The glass half full thread

[Brutus]

Concentrating on the positive thoughts in an admittedly frustrating (yet still productive) season:

* The Reds have really had only one hot streak all season. I still feel like this club has a torrid stretch in them. September would be perfect time to see it manifest itself.

* Cueto and Marshall could be on their way to helping toward the end of the month

* Billy Hamilton will be a difference maker off the bench

* Ryan Ludwick has been amazingly sharp swinging the bat since returning from surgery. His numbers only recently have begun to show it, but he's looked good at the plate since the day he got back.

* Shin-Soo Choo is hitting like a man possessed

* Joey Votto's power has showed signs of being back after being MIA for big parts of the season

* Chris Heisey's OPS, quietly, is back up to .741 after an abysmal start to the season.

* The Cuban missile is now well rested

* Mat Latos has put his bulldog pants on here recently

There are things to be optimistic about, even for as frustrating as the season has been. I dub September the month of the Redlegs.

[George Anderson]

As of 9/2 this team has won 77 games.

As of 9/2/90 that team only won 76 games.

[redssince75]

* The Reds have really had only one hot streak all season. I still feel like this club has a torrid stretch in them. [s]September[/s] October would be perfect time to see it manifest itself.

This.....

[Captain Hook]

I consider myself one of the more optimistic fans and even I sometimes feel like this team just doesn't have what it takes to make a run. Frustrating games when the offense doesn't show up or the pitching can't hold a lead does that to the best of us. Despite those bad days there's been a lot more good days and the truth is, this team is full of very talented baseball players that are very capable of accomplishing great things.

With a little less than a month to play the Reds are pretty close to locking up at the very least locking up a wildcard spot and the division is still a possibility. A little luck and some good health might be all it takes for this team to produce one of the more successful season in team history and as a fan that is very exciting.

[Mutaman]

90 team was always better than their record. Jumped to a nice lead and then coasted, picking up the pace in September by winning 6 of 7. Wire to wire. Better than the current team on paper and on the field. Much better fundamentally. 90 team had the ability to step up their game in prime time. (Rijo and Hatcher were big when the pressure was on). Have yet to see that from the current group.

[New York Red]

I lean heavily towards the optimistic side as a fan, but if this team has taught me anything, it's to not try to predict what they'll do next. Having said that, I still think we'll win the division, as I have the entire season. We saw today what a stud pitcher is supposed to look like in September and I think that performance will fire the team up for the rest of the month.

[New York Red]

90 team had the ability to step up their game in prime time. (Rijo and Hatcher were big when the pressure was on). Have yet to see that from the current group.

We saw that today, IMO.

[Ironman92]

Cesar Izturis tied the all-time record for 3 HR innings by a SS

[Mutaman]

We saw that today, IMO.

We saw it in Frisco last October too. But as we learned then, one or two wins under the bright lights isn't going to cut it. Need to do a little better than that.

[Ironman92]

Baker tied the record for most wins by a Reds manager over the Orioles in the month of April

[westofyou]

There is one glorious month of regular season baseball left.

[Ironman92]

I'm not fat...but only because Brandon Phillips hasn't said so.

[Superdude]

I'm feeling the September run. Ludwick reshapes the whole lineup and doesn't look banged up at all so far. Our pitching is absolutely built for this time of year. Need to buckle down over the next week, but I personally can't wait to watch Liriano and Wainright burned up in a one game playoff.

[bagz]

I get disappointed like all of us do during the season but the last couple of games against the Cards has brought back my optimistic feelings about this team. The 10-0 blowout in St Louie was HUGE even though we didn't take the series. Now beating Wainwright again in a dominant win is also HUGE. We've proven that they aren't invincible. Luddy coming back strong and hitting well makes this lineup pretty strong. Frazier, Cozart, and Mesoraco are also hitting well. We need at least 3 of 4 from the Cards. The division is there to be TAKEN!

[Raisor]

Reds still win the division by ten games