After the great five and zero start the Reds had, there isn't a whole lot to show for it. The reds have fallen all the way back to .500 and sit at 11-10 before the start of game 3 against the Cardinals tonight. It looked as if the Reds might have a wire to wire season in the Central after the other teams started very slow. They all managed to catch back up thanks to a 15 game slump the Reds went through. Edinson Volquez has been magnificent, outside the first inning, Joey Votto looks determined to repeat his MVP season from last year, and Jay Bruce has struggled to get going in the beginning of the season.
I don't exactly understand why Edinson Volquez has been consistently bad in the first inning, but then almost lights out once he manages to get through it. It seems like he just goes out there trying to strike out everyone the first inning and then can't manage to get anyone out. They really should try experimenting with him throwing a simulated inning in the bullpen or something just to somehow get him calmed down when it's the real deal. Edinson has to figure something out or he's going to be one of the guys mentioned to be sent down when Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey make it back up. I really think he can be our best pitcher with the stuff he has, and he proves it from the second inning on. I don't know, maybe he likes pitching while in a losing game. It baffles me, he just needs to go out there and let the best defense in the NL, arguably, do work.
On a positive note, Joey Votto has picked up where he left off last season, hitting near .400 all season. Now I know, chances are he will not stick right at that pace all season, but .350 doesn't seem to be too far fetched for him. He's been on base every game so far and leads the team in hits. His on base percentage is phenomenal and he will be the centerpiece of the offensive attack again all season. I'm just waiting for him to go on an extended hot streak and climb up the home run rankings. I would say it's safe to say he will be right there competing for the MVP award again at the end of the year.
Jay Bruce, who was picked by a lot of analyst to break out and be the star we all expected him to be this year. Most thought he was an easy .300+ average hitter and 35 or more home runs. It's too early to say whether he is going to achieve those marks, but he is going to have to start swinging the bat better and cut down on his strikeouts. It took him a long time to really get going last year and I honestly do believe he will get really hot down the stretch. It would be really nice to see him get going soon though, it seems like he's overplaying himself trying to fulfill the contract he got in the off season.
If the Reds can get hot again like they started the year, and pray to God for no injuries such as Rolen hitting the DL, which is going to hurt at the hot corner, I can see them repeating as NL Central champs realistically. They just need to play like they know they can and stay out of jail. The Central isn't going to be a cake walk, but they definitely have the team to walk away with it. This team should have the expectations of winning the World Series, I mean what does every team play for? Go Reds!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
What a First Two Weeks!
It's great to see baseball back in full swing! There have been a lot of stories already with Manny being Manny and calling it quits after he gets busted AGAIN, Matt Holliday having an appendectomy after the first game, Boston losing its first six games, and the list could go on all night if I wanted to keep going.
My personal favorite is Manny Ramirez retiring a week into the season after he reportedly failed another drug test. You would think after getting caught once he might have learned his lesson, but apparently not. The Rays thought they were going to get big production when he showed up to camp in great shape. Now we know why he was in great shape. I understand where he's coming from just calling it quits though, he was going to miss most of the season anyway with the 100 game suspension and as late in his career and the slow start. Might as well go into retirement and enjoy life with the millions he has racked up.
The Reds got off to a really hot start winning their first five, they look to have the best team in the NL Central this season even if Greinke isn't back in Milwaukee. Although the offense isn't putting up runs like they started and Volquez not getting through a first inning without giving up a run or four, I can see them gaining a nice lead in the Central early in the year. This team knows how to get it done and has a lethal offense. I think they are maybe one star pitcher from a serious World Series threat to win it all. Not saying the squad right now can't do it. It will be an interesting year for the Reds that hopefully includes a trip to the World Series.
The Red Sox are my biggest shocker to start the year. They have yet to put it together with their new additions, and a pitching staff struggling early. I will say I watched Josh Beckett go to work on the Yankees the other night which was really impressive but Dice-K might want to go back to Japan after the Rays beat him up real good tonight. Carl Crawford looks like he might be getting into a grove from what I saw tonight, they need to find him a place in the lineup and leave him there though. He just hasn't got comfortable if you ask me, they bat him leadoff one night, then seventh, it's tough to know what his role is so far with Francona moving him up and down so much. With this team I think time is their most important thing, once they figure out where everyone is going to hit best, this team is going to get scary good and will be the best team like everyone thought they would be. Don't give up on them just yet!
Although I do believe it is well too early to decide who my favorite to win it all is, I will say Texas is showing me the best team so far. They're pitching staff is managing to keep runs off the board and their offense is the best in the league so far. I think their offense can even get better too, Josh Hamilton has yet to really get rolling and Beltre can contribute more too.
Stay posted, I'm starting school next week and who knows how much posting I will be doing but bear with me as my time will be reduced! GO REDS!
My personal favorite is Manny Ramirez retiring a week into the season after he reportedly failed another drug test. You would think after getting caught once he might have learned his lesson, but apparently not. The Rays thought they were going to get big production when he showed up to camp in great shape. Now we know why he was in great shape. I understand where he's coming from just calling it quits though, he was going to miss most of the season anyway with the 100 game suspension and as late in his career and the slow start. Might as well go into retirement and enjoy life with the millions he has racked up.
The Reds got off to a really hot start winning their first five, they look to have the best team in the NL Central this season even if Greinke isn't back in Milwaukee. Although the offense isn't putting up runs like they started and Volquez not getting through a first inning without giving up a run or four, I can see them gaining a nice lead in the Central early in the year. This team knows how to get it done and has a lethal offense. I think they are maybe one star pitcher from a serious World Series threat to win it all. Not saying the squad right now can't do it. It will be an interesting year for the Reds that hopefully includes a trip to the World Series.
The Red Sox are my biggest shocker to start the year. They have yet to put it together with their new additions, and a pitching staff struggling early. I will say I watched Josh Beckett go to work on the Yankees the other night which was really impressive but Dice-K might want to go back to Japan after the Rays beat him up real good tonight. Carl Crawford looks like he might be getting into a grove from what I saw tonight, they need to find him a place in the lineup and leave him there though. He just hasn't got comfortable if you ask me, they bat him leadoff one night, then seventh, it's tough to know what his role is so far with Francona moving him up and down so much. With this team I think time is their most important thing, once they figure out where everyone is going to hit best, this team is going to get scary good and will be the best team like everyone thought they would be. Don't give up on them just yet!
Although I do believe it is well too early to decide who my favorite to win it all is, I will say Texas is showing me the best team so far. They're pitching staff is managing to keep runs off the board and their offense is the best in the league so far. I think their offense can even get better too, Josh Hamilton has yet to really get rolling and Beltre can contribute more too.
Stay posted, I'm starting school next week and who knows how much posting I will be doing but bear with me as my time will be reduced! GO REDS!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Opening Day!
What a game! I honestly thought out the gate, this was going to be a bad game. After Edinson gave up those two bombs in the first I was silent for a good two innings. I was shocked when Carlos Gomez put one in the upper deck, I was saying to myself, "Here we go, gonna be a long game". Thank god I stuck around for the finish! I was impressed with him after those first two innings, Volquez settled down and started getting outs and made it though six. I wasn't sure if he was going to get to the fifth let alone finish the fifth.
I personally always hang around for the end of a game unless it's that big of a loss or I got dropped off at the game and my ride is waiting. Just so happened, my ride drove around the city three times before I left. After seeing that finish though, I could care less. I wasn't going to leave Opening Day early like a friend of mine who found himself regretting leaving early. I actually called it, I'm sure a lot of people who are crazy optimistic at all times and say the Reds will come back and win every single game they are losing, but I was texting a friend who was there and said the Reds would win by on a late inning home run. I didn't think it would be a walk off home run, but I'll take a win any possible way!
I was impressed with Stubbs and think this kid is going to have a monster year. Even if Votto doesn't put up the numbers he did last year, with Stubbs and Bruce continuing to improve at the plate, the Reds are going to be a hard team to beat. From what I saw, Stubbs might be the answer at leadoff. I know it was only one game, but this kid is going to be a stud. He put on muscle this offseason and looked great Opening Day, I have high expectations for him this year.
The atmosphere was great from the first pitch to the last at bat. The place was packed and even down three runs in the ninth there was a lot of people still there. I will say most of the people in section 113 seemed to be drunk though, some guy gave me the hardest high five I've ever got after Hernandez hit that home run. My had stung for a good twenty minutes. I would say this was the second best Reds game I've attended, right behind Jay Bruce's walk off clincher last year.
For all you people who haven't been to an Opening Day, YOU HAVE TO GO NEXT YEAR! It's a whole different experience from any other regular season game. I've been three years running, although I didn't get to go to the parade because I was driving back to Cincy from Gatlinburg, I got back in time for the game which was all that mattered to me. I also sat in downtown traffic for 45 minutes trying to find parking which I didn't. Barring any major life changes, I'll be attending many more years. Hopefully in a row, my goal is to be on that list of people they showed who have been 15 or more straight years.
Since the season has started, I believe I will be posting a lot more. Check back soon for more posts!
I personally always hang around for the end of a game unless it's that big of a loss or I got dropped off at the game and my ride is waiting. Just so happened, my ride drove around the city three times before I left. After seeing that finish though, I could care less. I wasn't going to leave Opening Day early like a friend of mine who found himself regretting leaving early. I actually called it, I'm sure a lot of people who are crazy optimistic at all times and say the Reds will come back and win every single game they are losing, but I was texting a friend who was there and said the Reds would win by on a late inning home run. I didn't think it would be a walk off home run, but I'll take a win any possible way!
I was impressed with Stubbs and think this kid is going to have a monster year. Even if Votto doesn't put up the numbers he did last year, with Stubbs and Bruce continuing to improve at the plate, the Reds are going to be a hard team to beat. From what I saw, Stubbs might be the answer at leadoff. I know it was only one game, but this kid is going to be a stud. He put on muscle this offseason and looked great Opening Day, I have high expectations for him this year.
The atmosphere was great from the first pitch to the last at bat. The place was packed and even down three runs in the ninth there was a lot of people still there. I will say most of the people in section 113 seemed to be drunk though, some guy gave me the hardest high five I've ever got after Hernandez hit that home run. My had stung for a good twenty minutes. I would say this was the second best Reds game I've attended, right behind Jay Bruce's walk off clincher last year.
For all you people who haven't been to an Opening Day, YOU HAVE TO GO NEXT YEAR! It's a whole different experience from any other regular season game. I've been three years running, although I didn't get to go to the parade because I was driving back to Cincy from Gatlinburg, I got back in time for the game which was all that mattered to me. I also sat in downtown traffic for 45 minutes trying to find parking which I didn't. Barring any major life changes, I'll be attending many more years. Hopefully in a row, my goal is to be on that list of people they showed who have been 15 or more straight years.
Since the season has started, I believe I will be posting a lot more. Check back soon for more posts!
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