Baseball fans’ hopes are always positive in the winter. It’s no different with the players and front office.

Cincinnati Reds’ fan are no different, as evidenced by the hundreds who turned out Thursday at Fannin Motors to get an autograph or picture of the participants in the southern stop of the winter caravan.

Wheelersburg native Gene Bennett, a member of the Reds’ organization for 57 years, currently serves as the senior special assistant to the general manager. Bennett expressed a guarded optimism regarding the Reds’ pennant chances.

“I hope so. It’s been a long time since we’ve been to a World Series. It’s about our time again,” said Bennett.

Also making the Southern Tour trip were Bob Miller, vice president and assistant general manager, Hall of Fame play-by-play radio announcer Marty Brennaman, TV broadcaster and former Reds’ pitcher Chris Welsh, Reds’ Hall of Famer Lee May, Gold Glove winning second baseman Brandon Phillips, and 2007 No. 1 draft pick Devin Mesoraco, a catcher rated among the top 10 players in the team’s minor leagues.

Phillips was much more emphatic about his optimism.

“We’re gonna be better than people think,” said Phillips. “We have a lot of speed and our defense will be better.

“We have a leadoff guy who will be there every day. We don’t need power to win. In the past the home run didn’t work. I think we have a good pitching staff.”

Bennett joined the caravan after returning from California where he received the first-annual “Legend in Scouting” award on Monday.

Bennett has signed dozens of outstanding players who have come through the Reds’ organization including Don Gullett, Barry Larkin, Paul O’Neill and Jeff Russell.

“I was fortunate that I was the first guy to get that award,” said Bennett. “A lot of people deserve to get an award. There were one hundred other guys who deserved the award. I’m grateful to all those players.’

Bennett agreed that the Reds’ pitching appears much better on paper, but he said there are still some adjustments that need to be made to the everyday lineup.

“It looks like our pitching will be good and we have some young players who are very good like (Jay) Bruce and (Joey) Votto,” said Bennett.

“It’s how well we fit in with right-handed hitters. We need a big bopper in the lineup to protect those young players.”