No matter how good the equipment you use, you can’t have a secure anchor for your boat unless you know how to use the gear properly. Often boaters will refer to anchoring as an art that you learn and improve upon through experience. The first step in anchoring your boat properly is to select an anchorage.
When it comes to selecting an anchorage you want to take into account prevailing winds, the bottom depth, the bottom composition and the existence of any other craft in the area. It is important to find shelter from the wind since calmer water will place less strain on your anchor and therefore your nerves as well. Always remember to anticipate any changes in wind direction and velocity as well.
The type of anchor you will use depends on the composition of the bottom. You should ideally anchor in a place where the water is deep enough that you don’t have to worry about sitting on the bottom during low tide. Although you don’t want water that is too deep since your rope or chain will be long, and you will have a greater swinging circle as a result. It is best to anchor in water that is two or three times the depth of your boat at its lowest if you can.
When approaching the anchorage you will want to make sure you have adequate swinging room. Be sure to mentally calculate the swinging circles for any other boats that are in your area. Circles will be small for boats attached to moorings and larger if they are on anchors.
Also take into account how the other boats are lying in relation to any wind and current. Reduce the speed of your boat and enter into the anchorage on the same heading as the boat already anchored there and then slow as your approach your anchorage point.
When it comes to placing and retrieving an anchor it is best to have two people in order to make the process easier. Position one person at the rode and the other in the cockpit. After you have chosen your spot to anchor the operator in the cockpit will slowly turn the vessel into the wind. Then pay out the anchor until you feel it hit bottom after you have made sure it is firmly attached to the rode.
Then the boat operator should slowly back up at the second person pay’s out the scope that is required for the chosen anchorage. At the desired scope tell the operator to stop, secure the rode to the vest and then tell the operator to back on the rode slowly. This helps to take up slack and drive the anchor sharply into the bottom. The vessel can be shut down once you are sure the anchor is set.
Anchoring will take experience to perfect that art. It is a functioning of heavy gear, applied force, friction and proper angles. Invest in an anchor winch for retrieval and always lean towards heavy ground tackle. Be sure to have at least one anchor system on board just for deployment during an emergency. You can help keep the anchor stock down on the bottom by attaching a heavy weight near the junction of the chain and line of the rode.
Friday, January 1, 2010
A Chess Set Will Give You Many Years Of Enjoyment
When you're ready to buy a chess set, make sure you get one you will be happy with. A chess set is a special kind of purchase. You should never go cheap. Having a chess set that you can be proud of and that you feel good about will add to your enjoyment as you play. It really makes you feel connected with all the grand traditions of the game of chess.
Here are a few things to consider when buying a chess set.
**Looks are important
Chess sets are available in a wide range of styles and quality levels. You can buy anything from a very cheap plastic set to a stunningly beautiful set carved from pewter, rosewood, onyx, camel bone, and many other materials. Whether you are looking for a future family heirloom, a personal set for yourself, a set to start the kids playing or a gift for that chess enthusiast in your life, look for something you are impressed with, something you will be honored to use or give as a gift.
When looking for the quality of the carving, look closely at the Knight. The Knight is the piece that allows craftsmen to best show their skill. After you compare Knights from a few different sets you'll realize that the better sets have Knights that show detailed eyes, nostrils, teeth and manes.
**Weighting is important too
A well made chess piece is properly balanced so it acts and feels right when you move it, or as it is sitting on the board. Chess pieces should move with elegance, and they should not be easily knocked over. Accidental spills happen. But proper weighting can avoid ruining a game over a simple nudge of the board. Double and even triple weighted pieces are available.
**Get the right size board
Choosing the right size board takes a bit more thought than you might realize. First, it must fit the space where you most often intend to use it. Second, it has to work with the size of your chess set. Third the colors and materials of the board should complement your chess set. And fourth, it should be large enough to allow some room for putting down your captured pieces.
Start by measuring the diameter of the base of your King. Make sure the squares on your board are a bit larger than this diameter. Say, for instance, the base of your King is 1 7/8". Then make sure your board squares are at least 2" square.
Since the board has 8 squares across, that means your board will have to be 8 x 2"= 16". Then add about 2" all around to give you some space for placing captured pieces. That means to accommodate your pieces you would need a board that is at least 20" square.
Put a bit of thought into your chess set purchase and it will give you many years of enjoyment.
Here are a few things to consider when buying a chess set.
**Looks are important
Chess sets are available in a wide range of styles and quality levels. You can buy anything from a very cheap plastic set to a stunningly beautiful set carved from pewter, rosewood, onyx, camel bone, and many other materials. Whether you are looking for a future family heirloom, a personal set for yourself, a set to start the kids playing or a gift for that chess enthusiast in your life, look for something you are impressed with, something you will be honored to use or give as a gift.
When looking for the quality of the carving, look closely at the Knight. The Knight is the piece that allows craftsmen to best show their skill. After you compare Knights from a few different sets you'll realize that the better sets have Knights that show detailed eyes, nostrils, teeth and manes.
**Weighting is important too
A well made chess piece is properly balanced so it acts and feels right when you move it, or as it is sitting on the board. Chess pieces should move with elegance, and they should not be easily knocked over. Accidental spills happen. But proper weighting can avoid ruining a game over a simple nudge of the board. Double and even triple weighted pieces are available.
**Get the right size board
Choosing the right size board takes a bit more thought than you might realize. First, it must fit the space where you most often intend to use it. Second, it has to work with the size of your chess set. Third the colors and materials of the board should complement your chess set. And fourth, it should be large enough to allow some room for putting down your captured pieces.
Start by measuring the diameter of the base of your King. Make sure the squares on your board are a bit larger than this diameter. Say, for instance, the base of your King is 1 7/8". Then make sure your board squares are at least 2" square.
Since the board has 8 squares across, that means your board will have to be 8 x 2"= 16". Then add about 2" all around to give you some space for placing captured pieces. That means to accommodate your pieces you would need a board that is at least 20" square.
Put a bit of thought into your chess set purchase and it will give you many years of enjoyment.
A Camp Bed Changed My Life
I like Camping, no doubt about it; and I like it all year. Most people only go camping when the weather is warm and sunny, but not me. I like the atmosphere between people out there, where you are far from home and all the daily stuff is out of your mind for a few days. I simply love it.
Back in time when I was a rookie in this lifestyle, a buddy of mine, Steven and his wife, invited me and my wife on a camping trip to the coast. I said sure, why not try it out. After a day, which I thought was great because of all these nice people around, the night was still to come. After sleeping on a hard surface, which by the way was fairly cold as well, I woke up with a painful and very sore back. I was groggy because I did not get enough rest during the worst night thinkable.
After that I did not think that this camping business was anything special, on the contrary I thought it was only for people who ‘liked’ to torture themselves, and it was definitely not my idea of fun and relaxation. I was sure that camping was only going to be a part of my life this one time only.
I it was not for my good buddy and friend Steven, I probably would not be going camping today. Steven that was a veteran when it came to camping, told me that if the sore back thing was my only dislike about the hole deal, then he knew exactly what I needed – a Camp Bed. Since I was already in on this deal for three more nights anyway, I agreed on giving it a go. I admit my mind was already determined that camping was not for me, so this camp bed had better pull up some magic trick or something like that to convince me otherwise.
We got our hands on a camp bed and I slept in a full night, without waking up one single time during the night. They had to wake me up the next morning. I had a wonderful sleep and my back felt better – they made me admit it, much against my proud will.
And here I am many years later, still going camping. I can truly say that a camp bed changed my life that day, and made a huge impact on how I chose to live a more outdoor life in the future.
So if you are bit in doubt whether you should get a camp bed or not – don’t be.
Thank you for your time.
Back in time when I was a rookie in this lifestyle, a buddy of mine, Steven and his wife, invited me and my wife on a camping trip to the coast. I said sure, why not try it out. After a day, which I thought was great because of all these nice people around, the night was still to come. After sleeping on a hard surface, which by the way was fairly cold as well, I woke up with a painful and very sore back. I was groggy because I did not get enough rest during the worst night thinkable.
After that I did not think that this camping business was anything special, on the contrary I thought it was only for people who ‘liked’ to torture themselves, and it was definitely not my idea of fun and relaxation. I was sure that camping was only going to be a part of my life this one time only.
I it was not for my good buddy and friend Steven, I probably would not be going camping today. Steven that was a veteran when it came to camping, told me that if the sore back thing was my only dislike about the hole deal, then he knew exactly what I needed – a Camp Bed. Since I was already in on this deal for three more nights anyway, I agreed on giving it a go. I admit my mind was already determined that camping was not for me, so this camp bed had better pull up some magic trick or something like that to convince me otherwise.
We got our hands on a camp bed and I slept in a full night, without waking up one single time during the night. They had to wake me up the next morning. I had a wonderful sleep and my back felt better – they made me admit it, much against my proud will.
And here I am many years later, still going camping. I can truly say that a camp bed changed my life that day, and made a huge impact on how I chose to live a more outdoor life in the future.
So if you are bit in doubt whether you should get a camp bed or not – don’t be.
Thank you for your time.
A Beginners Guide to Boxing Gloves
For boxers the single most significant piece of equipment is the boxing gloves. In the initial stages of boxing, athletes where not required to wear gloves. In ancient Greece and Rome the fighters never wore gloves and fights some times ended in death. With the passage of time however, and as boxing became more civilized, the need for the boxing glove was imminent, in order to minimize fatalities and injuries.
Conventional boxing gloves cover the fighter’s entire hand, and extend about five inches up the arm. The gloves are made from leather; a solid piece that covers the four fingers of the boxer’s hand, there is a second part that covers and protects the thumb. Some gloves, used in the United States, are made without a special separate protector for the thumb. In these gloves the hand fits in one pouch in order to prevent eye injuries. Aside from the leather cover, the gloves are made to contain padding material to absorb shock, protect the knuckles, as well as the faces of the boxers. Boxing gloves range in weight from 6 to 12 oz. In general, heavier gloves are harder to be kept upright during a fight, when the boxers get tired. During the original inception of the use of boxing gloves, their primary use is to protect the knuckles of the fighters. However, in recent years boxing gloves safety and padding was increased for added safety. The first modern boxing gloves made, weighed about eight ounces. Recently, for added safety boxing gloves used in most boxing leagues weigh ten ounces. Boxers still wear boxing gloves for the same reasons they did initially. To protect the knuckles as well as the opponent from an easy knock out. The extra padding will force the boxers to use strategy instead of pure brute force.
Boxing gloves are an important element in boxing, because they alter the game and bring strategy into play. In conventional boxing, the primary goal is to use ones hands to knock out the opponent. The primary technique of boxing is to use your hands to strike your opponent with as much force as you possibly can. Because hands contain hard bones that could really do damage on the soft tissue of the face the use of the boxing glove is essential to prevent injury. Boxing gloves allow boxers to throw punches with more force than normal during training with minimal risk of injury. The reason for the introduction of the boxing glove was to prevent frequent knockouts. Due to the introduction of the glove, boxing matches became longer and strategy cam into play. The introduction of the boxing glove as well as the strategy factor in the game, leagues started to form as well as governing bodies that enforce rules. Over, the boxing glove has been very important in the evolution of the sport of boxing as we know it today. The boxing glove is an integral factor in the sport of boxing, and the sport itself has evolved around boxing gloves.
Conventional boxing gloves cover the fighter’s entire hand, and extend about five inches up the arm. The gloves are made from leather; a solid piece that covers the four fingers of the boxer’s hand, there is a second part that covers and protects the thumb. Some gloves, used in the United States, are made without a special separate protector for the thumb. In these gloves the hand fits in one pouch in order to prevent eye injuries. Aside from the leather cover, the gloves are made to contain padding material to absorb shock, protect the knuckles, as well as the faces of the boxers. Boxing gloves range in weight from 6 to 12 oz. In general, heavier gloves are harder to be kept upright during a fight, when the boxers get tired. During the original inception of the use of boxing gloves, their primary use is to protect the knuckles of the fighters. However, in recent years boxing gloves safety and padding was increased for added safety. The first modern boxing gloves made, weighed about eight ounces. Recently, for added safety boxing gloves used in most boxing leagues weigh ten ounces. Boxers still wear boxing gloves for the same reasons they did initially. To protect the knuckles as well as the opponent from an easy knock out. The extra padding will force the boxers to use strategy instead of pure brute force.
Boxing gloves are an important element in boxing, because they alter the game and bring strategy into play. In conventional boxing, the primary goal is to use ones hands to knock out the opponent. The primary technique of boxing is to use your hands to strike your opponent with as much force as you possibly can. Because hands contain hard bones that could really do damage on the soft tissue of the face the use of the boxing glove is essential to prevent injury. Boxing gloves allow boxers to throw punches with more force than normal during training with minimal risk of injury. The reason for the introduction of the boxing glove was to prevent frequent knockouts. Due to the introduction of the glove, boxing matches became longer and strategy cam into play. The introduction of the boxing glove as well as the strategy factor in the game, leagues started to form as well as governing bodies that enforce rules. Over, the boxing glove has been very important in the evolution of the sport of boxing as we know it today. The boxing glove is an integral factor in the sport of boxing, and the sport itself has evolved around boxing gloves.
A Beginner’s Guide To Hang Gliding
The sport of hang gliding looks and feels a bit dangerous, but it is actually a very safe sport that even the most confirmed couch potato can enjoy. You don’t need to be an accomplished athlete in order to be able to enjoy the unique sensation of swooping through the air that only hang gliding can bring. As long as you are competent enough to be able to make safe decisions while you are in the air and to respond to any surprises with grace and poise, you can enjoy this kind of gravity defying adventure.
On a first trip off of the ground, a new glider will probably not be able to sail for more than a hundred feet or so, but an experienced glider can stay in the air for several hours at a stretch. In order to keep their energy up for these long journeys so that they can respond effectively to wind and speed changes, very accomplished hang gliders usually follow a regimen of strength training and light aerobics to get in shape before a flight. However, a person of average fitness can learn to hang glide quite easily. A common rule of thumb is that if you can jog, and if you can balance a fifty pound weight on your shoulders, you are probably ready to take to the skies. Although it is physically possible for any person of any size to master the sport of hang gliding, learning the ropes can be difficult for very small or very large people due to the availability of gear.
The majority of hang gliding schools rent out equipment to beginners, but a person who is less than five feet tall or weighs over two hundred and fifty pounds may have trouble finding a rental harness that fits them correctly. Sometimes, a person of very large girth or of much smaller than average height will have to invest in their own set of equipment before they have even been able to leave the ground. This fact deters some people from hang gliding, especially as a full set of gliding gear can cost quite a bit. Hang gliding in general is not the least expensive of sports. A newcomer to hang gliding will need to budget for approximately ten lessons before they can achieve the rank of Novice. This is the lowest level that a flyer should be at before attempting unsupervised solo flights. The price of this many lessons is usually roughly a thousand dollars. Most gliders continue their training in order to improve their technique so that they can achieve higher altitudes, complete more graceful landings, and take longer flights. The cost of taking enough courses to become a competent glider together with buying even a fairly well used set of secondhand gliding equipment usually adds up to at least two thousand dollars. However, many hang gliding enthusiasts feel that it is impossible to put a price on the feeling that soaring through the skies brings.
On a first trip off of the ground, a new glider will probably not be able to sail for more than a hundred feet or so, but an experienced glider can stay in the air for several hours at a stretch. In order to keep their energy up for these long journeys so that they can respond effectively to wind and speed changes, very accomplished hang gliders usually follow a regimen of strength training and light aerobics to get in shape before a flight. However, a person of average fitness can learn to hang glide quite easily. A common rule of thumb is that if you can jog, and if you can balance a fifty pound weight on your shoulders, you are probably ready to take to the skies. Although it is physically possible for any person of any size to master the sport of hang gliding, learning the ropes can be difficult for very small or very large people due to the availability of gear.
The majority of hang gliding schools rent out equipment to beginners, but a person who is less than five feet tall or weighs over two hundred and fifty pounds may have trouble finding a rental harness that fits them correctly. Sometimes, a person of very large girth or of much smaller than average height will have to invest in their own set of equipment before they have even been able to leave the ground. This fact deters some people from hang gliding, especially as a full set of gliding gear can cost quite a bit. Hang gliding in general is not the least expensive of sports. A newcomer to hang gliding will need to budget for approximately ten lessons before they can achieve the rank of Novice. This is the lowest level that a flyer should be at before attempting unsupervised solo flights. The price of this many lessons is usually roughly a thousand dollars. Most gliders continue their training in order to improve their technique so that they can achieve higher altitudes, complete more graceful landings, and take longer flights. The cost of taking enough courses to become a competent glider together with buying even a fairly well used set of secondhand gliding equipment usually adds up to at least two thousand dollars. However, many hang gliding enthusiasts feel that it is impossible to put a price on the feeling that soaring through the skies brings.
2006 Cleveland Indians Preview
2005 Overview:
The Cleveland Indians were arguably the best overall team in baseball during the 2nd half of the season. The Indians remained right in the thick of the AL pennant chase until the very last week of the season when a 4-6 record in their last 10 games left them two games back in the wildcard standings. Cleveland ended the year with an impressive final record of 93-69. The Tribe fielded some of the best young offensive talent in all of baseball in 2005, led by a breakout year from shortstop Jhonny Peralta (.292 25 78). Peralta’s first full season helped Cleveland’s offense keep the Tribe close for the better part of the summer. Newly acquired 3b Aaron Boone (.243 16 60) also combined talents with infielders Ronnie Belliard (.284 17 78) and 1st baseman Ben Broussard (.255 19 68) in order to assemble one of the best all around infields in all of baseball. Additional offense was provided in 2005 from outfielder Grady Sizemore (.289 22 81) and Casey Blake (.241 23 58) who joined Coco Crisp (.300 16 69), catcher Victor Martinez (.305 20 80) and DH Travis Hafner (.305 33 108) to complete the rest of the lineup.
The Indians’ pitching staff also proved to be among the best in the AL with starting Pitcher Cliff Lee (18-5 3.79) and C.C. Sabathia (15-10 4.03) joining Jake Westbrook (15-15 4.49) and newly acquired pitchers Scott Elarton (11-9 4.61) and Kevin Millwood (9-11 2.86) in order to form a solid rotation. Aging closer Bob Wickman (0-4 2.47 45 saves) surprised skeptics by proving he still had plenty left in the tank posting a 14-year career high 45 saves in 50 attempts.
Off Season Moves:
The Indians didn’t make many moves during the off season although free-agent right-hander Paul Byrd (12-11 3.74) was signed to take the place of departing Kevin Millwood (who was signed by the Rangers). The Indians also replaced starting pitcher Scott Elarton (signed by the Royals) with Detroit Tiger free-agent Jason Johnson (8-13 4.54). Cleveland also tried to obtain another closer chasing both B.J. Ryan and Trevor Hoffman in the off season but finally settled on bringing back Bob Wickman.
Outfielder Coco Crisp was sent to the Red Sox in exchange for reliever Guillermo Mota (2-2 4.70). The Indians also sent reliever Arthur Rhodes to Philadelphia for outfielder Jason Michaels (.304 4 31), the probable replacement for Crisp as Cleveland's starting left fielder.
2006 Analysis:
The Indians did their best by addressing the free agent departures of Millwood and Elarton but the bottom of the rotation is still shaky. Paul Byrd should be a nice addition to the starting group. The Indians let Millwood go despite the fact that he posted one of the best ERAs in the league. Cleveland was somewhat disappointed in Millwood’s ability to win more games for them. The workhorse bullpen expects to pick up right where it left off in 2005 with Arthur Rhodes (3-1 2.08), Fernando Cabrera (2-1 1.47), Scott Sauerbeck (1-0 4.04) and newcomer Guillermo Mota setting up closer Bob Wickman. The tribe should be primed for another title chase in 2006 if the starting pitching and bullpen can hold up. With an offense like the Indian’s it’s hard to count them out of anything – especially if Peralta can continue to improve at the plate in 2006.
The Cleveland Indians were arguably the best overall team in baseball during the 2nd half of the season. The Indians remained right in the thick of the AL pennant chase until the very last week of the season when a 4-6 record in their last 10 games left them two games back in the wildcard standings. Cleveland ended the year with an impressive final record of 93-69. The Tribe fielded some of the best young offensive talent in all of baseball in 2005, led by a breakout year from shortstop Jhonny Peralta (.292 25 78). Peralta’s first full season helped Cleveland’s offense keep the Tribe close for the better part of the summer. Newly acquired 3b Aaron Boone (.243 16 60) also combined talents with infielders Ronnie Belliard (.284 17 78) and 1st baseman Ben Broussard (.255 19 68) in order to assemble one of the best all around infields in all of baseball. Additional offense was provided in 2005 from outfielder Grady Sizemore (.289 22 81) and Casey Blake (.241 23 58) who joined Coco Crisp (.300 16 69), catcher Victor Martinez (.305 20 80) and DH Travis Hafner (.305 33 108) to complete the rest of the lineup.
The Indians’ pitching staff also proved to be among the best in the AL with starting Pitcher Cliff Lee (18-5 3.79) and C.C. Sabathia (15-10 4.03) joining Jake Westbrook (15-15 4.49) and newly acquired pitchers Scott Elarton (11-9 4.61) and Kevin Millwood (9-11 2.86) in order to form a solid rotation. Aging closer Bob Wickman (0-4 2.47 45 saves) surprised skeptics by proving he still had plenty left in the tank posting a 14-year career high 45 saves in 50 attempts.
Off Season Moves:
The Indians didn’t make many moves during the off season although free-agent right-hander Paul Byrd (12-11 3.74) was signed to take the place of departing Kevin Millwood (who was signed by the Rangers). The Indians also replaced starting pitcher Scott Elarton (signed by the Royals) with Detroit Tiger free-agent Jason Johnson (8-13 4.54). Cleveland also tried to obtain another closer chasing both B.J. Ryan and Trevor Hoffman in the off season but finally settled on bringing back Bob Wickman.
Outfielder Coco Crisp was sent to the Red Sox in exchange for reliever Guillermo Mota (2-2 4.70). The Indians also sent reliever Arthur Rhodes to Philadelphia for outfielder Jason Michaels (.304 4 31), the probable replacement for Crisp as Cleveland's starting left fielder.
2006 Analysis:
The Indians did their best by addressing the free agent departures of Millwood and Elarton but the bottom of the rotation is still shaky. Paul Byrd should be a nice addition to the starting group. The Indians let Millwood go despite the fact that he posted one of the best ERAs in the league. Cleveland was somewhat disappointed in Millwood’s ability to win more games for them. The workhorse bullpen expects to pick up right where it left off in 2005 with Arthur Rhodes (3-1 2.08), Fernando Cabrera (2-1 1.47), Scott Sauerbeck (1-0 4.04) and newcomer Guillermo Mota setting up closer Bob Wickman. The tribe should be primed for another title chase in 2006 if the starting pitching and bullpen can hold up. With an offense like the Indian’s it’s hard to count them out of anything – especially if Peralta can continue to improve at the plate in 2006.
2006 Cincinnati Reds Preview
2005 Overview:
The biggest news for Cincinnati Reds fans in 2005 was the fact that Ken Griffey Jr.(.301 35 92) was able to play an entire season injury free for the first time in over 5 full seasons. What was so impressive about Griffey’s 2005 performance was his ability to completely return to form, hitting for both power and average. Griffey grabbed the Comeback Player of the Year Award for his outstanding efforts.
The rest of the Reds 2005 offense was provided by Adam Dunn (.247 40 101), veteran 2nd baseman Rich Aurilia (.282 14 68) and outfielder Austin Kearns (.240 18 67). Unfortunately, the Reds starting pitching didn’t offer many wins in 2005. Starters Aaron Harang (11 13 3.83), Brandon Claussen (10-11 4.21) and Ramon Ortiz (9 11 5.36) joined Eric Milton (8 15 6.47) and closer David Weathers (7-4 3.94 15 saves) to handle the majority of the pitching duties during the season. Weathers’ was picked up from the Mets and was converted into a full-time closer we he nailed down 15 out of 19 save opportunities. No real staff Ace emerged in 2005 with Harang leading the rotation with 11 wins. The Reds ended the season with a less then impressive final 73-89 record, finishing 27 games behind the NL Central Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
Off Season Moves:
The Reds recognized pitching as their main priority during the off season so they traded away popular first baseman Sean Casey to the Pittsburgh Pirates for left handed starter Dave Williams (10–11 4.41). Unfortunately the Reds did little else to address their starting pitching needs. Veteran Infielder Rich Aurilia re-signed, and Cincinnati also traded for utility man Tony Womack (.249 in 2005), which was designed to give the team some options off the bench in 2006. Lefthander reliever Chris Hammond (5-1 3.84) also signed on from the defending NL West Champion Padres.
2006 Analysis:
Expect Adam Dunn now to move over to first base, leaving the outfield responsibilities to Austin Kearns, Ken Griffey Jr. and Wily Mo Pena. The Reds really didn’t significantly address the starting pitching in the off season and the one new starting pitcher they acquired (Williams) will hardly make a difference for the team in 2006. With Harang leading the group with only 11 wins there is a bunch of work to be done before the Reds can hope to contend. Williams was only a 10 game winner in 2005 so fans shouldn’t expect much from him either.
Like many major league teams, the Reds are relying heavily on their youngsters which include Kearns, Pena, Dunn, shortstop Felipe Lopez, and Ryan Freel. Fans were happy to get the old Griffey back in 2005 and are hopeful he will pick up where he left off when he starts the 2006 season. Dave Weathers is simply not a strong closer although the team managed to squeeze 15 saves out of him last season. Hammond was a nice pick up and should help out a struggling bullpen - but even more help is needed. Cincinnati Reds fans should expect more of the same in 2006.
The biggest news for Cincinnati Reds fans in 2005 was the fact that Ken Griffey Jr.(.301 35 92) was able to play an entire season injury free for the first time in over 5 full seasons. What was so impressive about Griffey’s 2005 performance was his ability to completely return to form, hitting for both power and average. Griffey grabbed the Comeback Player of the Year Award for his outstanding efforts.
The rest of the Reds 2005 offense was provided by Adam Dunn (.247 40 101), veteran 2nd baseman Rich Aurilia (.282 14 68) and outfielder Austin Kearns (.240 18 67). Unfortunately, the Reds starting pitching didn’t offer many wins in 2005. Starters Aaron Harang (11 13 3.83), Brandon Claussen (10-11 4.21) and Ramon Ortiz (9 11 5.36) joined Eric Milton (8 15 6.47) and closer David Weathers (7-4 3.94 15 saves) to handle the majority of the pitching duties during the season. Weathers’ was picked up from the Mets and was converted into a full-time closer we he nailed down 15 out of 19 save opportunities. No real staff Ace emerged in 2005 with Harang leading the rotation with 11 wins. The Reds ended the season with a less then impressive final 73-89 record, finishing 27 games behind the NL Central Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
Off Season Moves:
The Reds recognized pitching as their main priority during the off season so they traded away popular first baseman Sean Casey to the Pittsburgh Pirates for left handed starter Dave Williams (10–11 4.41). Unfortunately the Reds did little else to address their starting pitching needs. Veteran Infielder Rich Aurilia re-signed, and Cincinnati also traded for utility man Tony Womack (.249 in 2005), which was designed to give the team some options off the bench in 2006. Lefthander reliever Chris Hammond (5-1 3.84) also signed on from the defending NL West Champion Padres.
2006 Analysis:
Expect Adam Dunn now to move over to first base, leaving the outfield responsibilities to Austin Kearns, Ken Griffey Jr. and Wily Mo Pena. The Reds really didn’t significantly address the starting pitching in the off season and the one new starting pitcher they acquired (Williams) will hardly make a difference for the team in 2006. With Harang leading the group with only 11 wins there is a bunch of work to be done before the Reds can hope to contend. Williams was only a 10 game winner in 2005 so fans shouldn’t expect much from him either.
Like many major league teams, the Reds are relying heavily on their youngsters which include Kearns, Pena, Dunn, shortstop Felipe Lopez, and Ryan Freel. Fans were happy to get the old Griffey back in 2005 and are hopeful he will pick up where he left off when he starts the 2006 season. Dave Weathers is simply not a strong closer although the team managed to squeeze 15 saves out of him last season. Hammond was a nice pick up and should help out a struggling bullpen - but even more help is needed. Cincinnati Reds fans should expect more of the same in 2006.
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