View Full Version : What was the turning point of the season?
Tommyjohn25
09-16-2010, 09:45 AM
Good thread idea from the sundeck. Lets hear everyones opinion on what you think the biggest turning point of the season was. My answer? I'd have to say the run the Reds went on after blowing the lead in Atlanta, seemed to set the tone for awhile.
redsfan30
09-16-2010, 09:46 AM
That would be my vote as well.
Captain Hook
09-16-2010, 09:51 AM
San Diego early in the season.Dusty ripped the guys after a couple bas loses and some uninspired play.After that the team got on a hot streak to push their record over .500 for good.
cincrazy
09-16-2010, 09:51 AM
It could be one of several... the bounce back after the Atlanta debacle, coming out after the All Star break on fire after getting swept by Philly... I'm going to go with the comeback win vs. the Giants. We take a 10-1 lead, then fall behind 11-10 on the last day of a 9 game road trip with one of the best closers in all of baseball on the hill. And we fight back and win in extras, ensuring a 6-3 road trip, and avoiding our worst loss of the season. Big win.
sonny
09-16-2010, 09:53 AM
August.
reds1869
09-16-2010, 09:53 AM
The turning point of this season didn't even happen this year; it was the acquisition of Scott Rolen. The man is a natural leader and has really shown the way for the youngsters.
Hoosier Red
09-16-2010, 09:53 AM
San Diego early in the season.Dusty ripped the guys after a couple bas loses and some uninspired play.After that the team got on a hot streak to push their record over .500 for good.
I'm going with this one as well. One of the advantages to being a "players manager" and someone who's pretty laid back in general is that when you peel the paint on the walls the team tends to respond.
This year's turning point was actually last summer when they traded for Rolen
PuffyPig
09-16-2010, 09:55 AM
I'd say (1)the bounce after blowing the lead in Atlanta; (2) after being swept in St Louis, we embarked on a road trip by immediately crushing Josh Johnson; and (3) the 6-3 west coast trip.
In a season, all are important.
But getting Rolen last year was the kick start.
Reds Fanatic
09-16-2010, 10:00 AM
I think the west coast road trip was huge. Coming off the sweep by St. Louis that road trip could have buried this team instead they came back like they always do swept Arizona but the real impressive part was taking 2 out of 3 in LA where the team has never played well. If you had to point to one AB as a turning point I would say Votto's terrific AB in LA to get to get the game winning hit was a big turning point this year.
lollipopcurve
09-16-2010, 10:00 AM
Agree with the sentiments re: Rolen. But I have to include the steady hand of the leadership in general -- the other veterans, Baker and staff, and the FO. All the old cliches apply -- they didn't get too high or low, bounced back well from disappointing games, etc. With calm hands on the controls, the team never swerved off course.
I think the west coast road trip was huge. Coming off the sweep by St. Louis that road trip could have buried this team instead they came back like they always do swept Arizona but the real impressive part was taking 2 out of 3 in LA where the team has never played well. If you had to point to one AB as a turning point I would say Votto's terrific AB in LA to get to get the game winning hit was a big turning point this year.
But I do have to agree here -- if you had to point to one series, one moment, this is a great one.
Tommyjohn25
09-16-2010, 10:05 AM
My 2nd choice was the San Diego "speech" by Dusty. Whatever he said, it certainly stuck.
Ghosts of 1990
09-16-2010, 10:07 AM
For me it was the home run June 30th against Roy Halladay by Jay Bruce.... they hung around all day that day and got 10 hits off one of the biggest heavyweights in the business. It was to win a series against one of the best teams in the NL. That game showed these baby Reds they belonged.
If it's not that, it was that Sunday game at home all the way back in April against San Diego following Dusty's closed door meeting with the team. They played a disgusting, un-spirited game on Saturday prior and after the closed door unscheduled meeting the team began to play better and make fewer errors in the field
Sea Ray
09-16-2010, 10:10 AM
I'd vote for the bounceback after the St Louis sweep in August. We were in 2nd place and it didn't look like we'd ever see 1st again. But they left St Louis and went on a winning streak and they haven't looked back since. Regardless of anything that happened previously, if they hadn't bounced back from that series we wouldn't be where we are now
Chip R
09-16-2010, 10:14 AM
The Rally Onion game, of course.
Tom Servo
09-16-2010, 10:20 AM
Definitely Rally Onion.
oneupper
09-16-2010, 10:22 AM
All great choices. I'll throw in another: Harang to the DL.
Unfortunate for Aaron, but his replacements, in particular Wood, brought the rotation a step up.
RichRed
09-16-2010, 10:23 AM
The Rally Onion game, of course.
Beat me to it.
15fan
09-16-2010, 10:25 AM
The day the team announced that Mike Leake would start the year in the rotation.
mbgrayson
09-16-2010, 10:25 AM
I'd vote for the bounceback after the St Louis sweep in August. We were in 2nd place and it didn't look like we'd ever see 1st again. But they left St Louis and went on a winning streak and they haven't looked back since. Regardless of anything that happened previously, if they hadn't bounced back from that series we wouldn't be where we are now
I agree with this. But the funny thing is that while this helped lock us into the playoffs, a lot of what happened since is attributable to the Cardinals collapsing. We are lucky that they have played terrible baseball since then. Since that three game sweep by the Cardinals in August, the Reds have gone 19-12. Not too bad. But the Cardinals have gone 10-21. In many ways, it is their collapse more than the Reds play that has the Reds up by 8 games.
Roy Tucker
09-16-2010, 10:26 AM
San Diego early in the season.Dusty ripped the guys after a couple bas loses and some uninspired play.After that the team got on a hot streak to push their record over .500 for good.
I'd go with this one as well. They had some early losses where the team played very poorly without any focus or passion (i.e. the Reds of the last 9 years). I think there was one game in particular where they looked like the Bad News Bears that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Dusty said *something* that resonated well with the team and the ballclub immediately started playing the good Cincinnati Reds baseball we've seen this summer. I don't know if her ripped them all a new one or just discussed particulars of how they can play better or what. Whatever he said worked.
Az Red
09-16-2010, 10:29 AM
The hiring of Joe Morgan as Special Advisor to Baseball Operations on April 21, 2010.
(all the other good ones were taken)
westofyou
09-16-2010, 10:32 AM
I'd go with this one as well. They had some early losses where the team played very poorly without any focus or passion (i.e. the Reds of the last 9 years). I think there was one game in particular where they looked like the Bad News Bears that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Dusty said *something* that resonated well with the team and the ballclub immediately started playing the good Cincinnati Reds baseball we've seen this summer. I don't know if her ripped them all a new one or just discussed particulars of how they can play better or what. Whatever he said worked.
Agreed, the week prior they got faced by the pirates and the marlins, the lost 2 in a row to the padres, beat them Sunday and then swept the Braves that week.
bucksfan2
09-16-2010, 10:47 AM
1. Post Pirates sweep
2. Post SD series
3. Post Atl meltdown.
4. Rocking Josh Johnson after getting swept by StL
I think those four events really showed that this team wasn't going away. Showed that this team wasn't going to go into a funk after a bad stretch of games or a bad loss or two. IMO the most important game to this point in the entire season was Travis Wood beating St. Louis in St Louis. It cemented that the Red would only lose one game in the standings at worse. I think it was StL's last chance at a sweep and last chance to make some noise. Wood put an end to that.
Sea Ray
09-16-2010, 10:57 AM
I agree with this. But the funny thing is that while this helped lock us into the playoffs, a lot of what happened since is attributable to the Cardinals collapsing. We are lucky that they have played terrible baseball since then. Since that three game sweep by the Cardinals in August, the Reds have gone 19-12. Not too bad. But the Cardinals have gone 10-21. In many ways, it is their collapse more than the Reds play that has the Reds up by 8 games.
Well put. I thought that as well.
As Bucksfan2 added, it was significant that the Reds kept the pressure on St Louis. The Cardinal funk gave us a chance to make some hay and to their credit, they did. I think the Reds winning put pressure on the Cards and contributed to their collapse
I think when I implemented my technique from 1990. I hold my breath during every pitch and don't use the bathroom regardless how bad I have to go. I also watch the game while standing on my head. I think everyone should copy me if you really want the Reds to go all the way. However, standing on your head at the ballpark might present problems for the ladies, so wear pants.
Puffy
09-16-2010, 11:00 AM
I don't know the exact circumstances but I am pretty sure the turning point has to involve Raisor in some way. Maybe it was when he won his 4th Nobel prize. Or the day earlier this summer when his Pyth ogum Theory went public. Or when he ran through his neighborhood naked covering his private parts with only whipped cream after watching Varsity Blues for the 608th time. Or when he was at the beach and he spotted a bird in distress and he used his own nipples to breastfeed the bird back to health while he waited on Animal Control to get there. Or when he gave Chip mouth to mouth after Chip got winded and passed out at one of his Olde Time baseball games after running from first to third on a single.
Its got to involve Raisor.
cumberlandreds
09-16-2010, 11:30 AM
San Diego early in the season.Dusty ripped the guys after a couple bas loses and some uninspired play.After that the team got on a hot streak to push their record over .500 for good.
I agree with this one. Whatever Dusty said he needs bottle it and keep for future reference. At that point this seemed like the same old Reds from the previous 10+ seasons. Uninspired and heading for another losing season. After that they seemed to play with more passion and with that winning came and much more confidence.
The Voice of IH
09-16-2010, 11:36 AM
how bout the game against the Phillies were they lost, Joey Votto's 3 run homerun to tie it in the 9th. though they came out on the losing side, it showed that the team is legit, and will be in just about every ball game right until the end. only winning teams do that, only championship teams
Strikes Out Looking
09-16-2010, 11:47 AM
Monday July 28, 2003. The day that Leatherpants was shown the door. It took 6 and 1/2 years and 3 GMs to fix his "5-tool fixation no pitching" philosophy.
TheNext44
09-16-2010, 12:07 PM
I hate to say it, because I miss him here, and would love to be able to discuss things with him on the ORG, but things have gone quite well for the Reds since FCB was regulated to the Peanut Gallary.
Griffey012
09-16-2010, 12:50 PM
July 1st. We survived the "June Swoon."
HokieRed
09-16-2010, 12:57 PM
Agree with lollipopcurve's earlier post that part of what's different is the steadiness of the team, not getting too high or too low. But the keys to that are 1. Improved starting pitching and 2. Better defense. These carry you when the bats are temporarily ailing, as they inevitably are from time to time. Which brings us back to the key move: acquisition of Rolen, commitment to the idea that defense is critical.
SunDeck
09-16-2010, 01:07 PM
Trading for Scott Rolen, if you ask me, but what sticks out in my mind is the fact that they didn't collapse after getting whipped in San Diego. It was looking ominously like the West Coast swing was going to kill them, yet they picked themselves up and became a different team.
That was an early turning point that established them as a pretty good club, but the turning point that put them over the top this year would have to be the bounce back after getting swept in St. Louis.
George Anderson
09-16-2010, 01:11 PM
Agree with lollipopcurve's earlier post that part of what's different is the steadiness of the team, not getting too high or too low. .
I think that with the attitude of this team of not getting to high or low will be very valuable should a situation arise where they get a couple games down in a playoff series. I have seen many teams just kinda fold once they get a couple games down in a playoff series, but I think with this teams past it is not likely to happen.
Raisor
09-16-2010, 02:05 PM
I don't know the exact circumstances but I am pretty sure the turning point has to involve Raisor in some way. Maybe it was when he won his 4th Nobel prize. Or the day earlier this summer when his Pyth ogum Theory went public. Or when he ran through his neighborhood naked covering his private parts with only whipped cream after watching Varsity Blues for the 608th time. Or when he was at the beach and he spotted a bird in distress and he used his own nipples to breastfeed the bird back to health while he waited on Animal Control to get there. Or when he gave Chip mouth to mouth after Chip got winded and passed out at one of his Olde Time baseball games after running from first to third on a single.
Its got to involve Raisor.
I've never seen Varsity Blues.
The rest is correct.
Ghosts of 1990
09-16-2010, 02:13 PM
Monday July 28, 2003. The day that Leatherpants was shown the door. It took 6 and 1/2 years and 3 GMs to fix his "5-tool fixation no pitching" philosophy.
I remember where I was...
Wasn't Boone out the same day? It was a big, big deal on 700 WLW.
Caveat Emperor
09-16-2010, 02:15 PM
There's no specific date, but the Reds became a contending ballclub the day Joey Votto stopped being 'merely' a great player and started being a superstar.
Not really a "turning point" either, per se, but the continued contribution of the young pitching this year simply cannot be overstated. The Reds have received quality innings from the following home-grown pitchers:
1. Mike Leake
2. Travis Wood
3. Johnny Cueto
4. Homer Bailey
5. Logan Ondrusek
6. Jordan Smith
7. Sam LeCure
The importance of developing good pitching simply cannot be overstated or overlooked in determining why the Reds are where they are right now.
RedsManRick
09-16-2010, 02:20 PM
Some great points mentioned here. I'm not sure if they're all necessarily turning points because this team hasn't experienced many significant ups or downs. Rather, this team has bounced back from a number of circumstances which could have been turning points for the worse.
The Atlanta game comes to mind, as does the Philly series going in to the ASB. But I would vote for our run in August after the Cardinal series debacle. Phillips' comments put the series in the national spotlight and the team preceded to lay a massive egg at home in front of a national TV audience and a packed stadium.
I was terrified that we'd look back on that series as the beginning of the end, that the team would fall apart on the road and get polished off for good in St. Louis in early September. Only that didn't happen. Instead we swept the Marlins and went 6-3 on the west coast, including wins in L.A for the first time in years. From that point forward, we've been in control of our own destiny.
Hoosier Red
09-16-2010, 02:25 PM
Trading for Scott Rolen, if you ask me, but what sticks out in my mind is the fact that they didn't collapse after getting whipped in San Diego. It was looking ominously like the West Coast swing was going to kill them, yet they picked themselves up and became a different team.
That was an early turning point that established them as a pretty good club, but the turning point that put them over the top this year would have to be the bounce back after getting swept in St. Louis.
Um. we haven't played IN San Diego yet.
Chip R
09-16-2010, 04:13 PM
Trading for Scott Rolen, if you ask me, but what sticks out in my mind is the fact that they didn't collapse after getting whipped in San Diego.
In or by San Diego?
SunDeck
09-16-2010, 04:21 PM
Um. we haven't played IN San Diego yet.
Yes, I have my events mixed up. When they went west and lost 2/3 to LA, then got swept by Seattle, that's when I was thinking they were in trouble. Then they swept Oakland, won 2/3 against CLE and 2/3 against PHIL. This was in June.
SunDeck
09-16-2010, 04:25 PM
In or by San Diego?
No, I was confusing San Diego and LA/SEA.
The thing in Cincinnati, was that when San Diego beat them twice, after they'd lost something like five in a row? I remember thinking it was still quite early and I expected the pitching to come around. So no, I wasn't thinking that particular series was a turning point- I just had a senior moment.
Homer Bailey
09-16-2010, 04:52 PM
Yes, I have my events mixed up. When they went west and lost 2/3 to LA, then got swept by Seattle, that's when I was thinking they were in trouble. Then they swept Oakland, won 2/3 against CLE and 2/3 against PHIL. This was in June.
Getting there. They lost the 2 of three to LA in Cincy, THEN went west.
SunDeck
09-16-2010, 05:08 PM
Sure, look things up if you must. I'm clearly done here.:)
Homer Bailey
09-16-2010, 05:10 PM
Sure, look things up if you must. I'm clearly done here.:)
Ha. I actually didn't look it up. I just remember because I was randomly in LA when the Reds were playing in Cincy, and was out west when they were out west in Seattle and Oakland.
reds44
09-16-2010, 05:23 PM
There was no turning point because no turning point was needed. With the exception of the first couple of weeks, we've just been a good baseball team all season.
The closest one would be Dusty's speech after the Padres series.
pedro
09-16-2010, 07:21 PM
Edskin's beard and/or the Rally Onion.
Take your pick.
Chip R
09-16-2010, 10:44 PM
Edskin's beard and/or the Rally Onion.
Take your pick.
That was the most important beard of this season.
vaticanplum
09-16-2010, 10:52 PM
The Rally Onion series really was huge. The Reds got swept in Pittsburgh their first trip out and then had back-to-back complete game shutouts the next time, days after the Rally Onion's birth (which was actually in the middle of a Cubs series).
Those shutouts were bananas. I got more excited about this team than I had been in a long time when that happened.
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