Visions of 2009

I can't live through another crushing moment like
this, again.
Associated Press

The Reds, well, they continue to do a whole lot of nothing. And we're 82 games into the season. That ain't good, folks. With every passing day, the 2011 Reds remind me less and less the team that went on last year's magical ride. Instead, they look a lot like the 2009 version of the Reds: a team that mostly had the pieces to contend in a weak division, but never put together a significant streak to take advantage. They hung around .500 into July, but fell apart shortly after this. I'll never forget that, because it was after a brilliant performance by Homer Bailey, and the bullpen just blew up. The Reds would rally to tie the game before losing, and never recovered, tail spinning out of contention in a hurry. So you might understand why I began to worry, when getting off of work Tuesday night, I got in my car only to learn that this had happened. Granted, Cincinnati nearly won the game, and would go on to win the series against Tampa. Big deal. The Rays play terrible at Tropicana Field. Beating them there is like beating the Milwaukee Brewers outside of Miller Park. It's like taking candy from a baby. Seriously. Tampa bats .225 at home, and average 3.1 runs a game (27th out of 30 in the majors). Evan Longoria (.195), Ben Zobrist (.227), Johnny Damon (.221), and B.J. Upton (.156) all fail to hit well at home. So pardon me if I don't hop on to the bandwagon after the series victory.

With all that said, I'll continue to support the Reds, cheer for them, go to games, live and die with every victory and loss. But I already know how this season ends, and it's not in October. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope that I am wrong. I hope the Reds will turn it on, go on a streak and take control of a division that is up for grabs. Perhaps they will. After they play Cleveland this weekend, they get 13 games against the three teams ahead of them in Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh. And as well as Cincinnati has played against their division, one can only hope they will pick it up in the second half. Dusty Baker and the players have continuously talked about how close they are to making a run; how close they are to putting it all together. I feel like I've been hearing that for weeks. As shown by Milwaukee's futility on the road, as well as St. Louis' lack of health and pitching depth, Cincinnati will hardly go away in the division race. But their lack of focus in a series against Baltimore, and then their strong play against Tampa is absolutely maddening.

Walt may need to find a veteran to save this team.
Getty Images/Elsa

Paul Daugherty of the Cincinnati Enquirer recently suggested in his blog that Walt Jocketty needs to spin a similar deal to what he did in St. Louis in 2001. The Cardinals were a middle of the pack and destined for .500 baseball that year. At the trade deadline, Jocketty acquired veteran righty Woody Williams, who was 8-8 with a 4.97 ERA in 23 starts for the San Diego Padres. He wasn't an ace. He wasn't even a number two starter. But, the guy could provide quality starts, keep his team in the game, and give depth to the rotation. St. Louis took off when he arrived, finishing 93-69 and making the playoffs. Williams went 7-1 with a 2.28 ERA in 11 starts down the stretch, and pulled the team out of their underachieving funk. The Cardinals were too talented to fail. I see the Reds the same way, which is what's so frustrating. And for those who might argue that Cincinnati is simply not that good, take a look at their runs scored versus runs allowed differential. Only the Phillies, Braves, Yankees, and Red Sox have a better differential than the Reds at +41. That's fairly telling, considering I would argue those four teams are the best in baseball. So yes, Cincinnati is underachieving, and horribly so.

Yes, Johnny, I am as baffled as you.
Associated Press/Chris O'Meara

The question is, does the Reds' brass believe they can pull themselves out of their funk? It's fairly obvious that they will stick with Renteria and Janish at short, for better or for worse. The logjam in left field continues to be puzzling, as Heisey, Gomes, and Lewis have all been tearing the cover off the ball of late. Was Edinson Volquez's start in Tampa the beginning of a solid run? If the rotation smooths itself out, and someone emerges from left field to play everyday, the Reds will take off. But, if Volquez relapses to his 'walk a batter an inning' self, Homer Bailey can't stay healthy, and left field continues to be a carousel, the Reds will remain near .500, and in third or fourth place. Will Walt make a move that toughens his club like he did so many times in St. Louis? Will Dusty be able to push all of the right buttons in the coming weeks? Will somebody light a fire under this team to play with some urgency and passion, like last year? As much of an eternal optimist as I am with the Reds, I am very skeptical of this team - I can't figure out their identity. I fear they are destined for another year like 2009. One without an October.