In a sport where salary caps are nonexistent and big-money franchises can essentially buy championships, the 2012 Cincinnati Reds are a breath of fresh air.
When the Reds took to the field on Opening Day they didn’t just looked talented; they looked familiar as well.
Six of the club’s nine starters from Thursday’s home opener came up through the Cincinnati farm system and have been associated with the organization for the entirety of their careers.
Zack Cozart, Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, Ryan Hanigan, Johnny Cueto and even Chris Heisey, who came off the bench to provide a late-inning spark, are all lifelong Reds.
Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something remarkably refreshing about that trend.
As evidenced by Joey Votto’s recent contract extension and talks surrounding a Brandon Phillips deal in the works, Cincinnati’s higher-ups have remained loyal to their players, and as a result have built a team that is both talented and worth rallying around.
That’s rare in the MLB, and something that is worth commending.
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