We're a little over 1/4 of the season and sitting at 20-23, just 2 games better than this time last year. We are on the plus side of the run differential but that is deceiving, since we'll score 10 runs in one game, then 1 or 2 the following 5 games. Our offense is about as inconsistent as one can be. The one thing I asked for, during the off season, was an outfielder who could hit around .280 with 30 plus homeruns and we didn't get that. Fraley needs to be sent to Louisville and stay there, we called up a .180 hitter in Benson, McClain is hitting .168, Steer .190 and Candelario has been an extreme disappointment sitting at .113 and CES is once again on the DL, but was only hitting .158 when he went down. Thats 5 players currently hitting below the Mendoza line (.200). Hays and Trevino has been a welcomed addition, so far, but everyone will eventually head for the mean, meaning they will slowly revert back to the career averages.
Our pitching is sitting at 11th in MLB with a team ERA of .375 which is really good. But our inability to hit will waist the great pitching. We need to find a closer, badly, but Ashcraft may be able to fit there eventually.
Cincinnati will have to win the NL central in order to make the playoffs, but unless we make a trade, I can't see us doing that. I'm sure the Mets and Dodgers will win their divisions, with the Phillies, Padres, Giants and maybe the Cardinals/Cubs fighting for the wildcard spots. I've been a Reds fan since the late 60's , but with the current ownership, I don't see how much longer I can follow them. I also understand it's early and we still have a lot of baseball left, but unless everyone starts hitting at once, this season may end up worse than last year and we have one of the best managers in the game today. Our June schedule is going to be brutal, so we better heal now or we'll be out by the all-star break.
Rant over.