Fantasy Baseball: The Cincinnati Reds

Currently, the Reds are 11-7, and about to go 12-7 with a big win over Milwaukee. Can this be right? No, it cannot. Look at this team - it has an extremely high-powered offense (aided by playing in the Great American Smallpark), and not a great pitching staff. In fact, this team has a very good chance of finishing at the top in Runs Scored, and at the very bottom in Runs Allowed. Currently, they've scored 110 runs (for 3rd in MLB), and allowed 114 (MLB worst).

Every position on this team is offering offensive numbers (though there really isn't a lot of balance at the moment.) The infield is power-potential galore: Dunn, Phillips (the kid has hit 5 HRs so far), Lopez, and Encarncion. The OF, even without Griffey, is solid: Kearns is driving the ball, and Freel is leading the league in SBs. That leaves the semi-platoon of Hatteburg, McCracken and Aurilia. There's no need for any of these guys to be on a fantasy team. Catcher is raising more questions than it should - Valentin could be hitting 20/.275 with regular time.

In other words, it may not be a bad idea to pick up E. Encarnicion and/or Austin Kearns, or trade for Adam Dunn or Freel. Oh (and while I shouldn't have to say this), stay away from their pitching.