The New Attitude in Cincinnati

In case you haven't noticed there's a new attitude in Cincinnati. It's marked by confident, hard-working, young talent bearing the names of Votto, Bruce, Volquez, and Cueto, complemented by quality veteran leadership like Hernandez, Harang, and Arroyo. Don't forget Nix, Rosales, and Owings who have stepped up in clutch situations and are worth every penny on the price of a ticket to watch. There's also Brandon Phillips the reining Gold Glove winner at second and the man who has pounded the ball and basepaths in May. Of course I'm leaving a few names out but you get the point, everyone is contributing. Jay Bruce says that when the Reds come back from their roadtrip to Milwaukee and St. Louis, they plan on being in first place. That's confidence that Reds fans haven't heard in the LONG time!

In my eyes the number one reason for this new attitude is the emergence of young leaders like Bruce and Votto. They're confident in their role as major leaguers and have taken ownership over their team. This wouldn't have happened without the exit of two veteran mainstays (you know who I'm talking about).

Hal McCoy is giving Dusty Baker a lot of the credit. That could be some of it, I suppose. Dusty has always managed veteran teams and it's hard to put your brand on that type of team. Maybe this is what Baker brand baseball in its purist form looks like. Whatever it is, the players are having fun, confident, and playing their butts off.

Weiters Should Be Making Pirates Debut Tonight

The baseball world is on the edge of its seat awaiting tonight's major league debut of Baltimore Orioles prospect Matt Wieters. The guy seems to have it all, "a real life version of The Natural." I just can't help but think that he should be making his debut in a Pirates uniform. No offense to Ryan Doumit but THIS is the type of player that you build a franchise around. You just can't pass up on a player like Wieters due to what who is agent is or what type of money he might command. Heck, Pittsburgh took Pedro Alvarez a year later. Why couldn't they step up to the table a little sooner?

I wish Wieters success and I hope he helps restore a once proud Baltmore Orioles franchise to glory.