legends of the game, when my boyhood hero, Barry Larkin and the boyhood hero of many Chicago-ans, the late Ron Santo, are enshrined forever as baseball immortals.

These two 2012 Baseball HOF inductees captivated their respective cities of Cincinnati and Chicago because they represented more than just excellence on the field—they represented the best that baseball has to offer off of the field as well. Barry Larkin and Ron Santo represent integrity, perseverance, humility, dedication, commitment to their cities and the highest of character.

Growing up in Cincinnati in the 80s and 90s, it was only natural that I was drawn to Barry Larkin. The slick fielding and sharp-hitting Larkin taught me how to play baseball—the right way. As a pre-teen and teenager, I watched as Lark would hit behind the runner. I watched him take on nearly every spot in the lineup and excel by adjusting his approach. I watched him beat out an amazing offensive year by Dante Bichette—claiming the 1995 MVP award with his leadership and willingness to give himself up for his team. And I watched him be as humble as any player I have ever seen about his accomplishments.

Of course there was the other stuff too—you know, the stats. He was the first 30/30 shortstop, a perennial .300 hitter, a nine time Silver Slugger award winner, and yada yada yada. You see, Larkin didn’t need to flaunt his stats—they were there—but they were a product of the player and person that he was and still is. 

Barry Larkin epitomized the type of person that every parent wished for their kids to look up to. He was the hometown kid made good, who continued to give back to his community through service and through his examples on the field that rubbed off on those watching off the field.

Decades earlier, as Barry Larkin was growing up in Cincinnati and idolizing the likes of Pete Rose, Tony Perez, and Lee May—a charismatic captain of the Chicago Cubs named Ron Santo was winning over the hearts of youth in Wrigleyville. 

The playful, fun-loving third baseman with his trademark heel click, represented all that was good in baseball for 15 seasons in Chicago. Ron Santo’s accomplishments on the field would only be strengthened when it was let known that he played his entire career while suffering from diabetes.

I once heard Santo tell a story of a grand slam that he hit while suffering from severe adverse affects of his condition—he claimed that as he came to bat he looked to the mound to see not one, not two, but three pitchers on the mound. He decided to swing at every pitch thrown by the middle pitcher and immediately connected for a shot over the Wrigley wall—amazing.

Santo, like Larkin (or vice versa), was recognized and idolized more for the person that he was and not just for his numbers. Again, though the numbers are certainly there (nine time All-Star, five Gold Gloves, 342 HR’s, 1343 RBI, etc…), but they were only a product of the person.

Ron Santo was to Chicago what every person there saw in themselves, he represented the backbone of middle-America, showed up to work with a smile and performed his job with a smile and dedication. These were traits that would be with Santo through all of his post-playing career adversity and proved to everyone that Ron Santo, the person, outweighed the great Ron Santo that played third base for the Cubs.

If there was ever a time to visit Cooperstown, this is the weekend. The crowd on Induction Sunday will surely be filled with Cincinnati Red and Chicago Blue. Two cities that are normally baseball rivals will be united as one—celebrating two men, both equally deserving and both equally as respected by the other’s rival city.

There is a mutual respect that these two men bring to the table, and like everything else that they have represented throughout their lives, it rubs off on those that surround them.

Though I usually root against the Cubbies, for one day I will not only be a Reds fan, but I will be a Cubs fan, a Ron Santo fan. I am pretty confident that my rival fans in Chicago will reciprocate this feeling as No. 11 Barry Larkin and the late No. 10 Ron Santo—two of the greatest players of all time—share the Cooperstown stage.

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