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Update: Off to the left, you’ll now find a poll asking when the Reds will clinch the NL Central. Not if. When. Let us know what you think.
Last night, we had some storms and a cold front moved in. When I stepped out this morning. There was a fall chill in the air. But for the still-green tree leaves, it could have been October. World Series weather is what it felt like.
Soon, we here at Redleg Nation are going to switch into postseason mode. We’re going to talk about the roster: Who’ll be on it. Who won’t be on it. Who should and who shouldn’t be on it. It will be a good time. I’m sure there will be healthy debates about all kinds of minutiae. I think you all know I love a good bit of minutiae as much as the next guy. But I want to talk about something else today.
I started writing for RN because of a Jay Bruce piece I wrote as a guest article for The Hardball Times a while back. I emailed Chad to tell him he might want to link it, and he invited me to write about the Reds here if I wanted to. I jumped at the chance.
I jumped at the chance because, yes, the Reds are my favorite team, but also because RN was (and is) my favorite Reds blog. I was a regular commenter, and I loved the level of discussion that went on here. People disagreed, but it was respectful. We rooted for the Reds and we were happy when they won. Losses were no fun, but there was always tomorrow.
Then something happened. In 2010, the Reds went to the playoffs. I don’t think most of us really expected that. It was a wonderful surprise and that season still feels like a dream. We had no expectations, so we had no reason to be anything other than thrilled. Even the humiliation that occurred at the hands of the Phillies couldn’t fully erase the glow. But, when you’ve won once – when you’ve gone to the playoffs – people expect more.
Last season was a disappointment. A terrible disappointment. It was a down year for a good team. An unlucky year for a good team. It was hard not to wonder if 2010 was a flash in the pan. A charmed year that we might not see again for another decade.
It wasn’t.
This year, the Reds have been excellent. They have the best player in baseball. They have top contenders for Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award. They have the second-best record in baseball and the largest divisional lead. Yet, to read the comments here and tweets that come into my Twitter feed, you’d think they were a mediocre team waiting to get annihilated if they manage to limp into the playoffs.
I don’t think we’re hearing all the voices we used to hear.
Wait, I don’t need to think. I know we aren’t.
Too often, the comments here are dominated by a handful of readers. I’ve seen the traffic to this blog. I know more of you are out there. I know the complaints are coming from a loud faction. I don’t want that faction to go away, but I want more voices.
I love baseball. I love this team. They will probably not win the World Series.
They will probably not win the World Series because there will be ten good teams in the playoffs. I think the Reds are among the best of those teams, but I don’t want to talk about that right now. You’ll see some of that coming up in the next few weeks. When I say the Reds probably won’t win the series, I say it because good teams lose in the playoffs every year. Teams that were cold in September get hot in October. Or teams come in hot and keep running over other teams. It happens. It’s baseball. Most of the time – nearly all of the time – your team doesn’t win.
That means you have to be optimistic. You have to assume they’ll win tonight. You have to know that they can win the series. If they lose tonight, you have to think, “They’ll get ‘em tomorrow.” If they don’t win the series, you have to be hopeful for next year. If you aren’t, this game will kill you.
And I know you’re out there. I know I’m not the only optimistic one because I see people retweet my optimistic tweets. Many more than point out how Boston had the worst collapse ever last year or similar nonsense. You are the people I want to hear from. Not just in the comments to this post, but in the game threads and the recaps. Everywhere. I want those of you who love this team to be the loudest voices. Richard got some of you going with his post a few days ago. I saw it in the game comments last night. But I want more. I want every night to be a Reds love fest. I want that because complaining isn’t fun. I want that because this is a good team. It might even be a great team. We won’t know that for years. But they are fun to watch. Even when they’re down, even when Chapman blows a save, you look at the players coming up and think, “Phillips, Votto, Frazier, Ludwick, Bruce. I better not turn the game off yet.”
We can argue about Baker and Cairo and Valdez and Stubbs some more later. Everyone has said what they have to say on that. Let’s put on a new record and turn it up loud and scream at the top of our lungs because this is a good team. Because we are fans and the best part of being a fan is when you get to cheer as loud as you can for your team. Because you love them and this time – this year – there is a chance they won’t let you down. In baseball, a chance is all you can ask for.
Great Post Jason. Can’t wait to see this team hit the postseason on a roll.
@RedManFan: That’s what I want to hear. Believe!
You mean I’m not the only lurker? I’ve been lurking here for a while. Followed most of the guys over from Bill’s Reds listserv.
This team is special. 1990 special. Absolutely my fav team since 90. I really believe this team is the best team in baseball. I also really believe that there’s a good chance we’ll go one and done in the playoffs and get no hit again. Reds fans are all pessimists aren’t they?
@James Wheeler: But there’s chance that will happen to any team. Let’s not dwell on that. Let’s dwell on the good parts. It’s more fun that way.
Thank you so much for this post. Our owner goes out and signs the best player in the league, our GM makes all the right moves, we get rookie sensations, a cy young candidate, the best reliever in the league, we have the best record in baseball for a decent chunk of the year, and yet there is so much negativity. It makes me sad as a Reds fan. We went into the season shooting for a division title and to maybe make a little noise in the playoffs, and we have so far done nothing but exceed all expectations. I just want our players to want to play here, and our fans to have hope and enjoy the amazing ride this season has been.
“We’re actually going for it!”
Thats what i yelled at my wife when i woke up earlier this spring to see we traded for Mat Latos. “I cant believe it we’re actually going for it”
it wasnt just the Latos deal that convinced me, it was the sum as a whole, we trade for Marshall we lock down Votto and Phillips. Hell at the time the Madson deal was thought of as shrewd genius of an idea. For the first time ever, i believed the Reds to be owned and run by a competent group of people who not only know what they’re doing, but they want to win! I made a bet with my best friend that day, if the Reds win the World series this year his fandom was on the line…. for life. He just bought his first Reds hat yesterday, called it his playoff hat. brought a frickin tear to my eye
Like you said jason, this doesnt happen every year, and to Reds fans it doesnt happen every decade. i was 4 years old in 1990…i need this team.
I think it’s easy to miss the positives when there are some glaring negatives. We fans are greedy. We want to win every single game every single night no matter the team we play against. When we lose there has to be a reason. There has to be a justification. Then we start looking for targets. There are plenty of easy targets on any given night or on the team in general. Rolen is too old. Too fragile. Cairo needs to retire. Stubbs will never amount to anything. Cozart can’t get on base. Todd hit into a double play to kill a rally. Chapman was human tonight. BP is trying to hit HR’s instead of get hits. Jose can’t get past 2 outs without a breakdown of some kind. Dusty is Dusty. The excuses are endless.
For every negative though there are at least 2 positives on this team, this year. Most other years you cannot say that and for that as a fan we should be extremely grateful. I have my personal peeves. I grumble about lineups and matchups and what might have been. In the end though I’m always rooting for the team and enjoying our season because to do any less is to create bad memories in spite of an overwhelmingly positive season.
This team may be judged by others based upon how they do in the postseason but as local fans we should know better. We should know the little stories and all the great memories they have left us with already this year. If they fall short of the big dance come October I will be disappointed but I will also be thrilled because I got to see my favorite team play in October instead of shifting my focus over to the Bengals come mid-September.
For those just lurking don’t mistake all the negative clutter as how the fan base really feels. Just take it for what it is, greedy fans who want it all even when we have so much already. It shows how much they care even when it’s expressed as dark clouds and glasses half empty.
Good comments, everyone. Keep them coming. Let’s here from as many people as we can. Let’s do this in the thread tonight to, if you’re home watching/listening to the game.
You’ve inspired me, sir. As always, you and the crew here encapsulate my own intense fandom with polished, well-written commentary. I digest as much as I can here. Oftentimes, I look forward to off days if only because it gives you all the chance to break things down and take your analysis to another level. I love it, and I thank you all for your efforts.
I hate that Twitter causes so much trouble for you guys and for others like Fay and Ramsey who have to deal with that while still going above and beyond their professional expectations. The fan base that does this, in my estimation, is truly the minority and certainly doesn’t reflect all of our feelings. Certainly no true baseball fans I know would derive so much pleasure from tearing down beat writers or players’ wives like they do with Fay or Dallas Latos.
Point is that I’ve loved this team for life, fondly recall the 1990 series from my youth, and truly love everything about this year’s team. There’s something special here, something that transcends daily lineup minutiae, and I look forward to seeing what the rest of this year has to offer. I hope the people who throw in the towel every time the team loses stops and realizes just how rare this success has been and how important it is to savor it.
Keep up the good work! Go Reds!
Phenomenal post, and a very important one at that. I’ve grown up in central Illinois and currently live in southern Illinois, thus, I’m surrounded by Cardinal fans, and am constantly reminded of how perfect they are, just ask them. The few Reds fans that I am friends with are the type that you discussed here, complaining at every chance they get. Of course there have been frustrations this season, every team has them. But this Reds team has done one of the best jobs of excelling despite these frustrations in all of baseball. The last time the Reds won the series was in 1990. I was born in 1991. This is the most excited I have been about a Reds team, and I can’t wait to see them make a run in the playoffs! Go Redlegs!!
@Landon:
There is nothing on this earth i despise more than arrogant Cardinals fans, and they’re broadcasters. If you guys think Brantley is bad, you’ll be begging for him after you listen to them talk about the brawl between the 2 teams like it happened yesterday.
I love these comments so far. Also, aside from my responses, we have 8 different comments from 7 different readers. I’d love to see something like that start happening in the game threads.
I was 8 years old in 1990. I will never forget my mother letting me stay up past my school night bedtime to watch Game 4 vs the A’s on a 12 inch black and white TV with rabbit ears. I’ll also never forget jumping up and down in my spider man pjs following the Reds win. I remember thinking that year, that nobody could beat the Reds, NOBODY. As an 8 year old 2nd grader I believed in my team regardless of what anyone said. Jason, I’ve been positive for most of the year, but you’re post has inspired me to have that 8 year old attitude from here on out. My team is the best out there. They will win it all. Good Joo Joo
I think it’s part of human nature that we’re more likely to post when we’re annoyed by something than when we’re pleased with something. That’s just baked into the cake.
And I think it’s important to distinguish between reasoned complaints (no matter how often repeated repeatedly over and over again) and clinically insane Richard from Springboro stuff like the “Joey sucked the fun out of the clubhouse” guy, which is best mocked and dismissed. In that order.
Hey there, nice post, and welcome to those first-time posters!! ………Love my Reds, going back to the days when Dave Bristol was the manager and Leo (Chico) Cardenas played shortstop …..
It’s easy to harp on the negatives, especially when, six months into the season, the Reds keep trying a particular thing or two that obviously isn’t working. I don’t think it’s wrong of fans to want to know what the justification is for repeatedly trying a failed strategy. If the volume is a little high, that’s another issue, I guess…..
But hey, most of what the Reds are doing IS working!!! It is great to be talking about clinching the division and playing some postseason baseball. Let’s start a new winning streak tonight. Meet you all at the game thread!!!!!
@RC: @vegastypo: I understand and agree with what both of you are saying. The problem with the internet though, is that it becomes easy for those little strains of negativity to overwhelm things that are otherwise really fun. That’s been happening way too much with the Reds’s season. This isn’t an attempt to silence valid critiques so much as it is a call to have fun, enjoy a great season, and express that enjoyment openly and enthusiastically.
In so doing, hopefully, we can balance the conversation and draw back in some of the fans who have been driven away by the negative rhetoric of the season.
So relax! Let’s have some fun out here! This game’s fun, OK?
-Crash Davis
I’ll be at work tonight so I will miss the game thread. Count me among the optomists. I think any of the regulars can seem more negative than we really are.
With maybe two exceptions (three if you count Richard From Springboro) I believe we come here to praise the Reds, not to bury them. I admit that I do not love Jim Joyce, Bud Selig, Ron Oester or Chris Carpenter, but that is long ago and far away, and beside, the wench is dead.
@CincyinOKC
I am so glad I have found someone who shares this feeling! When the Cardinals play the Reds I am forced to listen to the FSMidwest announcers. They are some of the most biased, arrogant, one-sided sports broadcasters I have ever heard. Disgraceful. I have learned to mute the TV and turn on Marty during those broadcasts.
Go Redlegs.
You know what I like about this team? I think the Reds CAN win the World Series. They might not, but they certainly could.
Oh, anyone can. But, will they? That’s something else. They may even be built for the WS (I don’t think so). But, a lot goes into how those are playing at that time.
@MikeC: Yes, exactly this. At some point soon, I’ll have a post about how I think the Reds are actually pretty well-built for the playoffs. But, of course, the playoffs are a crapshoot. Anyone can win.
Some of the negativity I believe is just individuals venting without analysis; I’ve never paid much attention to it. If there is any consistent negativity, and I will include myself on this one, it would be from things like Baker giving players like Tavaras, Patterson, Harris, Gomes, and Stubbs and others so many chances, in lieu of other players who could be just as talented if not moreso. Now, a lot of that I believe is justified. I do try not to let it “take me over”, which can easily happen to many who let in the “dark side”, but it isn’t wrong. I have been concentrating myself on the playoffs more recently, taking Baker’s lineup moves both pre-game and during the game as, “There’s Dusty being Dusty. He still hasn’t changed. He won’t change.”
Some consider Baker as some baseball genius. Sorry, I don’t consider him more than a serviceable utility guy who may have had some good seasons. Something like the Cairo of managers. A player every team always needs, someone who can do the job, someone not needed to turn a team around. If you need someone to sub in a pinch, you can count on Baker. Is Baker going to be the manager to turn the team around? Sorry, can’t see that, even with this team. IMO, this team was turned around years ago when the front office started to bring in better talent throughout the entire system.
Enough of that, onto the playoffs. Awful difficult to tell. For, it could be how the individual team is doing going into the playoffs. A good season record doesn’t necessarily tell that. Like the Cards last year, they got on a roll at the right time. Look what happened. I do think we will be competitive. But, I still don’t see “it” in this team. Like, a killer instinct. Or, taking advantage of situations like bases loaded and no outs or 1 out. I see having a good first series, possibly winning it, but losing the NLCS, possibly easily.
@steveschoen: Two posts. Both pessimistic. Why? All you offer is vague feeling of doom that, frankly, probably has more to do with your state of mind (which no doubt owes something to the past decade plus of Reds baseball) than the quality of this team. You complain about individuals venting without analysis and then do exactly the same thing. Cheer up! Your team is good! They are going to play in October!
So, you assume I don’t want the Reds to win the WS. That assumption is purely and simply wrong, putting words into one’s mouth that simply isn’t there. I have been a diehard fan for over 30 years. But, I am also a realist. If the store sells a bad sandwich, you tell the restaurant, “You have a bad sandwich.” You don’t tell them, you are only adding to the rest of the public’s anguish. I never said we have a bad team. I only said how I believe we will do. What’s with your promoting a doom and gloom environment that just isn’t there.
Besides, this might be a doom and gloom message for you. But, that is a message that the Astros and Cubs would be glad to trade anyday for. And, a message that we would have loved to have heard just 4 years ago.
That’s one reason why people will mention anything like I did. We want them to become even stronger, in order to give themselves even a better chance to win the WS. And, you take this as negative? I take is as a willingness to become even a better team. You don’t let your weaknesses go and concentrate on your strengths. That’s what cheerleaders do, remaining blind to the weaknesses a team has. IMO, aficianados of the game will look for the team to become even stronger in every aspect of the game, including their weaknesses, and not be hesitant to point them out.
To say this is negative is someone looking for anything that could literally be construed as being negative, aka a spin. Like how one politician will promote a physical fitness program for public schools; what’s wrong with kids getting outside to play and getting some exercise. The other politician, “It’s a government takeover of our lives.”
OK, I just voted for WHEN I think the Reds will clinch the division! No negativity there!!!!!!!!!!!
Line up posted for tonite. looks the same as last night except for P and C. And yes, Hanigan actually gets to bat ahead of Valdez. Anyway courtesy of Mr Fay and the Enquirer, here it is:
Phillips 4
Heisey 8
Votto 3
Ludwick 7
Bruce 9
Frazier 5
Hanigan 2
Valdez 6
Arroyo 1
I like seeing “hot-hitting Heisey” getting another start.
It’s about time, too, that he’s getting some more attention. I just wonder how much Baker is going to give him. Will it be a chance like Stubbs has gotten over the years?
And Valdez is hitting in the right spot!
Positivity… catch the wave!
@vegastypo: Agreed. I got down on Heisey when I shouldn’t have. CF is an interesting question right now.
Re: this post. I don’t know how they’ll do in the post season, I’m just excited that I’ll find out.
Re: tonight’s lineup. I sure would like to see Gregorius get more opportunities while Cozart is out, instead of the automatic out that is Wilson Valdez.
@steveschoen: You say you don’t think they’ll do well. You offer no reasons why. There is a ton of evidence suggesting this is a very good team. Being a “realist” would mean acknowledging that you never know in the postseason, but the Reds have as good a chance as anyone. If you don’t think this is true, offer some evidence.
I say in the post that they probably won’t win the series. That’s true of all playoff teams. Thinking about it is pointless. I’d rather have fun watching what happens.
My top 5 Wilsons I’d rather see in the starting lineup over Valdez:
1. The volleyball from the Tom Hanks, shipwrecked movie.
2. The neighbor from Home Improvement whose face we never saw.
3. Carney
4. Woodrow
5. Any of the Beach Boys.
6) Flip Wilson
Owen Wilson
7) Jackie Wilson
I meant
Owen Wilson
My “eight” is getting stuck or something.
This season has been fantastic. I am basking in this. Seeing the Reds occasionally own the best record in baseball late in the season has been an unexpected treat.
Thank you to everyone who writes for, maintains, and pays for this blog. Let me say it again: THANK YOU! Redleg Nation has done a great job of enhancing my Cincinnati Reds baseball experience. You guys rock.
I wholeheartedly agree. Total props to the organizers of Redlegnation.
The only thing I dont like about this team, is that it relies too much on home runs, doing the little things, moving a guy over from 2nd to 3rd. That is the only thing that this team needs to get better at. To many times this year big innings get stopped by double plays like last night in the 1st inning.
I have not seen anything negative about this Reds’team since Joey V came back. Some of the players have performed with herculean effort and results while Joey V was out and their tank has run dry right now. That’s not a negative, just a factual observation. A little R&R will cure that problem so by the time the final series with the fading Bucos and floundering Birds roll around, the Reds will be fully rested, fully recuperated and ready for a serious playoff run. This Reds team can match up with anyone and everyone in the playoffs. My brother lives in Dallas and has become a staunch Rangers fan but we grew up in Cincinnati. We have been dreaming and hoping for a home & home world series for years and we now have the apple nearly within our grasp. C’mon Reds, bring it home.
anybody else remember, “Hellooooooooooooooo, Mr. Wilson!!” ??? Man, that was a long time ago.
I wouldn’t mind seeing DiDiG get some more playing time, too. Nobody knew what they’d get from Cozart until he was brought up in 2011. I’m not comparing DiDiG to Cozart, just saying the the best way to find out about a guy’s game is to see first-hand!!!!
And while we’re talking about a positive atmosphere, the Reds could go 12-11 in their last 23 games and finish with 95 wins. For the Cardinals to get to 95 wins, they’d have to go 21-3. …
Having followed this franchise since 1961, more than anything else this team reminds me of the 1972 Reds, the beginnings of a great team. This has been a fun year, especially with that amazing run while Joey was out, but I see a better team on the horizon. Seriously, folks, barring injury this team is going to just get better.
Look at the ages of the players and lay that against the ages where players typically start to perform at their peak. Look at the aging players and see who is waiting in the wings.
As for complaint, there will always be those, but on the internet the complainers are louder and more persistent. Many of them would have been grousing about moving Rose to third, pointing out it had been a disastrous experiment in the 60s, and pointing out that Vukovich had superior secondary metrics and was being ruined by Sparky Anderson, a manager clearly in over his head.
Frankly, Cairo and Valdez are weaknesses about 25 other teams wish they could worry about. Give some folks a diamond and all they can see are minor flaws like Stubbs, missing the sparkling beauty at play in fron of their eyes. Teams this good are to be enjoyed, and that enjoyment includes not obsessively looking for minor imperfections.
How could we forget Woodrow?
And as much as I agree with you, RCR, on how I’d rather see Didi get the playing time, the simple fact of the matter is Wilson Valdez will be on the post season roster, and Didi won’t. If getting Valdez more PT helps “get him going” (whatever that would mean), it’s more important than Didi’s development in the remaining three weeks.
Does anyone remember The JV grandsalami against the Nationals? They are a team that can make big plays, that’s why they win so often…in my opinion. Go Reds.
Thanks for the positive vibe, Jason. I grew up devoted to the Big Red Machine. I used to post on here a lot more, but I have to admit the arguing has chased me away a bit. I appreciate all y’all who write for the Nation, and I LOVE seeing my Reds get a teeny bit more respect. Hopefully soon they’ll have everyone’s attention as World Champions!
I hope Jason you are also addressing some RLN editors/moderators who have noticeably played some favorites, especially this year. This contributes to a more contentious, negative blog environment. Blogs almost always fall prey to alpha-dogging and argument. That said, there are many funny and thoughtful contributors in addition to the superb editors/moderators.
It is good to be a Reds fan this year. The Reds have overcome much adversity (loss of Madson, Votto for a stretch, Masset) to have one of its best seasons. Frazier, Chapman, and Ludwick have far exceeded expectations. Bruce, in spite of some droughts, has put up staggering numbers. Hanigan has been superb at calling games, throwing out runners and making contact (bb>k). Reds starting pitching has had an unprecedented string of starts and the team’s pinch hitting remains solid. Drew Stubbs has scored a ton of runs in spite of his demons while Phillips continues to entertain with his defense and supply clutch hitting. The players seem to love Dusty even when fans can’t figure him out or disagree with his approach. Yes, it is good to be a Reds fan.
We definitely need a more positive vibe during the game thread. Good to see names I don’t recognize here. Look forward to seeing Landon, dursk, James Wheeler, et al., participate on game threads going forward. Too few voices dominate too much of the conversation–and in a relentlessly negative manner.
Thanks for this, Jason.
I won’t be able to make the game thread tonight. But that’s OK, I mostly do smart%@& remarks and Todd Frazier stuff. Root ‘em on!
No offense to the excellent writing/editing that goes on here intended, but this is always going to be the case. Like RC said, people have to take the time to post, and most people that are happy don’t call customer service. When you walk down the street and a tree branch falls and hits you on the head, you post it to facebook. You’re not likely to post when the tree branch falls and misses you by a foot.
I figure it must not bother the lurkers, because they’re still here. It doesn’t really bother me that one poster posts 32 negative comments per game. Why should it? I think most people find it kind of humorous, actually.
In terms of the postseason, I figure the Reds have just as good of a chance to win as anyone else, and a better chance than some. If the Reds were better at the #3 starter spot, I’d think they had the best shot in the NL for sure.
I signed up for this site a long time before I ever posted. No reason, I always meant to comment but usually the way I felt was said by others first. I love this site and I am on it every day. I’m a die hard Reds fan. I try to always stay positive as hard as it can be sometimes. As far as last night goes, you knew Chapman was going to blow a save again this year. I’m not being negative, the odds were just there. I would rather he blew a save against the Astros than the Cardinals. That would be a hard one to get over. Now he got the blown save over with and he can start on a new streak. I’d even love to see some somersaults again!
Throughout the 2004 playoffs, Curt Schilling’s big thing was “why not us?” Even though any team can apply that line, I think it is especially fitting in regards to the Reds. Best player in baseball, a top 2 of the rotation I’d take over most teams top 2s, rookie studs, revived veterans, shining stars and a lockdown bullpen to boot. ESPN and MLBN follow the Nationals and the Dodgers and the AL East, be it Baltimore, NY, Tampa Bay. The Tiger’s get their’s and we all know about the AL West. Shoot, everyone even says “watch out for those Cardinals.” Why not the Reds? Sure the odds aren’t good for the Reds to win the series…but the odds aren’t good for anyone. Therefore, the Reds have as good of a shot as anyone else. There is no reason to believe that the Reds shouldn’t win this thing.
So in the immortal words of an immortal postseason pitcher, why not us? We’ve toiled long enough in mediocrity. It’s our time.
@steveschoen: Steve, I think we agree more than we disagree. What I have a problem with is the way many continue to make the same criticisms over and over. Yes, they are valid (indeed, if you look back, you’ll find I agree with most of the most common critiques of Baker, for instance), but we’re almost 140 games in now. There’s nothing new to be said about those things, and they aren’t going to change, so we might as well cheer.
Too soon it will be the offseason and then we can talk about that stuff. For now, let’s have some fun.
@Hank Aarons Teammate: But it didn’t used to be like that here. There was once a very balanced discussion, especially in game threads. I don’t know why it’s tapered off, but I want to encourage those who might be staying away because of the negative tone to come back and be part of a movement that changes that tone.
Nice article,It will interesting to see who is on the playoff roster…..The starters and catchers are the biggest areas to watch
Great post Jason! I know I’m new here, and a super new Reds fan compared to most of you guys (right around 2008 is when I saw the light). And I know that every game I see a questionable lineup or Valdez, etc, I get queasy on the inside. But there’s a reason why Dusty is my comment picture…no matter how many questionable calls or lineups, I trust this manager and this team. The only ballgame I’d been to before becoming a Reds fan was back in 2005 at PNC park to see the Pirates take on the Giants (Got to sit in left field and yell at Bonds, it was fun). I’ve now been to 4 Reds games, and I’m all in. I love this organization from the front office to the announcers (Cowboy saying “They’re always feeling good when they’re sporting new wood” has to be my favorite so far) to the management, players, and probably most of all the fans.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that for a guy stranded in Cubs country, north central Indiana, I’m all in. This is the best organization in the MLB, and probably one of the best in professional sports in general. And I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Oh, and I definitely agree with the post about a week ago about how the fan response in Cincy seems to have a lot to do with also being Bengals fans. But there’s a pretty big difference in the way that the Reds treat their fans as opposed to the Bengals. My roommate grew up about 30 mins from Cincinnati and is a lifelong fan of both teams. Every April the dude gets super hyped, and every September he’s already depressed. The first words out of his mouth after week 1 every season are usually “****ing Mike Brown.” Talk about worlds colliding, glad I’m a Texans fan ha!
I’m so sold out on Cincinnati pro sports that my NBA team is still the Royals. I am excited about the Reds and the general state of baseball period. There are a number of interesting races and storylines, including the presence of the O’s in contention. It’s neat to actually hear sports shows local and national actually mention Cincinnati in a positive light. This team is just convinced that it can win anytime it steps on the field, and regardless of how far down they are in any given game. It’s a clubhouse full of heroes. I am happy we made moves that should leave us in contention for a long time, and if this isn’t our year, we only need to add a piece or two to make next year our year. We may not be the Machine (who is?) but we should be able to contend for as long as they did. Go Reds. and Mike Brown, stand down.
Great post, I couldn’t agree more. I love the energy of this team. I love the way they seem to pick each other up. I very good friend of mine is a big Reds fan and an incurable “gloom & doom”er, I had to talk him off the ledge more than a few times until “the streak”. They may or may not win the World Series. Of course, with every fiber of my being, I want them to….but if they don’t it doesn’t mean that I won’t enjoy the ride and root harder each day. This team is built to win this year and for a few more to come. I love that, too. I’m tired of gnashing my teeth over Dusty’s lineups or Drew Stubbs looking lost at the plate. Dusty’s gotten them into position to win the division & contend for home field advantage. As far as ol’ Stubby goes….Cesar Geronimo couldn’t hit, either, and that team was ok. If anyone wants something to jack them up for the postseason, listen to the audio of Chris Sabo on Fountain Square in 1990….goosebumps, big smile & a FIRE for this team. GO REDLEGS!!!!!!!!!!
Well said! If the Cardinals can do what they did last year then why not the Reds? At least that is how I look at it! We have a team that has the potential to provide us with several good years to come; personally, I believe its time to get excited for the Reds future!
I’ve only been lurking a short time, but I’ve seen the kind of thing on other chat boards. It’s like they think that being negative is somehow smarter than being a fan.
I’ve been around long enough to remember that the BRM played Pat Corralles, Woody Woodward, and all kinds of other fellows that don’t have the trendy OPS++ or WIN- numbers or whatever the new thing is. And from someone who read James before it was cool, it is disturbing to see the new stats become a dogma rather than a way to see the game in a new way.
Me, I’ll just enjoy the games. I wonder what Billy Bates’ SLGx was in 1990 when we sent him up to the plate…
Thank you, Jason for reminding us all that baseball is fun. I have never lived in Cincinnati, or Ohio, or even the midwest, but I’ve been a Reds fan since I was a little catcher and Johnny Bench was the man. I do agonize over strange lineups and odd strategic decisions and missed opportunities, but in the big picture (meaning wins and losses and standings) this has been a magical season. I hope there’s more magic to come.
Because I have never lived in or near Ohio I’m a Reds fans for reasons that might be a little different from most of the guys (and women) on this site. I love the Reds because I’ve loved so many of the players. Johnny Bench and Barry Larkin are top of the list all time favorites, but I’ve rooted nearly as hard for and lived and died by a long list of Reds. Eric Davis, Sean Casey, Mario Soto, Pedro Borbon, Paul O’Neill and Joe Oliver all jump to mind. And on the current team, I love to watch Joey Votto hit and wonder what it would have been like to see Ted Williams in his prime. But I also root for Homer Bailey every time he starts, and I get deflated when the bullpen wastes a great start – not just because my team lost, but also because we’ll be quicker to forget some terrific pitching. And I watch Drew Stubbs bat, willing him to get a hit, sometimes just to make contact. For my money he’s one of the most exciting players in the game, just not as often as I’d like. So you can imagine that it’s sometimes been tough to stay really positive about RLN and the negative dialogue. But because I don’t live in Ohio RLN is my Reds home. And I haven’t participated much in the conversation. Yet. But I am a huge Reds fan, and I am enjoying this year in a big way. And I do realize that hoping for the negativity to subside while watching from the sidelines makes no more sense than Mike Costanzo or Willie Harris in a Reds uniform. So add my voice to the positive chorus. I’m proud to be a Reds fan every year, and especially so this year. And I’m looking forward to a World Series victory. And yes, I know it’s unlikely – but I also know it’s possible. So I’ll keep rooting, I’ll keep cheering, and I’ll start commenting too.
One other thought for the postseason. I’ve often stumped my baseball fan friends by asking them this little trivia question: Which team has the longest active winning streak in world series games? The answer of course is the Reds. Nine games in a row. Game 7 in 1975, all four games in 1976. All four (unlikely) games in 1990. Nine in a row. And counting. So my prediction for 2012: Reds in a Series sweep. Streak to 13.
I can dream, right?