DaytonDailyNews.com

Are the Cincinnati Reds finally ready to step up and be the bully of the beach, or are they once again destined to be the guy on the towel getting sand kicked in his face?

Eight years of sand in the mouth doesn't taste good.

With that in mind, here are three strengths and three weaknesses of this year's edition:

Strengths

The starting pitching should be lights outs, at least the Reds rotation should be able to turn out the lights on opposing hitters. From one through five — Aaron Harang, Edinson Volquez, Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto, Micah Owings — the rotation is strong enough to give the team a chance to win each time out.

The Stupendous Sophomores — Joey Votto and Jay Bruce — have a year of experience and should be better, if nobody whispers in their ears, "Hey, don't trip over the sophomore jinx." Both are talented enough to avoid wives' tales.

Outfield defense is a first-class upgrade with Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. gone. Willy Taveras is an on-your-horse and go-get-'em guy in center. Bruce is improved in right. And when Chris Dickerson is in left, they have a guy with center-field talents. Not much should fall between him and Taveras.

Weaknesses

Adam Dunn's bat is gone, and the Reds haven't replaced his 40 homers, 100 RBIs, 100 runs and 100 walks. The Cubs outscored the Reds by 151 runs last year, and that gap may widen.

Injury questions continue to follow shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who must play nearly every day for the up-the-middle defense to be strong. If the injuries continue — and they did in spring training — there is nobody close to his defensive ability (other than light-hitting Paul Janish).

Inconsistent Edwin Encarnacion continues to entice and enrage. Just when he goes on a tear at the plate and makes a few great plays at third base, he lapses into a hitting funk and starts throwing baseballs to Pete Rose Way.

Contact this reporter at

hmccoy@DaytonDailyNews.com.