A Foggy Day In Cncy Town

For a week that nothing happened this has been an almost eventful first several days of the year for the Redlegs. First, things that haven't happened. The Reds haven't signed a free agent pitcher. Josh Fogg has been linked to Cincinnati for a couple weeks, but nothing has happened and hopefully things will stay that way. Fogg is one of those guys who are getting rich off the fact that starting pitching is in such high demand. Honestly, and nothing personal, Josh Fogg shouldn't be in the majors. But in a league where Gil Meche makes $11 million a year and pitchers from World Series teams are priceless, Fogg sucks all the way to the bank. Kris Benson is about the only free agent I would be interested in seeing in Cincy, and even he would just be getting in the way of either Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto, or Matt Maloney. If he is signed unless he pitches out of his mind, I would trade him at the deadline. If he remains healthy he is bound to fetch a Maloney-type prospect. Next: Things that shouldn't happen. Any trade. The Orioles are out of their minds if they think the Reds will give up three of last season's top 30 prospects and a very promising, young third baseman. After all is I've written, I really hope the Reds stand pat with their rotation. Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Matt Belisle, and Dusty's choice of Edinson Volquez, Bailey, Cueto, or Maloney to fill out the starting five is a situation the vast majority of teams would love to have. Finally; something that did happen. Bob Castellini brought in ex-Cardinal GM Walt Jocketty to be his personal baseball advisor. When one can't argue with Jocketty's track record (one of the best runs for one of the most storied teams), I worry a little about one trade. Kiko Calero and Dan Haren for Mark Mulder. Obviously, at the time Mulder was one of the best lefties in baseball, but Calero was a young stud reliever and Dan Haren has won 21 more games, in the American League, than Mulder since that deal. Tony LaRussa basically begged for Jocketty not to pull that trigger but to no avail. The Reds can't afford a miscue like that. If you are wondering why I'm so worked up, it is because it seems Jocketty is here to be Krivsky's replacement.