Opening Day was yesterday! In Cincinnati this is a huge deal. Everyone watches Opening Day. For you who don't know, the Cincinnati Reds were the first professional baseball team ever. So Cincinnati is a great baseball city. Now off to this years product. Like most Reds fans you like the moves the team made in the off season, signing guys like Orlando Cabrera to mix in with the young guns like Bruce and Votto. The vibe around this team was a optimistic one, which is amazing because they haven't made the playoffs since 1995. So I was cautiously optimistic as the season approached. Then I hear Aroldis Chapman (who we gave 30 mill too and was awesome in the WBC against a ton of Major Leaguers) will start in the minors. Last time I checked the Reds don't give out 30 mill very offen, like the Yankees. This doesn't happen. Then Aaron Harang will pitch Opening Day. I'm told he is (and did) because hes the elder states men on the staff. Well the guy has won 12 games the last 2 years and has only had one good year as a red (2007 16-6). A guy like this would never of lasted on a team like th Yankees, Red Sox or Cardinals. Any Baseball guy will tell you two things about the Reds. 1st they have a ton of young pitchers ( Cueto, Volquez, Homer, Champman etc..) and B, Dusty Baker is the terrible in managing a pitching staff. Just ask Cubs fans, Kerry Wood, and Mark Prior. Harang is in reality the 4th best pitcher in the starting rotation. As long as the Reds are making decisions like this they will not compete with championship teams like STL. Opening Day starters are aces. Chris Carpenter is an ace. Harang is not. Harang goes 5in, 5 hits, 4 walks, 2 homeruns, 2 hit batters, 2 k's. Those are 4th or 5th starter numbers. I'm a Reds fan and will follow the team like I do every year, but they always find away to rip the optimism away from a loyal fan base.