MLB team to watch in 2nd half--Cincinnati

joebatters · Jun 17, 2008

I'm going to start by saying that I am NOT a Reds fan. I live in Ohio, but follow the Indians. But this Reds team is a GOOD team. I can't figure out how they haven't won more so far. They have some very good position players,
Phillips is a great ballplayer, Griffey, Dunn, Encarnacion, Votto...that is a nice core. And then there's the kid, Jay Bruce. He put a big-time charge into this team. I think most of us who've seen him would agree...he's the real deal.
I think part of the reason for their poor record so far was Dusty Baker's staying with Corey Patterson in the leadoff spot when he had a OBP of like .200. Bruce's call-up fixed that problem.
Their pitching is not that bad. A rotation of Harang, Volqeuz, Arroyo, and Cueto is above-average IMO. Harang and Volquez at the top is a s good as any 1-2 punch in the league. Harang hasn't been as good as he usually is in the first half, but he'll get it together.
MR is not too bad, and their closer (Cordero) is good.
Their weaknesses are: catching, although Bako has been good so far, don't know if he can keep it up at 35...they can't turn DP's (although getting Keppinger back soon should solve that problem)...plus, their starters are mostly flyball pitchers...and they have played horrible on the road so far...
.333 right now.
They are not in the class with the Cubs or Phillies, but you know how the NL is...I think they will be in the mix with a bunch of other teams for the WC in Sept. Right now, you can get them at 75-1 for the NL flag at some books...I think it's worth a shot.

Fishhead · Jun 17, 2008

Can Dunn reach 500 career homers and actually make the HOF?

joebatters · Jun 17, 2008

Not sure, Dunn is one of those players who gives the impression that he doesn't go all out and doesn't work on his game, but in the end he winds up
with 40-100. And when he gets hot, he can carry a team on his back for weeks. I think he will get 500 HR. One thing I do know is that the arrival of Jay Bruce has seemed to perk up Dunn a lot. Maybe it has to do with both of them being Texans.

-Chase- · Jun 17, 2008

Cincinnati is a team to watch in the future, and will be a VERY good team in a few years, but not this season. Their pitching is still below average, and Volquez will only decline (not a chance he keeps up his ridiculous numbers).

Also I think they are trying to trade some of their vets, and I know they are thinking about dealing Jr.

A team to watch in the second half of the season is the Dodgers. They are too good not to make the playoffs.

5teamparlay · Jun 17, 2008

28 year old ADAM DUNN has 256 HR's. He is on a great pace. He has a career .247 AVERAGE though. If he plays at age 40 that would be 12 more years, Just needs to average 20 HR's a year (if he hits 4 more this year) to reach 500. Is that a magic##?? i think not anymore as RAFFY, MAC and SOSA have ruined HR Stats for everyone. He seems like a Gorman Thomas/ Dave Kingman type.
He should go to the RED SOX and be average for 10 years, he would be an automatic LOCKHOF , no questions.

ECS · Jun 17, 2008

Dunn is freaking hard to figure out, his avg sucks but you look past that and his OBP is good because he walks so much (usually leads the league or right their). Yet, how does one walk so much, yet strikeout so much as well, he is a tough guy to figure out

Brock Landers · Jun 17, 2008

Fishhead said:
Can Dunn reach 500 career homers and actually make the HOF?

the only way that guy gets in the hall is to buy a ticket, i don't care if he hits 600 homers!

5teamparlay · Jun 19, 2008

great thread
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspscbrdbg height=18>Scores & Schedule</TD></TR><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ysptblthbody1><TD class=yspdetailttl colSpan=3 height=18> Last Five Games</TD></TR><TR class=ysprow2><TD class=yspscores> Sat, Jun 14</TD><TD class=yspscores noWrap>Boston</TD><TD class=yspscores align=right>L 4-6 </TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1><TD class=yspscores> Sun, Jun 15</TD><TD class=yspscores noWrap>Boston</TD><TD class=yspscores align=right>L 0-9 </TD></TR><TR class=ysprow2><TD class=yspscores> Tue, Jun 17</TD><TD class=yspscores noWrap>LA Dodgers</TD><TD class=yspscores align=right>L 1-3 </TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1><TD class=yspscores> Wed, Jun 18</TD><TD class=yspscores noWrap>LA Dodgers</TD><TD class=yspscores align=right>L 1-6 </TD></TR><TR class=ysprow2><TD class=yspscores> Thu, Jun 19</TD><TD class=yspscores noWrap>LA Dodgers</TD><TD class=yspscores align=right>L 4-7 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
5 in a row losers, Yankees coming up...
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

joebatters · Jun 19, 2008

But it's not the second half yet.
Seriously, I can't figure this team out.
This team has a lot of good ballplayers. Harang must've suck today (I didn't see it)
How about the Blue Jays saying they are not interested in Adam Dunn because he doesn't like baseball that much? I guess that explains some of it.

Gator627 · Jun 19, 2008

ECS said:
Dunn is freaking hard to figure out, his avg sucks but you look past that and his OBP is good because he walks so much (usually leads the league or right their). Yet, how does one walk so much, yet strikeout so much as well, he is a tough guy to figure out

Not hard to figure out at all. The guy swings out of his ass. Hard to make contact like that....but when he does....

The walks are just a sign of his knowledge of the strike zone.

Gator627 · Jun 19, 2008

I watch a lot of the Reds games, too. I cant figure out how they are this bad. I think Dusty Baker is part of the problem. He is a moron. Corey Patterson...wow...anyway. He also always goes to Dave Weathers. Weathers was good but this season hes been awful.

They have a pretty sick lineup and decent pitching. They are just way too streaky. They either hit really well or hit like shit. Hard to win like that.

bigtendominator · Jun 19, 2008

What did Corey catch doesn't doing?

5teamparlay · Jul 27, 2008

Watching them getting swept at HOME by the Rockies, is it the 2nd half yet?

CarolinaKid · Jul 27, 2008

cinny is fast becoming the new pitt imo.not spending money to get good young players, they are a bad team now.......ck

Matt24 · Jul 27, 2008

Gator627 said:
I watch a lot of the Reds games, too. I cant figure out how they are this bad. I think Dusty Baker is part of the problem. He is a moron. Corey Patterson...wow...anyway. He also always goes to Dave Weathers. Weathers was good but this season hes been awful.

They have a pretty sick lineup and decent pitching. They are just way too streaky. They either hit really well or hit like shit. Hard to win like that.

you think weathers is the problem? the problem is lineup configuration, one that doesn't produce any runs

VIEJODINOSAUR · Jul 27, 2008

Problem is Dusty Baker....

djmatt · Jul 27, 2008

VIEJO DINOSAUR said:
Problem is Dusty Baker....

ding ding ding

5teamparlay · Aug 12, 2008

8-11-08: <TABLE class=tborder style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR title="Post 5477345" vAlign=top><TD class=alt1 align=middle width=125>joebatters</TD><TD class=alt2>But it's not the second half yet.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Cincinnati, meanwhile, is an NL-worst 6-17 since the All-Star break and has dropped 14 of 16 overall. The Reds, who haven’t lost seven straight since Sept. 22-29, wrapped up a 1-6 road trip with a 13-4 loss to Houston on Sunday. That capped a four-game sweep in which they were outscored 32-14.

hno:

hno:

:nohead::nohead:

5teamparlay · Aug 15, 2008

8-15-08:

Arroyo (10-10) couldn't put the brakes on Cincinnati's fade. The Reds have lost 16 of 20 :nohead:, leaving them stranded in last place in the NL Central.