Barring breakthroughs by all of the aforementioned players, there will be some easy outs in the Cincinnati lineup. Of the eight expected regulars, only Votto and Encarnacion have at least 110 at-bats and a career on-base percentage better than the league average.

The new leadoff hitter, Willy Taveras, brings to mind the Baseball adage "you can't steal first base." He had a .308 on-base percentage last season, which ranked 135th out of 147 players with enough at-bats to qualify. His .296 slugging percentage ranked last.

\ Defense

Team officials talked in the offseason about building the team around speed, pitching and defense. Their actions suggest they were either unwilling to commit fully to improving the defense, or they were unsure how.

Advanced metrics such as Revised Zone Rating and John Dewan's plus/minus system showed that the Reds' corner outfielders were below average in 2008 and the left side of the infield was a sieve. The outfield should be better with Dickerson and Bruce on the corners, but the left side of the infield remains a concern.

Encarnacion returns at third base, and at shortstop the Reds are pinning their hopes on 32-year-old Alex Gonzalez, whose best days were behind him even before he missed all of last season because of a knee injury. Expect a lot of ground balls to trickle into left field.

\ Rotation

For the first time in ages, the Reds have enviable depth on their pitching staff.

The top four starters return from last season: veterans Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, All-Star Edinson Volquez and promising 23-year-old Johnny Cueto. Harang is a strong candidate to rebound from a disappointing 2008. If Volquez and Cueto remain healthy, they have top-of-the-rotation talent.

Perhaps the most encouraging development of the spring was the success of Micah Owings and Homer Bailey in the competition for the fifth starting spot. Owings suffered a shoulder injury late last season, and Bailey struggled throughout, which put a serious dent in his prospect status; but each is young enough and pitched well enough this spring to believe in his potential. The Reds also have Daryl Thompson and Ramon Ramirez as depth.

\ Bullpen

Closer Francisco Cordero is flawed and expensive but ultimately was effective last season. When healthy, Jared Burton locks down the eighth inning.

The middle-relief corps includes veterans David Weathers, Arthur Rhodes and Mike Lincoln and is backed by some intriguing prospects in the upper levels of the farm system. If one or two young relievers pitch their way into the mix, they could turn a decent bullpen into a strong one. If the kids don't develop, the Reds must hope that the old Band-Aids hold for one more year.

\ Management

Dusty Baker has reached the postseason four times as a manager, and Walt Jocketty has been there seven times as a general manager. Each was hired to bring short-term success to the franchise, but each now seems to recognize that the Reds' best path to success is over the long haul -- by strengthening the farm system and being patient with the young talent on hand.

As a result, the Reds are a long shot to challenge the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central, but they have more flexibility for next winter and should have a better idea of how good their young players are.

sports@dispatch.com

Box Story: Team information \

Address

100 Main Street

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202 \

Phone

513-765-7000

513-765-7400 (tickets) \

Web site

www.Reds.com \

Great American Ball Park

* Capacity: 42,941

* Surface: Grass

* Opened: 2003

\ DIMENSIONS

Left field: 328 feet (wall, 12 feet)

Left center: 379 feet

Center field: 404 feet (wall, 8 feet)

Right center: 370 feet

Right field: 325 feet (wall, 8 feet)

* Longest home run: 535 feet, Adam Dunn (Reds), Aug. 10, 2004, vs. Los Angeles Dodgers \ \