Good pitching....hitting that is coming around. 9 of those games are at home. Not saying it is likely, but coming of a 3 game sweep of one of the best teams in baseball, the last of which was a walk off is encouraging.
Hell, if they go 9-6 they are likely to make up some ground and get to 2 or 3 out of division race.
All year waiting for bats to get going...it is bound to happen and with this pitching they are in every game...that is why they have a +41 run differential.
I'll give you good pitching as it has been better than expected, even if the staff is mismanaged at times. For the Reds to have a fighting chance if they were to be so fortunate to get back in the race, a lot will depend on the health of Alex Wood in the 2nd Half behind Castillo & Gray. Hard to make a run with any less than that. Still see growing pains and development this season for Mahle as he's not a finished product. DeSclafani & Roark are fine as 4th of 5th Starting Options, leaving one off a postseason roster or used as a long reliever. The bullpen has been fine but overworked in the 1st half. A piece needs to be added at the deadline or called up from the minors. Probably will be the latter as the Reds rarely go into buyer's mode at the trade deadline.
Offensively, still have question marks. Still waiting for more consistency instead of just games where are run differential gets flawed beating teams by putting up 10 + runs in a handful of games and as we saw vs SF, no lead is safe. Under .500 still vs losing teams and need to improve the home record more than 2 games above .500
Would like to see more regular at bats for Casali with his offense and being top 10 in defensive WAR. Not calling for him to supplant Tucker Barnhart completely as starting catcher due to his rapport with the pitching staff. I realize its importance. Been ripped here for trashing Tucker Barnhart but just not huge on him. Defensively being #1 last year in WAR, that had been Barnhart's calling card. He's still top 10, 6th not much ahead of Curt at 10th and is a weaker offensive force with Farmer and Casali on the active roster. Mendoza line catchers don't last too long on contending teams being the primary catchers. JT Realmuto would have been huge in the offseason doing it on both sides of the plate. Best overall catcher in the game who is still rather young.
At Votto's age, hopefully he can put a streak together for more than a few games at a time. 35 years old, his best days are behind him. A future HOFer who played on only 3 winning teams thanks to fire sales and rebuilding small market franchises goes through. Other smaller teams do it better than Reds front office management for almost 30 years. Hopefully for the Reds sake, there are a couple seasons left in the tank of decent production for a playoff run but I'll point to recent examples of players like Pujols & Cabrera who also declined in performance at this age.
I have always been high on Jesse Winker on this board in the past. We need this last week of his to be the beginning of him putting the struggles behind. I don't expect him to be our HR leader and a massive source of power but more like the .290 career hitter entering the year making timely hits. Senzel has been a vital piece offensively and defensively for the Reds. Really just glad he is here and given the opportunity at the MLB level for once.
Peraza's struggles are a mystery to me given he was our hits leader last year and lost his job briefly at 2B and role as our starting SS to Iglesias, who has been a pleasant find. I'm cautiously optimistic but not setting high expectations on Scooter Gennett given his length of time injured. Hope he doesn't have ongoing effects that will linger on for the majority of the 2nd half. Dietrich has had a career year but looking more like the odd man out as the team gets healthy. Good to see Puig finally turning it around. He's definitely no .210 career hitter. On pace for a career high in steals. In a contract year, he can skyrocket his offensive numbers in GABP. Has a cannon for an arm defensively.
Btw, I was not trying to offend you. I like old school baseball and can give a crap less if a manager ticks off a player. Pinella physically attacked Dibble in '90....worked out fine for him. This team needs an attitude and sometimes players need to be pushed outside of their comfort zone.
Plenty of managers like Bell (doing it their way) have won and won big. I actually think he is doing a fine job...there have been some bumps along the way but generally expected for a first year manager.
I am truly excited about the future of this club.
The antics & hard-nosed discipline of old school baseball with the likes of Billy Martin, Bobby Cox and Lou Pinella bring back good memories but not everyone can pull that off. The White Sox fell a part under Ozzie Guillen after '05, fired in Miami. Bobby Valentine couldn't make it one year with the Red Sox after Terry Francona was let go. I feel like there's a changing of the guard with the 'player's managers' finding success like Joe Maddon, AJ Hinch, Terry Francona & Alex Cora.
Hell everyone slams Dusty Baker but he is the only guy to have winning seasons with this franchise since Trader Jack was here in 2000. Haven't one since he was rode out of town and won 192 games in his 2 years at Washington. For the Reds, finishing above .500 should be our first realistic goal and then advancing in the playoffs. This is not a World Series roster right now I'll give Bell credit today for being less bullheaded in over-managing his pitchers leaving Mahle in longer after Tyler voiced his frustrations last week. Saved the bullpen only using one reliever today. It will be the life of the team if Cincinnati's fortunes turn around and get in contention.
