Buster Olney thinks the Reds had the best ST

[The Duke]

The usual suspects come out of spring training as favorites to win this year: The Red Sox, the Indians, the Yankees, the Cubs, the Mets, etc. But if you were to look at what has occurred in spring training strictly through the lens of what teams needed to accomplish, the best spring may have belonged to the Cincinnati Reds.

Sure, shortstop Alex Gonzalez got hurt and first baseman Joey Votto did not have a good spring in his effort to win an everyday job. But if the Reds are to have a chance to contend in the NL Central, they have to identify starting pitching, and some options emerged for them in Florida: the hard-throwing Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto, as well as veteran Josh Fogg, who was picked up after the Reds' camp opened.

Volquez and Cueto may struggle -- and Cueto had a rough time in his last start -- but at least new manager Dusty Baker can feel as if he has some options.

These are the teams that had the best spring trainings:

1. Cincinnati: Volquez threw well again on Tuesday.

The Reds have been getting some national pub over the last couple weeks. I'm not used to this type of thing being a positive for the Reds.

[jake2bake4]

I know and I love all the national pub but its making me nervous. I really can't wait for this season to get started. I'm on spring break right now and I think this is the first time ever I've been counting down the days to get back to school on Monday.

[awnawboi21]

Honestly, I have to agree. Before ST, I figured we'd have around a 10% chance to win the division. I feel better about it now. Still not a great chance, maybe around 15%, but better than 10.

[The Duke]

Cubs have that 100 year albatros around thier neck and the Brewers pitching problems didn't get any better losing Cordero. I'd say the Reds have a 33.3333333333% chance of winning the division.

[awnawboi21]

theduke said:

Cubs have that 100 year albatros around thier neck and the Brewers pitching problems didn't get any better losing Cordero. I'd say the Reds have a 33.3333333333% chance of winning the division.

I think that's high, but I hope you're right.

[Lark11]

That would comfort me more except that it seems like most of the good teams do poorly in spring training.

[jake2bake4]

Cardinals have taken a beating with injuries and the Cubs are the Cubs. I'm more worried about the Brewers than anyone else. The Brewers didn't have great luck last year especially with injuries and I think they could be decent this year.