14 days later
It’s hard to believe, but we’re officially two weeks into the Cincinnati Reds’ 2008 season. The starting pitching has been strong, the bullpen has been solid, the fielding has been average, and the offense has been anemic.
There is absolutely no reason why the Reds shouldn’t have capitalized on the Pirates series and walked away with at least two wins. Instead, the Reds got swept and are in fifth place in the NL Central. How’s that for a “statement.”
NL Central Standings (as of 4/13/08)
| W | L | PCT | GB | |
| Cardinals | 9 | 4 | .692 | - |
| Brewers | 8 | 4 | .667 | 1/2 |
| Cubs | 7 | 5 | .583 | 1 1/2 |
| Pirates | 6 | 6 | .500 | 2 1/2 |
| Reds | 6 | 7 | .462 | 3 |
| Astros | 5 | 8 | .385 | 4 |
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Considering that the Cardinals clubhouse looks more like a triage than a locker room, you’ve gotta hand it to them. They’re pitching well, they’re hitting, and they’re in first place. Can they keep it up? I have my doubts, but let them enjoy it while they can.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
They looked strong against the Cubs and very beatable during the Reds series. I believe the real 2008 Brewers lie somewhere in between. You just know that Ben Sheets is going to get hurt at some point, and call me crazy, but I have a feeling that Jason Kendall isn’t going to win the NL batting crown this season. And whenever I see the words “Prince Fielder” and “vegetarian” in the same sentence, trouble is on the horizon.
CHICAGO CUBS
I made fun of the Cubs for needing two (long) extra inning games to beat the Pirates, but then the Reds got swept by the Pirates. The two lone bright spots for the Cubs so far are Derrek Lee and Kosuke &$%!dome. Alfonso Soriano’s struggles make Edwin Encarnacion’s seem minor. $136 million more minor. Carlos Zambrano looks good (as long as he’s not throwing a hissy-fit), but the rest of the Cubs rotation is sketchy, at best. Any Cubs fan that thinks Ryan Dempster is going to keep this up (1-0, .069 ERA) all season… well, you’re kidding yourself.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Tom Gorzelanny… for the time being, this team is better than the Reds.
CINCINNATI REDS
I realize it’s early – very early – in the season, but series debacles like what we just saw in Pittsburgh (32 runners left on base) have a tendency to hurt you later in the season. If the Reds are three games out of first place in September, ask me how meaningless this series was. I know there will be more losses down the road, but these are games that the Reds should have won, and didn’t.
P.S. Johnny Cueto is mortal. Damn.
HOUSTON ASTROS
You don’t really expect me to have something interesting to say about this team, do you? Okay, fine… Roy Oswalt is 0-3.
