Basketball - Cincinnati Reds Improve Their Defense an

From 2005 to 2006 has gone from bad to worse for the Cincinnati Reds. For the fans, who were used to seeing their team score at will in the Great American Ball Park in 2003, it was too much to take and they could not comprehend how their team perform so dismally.

The Reds who were first in 2005, have slipped to the ninth spot in the runs scored. The scored just 749 runs. The previous season they had scored 820 runs. They also recorded the lowest score of the Major League during September when they scored just 91 runs. The club, which was definite to go into the postseason, could not make it because of the low runs they have been scoring. The Reds finished the season with 80-82, third place in the National League Central Division.

The Reds’ general manager, Wayne Krivsky, feels that the best way to compete is to improve the team’s defenses and pitching. Rather that making huge changes in the line up, he is concentrating on improving the defense and pitching of the team.

The team signed a 3 year deal with free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez. Alex has one of the best pair of hands in baseball. This inclusion is definitely going to improve the Reds’ defense which is considered to be the Major’s second worst. Gonzalez will be teaming up with the highly talented second baseman Brandon Phillips.

In 2005, the Reds were considered to have the worst pitching staff in the National League. In 2006, they worked hard to improve their pitching and now standing at number seven. A lot of the credit for this goes to having Bronson Arroyo and the continuous improvement of Aaron Harang. Besides that, they have also overhauled their bullpen completely. Unlike their rivals, Houston and Chicago, the Reds did not go on a signing spree acquiring star free agents. They were content with Mike Stanton and Kirk Saarloos.

According to Krivsky, the team’s defense and pitching has significantly improved from last year. Also it has a lot to offer in the offense, which boasts of powerful hitters like Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr., along with still developing Phillips, Edwin and steady hitter Scott Hatteberg.