Someone needs to light a fire under this team!

[remdog]

They are playing with no joy, no excitement, no spirit! In a season that they have one of the best built rosters possibly since the Big Red Machine they are lifeless and spiritless. The Pirates are more fun to watch.

I don't see any players on the team that can light that fire and Dusty is a "players' manager" so he just follows them around, trying not to upset anyone and hoping someone will pat him on the head and say, "Good boy".

Maybe it should be Walt---it's been done before. I'd like him to show up, unannounced, on this road trip, meet with the manager and coaches then walk out into the clubhouse and announce that Brook Jacoby has been released as hitting coach, Cesar Isturius has been released and Devin Mesorako has become the number one catcher---in L'ville. I'd then like him to call Dusty into a private meeting and make it clear that he doesn't care what the players think of 'Uncle Dusty' but if Dusty doesn't get these guys back on track in 30 days, Dusty is going to be spending a lot of time fishing on the Sacramento Delta this summer. These guys are getting paid a lot of money and not performing equal to all those raises and new contracts that were handed out over the winter. Then, I'd pay him whatever he wants but I'd hire Barry Larkin as the new hitting coach (with the unspoken word to Dusty that, there's the next manager, it's up to you. You can keep your job but you've got to show me something. It would be an appropriate message to all on board that anyone can be gone in a heartbeat----play like you want to be here and win.

Rem

[reds44]

No.

[RedlegJake]

No.

Simple. Concise. Exactly how I feel.

[remdog]

Simple. Concise. Exactly how I feel.

Yes! My approach is Simple. Concise. And CORRECT, which is the word that you can't include in your summation, Jake.

That game last night the Reds were pathetic! But, I guess you didn't watch it. Bob Cast spent a lot of money on this team and if they continue to play as lethargically as they have been, those nice bright attendance numbers will fade and there won't be enough money to hold this team together.

So, make an adjustment now or watch the core of this team leave over the next couple of years? How does getting rid of a batting coach that has been largely unsuccessful, bringing in a HOF SS with a great reputation and tons of respect to replace Jacoby, letting Dusty know that there will be no more of his interfering with the front office plans and that it's time that he get these guys playing with some focus!

Rem

[RedEye]

Y
That game last night the Reds were pathetic! But, I guess you didn't watch it.

I watched it. They didn't seem necessarily very lethargic to me -- though they didn't play well, obviously.

I guess I just don't get how you know better than others that they are playing without energy when you are just watching on television like all of us. It would take an insider's view of the clubhouse to know for sure. Now, if Dusty or someone else on the coaching staff comes out and says something in the next few days that corroborates your view, I might think differently...

Then again, I'm also skeptical that winners are always the most energetic ones. Give me lethargic champs over firey losers any day of the week. Just win, baby!

[RedsBrick]

I definitely get your point Rem...this team is NOT playing to its potential, regardless of its record.

With an eye towards the playoffs (where sub-.500 teams do not exist), this team plays poorly against quality teams.

Will they turn it around? We can only hope. Can they turn it around? They definitely have the talent to do so.

without question, injuries have hurt this team....but guess what, teams have to deal with injuries and you better be ready or you're in trouble. When Votto went down last year other players picked up the slack and this team went on a tear....so a team can overcome injuries. Granted the pitching wasn't peppered with injuries last year....but unlike the position players last year the 'pen has not stepped up this year.

Despite the record, this team is not ready to win in the playoffs. I'm just glad the playoffs aren't here yet, giving this team time to get some players back and make a run. If they don't, it'll be a sad October and an incredibly underachieving year.

[smixsell]

I watched it. They didn't seem necessarily very lethargic to me -- though they didn't play well, obviously.

I guess I just don't get how you know better than others that they are playing without energy when you are just watching on television like all of us. It would take an insider's view of the clubhouse to know for sure. Now, if Dusty or someone else on the coaching staff comes out and says something in the next few days that corroborates your view, I might think differently...

Then again, I'm also skeptical that winners are always the most energetic ones. Give me lethargic champs over firey losers any day of the week. Just win, baby!

I watched it from the front row near the Red's dugout and I can tell you that they have plenty of fire already. Up close and liberated from the slavery of the TV screen, it's obvious they care about winning A LOT. I think that they just got dominated by a pitcher who was on fire (that and they missed BP's leadership!? )

[RedEye]

They seem like they play with plenty of fire to me.

[New York Red]

They seem like they play with plenty of fire to me.

You must be watching a different team. They have zero leadership and "fire" and I've been pounding that opinion for years now.

[dsmith421]

You must be watching a different team. They have zero leadership and "fire" and I've been pounding that opinion for years now.

Would you like an engraved plaque or something?

[New York Red]

Would you like an engraved plaque or something?

No, would you?

[RedEye]

You must be watching a different team. They have zero leadership and "fire" and I've been pounding that opinion for years now.

No idea what you mean. What does a team w/ fire look like then? And how do you substantiate the claim that they have no leaders? Hogwash.

[Raisor]

6/27/12 41-33 .554
6/27/13 45-34 .570

[_Sir_Charles_]

6/27/12 41-33 .554
6/27/13 45-34 .570

Yeah, but what are they against the "good" teams?

[lidspinner]

6/27/12 41-33 .554
6/27/13 45-34 .570

I am not agreeing with everything the OP said....but your record last year compared to this year means nothing....if we were 70-9 as a team and the Cardinals were 71-8 then we would be in 2nd place and if the Pirates were 72-7 then we would be in 3rd place.....so your record means alot but your only as good as the teams below you and your only as bad as the teams above you and right now we are not playing better than 2 teams in front of us and we should be.....i see the non fire in our team....when I watch the Pirates I see a team that is full of Sean Casey attitudes, guys having fun and laughing and getting pissed when they make an error or dont hit the run in.....the cardinals are the same way. dont get me wrong, I love Joey Vottos professional approach to the game but for once I would love to see him hit a double and jump up and give the blow dart to dugout or something crazy like that....its just nice to see some energy at times...a nice gentle approach between Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto would be perfect.

its very possible we could end the year with 100 wins and still not win the division and go play a 1 game playoff with another 100 win team and go home if we lose.

I get tired of seeing posters act like its a long season, dont panic in June, talk to me in August, its not even the all star break yet, relax, there's a lot of ball to be played still.......yes all those are true, but a lose in April can affect you in September just the same...a loss is a loss regardless of when it happens....I could go on and on about the little losses that we chalk up as "oh well, we should have won because Dusty didnt bring it chapman for a 4 out save" but we brush them off as silly because its early in the year....how about we talk about those times when or if we are 1-3 games out of winning the Central come the end of the year. Sometimes those little losses hurt worse than the 7-8 run blowouts.

This team is just fine right now and I do think we need to make an adjustment somewhere along the way, I am just not sure where that move needs to be made. The fact of the matter is this, we play in the central, where 3 of the best teams in baseball reside, if we want to do more than just make the playoffs, we need to step it up a notch and get a win at all costs mentality. And when I say we, I mean they...lol