Which Reds team would you choose?

The Reds are pretty much in the 2010 Playoffs as they will soon win the 2010 NL Central title for the first time since 1995. In that 15-year span, a lot of baseball has been played and the names have changed on the uniforms, many many times. Even the look of the uniforms have changed a couple times. Remember the '95 uniforms? I am pretty sure they had pinstripes. (I checked, yes, the home uniforms had pinstripes. Should have kept them.)

With that, I thought it would be fun to look at the numbers, amongst other things, and compare the two teams and see who comes out on top.

The 2010 Reds numbers are through their 153rd game (Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010). The 1995 Reds' numbers are final regular season stats as they played a 144-game season due to a strike.

First let's look at the Tale of the Tape, and let’s call this battle Redsmania:

Teams: 1995 Reds; 2010 Reds

Record: 85-59; 86-67

Manager: Davey Johnson; Dusty Baker

Venue: Riverfront; GABP

Owner: Marge Schott; Bob Castellini

MVP: Barry Larkin; Joey Votto

BA: .319 (Larkin); .323 (Votto)

HR: R.Gant (29); J.Votto (35)

RBI: R.Sanders (99); J.Votto (106)

Runs Scored: 747; 748

Runs Allowed: 623; 660

Closer: J.Brantley; F.Cordero

Winning streak: 9 (May 22-31); 7 (Aug. 13-20)

Losing streak: 6; 5 (twice)

Most Runs Allowed:16 (Jun. 23); 16 (Aug. 24)

Most wins: P.Schourek (18); B.Arroyo (16)

Best ERA: P.Schourek (3.22); J.Cueto (3.73)

With some of the basics out of the way, it’s time to look at some matchups a little closer.

In three seasons each with the Reds, Davey will beat Dusty in winning seasons 2-1. Each had an MVP or MVP-type player in Larkin and Votto (who should be MVP).  

Davey started managing the Reds in his 8th season as a skipper (7 years with the New York Mets) and Dusty’s first year in Cincinnati was his 15th season at the helm (10 years at San Francisco Giants and four years Cubs). In 1997, each manager was a Manager of the Year, Dusty in NL (San Francisco) and Davey in AL (Baltimore).

Dusty has 238 wins with the Reds in nearly 3 seasons and Davey had 204 wins in 377 games with Cincinnati. Davey never had a full 162-game season with the Reds and was let go after taking the Reds to the NLCS in '95.

This is Dusty's third straight 162-game season with the Reds. 

So winner of better manager is … a draw. 

And here is why. Davey was in a lose-lose situation with his owner, as Schott said Davey was gone no matter how well the Reds did. Dusty, on the other hand, seems to have full support with his owner.

Face it, they were and are the face of the Cincinnati Reds. Larkin is in the Reds Hall of Fame, a World Series ring and a MVP trophy. Votto will be in the Reds Hall of Fame one day, could win a championship one day and just might win the MVP this season.

Both have the No. 1 spot to their respective teams, and as of Sept. 21, Votto's batting average was four points better (.323-.319) and his power numbers are by far better than anyone on the 1995 Reds roster with Votto hitting 35 home runs with 10 games left, along with 106 RBIs.

But, the question is, Who is more important to their team?

Larkin played in all but 13 games in '95 and Votto has played in all but nine games this season with 10 remaining.

So, the winner of the most important player to his respective team goes to … Joey Votto. I say this because this team revolves around Votto and the better he does, the better the Reds are. Plus, Votto is becoming one of the out-of-this-world players.

This can be the battle of the Cowboy vs. Coco.

For Brantley, he was 9th in the NL with 28 saves in '95. He had a record of 3-2 (no starts), playing in 56 games (70.1 innings). 

For Cordero, he has a 6-5 record (no starts) with 38 saves in 70 games this season. Coco has pitched 67.2 innings and at times has been shaky, to say the least.

In the ERA battle Brantley's was 2.82 in 56 games-70.1 IP. Cordero's is 4.12 in 70 games-67.2 IP.

And the winner is … Jeff Brantley, even though Brantley's best season as a Cincinnati Red came in 1996.

I didn’t pick Cordero because his saves aren't that of the usual variety. Cordero has blown eight save opportunities this season (tied for second in the NL), and for what he gets paid, that is just too inconsistent. Against some of the teams where the saves has been blown, he should have at least 40 saves, but we all know closers won't save a game every time they take the mound.

For the '95 Reds it was: catchers, Benito Santiago/Eddie Taubensee; first, Hal Morris; second, Bret Boone; shortstop, Barry Larkin; third, Jeff Branson; left field, Ron Gant; centerfield, Darren Lewis; right field, Reggie Sanders.

This season, the Reds have looked like this: catchers, Ramon Hernandez/Ryan Hanigan; first, Joey Votto; second, Brandon Phillips; shortshop, Orlando Cabrera; third, Scott Rolen; left field, Jonny Gomes; centerfield, Drew Stubbs; right field, Jay Bruce.

Let's go position-by-position: At catcher, I will go with Santiago and Taubensee. First base is Joey Votto. Second base goes to Phillips. Shortstop goes to the Captain, Barry Larkin. Third, the winner is Rolen. In the outfield, it is a sweep at the corners of Gant and Sanders. In centerfield, with the way Stubbs has become a 20-20 player in his true rookie season, he is the winner (but he still strikes out too much). 

For example, the battle at third was cut-and-dry from the offensive category. Rolen has 130 hits, 82 RBIs, 65 runs and 20 home runs. Branson finished '95 with 86 hits, 45 RBIs, 43 runs and 12 home runs.

Which is the better place to watch a baseball game, Riverfront Stadium or Great American Ball Park?

Riverfront, even though I saw my first pro game there, was one of the ugliest stadiums I’ve ever seen. Their concrete artificial turf and the overall design of the stadium was one of the many cookie cutter stadiums in the ‘70s built for football and baseball.

Today, GABP is one of my favorite places to watch a baseball game. It may have close fences, but the structure of the park makes it feel more like a baseball game.

Winner: Hands down, it is Great American Ball Park.

This season, the Reds have used the following as starting pitchers: Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Aaron Harang, Homer Bailey, Travis Wood, Edinson Volquez, Sam LeCure and Matt Maloney.

The ‘95 starters were: Pete Schourek, John Smiley, Kevin Jarvis, Mark Portugal, David Wells, Jose Rijo, Tim Paugh, Dave Burba, C.J. Nitkowski, Pete Smith, Rick Reed, Frank Vola and John Roper.

For argument’s sake, let’s just compare some of the starters.

Arroyo and Schourek lead the list for each Cincinnati team. Schourek had a record of 18-7 with two complete game, in 190.1 innings pitched with an ERA of 3.22. He allowed 158 hits and 72 runs, 68 earned. He had good control by hitting just eight batters, walking 45 and one wild pitch, while tallying 160 strikeouts.

Arroyo has an ERA of 3.98 so far this season, with two complete games in 203 innings pitched.

Each team had a starting pitcher with an ERA above 5.00, but the ‘95 squad had a more veteran staff with the average age of their top six pitchers (in terms of starts) 29 years. The 2010 Reds’ average age (in terms of starts) is 26 years.

As for a trust factor when a big game is on the line I am having problems of deciding. Do I go with the older group or do I go with the fearless younger group, who are anchored by a pitcher in Arroyo who hasn’t missed a start since becoming a Cincinnati Red.

Who is the winner?

Each team had two pitchers with double-digit wins, so I guess this one too is a draw for the fact it about evens out with Schourek and Arroyo being the leaders. Then it’s Pugh, Wells and Smiley vs. Cueto, Volquez and Bailey.

If I had to make a bet on who would win a seven-game series between the ‘95 and ‘10 teams, I would go with the 2010 team.

My deciding factor is the power of Votto, the durability of Arroyo and the overall structure of the 2010 team. This team was built from the ground up with draft picks, home grown talent and smart decisions (most of the time) when it comes to make a trade.

Will the ‘10 Reds make it as far as the ‘95 Reds did?

I guess we will have to wait until the playoffs begin.

Yes, I said playoffs!