Six straight wins. Victories in 11 of their last 13 games. Things are good right now. The Reds have played as well during this stretch as they have in a year in a half. They're actually fun to watch right now. What's the difference? Scott Rolen. Everyone said they have no idea why they upgraded at the deadline, while still shedding a little payroll. I have to admit, I didn't understand trading for Rolen, I mean I understand it, he's an upgrade at the hot corner, but the timing seemed odd. And I had been wondering what in hell GM Walt Jockety was thinking. I was thinking that Jockety's salad days were surely a thing of the past, and that he was just an over the hill General Manager, grasping at whatever he could to make something happen. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Jockety is still one of the most saavy baseball guys out there. I remember the Rockies going nuts in 2007, winning 21 of their last 22 games and going to the World Series that year. No one was even thinking about the Rockies in August of that year. And in September they went nuts. Here's the story about it if you don't recall. And no, I'm not saying the Reds are going to the World Series this year. The Cardinals are too far ahead in the NL Central, and they're just too good to let the Reds or anyone else in the hunt at this point in the year. But the Reds did something that no other NL Central team did this fall, they've turned it around. This team might be good. They seem to be much closer to a playoff team than the other Central also rans.
My apologies to all the negativity I put on Mr. Jockety over this whole season. Maybe he's in better control of this team than any of us imagined he was, especially me. I will continue to watch when I can, and will probably be back to writing about these Reds a little more. I appreciate tough, gritty, focused baseball play, and this Reds team is doing exactly that. I admire this incarnation of the Reds. I will not even say anything negative about Dusty Baker today. Its still a long shot, but the Reds still could have a winning season this year, if they stay focused and tough and don't run into anymore injuries. I'll be watching either way, rooting either way, and enjoying it more if they win. This town could use a winner. This year has been tough on everyone, hopefully more like me are enjoying some baseball.
My apologies to all the negativity I put on Mr. Jockety over this whole season. Maybe he's in better control of this team than any of us imagined he was, especially me. I will continue to watch when I can, and will probably be back to writing about these Reds a little more. I appreciate tough, gritty, focused baseball play, and this Reds team is doing exactly that. I admire this incarnation of the Reds. I will not even say anything negative about Dusty Baker today. Its still a long shot, but the Reds still could have a winning season this year, if they stay focused and tough and don't run into anymore injuries. I'll be watching either way, rooting either way, and enjoying it more if they win. This town could use a winner. This year has been tough on everyone, hopefully more like me are enjoying some baseball.
No comments:
Post a Comment