I thought the Reds were going to have a sick team this year, but they left me looking like a fool.  While most of their hitters have had solid seasons, the pitching took a HUGE step backward.  Aaron Harang hasn’t pitched like an ace all year, Johnny Cueto is suffering from some growing pains, and noone else really stepped up at the back of the rotation.  The only consistent starter has been superstud Edinson Volquez.

A once powerful offense is now without Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey, Jr. thanks to trades, so instead of any playoff runs now, they might have to wait another 2-3 years to make a solid run.  By then, Cueto, Joey Votto, and Jay Bruce should all be emerging into stars that will carry the Reds back to the promised land.

I thought I felt smart by picking the Reds to win the NL Central, but damn have I been dead wrong so far.  Just as everyone else knew, the offense was going to be very good, but the pitching, which I thought was much improved, has been a letdown of sorts.  While they’ve gotten fantastic performances from ace Aaron Harang and Edinson Volquez, the back end of the rotation has been disappointing.  Rookie sensation Johnny Cueto has tailed off after that stellar debut and now sports a 5.27 ERA.  The other three pitchers to start multiple games (Bronson Arroyo, Matt Belisle, Josh Fogg) all have laughable ERA’s.  The bullpen has been pretty solid though, save Todd Coffey.  Looks like Coco Cordero is proving that he’s worth that huge contract they gave him.  If they could get anything out of their back end, they could turn things around, but those guys are terrible right now.  I’m actually surprised that Arroyo is doing so bad.
The offense has actually been a huge letdown as well.  Both Ken Griffey and Adam Dunn have averages in the .220’s.  The only real consistent hitters have been Phillips, Encarnacion, Freel, Keppinger, and Votto.  I’m rather confused as to why Jay Bruce is still at AAA Louisville.  It really couldn’t hurt, he has nothing else to prove at the minor league level.  This kid is the future face of the Reds, and I know a lot of Reds fans are calling for him.
I’d also look to give Homer Bailey another shot.  He was pretty bad in Cincy last year, but has been dominating AAA so far (4-3, 2.72 ERA).  He’s still young, but again like Bruce doesn’t have much else to prove at the minor league level…I guess more experience wouldn’t hurt, but I don’t think a promotion would either.

But what do I know, I’m just a clueless blogger who isn’t even a Reds fan.

The Denver Post reported the Colorado Rockies are on the verge of trading second baseman Jamey Carroll to either the Cincinnati Reds or the Cleveland Indians. The Post reported the trade could be completed soon.

Carroll, the spunky infielder who became a fan favorite with his hustle and slick fielding, wants to be traded so he could get more playing time. Carroll has a $2.3 million guarantee.

I don’t really see this happening,  especially considering the Bedard deal is probably first priority.

Although Erik Bedard remains a Baltimore Oriole, the Cincinnati Reds have not given up on the possibility of acquiring him for2008.

There are those in the organization who remain confident that the deal will get done. One rated the chances of success at 75 percent.

“We’re still talking,” GM Wayne Krivsky said. “There are still some things out there.”

If this is true, this would be great news.  it doesn’t matter who the Reds give up, Bedard is one of the great young pitchers in the game, and while the big teams go after Santana they are missing out on the Bedard sweepstakes which will be cheaper and could be just as valuable.

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