Bombers, Jays Get the Best of the Reds

I'm at a loss for words in trying to figure this team out. One week, I talk about how the Reds have seemingly turned the corner, and the following week I have to find positives as Cincinnati flounders. When the offense clicks, the pitching stinks. And when the pitching is dominant, the offense is dormant. Outside of very small glimpses, the Reds have yet to put together stretches where they have played complete games. Without a doubt, there is a positive and negative aspect to that. From a negative point of view, we're 76 games into the season and the Reds haven't played all that well - maybe they're just not that good this year. Last year was an unbelievable run, and they look like a team that is expecting for everything to just click, like it did last year. Perhaps that won't happen. The Reds won a ton of dramatic games last year, but have failed in similar situations this year. Statistics are nice in measuring the success of a team, but I also believe in what my eyes tell me. And I don't see the same spark this year. They look like a team going through the motions, expecting for it all just to come together. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. From a positive point of view, you have to believe Cincinnati will put it all together. They're too talented. We've seen what they can do, last year, as well as how dominant they've looked in the sweep of St. Louis and their games against Milwaukee. This is just them riding the wave, waiting out the storm. It all HAS to come together eventually, right?

The ups and downs of this team are frustrating.
The Enquirer/Gary Landers

The ups and downs of this team are maddeningly far apart. When this offense clicks, they can absolutely dominate. When they stink, though, they are brutal. Take this homestand, for example. The Reds managed a measly 4 runs against the Toronto Blue Jays. Rolen hit a solo shot in the opener, and Stubbs was gifted an inside the parker because Bautista and Patterson failed to communicate. They were shut out in the second game, and won the finale on a two run shot by Miguel Cairo. That was it. Cincinnati was shut down by Jo Jo Reyes, Brandon Morrow, and Carlos Villanueva. Not exactly household names. Reyes and Villanueva are castoffs of the Braves and Brewers, while Morrow has excellent stuff, yet came into the game with an ERA well over 5. All three were at the top of their games. Then came dominant performances by Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia of the New York Yankees. Nova is a rookie, who was spectacular over 8 innings, surrendering just a run off of a double play ball in the first inning. Garcia gave up just 2 unearned runs in 7 innings. Cincinnati managed 5 runs in the first two games against the Yankees. One on a double play. One on an infield hit. Another on a fielder's choice. And the last two after an error. Not exactly knocking the cover off the ball.

Cueto was nails on Wednesday.
The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

Then came the night cap of a doubleheader against New York, when Chris Heisey and the Reds blasted Brian Gordon and the Bombers for 10 runs and 4 homers. Heisey, as you know, blasted three of them. Gomes hit the other, and Scott Rolen came off the bench to drive in two runs on a pair of hits. The offense clicked for a game without Votto or Bruce doing much, which is crucial, considering they are both slumping right now. Then again, this offensive performance came against a guy who was making his second career start after making the transition from an outfielder to a pitcher. Not exactly a top of the rotation starter. Nonetheless, it was a rare night where everything clicked. As nice as Heisey's performance was, and, trust me, it will get the "Free Chris Heisey" supporters clamoring for him in left field, Johnny Cueto was the star of the game. He was at the top of his game last night, surrendering one run on two hits over 7 dominant innings against an elite offense. Watching him work out of the bases loaded jam in the 7th, while approaching the 100 pitch mark was a thing of beauty. The old Cueto may have caved and surrendered a few runs. Not this new guy, though. He has become the ace of the staff, and though he has too few innings to qualify, he leads the NL in ERA at 1.63. Every time it looks like Cueto has pitched his best start, he goes out the next time and tops it. Unbelievable.

Until Wood can be consistent, he belongs at AAA.
The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Now, for some general things to get out there before I get to the big story. Travis Wood was shipped out to Louisville after a horrific first inning against the Yankees put a black mark on what was a decent 7 innings. Sam LeCure was recalled to slot back into the bullpen, and Homer Bailey will return to pitch against Baltimore on Sunday. He was 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 5 starts before injuring himself swinging a bat in Philadelphia. Hopefully he can return to the majors and make an impact in the rotation, which has continued to be solid. Mike Leake was terrific up until a 7th inning hiccup against Toronto, and wasn't too bad against the Yankees in 6 innings. Bronson Arroyo was dominant, and Edinson Volquez experienced his normal difficulties, though he has gotten better of late. If Wood gets everything worked out, though, he'll probably take Edinson's spot sooner than later. Zack Cozart, meanwhile, could be up in the majors soon. That would probably mean designating Edgar Renteria for assignment to make room. I'm not sure what is taking this so long. Cozart is very good defensively and he can hit, too. Perhaps most importantly, though, is that he has some pop in his bat. Cincinnati can use that. There are 8 team position groups in the National League that do not have a home run this season. Seven of them are pitchers for other teams. The other is Cincinnati Reds' shortstops. That is pathetic.

This scene was a numbing one for Cardinals fans.
Post-Dispatch/Chris Lee

Finally, Albert Pujols. As I'm sure you know, he sustained a broken forearm on this play, and is out for 4-6 weeks. Considering the inability of the Brewers or Reds to pull away from St. Louis, and vice versa, I doubt anyone is going to run away, even with Albert gone for a month or more. My question focuses more on Albert when he returns. Will he still have his power? These kind of injuries are always risky, and many a player is never the same when the return. I think Albert will be fine, though. And I truly hope he is ok. I may not be his biggest fan, but Albert is a great man, and a tremendous player. I will not argue that. And the game is better with him in it. However, if the Cardinals fall out of the race, it won't be from the loss of Albert - their offense was on the downswing anyway. Instead, it will be their pitching, which has been horrid since the first month and a half. Jake Westbrook and Chris Carpenter have never gotten it going. Kyle Lohse has begun to come back down to earth. And Kyle McClellan and Jaime Garcia cannot be trusted to provide a lot of innings over the rest of the season. Both can be inconsistent, and do not have the strength to do so. McClellan is a converted reliever in his fist year as a starter, and Garcia ran out of gas last season. This, combined with a terrible bullpen, will hold them down the rest of the season. A 9 run 8th against the Cardinals on Monday night typified the disaster that their bullpen has become, with several retreads and nobodies trying to keep their team in games. Will the loss of Albert affect the Cardinals? Undoubtedly. But it will not be the thing that holds them back in the division.