Matt’s Take: It is officially baseball season

By Matthew McAdow
HCP columnist

At last, football season has ended and I couldn’t be more thrilled, as the Bengals had a very poor season. It’s Reds baseball time, and I am thrilled to see how this roster pans out leading into March.  

I am tired of the snow, tired of freezing cold weather, tired of starting my car 30 minutes early, and I am eager for updates from Spring Training and some games to start happening in just a few short weeks in Arizona.  

I’m scared to even look at my electric bill, and I am ready for windows to be open, baseball on the television, and I’m ready to start up the mower. I think Joey Votto said it best this past week, as he stated “you know, we have the game that is outside. It’s a party, sunny, green grass, I mean we really have THE GAME…It’s like a big barbecue.”  

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for the barbecue to begin.  

Pitchers & Catchers

February 9 is finally here. Pitchers and catchers report, as well as those competing in the World Baseball Classic. If I could change anything about Spring Training, it would be to have full access to Spring Training practices, almost like a “Hard Knocks” version, or even just some live streamed “Big Brother” cameras to pay a subscription for.  

I know many Reds fans who would love to watch the weeks leading up to the first Spring Training game, but I am sure teams would be opposed to this.  

February 11 is the first workout between pitchers and catchers, followed by a full squad workout on February 16. The first Spring Training Game is less than two weeks away. I hate flying, but flying to Goodyear where it is 70 degrees sounds very tempting right now, as I thaw my fingers walking from the garage to my home office. 

Favorite Player Lineup

OK, I’ve written enough about every possibility with Spring Training. Let’s dive into something else.  Not based off who is the best at all, but based off your favorite players, let’s see your “Favorite Player Lineup” for the Reds. Mine is below (again, not solely based off talent):

Catcher – Johnny Bench 
1B – Joey Votto (How’d you guess?)
2B – Brandon Phillips
SS – Elly De La Cruz
3B – Eugenio Suarez
RF – Jay Bruce
LF – Adam Dunn
CF – Billy Hamilton
DH and Bench – Derek Deitrich, Austin Kearns, Sean Casey, Todd Frazier, Jesse Winker, Will Benson.

What does your “Reds Favorite” team look like? I am sure a whole lot different than mine if you were born before 1994 like myself!

Least Favorite Baseball Player Lineup

Outside of the Reds or maybe even including some Reds players, what does your all-time least favorite baseball player lineup look like?  

I’ll begin:

C – Yadier Molina
1B – Anthony Rizzo
2B – Jose Altuve
SS – Javy Baez
3B – Mike Moustakas 
LF – Ian Happ
CF – Jim Edmonds
RF – Tommy Pham
SP – Clayton Kershaw
RP – Ian Gibaut
Manager – Craig Counsell.