The Reds signed longtime Philadelphia reliever Ryan Madson to be their closer at a price tag of $8.5 million. He was slated to make his first appearance of the spring on Thursday, but experienced a setback following Tuesday’s simulated game. According to John Fay of Cincinnati.com, the Reds are being tight-lipped about Madson’s status. Fay quotes GM Walt Jocketty as saying “We’ll let you know.”

That response doesn’t inspire confidence, particularly in the wake of Joakim Soria’s season-ending injury in Kansas City.

Sean Marshall would stand in for Madson if he’s unavailable to open the season. Marshall came over from the Cubs following back-to-back tremendous campaigns with a huge strikeout number.

Check out Fay’s write-up here: Madson out for opener?

That’s not the case in Dayton, where the Dragons have enjoyed sellout after sellout. Mike Lopresti wrote a piece that appeared in USA Today earlier this week that takes you back to the purity of the game. It’s a Class-A team for the Reds, a unit comprised of kids years from making the leap to the major leagues or veterans rehabbing from injuries.

I read the piece just prior to joining in on an interview while sitting in with Robert Wuhl and The Robert Wuhl Show. I wrote down the words — “community,” “underdog,” “family,” “ownership” and “America” prior to Mr. Lopresti joining us on the line.

This story is a fascinating reminder of the power of sports and hearkens back to those initial moments that grabbed us as children. They’re not the moments that show up on highlight reels. They’re not the moments that yield stats on the backs of baseball cards. They’re the moments that binds us with the game as the backdrop.

Dayton Dragons and America

Fantasy owners are clamoring to the waiver wire in the hope that the next big thing will be wearing a Nationals cap.

I remember the episode of The Simpsons where billboards, banners and commercials announced that “Gabbo Is Coming.” Who? What? Where?

Well, it ended up being a smart-alleck ventriloquist’s dummy that temporarily displaced Krusty in the hearts of Springfield’s children.

The notes on Stephen Strasburg and the dazzling video catalog of his minor league starts seem to indicate that Strasburg will be in the minds and hearts of fans and fantasy owners for a long, long time. Sorry, Gabbo.

By all accounts, Strasburg will make his much-anticipated major league debut on June 4 against the Reds. This would allow Strasburg to pitch in line with the normal rotation and schedule without an extended period of down time.

My marketing and promotion-loving self thinks that it needs to be pushed back a couple days to put Strasburg on the hill that following Tuesday against the Pirates. But, the baseball timeline has to be held intact. Strasburg has been brought along slowly this season, paced for the summer call-up. There’s no need to shuffle up the routine and make him change things now.

I get it. But the PT Barnum in me is thinking about Tuesday’s gate with Pittsburgh in town. On a Friday night, you’ll still get a decent crowd and some walk-ups if the weather is sound. On Tuesday nights against Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones … not so much.

With that said, I know what will be on my Roku player next Friday night. The Nationals have surprised thus far. Roy Oswalt is being mentioned as a possible trade deadline acquisition. Strasburg is the main event.

I often yell “DBTH!” — Don’t Believe The Hype – when a player in any sport is so highly touted. In this case, I’d be shocked to see him falter.

Climb aboard the Strasburg Express.

I’m not going to put up a 9,000-word diatribe here. We’ve been banging on the position-by-position analysis of each team for months. So, I’m just getting after it.

AL West – Angels — not as clear-cut as in years past, but still enough to get it done. Will Kendrick, Wood & the youngsters deliver?
AL Central – White Sox – deep staff & one of the best setup men in the game. Williams and Guillen’s recycled players & speed experiment works
AL East – you may want to go away from them & I know the meltdown Sunday might make you nervous (CC and April don’t mix), but the Yankes will be there in the end

AL Wild Card – Welcome aboard, Rays.

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NL West – Dodgers – that lineup, if healthy and the wigs are flying off shelves, is frightening. Kershaw something to behold.
NL Central – Let’s get a little crazy & shake things up. Rolling the dice with the Reds. Homer and Cueto (almost like dude from “Total Recall,” but not quite) are key.
NL East – Phils have some issues – back of the rotation & some ‘pen action, but still too much.

NL Wild Card – Gut says that Dave Duncan and company still put together a run.

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AL Championship Series – White Sox vs. Yankees
NL Championship Series – Reds vs. Phillies

World Series: White Sox vs. Phillies :

Champion: White Sox

Yeah, call me a homer. Call me what you will. Beckham & Ramirez form tough middle. Pierre roams the basepaths & this team generates runs to help deep rotation & strong bullpen. Bobby Hill … err, Jenks … gets the ball frequently from Thornton and Putz. Wild card to it — call-up power from Tyler Flowers.