ESPN Network: ESPN | NBA.com | NHL.com | ABC | Radio | EXPN | Insider | Shop | Fantasy
Baseball preview
Keyword
MLB
  Scores
  Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries
  Players
  Message Board
  Minor Leagues
  MLB en espaņol


 
The Roster
  Peter Gammons
  Joe Morgan
  Rob Neyer
  Jayson Stark
 
Fantasy
  Player News
  Correspondents
  
Broadcast
  ESPN Radio
  Video Highlights
  Audio Highlights
  
SportsMall
  Shop@ESPN.com
  NikeTown
  TeamStore

Sport Sections
  MLB
    Scores | GameCast
  NFL
    Scores
  Col. Football
    Scores
  NBA
    Scores
  Golf
    Scores
  Golf
    Scores
  Motorsports
  Soccer
  Boxing
  NHL
  M Col. BB
  W Col. BB
  WNBA
  Horse Racing
  Recruiting
  Sports Business
  College Sports
  Olympic Sports
  Action Sports
  ESPNdeportes
  ProRodeo

Thursday, April 5
Cincinnati Reds preview
ESPN.com

POWER RANKINGS
Ken Griffey
In his first season in Cincinnati, Ken Griffey only had 40 homers, 118 RBI.


Strength of schedule
.486, 14th in NL
Lineup ranking
11th in NL
Pitching ranking
10th in NL
Prediction
3rd in NL Central

The lowdown
2000 record: 85-77 (2nd in NL Central)
Runs scored: 825, 5th in NL
Runs allowed: 765, 6th in NL

Three key issues for 2001
1. Are Pete Harnisch, Scott Williamson and Rob Bell all capable of reaching around 200 innings in the starting rotation?

2. Will Bob Boone overmanage and use too much little ball, like he did in Kansas City?

3. Is Ken Griffey Jr. still and MVP-type player or merely an Al-Star center fielder?

Three key facts
1. The Reds became just the second team in history to go an entire season without being shut out.

2. Cincinnati pitchers had a major league-record 96 wild pitches last season and walked a team-record 659.

3. Despite early struggles, Ken Griffey Jr. finished second among NL center fielders with 40 homers and 118 RBI.

RETURNING 2000 STATISTICAL LEADERS
AVG S. Casey
.315
HR K. Griffey Jr.
40
RBI K. Griffey Jr.
118
RUN K. Griffey Jr.
100
SB P. Reese
29
WIN E. Dessens
11
SV D. Graves
30
ERA 0.00
Complete 2000 Statistics: Batting | Pitching

Dave Campbell's scenarios
Best case: Bowden-acious.
Small payroll could pay bid dividends for Bob Boone's club.

Worst case: Boone-doggled.
Junior may not be enough to carry the Reds.

ESPN.com's lineup analysis
Player Comment Pos.
rank*
B. Larkin, SS Continues to build Hall of Fame resume 1
D. Young, LF Reds fans should hope Deion doesn't play too much 13
K. Griffey Jr., CF Hasn't hit .300 since 1997; will have better year 1
S. Casey, 1B Hit .372, slugged .661 in second half 4
A. Ochoa, RF Forms effective platoon with Michael Tucker 13
A. Boone, 3B The best of the Boones 10
P. Reese, 2B Gold Glover, moves down in order this year 10
J. LaRue, C Posted .789 OPS at Triple-A 16
ESPN.com's pitching staff analysis
P. Harnisch, RHP Oddsmakers predict injuries are a likelihood 40
S. Williamson, RHP Had 2.93 ERA as starter, but may now pitch in pen 28
R. Bell, RHP Promising rookie campaign, but got smoked for 32 HRs 45
O. Fernandez, RHP Another Reds' starter with big health question 61
Middle relief Scott Sullivan is most underrated reliever in game 4
D. Graves, CL If Bob Boone is smart, he'll use Graves like McKeon did 4

Position average (NL rank): 8.50 (11th)

Pitching index (NL rank): 9.50 (10th)

* Position rank, compiled by ESPN.com's baseball staff, compares each NL team's strength at that position, including platoons, based on players' total projected value (offense, defense, durability) for the 2001 season.

NL position players and bullpens ranked on a 1-16 basis, with 1 being best.
NL starting pitchers ranked on 1-64 basis, with 1 being best. Cumulative rankings of starting pitchers are combined with bullpen and closer for overall pitching index, with more weight given to starters.
In both rankings, 1.00 is the best possible score, 16.00 the worst.

Click here for position-by-position NL rankings.


Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories



ALSO SEE

Complete team previews




ESPN.com: Help | PR Media Kit | Sales Media Kit | Contact Us | Tools | Jobs at ESPN.com | Supplier Information | Copyright ©2007 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.