I thought you guys had at least one decent closer and one decent set-up guy, but I think your pen is pretty suspect on the whole. You guys have excellent and experienced starters and a murderer's row lineup, even with your many injuries, crap, y'all just slot in another guy who hits plus .320, LOL. I have been puzzled by your overall inconsistency BECAUSE of the long list of great pitchers and hitters on this year's team (yeah, I know losing Albert has been no picnic, but still) and that is what I was sorta getting at about the Cards.
The Reds look anemic hitting right now and with RISP, dreadful, but all teams go through some of that and I am waiting for them to get back on track. No easy answers there.
The pitching is, IMO, among the best in the majors overall, BUT I am worried about Dusty's "loyalty" tendencies. Latos and Bailey have EASILY been the best starters for over a month, yet he already has Cueto and Arroyo slotted in for Games 1 and 2, which will be AWAY games. Latos, in particular, is a significantly better pitcher, all year long, outside of Cincinnati.
Cueto slumped, worried us, and has looked about 80% of his dominant self over the last 14 innings or so, I would say, but his stuff is NOT what it was in July and earlier. We are still waiting to see if he can get back to where he was soon. Chapman is a crazy force of nature. Hell, even HE didn't know his rocket arm needed rest until he imploded one night against the bottom of HOUSTON'S order.
He is still coming back a little, but the Reds rarely get the credit for the DEPTH of their pitching, with solid to very good middle relief, extremely good set-up guys (and plenty of 'em), and even Broxton did quite well as a closer while Chapman rested.
Nope. I have to disagree with ya a little here. I think SOME teams have hitting, meaning SOME teams have hotter bats than others. The postseason, for the Reds, will be about maintaining that stellar D, deep pinch-hitting bench, effective starter's innings, and the pen with the Cuban Missile. IMO, it's a pretty good recipe, but you can't win if you don't score. THAT is what I want to see more of out of the Reds.
Can the Cards limit their mistakes while keeping their lineup stocked? Can their pen help them when a starter gets in trouble or tired early? I really don't know. What do you think?
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