All right, lets be real for a second.  It was a fun ride in 2006.  I can't say I like the ending, but it's better than being the Cubs or Pirates.  I think the Reds are in for a good couple of years down the road.  Bob Castellini and Wayne Krivsky are working hard to bring the Storied Franchise of the Cincinnati Reds back to the old days of the Big Red Machine.  And they have started out very good. It looks like the Reds will finish either at .500 or a little under .500 in 2006, which is a good start for a team that was picked to be in the cellar the whole year. 

The Reds are returning a lot of key players to the mix.  At first you've got Scott Hatteberg, which is just as good defensively as Sean Casey, and he is just as good offensively too.  Hatteberg is only 1 mil. when Casey would have been around 6 mil. At second the Reds will either go with Brendan Harris (who came over in the Kearns for Bray and Majewski trade) or Rich Aurillia.  If your asking your-self where Brandon Phillips is just wait a second, actually wait a short.  I think Phillips will be moved to short stop (his natural position).  At third is the only no-brainer of the infield.  Edwin Encarnacion will most definitely be the starting third basemen, unless of injury then Aurillia will move over to third.  The Reds look like they will be going with three catchers again, and in 2006 it worked very well.  All though with Jason LaRue's big contract it is going to be hard to move him in the off-season.  But I wouldn't put it past Krivsky.  So your starting catcher will most likely be Dan Ross. 

The outfield positions excluding right are both no-brainers.  Left Field will be Adam Dunn and Center will be Ken Griffey Jr.  Now with Right Field I would go with Ryan Freel.  Freel is a gamer that puts his body on the line at all costs.  So the back up I believe will be Chris Denorfia.

So the starting line-up should look a little something like this.  At catcher is D. Ross, at first is S. Hatteberg, rounding out the infield is R. Aurillia at second, B. Phillips at short, and E. Encarnacion at third.  The outfield should be A. Dunn in Left, Jr. in Center, and last but certainly not last is R. Freel in Right.

The Batting Order is always a tough subject to tackle.  I believe it will look like this, 1. R. Freel, 2. A. Dunn, 3. Jr., 4. E. Encarnacion, 5. R. Aurillia, 6. B. Phillips, 7. S. Hatteberg, 8. D. Ross.  The top pitch hitters will most likely be J. Valentine, C. Denorfia, and N. Hopper.

            If you're asking yourself "We didn't spend any money on the starting line-up", your right.  All the money needs to go to one thing and one thing only a serious real deal number one starting pitcher.  I'm not saying that Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang are not number one's, but 14 wins appease are very good number two's.  The Reds need to go after Barry Zito of the Oakland Athletics.  He will be expensive but worth it.  So the Reds Starting 5 should be B. Zito, A. Harang, B. Arroyo, E. Milton, and the number 5 will be Kyle Lohse.  All of those starting pitchers have tremendous upside and have all won 14 or more games in a season.

            The Bullpen will look like it does to finish the season.  You will have Bill Bray and Gary Majewski (who came over in the Kearns and Lopez trade).  The only too returning Reds from 2006 will be Todd Coffey and David Weathers.  The long relieve man will be either Matt Belisle or Ryan Franklin.  The closer will be Eddie Guardado, and the set-up man will be Scott Schoeneweis.

            This could be a real deal team in 2007 not only contending for the division but also contending for the World Series Title.  We only have about 6 months until spring training begins and the Cincinnati Reds will be in a 6 way tie for first place in the National League Central.