The Reds have appeared to improve the personnel in 2010 so they will expect Dusty Baker to win more games or he could be on the hot seat. Baker led the Reds to a 78-84 record (48.1%) last season and that won’t be good enough in 2010. Baker now has a 152-172 (46.9%) in his two years for the Reds. Baker has compiled a 1,314-1,213 (52%) record as a major league manager in 16 years on the job. He also has won one N.L. Pennant in his career (with the Giants) but he lost the World Series that year to the Angels.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE MANAGER IN 2010: B

The Reds will have one of the better bullpens in the N.L. in 2010. It all starts with 34-year old righty Francisco Cordero who will close again in 2010. Cordero pitched in 68 games (0 starts) for the Reds last season in which he was 2-6 with 39 saves, a 2.16 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. In his two years in Cincinnati, Cordero has pitched in 140 games (0 starts) in which he is 7-10 with 73 saves, a 2.76 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He will make sure the Reds don’t blow games they should win in 2010.

27-year old righty Nick Masset came over from the White Sox a season and a half ago for Ken Griffey and he will likely be the top set-up man for the Reds in 2010. Masset pitched in 74 games (0 starts) for the Reds last season and he was 5-1 with a 2.37 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He only gave up 54 hits in 76 innings pitched last season while whiffing 70 batters showing just how good his stuff is.

40-year old Arthur Rhodes will be the top lefty out of the pen in 2010 for the Reds. Rhodes pitched in 66 games (0 starts) for the Reds last season and he was 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Rhodes proved last season that he still has a lot left in the tank if the Reds use him right.

28-year old righty Jared Burton will likely be working in the middle innings for the Reds in 2010. He pitched in 53 games (0 starts) for the Reds last season and he was 1-0 with a 4.40 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He has now pitched 3 years for the Reds appearing in 154 games (0 starts) in which he is 10-3 with a 3.47 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. I look for him to pitch better in 2010 than he did in 2009 for the Reds.

26-year old lefty Bill Bray turned in a solid year for the Reds in 2009 and they hope he can repeat it in 2010. Bray pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Reds last season in which he was 2-2 with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Bray whiffed 54 batters in only 47 innings last season showing that he has the stuff to dominate, but, he walked 24 batters which often got him into trouble. If Bray cuts down on his walks he could really turn in a outstanding 2010 for the Reds.

25-year old lefty Danny Herrera will be the #3 lefty in the pen in 2010. He pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Reds last season in which he was 4-4 with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. If Herrera pitches like he did last season he will likely get a lot of work again in 2010.

32-year old righty Kip Wells will be the Reds’ long man in 2010. He pitched in 10 games (7 starts) for the Reds last season in which he was 2-3 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Wells pitched in 33 games (7 starts) overall for the Nationals & Reds last season in which he was 2-5 with 2 saves, a 5.33 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Wells will work a lot of innings for the Reds in 2010 and be a valuable member of the pitching staff.

27-year old righty Carlos Fisher will also likely be working early in games for the Reds in 2010. Fisher pitched in 39 games (0 starts) for the Reds last season and he was 1-1 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. Fisher could start the year in AAA but he will be with the Reds at some point in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2010: B+

The Cardinals have returned 27-year old righty reliever/starter Ben Jukich to the Reds. He was a Rule 5 Draft Pick over the winter so the Reds made $25,000 bucks on the deal. Jukich pitched in 29 games (17 starts) in AAA-ball last season in which he was 9-6 with a 4.10 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Jukich has pitched in 98 games (74 starts) in his four years in the minors and he is 34-19 with 2 saves, a 3.93 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. The Reds are glad the Cardinals didn’t find a way to keep Jukich.

The Reds will go with Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang at the top of the rotation in 2010 and they will fill in behind them likely with three solid young arms. 33-year old righty Bronson Arroyo is probably going into the season as the Reds’ #1 starter in 2010. He started 33 games for the Reds last season in which he was 15-13 with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. In his career with the Reds, Arroyo has pitched in 136 games (all starts) in which he is 53-50 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. The best thing about Arroyo is that he is a real horse at the top of the rotation averaging 218 innings per year.

31-year old righty Aaron Harang is another workhorse for the Reds when healthy. He pitched in 26 games (all starts) for the Reds last season in which he was 6-14 with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Harang has a lot in common with Arroyo as he’s a solid pitcher who could win 15 games in 2010 if he remains healthy and they back him up with some runs.

The Reds really hope that 23-year old righty Homer Bailey’s nice second half is a glimpse of the future. He has electric stuff that should have him at the top of the rotation if he can remain focused and cut down on his walks. Bailey started 20 games for the Reds last season in which he was 8-5 with a 4.53 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He walked 52 batters in only 113 1/3 innings which usually got him in trouble. I have a feeling that this is the year that Bailey gets his act together for a whole year.

24-year old righty Johnny Cueto is hoping to put together a complete season. He was dazzling in the first half last season before really getting into a bad, extended rut. He started 30 games for the Reds last season in which he was 11-11 with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. It almost looked like Cueto got tired after the All-Star break and the Reds hope that he can avoid it in 2010.

The Reds might be tempted to bring rookie 21-year old lefty Aroldis Chapman with them in April. But I would suggest that they give him some experience in the minors before throwing him to the wolves. After all the Reds gave him $30.25 million bucks over 6 years so they don’t want him to be overmatched right away which could ruin him. Chapman has the arm for the majors right now as he pumps in triple digit fastballs with relative ease.

26-year old lefty Matt Maloney probably has the edge right now for the #5 spot in the starting rotation. He pitched in 7 games (all starts) for the Reds last season and he was 2-4 with a 4.87 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Maloney also pitched in 23 games (all starts) in AA+AAA ball last season in which he was 9-9 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. The top four starters of the Reds are righties so Maloney likely appeals a lot to the front office.

32-year old righty Justin Lehr will also be competing for the #5 starting job for the Reds this spring. Lehr started 11 games for the Reds last season in which he was 5-3 with a 5.37 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Lehr is a little short on stuff for a starting pitcher but he’s a tough guy who loves to battle.

27-year old righty Micah Owings will likely wind up in the pen this year for the Reds but he will compete for the #5 job in the Reds’ rotation this spring. Owings pitched in 26 games (19 starts) for the Reds last season in which he was 7-12 with 1 save, a 5.34 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Owings has control issues that would really hurt him as a starter as he walked 64 batters in 119 2/3 innings for the Reds last season. Owings is a outstanding hitter however as he was 14 of 54 (.259 avg, .818 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 3 homers and 10 RBIs. He is now 51 of 170 (.300 avg, .879 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 8 homers and 31 RBIs. Owings helps himself quite a lot as a starting pitcher with his bat.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2010: C+