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2008 Reds: Officially Eliminated.

Although I’ve been saying it for weeks, mathematics now confirms that the Cincinnati Reds 2008 season is over (in terms of post season aspirations). After the Reds loss to the lowly Pirates (who were previously eliminated on September 2), Cincinnati became the fourth team officially eliminated from October baseball (following the Pirates, Nationals, and the Mariners).

Ultimately, all is not lost, right? Walt and Bob have the Reds’ best interests at heart, at least according to their (now) infamous letter… After all, the Reds brass expects that a league low team batting average, no star offensive players, and a toothpick chomping manager would be enough to inspire Reds fans to attend meaningless September baseball. Something tells me that only 18,000 tickets sold for the last three games wasn’t what Mr. Castillini had in mind when he sent out that letter begging fans to show up at the ballpark and watch Dusty and the boys play pathetic baseball.

Speaking of the toothpick chomping manager, he’s positively giddy with the Reds. In fact, after today’s game (the first game in which the Reds were officially eliminated), he said “It was real important for us. They (the Pirates) were gaining on us, trying to get out of last place.” That’s right folks; this game mattered because the Reds kept the Pirates in last place.

Perhaps Mr. Baker should have decided that the games mattered long before it came down to a “Battle of the NL Central cellar.” Perhaps Mr. Baker should have benched his seemingly favorite, yet totally inept, centerfield named Corey Patterson. Perhaps Mr. Baker should have lowered an aging Ken Griffey in the lineup. Perhaps Mr. Baker should have never pitched Josh Fogg. Perhaps Mr. Baker shouldn’t have used his ace in an extra inning game for multiple innings and then throw that same ace back out on the mound three days later.
Of course, perhaps none of that mattered.

The Reds were a flawed team in the spring. The Reds had giant question marks regarding the two youngsters in the rotation (who turned out quite well thank you). The Reds had question marks surrounding Griffey’s health (turned out ok). The Reds had question marks surrounding the manager (that one didn’t turn quite so well).

However, the real problems plaguing the Reds seemed to go unnoticed by Reds management in the beginning. Patterson is the poster child for the management’s ineptitude, but the entire lineup (loaded with left-handed hitters, no power on the bench, etc) was flawed. When Baker was hired he promised to stress the fundamentals, but the Reds have committed the third most errors in the National League. Essentially, the Reds are as bad as their record indicates. In fact, without Volquez, the Reds would be challenging Seattle for the worst team in all of baseball.

The silver lining? At least the Reds lasted long enough to make it to football season (just barely). At this point, it’s time to root on my Penn State Nittany Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers! And for the Reds, well, as Cubs fans always say, “there’s always next year.”

Comments

  1. That's the beauty of baseball's spring training. You get so excited at the new season. They have some young pieces in place. Hopefully Cincy gets back on track.

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  2. Let it all hang out, Chris. Think of it this way, it's all about the game anyway.

    For 86 years, we Red Sox fans loved them even though we knew that they were going to lose straight up and may break our hearts in the process.

    We survived. That's what these trying times are for. They make the winning that much more sweet.

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