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CINCINNATI REDS (30-30 in 1878)
This team improved to respectability in 1878. However, despite the fact that they are lagging behind Boston and Chicago in talent, they made no big moves this offseason, seemingly content to have a solid first-division finish. As a result, they don't seem likely to finish any higher than third this year.
8 C Dick Higham (1-29-.318-0) - He had another solid season last year here, and is probably one of the more underrated players in all of base ball.
12 1B Clipper Flynn (0-27-.297-3) - Not a star, but a very good player - he definitely solves any issues they might have had at this position.
13 2B Bob "Magnet" Addy (0-22-.243-1) - A very good fielder, but a mediocre hitter. At age 34, he's not getting any younger.
17 SS King Kelly (0-19-.245-4) - He looks like a good young player, although at age 21 he's still got a lot of developing left to do. His future is probably not at short, as he seemed overmatched at times last season.
34 3B Steve Bellan (0-16-.247-6) - This scrappy Cuban is an adequate but unspectacular infielder.
28 LF Buttercup Dickerson (0-30-.365-0) - Last year's surprise Rookie of the Year looks like a great up-and-coming hitter. They are hoping he and Kelly provide a good young one-two punch in the years to come.
43 CF Pete "Monkey" Hotaling (rookie) - They are hoping he will be the Buttercup Dickerson of 1879.
9 RF Jack "Death to Flying Things" Chapman (5 for 11 in 1878; lifetime .224 hitter) - Chapman has never been a good hitter, and he turns 36 a week into the season. This does not seem likely to last for long.
3 P Bobby Mitchell (23-18, 2.61) - He has developed into one of the league's best pitchers, and as a left-handed 23-year-old, he looks to have a bright future.
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