For those hoping the Cincinnati Reds would make a bold and dramatic off-season maneuver, they were once again let down.
Based on their actions since who knows when, the Reds aren't into producing big bangs. Cincy seems content to just fire off a few modest shots here and there. Nothing major and certainly nothing earth shattering.
Though this rather cautious approach hasn't been all that effective in the past, that's not to say it won't reap results in 2009. Picking up serviceable vets like outfielder Willy Taveras, catcher Ramon Hernandez and lefty Arthur Rhodes could help elevate the Reds from also-ran status.
At least G.M. Walt Jocketty shook up the mix a bit and strengthened some areas that needed shoring up. No one can accuse him of simply twiddling his thumbs and standing pat.
But once again, the Reds failed to make a big splash. Something that would fire up the team and energize the fan base. Sorry to say but bringing aboard the aforementioned trio doesn't exactly stir the blood or take one's breath away.
Nor did Reds' management address its most pressing need, acquiring a big bat outfielder. That glaring weakness shouldn't have been sidestepped. As of now, without a proven stick in left, Cincy has a huge hole in its lineup that could cost the club plenty of games.
Given their status as a small market club, no rationale being could expect the Reds to be a regular player in the free-agent sweepstakes. And swinging a blockbuster trade, in today's climate and because of a variety of factors, can be rather tricky.
Yet, it would be nice if now and then, say every decade or so, the Reds stepped up to the plate and worked a major deal. A transaction that would prove to the locals that their team is serious about winning. A move that has the potential to transform the Reds from perennial non-factors into legitimate contenders.
For too long, Cincy management has proven adept at basically one thing, dispensing platitudes and doling out lip service. When it comes to cheap talk and empty promises, Reds' executives have excelled.
But there's no payoff for worthless chatter. It's all about performance on the field and getting results from the team you've assembled. Based on that bottom line, the Reds have been an undeniable failure for the better part of the past 13 years.
Truth be told, Reds' nation deserves a lot better than what they've been getting. Their loyalty hasn't waned and attendance has remained solid despite being asked to support a marginal product. The Reds should have repaid them for their unflagging support long ago.
In short, this team owes the city and its fans a consistent winner. Given its' history and place in the baseball narrative, it's almost a crime that the Cincinnati franchise has been reduced to such second-class citizenship.
It's time to get the Reds back where they belong which, at the very least, should be near the head of the class. Somehow the baseball universe seems upside down with Cincy being continually among the dregs of the sport.
Hence, some creative and dynamic action is desperately needed. There's no excuse for having the Reds atrophy any longer. That's why it would have been greeted with a chorus of hallelujahs had Jocketty been more aggressive and snared himself a marquee name. The Reds need big hits off the field as much as they need them on the diamond.
The Reds have more than ample assets to dangle in trade discussions. And they should be able to make a worthwhile deal while sacrificing little of their burgeoning young talent.
The potent hitter that Cincy covets can be had if Jocketty remains diligent and keeps grinding away. If the Reds' G.M. shows perseverance and smarts, there's no reason why he can't ultimately close a deal that will bring the Reds what they so obviously lack. Somewhere that educated bat is waiting for them.
And should the trade avenue bear no fruit, then in upcoming seasons, owner Bob Castellini is going to have to validate his talk about building winner by periodically jumping into the free-agent market. Certainly not annually but every three or four years or so at a bare minimum.
Hey Bob, I've got no problem with you being wise with your cash. But also remember. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The Reds need to get off the sidelines and start making some noise when it comes to procuring talent.
The reality is that, in all probability, the Reds aren't going to make a quantum move in the standings without going outside the organization. It's most likely going to require a boffo trade to put them over the top. The Reds should have gotten the message by now that they can't expect to resurrect their fortunes by staying solely in house. Some serious outsourcing is what's mandated.
So let's hope the era of the marginal or inconsequential move has passed. We've seen our share of duds. It's in the Reds' best interest to start grabbing some headlines. The culture needs to be changed. Enough with the popgun attempts. What we're looking for is the bold stroke, the quick strike, the huge trade that puts the Reds back on top and helps insure an eventual return to baseball supremacy.
If the Reds are truly serious about being a force again, then they'll have to chuck the half-measures.
Only a big bang will do!