One move equals a good off-season for Cincinnati Reds fans!

The words is pretty much out! That word been that the Cincinnati Reds sign arguably the best free agent on the market. Yes, you heard right the Cincinnati Reds. It not every year that we create shock waves in the MLB. With the signing of Aroldis Chapman, as a Cincinnati Reds fan i can say that in my opinion this off season was a success. It not a common thing that the Reds send shock waves through the MLB in the off-season, it actually a rare thing. Coming into this off season the Reds management made it pretty clear that they wasn't going to be doing much of anything in the off season, which is why the move to acquire this kid is a shock to everybody in the baseball world. Not only did they bring in a young talented guy, this guy can make an impact this season for this team. He's a big linky lefty with a mid 90's heater that has touch 100 mph many times and he has a developing curveball, slider, and change up. Developing is the key word here. His heater is solid every one knows that, it comes down to how well the Reds organization can develop the rest of his pitches. I'm pretty sure working with Mario Soto here in the next couple months he'll have a big league change up, considering the fact that Soto to this day has the best change up baseball has ever seen. What about the rest of his pitches? I think the kid will be good, what scares me as a fan is that, we will make the same mistake that we made with young Homer Bailey. As bad as I want to see this kid pitch in the opening week, the last thing i want is for him to be rushed and smacked around, let's not forget this is the major leagues ans grant it they have some good players come out of Cuba, like the kid said "the best players around the world come to play in the MLB." I'm hoping all turns out good with Chapman, it can only mean great things for the Reds in the future. Unfortunately with this signing, i believe it just eliminated any hope that we will keep Bronson or Harang after this last year in both their contract. It still is possible that we can keep one of the two but certainly not both, I see both of them being out of Cincinnati by this time 2011. If they have good seasons this year it's possible they can be some good trade bait come mid-season. Signing Chapman hurts fans as well believe it or not. Not in a bad way, but just think if Volquez didn't need tommy john last year, How about this rotation- Volquez, Harang, Arroyo, Cueto, Chapmen- Sounds pretty good huh? Pretty good only if you can get Harang and Arroyo to play up to their potential, and don't forget about Bailey. Overall, this is by far one of the best, smartest, and riskiest moves the Reds have made in a very long time, this Organization has a lot of potential all-around. Unfortunately there still a couple years away from being true contenders, but I can proudly say they are making progress! Pitchers report in a little more than a month and a half and it gone be a buzz in Goodyear Arizona all spring, for a change it actually for our Cincinnati Reds!

Bengals Woes, is not Carson's fault!

As we know the Bengals was Eliminated from playoff contention this past Saturday, which pushes us to 19 playoff games since our last playoff victory or is it 20? I don't know it not a stat no Bengal fan wants to keep up with. When you fail or lose, outsider like us, the fans always look for somewhere to point the finger, someone to put the blame on. I guess if i made a poll question, asking who blew the game for the Bengals, Shayne Graham would probably get the most votes. Yes, he may deserve it but come on is he really to blame? Yes, he blew two chip shots but we never should have been in neither situation, maybe the one at the end of the half, but not the one in the forth quarter. Besides Graham, suprisingly, to me anyway, the second-to-most guy they put the blame on was Carson Palmer. Carson may have not had the best game but, it safe to say without Carson we wouldn't have even been in contention for the playoffs, let alone a 4 seed. I like to think that i know the game fairly well! People i hear saying that elbow uch about football, all they know is highlights and what they see on espn. To understand why Carson struggle, you have to go to the drawing board, you have to go inside the games. It's easy to expect the Carson from 2005, it's also easy to say last years injury to the elbow of Carson is to blame for the drop in numbers. Carson elbow is perfectly fine, i forgot he even hurt it, and you can't expect the same Carson from '05, because this is a totally different Bengal team. This is a running Bengal team, '05 was a spread throwing Bengal team. Carson is having problems because he has no WR to throw the ball too. Yes, he has Chad, but Chad is not a guy that can be that main guy, Chad needs help, as in T.J. and Henry to reach his top potential. Also when you have to throw out of a 2 and 3 WR set with no deep threat, even the best QB in the league will struggle. Not to mention having no TE that you can trust to catch the ball for you. If the Bengals TE are not stationary there no good, hopefully that will change next year when Chase Coffman is ready. Saturday the whole game, the jets didn't do much blitzing at all, i guess the 2 sacks, both in the 4th quarter proves that fact. No blitzing mean they were dropping 6 people most of the time 7 in some cases. Any quarteback will struggle throwing to 3 recievers against 6 and 7 defenders and thats what happen saturday and mostly all year against Carson Palmer. Bottom line is this, Carson is easily a top 5 QB in the NFL, he is a Franchise QB and atleast 20 other NFL teams would love to have him. He is a Pro, The inventer of the Cardiac Catz in my opinion the 4th quarter comebacks alone show Carson's worth to this franchise, Cincinnati Fans need to be thankful, and greatful for This guy, cause rather you like it or not he is the face, the leader, and this team. It start with him!