The starters have been surprisingly good up to this point. Dunn is hitting the cover off the ball. Casey is absolutely unconscious right now. Griffey is, thankfully, not unconscious.
I think if the following things happen, the Reds can at least put together a strong, sustained run this year.
1.) Kearns' bat comes around. With all the lefty mashers in the lineup, they need his righty bat to offer to break them up and keep teams from throwing lefty relievers at them every game.
2.) The bullpen solidifies itself. Graves needs to re-accomodate himself to the closer's role again. They could use another lefty in the 'pen, and they need to determine who the true set-up man is. Wagner hasn't thrown a pitch since his meltdown in Chicago. Norton has flat-out sucked. Replacing Willaimson, White, Mercker, and Reitsma is not an easy task, but I think they have the personnel to sort this one out.
3.) Griffey reamins healthy. Duh. *knock on wood*
4.) Jimenez and Larkin maintain a respectable OBP. Gotta make sure there are people there to set the table for the sluggers. The last two World Series champs have proved how important this is.
5.) The Reds for forget about his ridiculous contract, and shitcan Jimmy Haynes in favor of Brandon Claussen. Haynes got a multi-million dollar deal two years ago, because he managed to win 15 games the previous year. Nevermind it was with a 4.12 ERA! I guess you could say that sometimes, even blind squirrels stumble on acorns. In this case, Haynes stumbled upon about 15 of them, and a few million dollars. If the Reds are serious about winning, they'll admit their mistake, dump this guy on the trash heap and plug in a guy with talent and a future.
6.) John Vander Wal continues his rapid recovery. He blew out his knee in January. Thought to be lost for the season, he took BP today and is running, and some seem to think he may be back sometime around the All-Star break. If he can make it back, that would be a huge boost, as he is the proven pinch hitter that they are missing on their bench.
I don't think any of these things are out of the question, and as long as the starting pitchers maintain their competence, this season may actually end up being interesting.
I think if the following things happen, the Reds can at least put together a strong, sustained run this year.1.) Kearns' bat comes around. With all the lefty mashers in the lineup, they need his righty bat to offer to break them up and keep teams from throwing lefty relievers at them every game.
2.) The bullpen solidifies itself. Graves needs to re-accomodate himself to the closer's role again. They could use another lefty in the 'pen, and they need to determine who the true set-up man is. Wagner hasn't thrown a pitch since his meltdown in Chicago. Norton has flat-out sucked. Replacing Willaimson, White, Mercker, and Reitsma is not an easy task, but I think they have the personnel to sort this one out.
3.) Griffey reamins healthy. Duh. *knock on wood*
4.) Jimenez and Larkin maintain a respectable OBP. Gotta make sure there are people there to set the table for the sluggers. The last two World Series champs have proved how important this is.
5.) The Reds for forget about his ridiculous contract, and shitcan Jimmy Haynes in favor of Brandon Claussen. Haynes got a multi-million dollar deal two years ago, because he managed to win 15 games the previous year. Nevermind it was with a 4.12 ERA! I guess you could say that sometimes, even blind squirrels stumble on acorns. In this case, Haynes stumbled upon about 15 of them, and a few million dollars. If the Reds are serious about winning, they'll admit their mistake, dump this guy on the trash heap and plug in a guy with talent and a future.
6.) John Vander Wal continues his rapid recovery. He blew out his knee in January. Thought to be lost for the season, he took BP today and is running, and some seem to think he may be back sometime around the All-Star break. If he can make it back, that would be a huge boost, as he is the proven pinch hitter that they are missing on their bench.
I don't think any of these things are out of the question, and as long as the starting pitchers maintain their competence, this season may actually end up being interesting.
