andrew dodson

Heading into the start of baseball season, I was fairly optimistic about the Cincinnati Reds making a run at the postseason this year. They’d revamped their pitching staff (finally spending money on “quality” starting pitching), and they have the same dangerous lineup they’ve had the past few years - Griffey (when healthy), Casey, Dunn, Kearns. Add quality players like Joe Randa and Wily Mo Pena to the mix and this looks like a quality ballclub.

With the season now in swing, I’ve learned to expect the expected - the Reds stink. Sean Casey sums it up quite nicely after their latest blunder - a 10-6 loss to the Mets, finishing a sweep by New York’s “other” professional baseball team:

“It was pretty much an embarrassing game, an embarrassing series,” said Casey, who matched his career best for hits. “It’s getting old, losing like this. It’s not only one facet of the game, we’re really scuffling in all the phases right now.”

Remember how I was optimistic about their pitching? It stinks. Awful. Remember that “dangerous” lineup? While Griffey has stayed healthy and seems to be heading in a good direction, and while Adam Dunn has cranked out 11 homeruns, the offense has yet to get in gear. Players are slumping, striking out left and right, and not getting the job done. Let’s not forget fielding. They commited four errors in tonight’s loss.

Oh well. How ’bout those Yankees?