(Read on and you'll understand what this is all about.)A bullpen is a lot like the cast of a movie. Everyone has their roles. Some people are funny, some serious, some use power, some finesse. Ultimately though, the success of a bullpen, or a movie, is all a direct reflection of the lead, or in the case of the bullpen, the closer. If your closer is Tom Hanks you get 6 Academy Awards and a shot at the playoffs. If it is Tom Cruise you get a lot of pissed off moviegoers demanding their money back.
I would say the Reds' Francisco "Coco" Cordero is somewhere around Philip Seymour Hoffman. And I don't just say that because they both eat a lot of pork. Both have had surprisingly successful careers (Cordero: Lifetime 3.18 ERA, 250 saves; Hoffman: The Big Lebowski, Along Came Polly, Charlie Wilson's War, Capote, Patch Adams, etc.), but the issue is both have dealt some real crap too (Cordero: 11 blown saves out of 33 chances in 2006, 5.35 ERA in 77 innings in 2000; Hoffman: Twister, Red Dragon). What is the point of all this you ask? Well rather than predict Cordero's performance this season with "numbers" and "statistics" all I have to do now is ask: If a movie came out staring Philip Seymour Hoffman would I want to see it? Answer: Hell yes. Sure the price tag (Coco's insane salary) is a little high but it is what it is.
Lets take a look at the supporting cast shall we. Since I'm left handed and lefties are better than righties at all things in life we'll start with the southpaws. 19 year veteran, 40 year old (yes thats older than most people... younger than a lot of buildings though) Arthur Rhodes will be the leading arm from the left side. Despite needing a cane to return to the dugout after long innings, Rhodes posted a 2.53 ERA in 66 appearances and was the most consistent middle reliever on the staff. Daniel Herrera pitched 61.2 innings last season with an ERA just above 3. That should only improve as he gets more mature and stronger. I am expecting big things out of you Herrera. I am not alone.
The righties will be anchored by Nick Masset. In his 4th year in the majors Masset posted a 2.37 ERA in 76 innings. I'll take seconds this season please. Jared Burton is an interesting pitcher as he showed the talent and potential in 2008 that had the Reds excited about the prospect of a right handed bullpen staple for years. Unfortunately Burton regressed last year as his ERA increased by 1.2. Here's to hoping he can get it back on track. Mike Lincoln had a rough go around last year. Lincoln spent a lot of time in the minors in Louisville, and he has his 8.22 ERA to thank him for the trip. Nagging injuries can be attributed to that, but the fact is his lowest season ERA in the past 4 years is a 4.48. He'll get his shot again; now he just has to take advantage of it.
I would like to point out that no where in there do you see the names Gary Majewski or Bill Bray. For those that have forgotten we gave away our starting shortstop (Lopez), and starting outfielder (Kearns) for two players that aren't even on the roster 2 years later. Ahh the joy of being a Reds fan.
All and all though that's not a bad supporting cast. It has solid veteran leadership, young talent, and a few guys hoping to put together a season to build on. While it is certainly not The Departed, it is definitely better than The Fast and the Furious.
For those of you die-hards that follow the Reds as closely as we here at the CintuckyZone do you're probably asking yourself, wait.. he's already done the starters, and has now done the relievers and has yet to mention Micah Owings who will most certainly be on the starting day roster in some form or another. What gives? Well Owings holds a special place in our movie metaphor fun. Remember the movie Jerry Maguire? It had a "loaded" cast of Cruise, Renee Zellweger, Cuba Gooding Jr., Bonnie Hunt, Jay Mohr (okay now I'm reaching but you get my point). Who stole the show in that movie? The kid with the big head and round glasses! He was all anyone could talk about and is still the glue that holds that movie together. Well Micah Owings you are my big headed kid with glasses. Please steal the Reds show in one way or another.
Brian "Underrated movie? The Big Chill" Reinhart
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