The 2014 Cincinnati Reds were an inconsistent bunch altogether, struggling through some major cold spells at the plate en route to a 76-86 record and a 4th-place finish in the NL Central.
Cincinnati hopes the addition of slugging outfielder Marlon Byrd and better health for Joey Votto will mean big things for their playoff chances in 2015, but do they actually have enough on-roster to put up a fight in the division against the likes of the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. Here are our 3 Bold Predictions For The 2015 Cincinnati Reds.
3. Joey Votto will return to MVP form
Votto missed 100 games with knee and quad injuries in 2014, but all indications point to him being a full go from Opening Day on. His knack for getting on base makes him a threat at even 70% health, and continued and detailed recovery will bring back power numbers in the vein of his breakout 2010 campaign (37 HRs, 113 RBIs, .600 slugging).
2. Cincinnati will finish dead last in the Majors on-base percentage
Aside from the aforementioned Votto, there is nobody in Cincinnati's lineup who works the count with any true sense of efficiency. Cincy finished 14th in the NL in on-base percentage and 13th in walks last season, and they're just a couple of unlucky seasons from Devin Mesoraco and Todd Frazier away from sporting one of the most suspect starting lineups in the game.
1. The Reds will tumble to the NL Central cellar
Every team in tbe NL Central other than the Reds, aside from maybe the Milwaukee Brewers, can make a legitimate case as a preseason contender for a National League pennant. That's almost 60 games against teams built with a 'World Series now' urgency to them. A suspect offense and a starting rotation lacking depth will prove the Reds' undoing, sending them to the bottom of a highly-competitve division by season's end.
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