No Dodging This One

Catholics attending Mass on Sunday, Jan. 29, got the news directly from the pulpit that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has grave reservations regarding certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”). Regulations implementing the law require employers to include coverage of sterilization and contraception services in health insurance plans offered to their employees. The Church teaches that sterilization and contraception are sinful and wrong. Thus, the Bishops have said that Church institutions cannot and will not comply with the law.

An unequivocal line has been drawn. And Catholics will have to choose one side or another.

Many Catholics will probably tell you that, despite Church prohibitions, they have no problem with contraception or sterilization (abortion is a different story). But the Church has always recognized the primacy of individual conscience, so to a certain extent, one can disagree with Church teaching yet still be Catholic. In the present situation, however, one’s personal views toward contraception and sterilization are not the real issue. At issue is the fact that the US government is requiring a religious institution to provide access to, and financially support the utilization of medical services that directly conflict with its core beliefs.

If the government and the Church both stand their ground, institutions and individuals who call themselves Catholic will be put in a very uncomfortable and unfamiliar position. US Catholics have generally been able to “render unto Caesar” without running afoul of Church precepts. Roe v. Wade and stem cell research may be seen as possible exceptions, but in neither case did the government mandate direct, explicit financing by the institutional Church: Catholics retained the freedom to disagree, oppose, and refrain from participating in the proscribed activity. The Affordable Care Act requires operational and financial participation under penalty of law. There’s the difference, and there’s the rub.

Catholic institutions include significant numbers of educational and health care organizations whose employees and clients number in the millions, and whose economic impact is counted in the billions. Will they forsake their Catholic identity to comply with the law? Will they risk fines and imprisonment in defense of Catholic teaching? Either way, the face of American Catholicism will be forever changed.

The Church is at a crossroads, and this generation of American Catholics, perhaps for the first time, has been enjoined by their leaders to take a public stand on a matter of religious belief. It is a call to civil disobedience with all the unpleasant consequences it implies. How will the call be answered?

MLB Power Shift

Don't know if anyone's been paying attention, but the balance of power has shifted heavily from the NL to the AL in the last month or so. With the departure of Albert Pujols and, I think, more significantly, Tony LaRussa, from the Cardinals, the reigning champs will likely see their performances waning over the next years.

Also, with the departure of Prince Fielder to the Detroit Tigers, and with Ryan Braun suspended for the first 50 games of 2012, the Milwaukee Brewers do not look to have the bats to be able to compete like they have been.

What this all means for me is that the Reds have to be the favored team in the NL Central next year. Joey Votto is also the front-runner for NL MVP, with his competition in Fielder and Pujols gone to the AL. The Reds chances look fantastic against a much depleted NL Central. Thanks goes to all those AL teams willing to pay massive salaries to Fielder and Pujols, who will soon both be DHs because they are too old to play in the field.

All. F-ing. In.

Walt Jocketty is just challenging the NL Central to come get some!!!

Get reacquainted with this image. I just got word that tonight, the Reds have signed Ryan Madson as their new closer. This offseason, we traded depth for an ace starter in Mat Latos. In a separate deal, we also traded for shutdown reliever (and former Reds killer) Sean Marshall.

The projected 2012 lineup now looks almost set. I don't see any LF free agents or potential trade targets left that are worth acquiring. Hey, given a full year in left, Heisey projects to 30 HR and 77 RBI with a .263 avg. I'll take that! So this is what our lineup card should look like most days, with projections provided by RotoChamp:

Lineup	Player	POS	Team	AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
1	Brandon Phillips	2B	CIN	595	93	17	60	17	0.279	0.337	0.432
2	Zack Cozart	SS	CIN	385	53	11	46	0	0.283	0.317	0.439
3	Joey Votto	1B	CIN	575	115	31	111	10	0.313	0.421	0.553
4	Jay Bruce	OF	CIN	565	91	31	100	7	0.255	0.341	0.476
5	Scott Rolen	3B	CIN	400	55	11	61	2	0.270	0.332	0.443
6	Drew Stubbs	OF	CIN	576	75	18	73	35	0.247	0.326	0.391
7	Chris Heisey	OF	CIN	480	66	30	77	7	0.263	0.326	0.494
8	Ryan Hanigan	C	CIN	270	39	6	33	0	0.289	0.383	0.385

And how about this set of starters:

Starter	Player	POS	Team	IP	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
1	Mat Latos	SP	CIN	200	15	9	3.65	1.21	194	62
2	Johnny Cueto	SP	CIN	175	13	8	3.45	1.19	125	55
3	Mike Leake	SP	CIN	175	11	8	3.81	1.26	121	45
4	Bronson Arroyo	SP	CIN	200	11	10	4.23	1.30	113	50
5	Homer Bailey	SP	CIN	160	10	9	4.05	1.33	131	48

The Cuban Missile, Aroldis Chapman will also be groomed as a starter, but has had some shoulder stiffness this winter. I suspect that he starts the season in extended spring training or the minors to work up his arm strength and stretch him out for starting. Then, when the inevitable collapse by either Bailey or Arroyo occurs, he gets plugged in and is good to finish out the season without worrying about excessive innings!

And don't forget about what I now claim to be the best bullpen in baseball.

Player	POS	Team	IP	W	L	Saves	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
Ryan Madson	RP	CIN	60	4	2	32	2.37	1.15	62	16
Sean Marshall	RP	CIN	65	3	3	5	2.49	1.15	69	18
Nick Masset	RP	CIN	65	3	3	5	3.32	1.42	61	28
Bill Bray	RP	CIN	60	3	3	0	3.90	1.12	57	22
Logan Ondrusek	RP	CIN	60	3	3	0	4.35	1.32	40	26
Jose Arredondo	RP	CIN	55	2	2	0	4.42	1.40	51	31
Sam LeCure	RP	CIN	110	5	4	0	3.52	1.13	100	36

I think we need to seriously start thinking about a nickname and theme song for this crew. The Nasty Boys and U Can't Touch This carried us through 1990. This team is being built for a a no-holds-barred run at the playoffs, and is certainly capable of competing in a 7 game series against the Angels, Phillies, Rangers or Yankees.

Anybody want to split season's tickets???