The Race for Fifth Place Heats Up

Not to be outdone by the Pirate's off-season acquisitions of Eric Hinske and Craig Monroe, the Cincinnati Reds have signed outfielder Jacques Jones and pinch-hitter extraordinaire (and former Buc) Daryle Ward to minor league contracts. Jones and Monroe could amount to a wash; both were once promising outfielders whose careers have taken a decided nosedive in recent years. And both were signed to minor league deals so there is a good chance that neither will make their respective club's rosters by the end of Spring Training. The Hinske/Ward showdown, however, does favor the Pirates. Hinske can play multiple positions and he's a pretty good hitter (as long as the pitchers he faces throw with their right hand). Ward is not more than a pinch hitter at this point, and based on his horrid .143 average last season as a pinch hitter, he's not much of that either. He can play first base, though he moves with the grace of a rhinoceros. With Joey Votto set as the Reds' first baseman, in order to keep Ward, Dusty Baker would have to use up a roster spot for someone who can only pinch hit.

Though the Pirates have done very little this off-season (aside from Hinske, the only other free agent they have signed to a major league deal is utility infielder Ramon Vasquez), the Reds have done nothing to pull further ahead. The acquisition of catcher Ramon Hernandez could help, though he is a bit past his prime. And they essentially replaced reliever Jeremy Affeldt for old-timer Arthur Rhodes. That is certainly a downgrade. The Pirates, on the other hand, have upgraded their backup infielder spot and possibly broken even on another bench spot (I'm okay with Hinske's power over Mientkiewicz's intangibles). The Reds do have a few very good young hitters and a couple of good starting pitchers, but I might have to favor the Pirates this off-season. They didn't do much, but maybe just enough to reclaim the coveted 5th Place in the National League Central crown from the hated Reds. Only 61 days until their first meeting. And then it's on.