Now This is Where the Fun Begins

     The Reds have lost 5 straight. The pitching needs work. The hitting needs work. Dusty is an idiot. That's all common themes with this team (or really, ANY team when they lose). A big thing people always come back to is, "If we didn't trade Josh Hamilton for stupid Edinson Volquez, we'd be in GREAT shape!"

     So let's take a look at that, what if the Reds really had both the National League AND the American League MVP's at the same time? We would have been unstoppable! Right? Let's take a look (Disclaimer: Like all sports arguments this is totally hypothetical and NO WAY able to be proven one way or another.)

     Before we get to the what if lets look at the why this trade happened. In 2007, the Reds picked up former number one pick Josh Hamilton in the Rule 5 draft. Tampa had given up on the troubled player after drug problems. In 92 games for the Reds, Josh Hamilton hit .292, 19 HRs, 47 RBI, with a .368 OBP. not bad for his first MLB season. The Reds finished 72-90 that year, good for 5th place in the division.

     In 2008, the Reds bring in Dusty Baker, and they are ready to contend. They want a winner, but they need arms. The 2007 Reds gave up over 850 runs, and only had two pitchers reach over 200 IP and two more going over 100 IP. Not good. Who to trade to get a good arm? How about the guy that has only one half of a year of MLB experience that may or may not have shaken his demons? The Reds and Rangers make the trade and Volquez (only Reds player) and Hamilton both make the ASG.

     Now lets look at the what if. Say the Reds don't trade Hamilton. They still need arms, so who do they move? A 38 year old Griffey? Adam Dunn? Jay Bruce? If they make no trade. Their rotation has Arroyo 15-11, Harang (6-17),  Johnny Cueto (9-14), and Homer Bailey (0-6)? Matt Belisle (1-4)? Really need a 5th starter.

     2009 the Reds didn't score many runs, and Hamilton instead of Lance Nix is a no brainer. But he only played 89 games that year. 2010? Hamilton and Votto have great years, but who is around them? Did the Reds give up Jay Bruce or Brandon Philips for an arm or two?

     Now this is where the fun begins. 2011. The Reds resign NL MVP Joey Votto to a three year extension 5.5MM in 2011, 9.5MM in '12, and 17MM in '13. Plus a 6 Mil signing bonus. Also, Mr. Hamilton needs a contract. He got 10MM for 2011 and 14MM for 2012. Which brings up the question, why are you paying Votto half of what you pay Hamilton? What effect will that have in the clubhouse?

     And that's not all of it, Bronson got a 3 year 35MM deal, and Jay Bruce got a 6 year 51MM deal. Plus you have Brandon Philips needing a contract at the end of the season. And this is being paid buy a team that currently sits 13 out of 16th in attendance in the NL. Where is this money coming from? One if not more of these players isn't going to be here. We would more than likely need to trade a big money guy to keep most of the team intact.

     The key to this story is that hitting is great, but pitching wins. The Reds needed arms, just like EVERY team needs arms. Having Hamilton and Votto would have been great, but to think it would have lasted this long would be a long shot. I guarantee that had the Reds not traded Hamilton, another valuable cog would be gone. In a parallel universe, Reds fans are complaining that Brandon Philips is playing Gold Glove second base for someone else while the Reds are in a tough pennant race.