What if?

[RedsManRick]

What if Claussen and Harang continue to improve?
What if Arroyo gives us what he gave Boston last year?
What if Milton's ST appearance is legit and he gives us an ERA under 5.00?
What if the offense repeats its league leading performance from last year?
What if Coffey and Wagner get their stuff together and become real relievers?
What if Womack is released and Freel starts 120 games at 2B?
What if Junior stays healthy and starts 140 games in CF?
What if Austin Kearns gets back the swing that Fat Toad smushed?
What if Encarnacion becomes more consistent on both sides of the ball?

So... what if everything goes as good as one could reasonably expect?
Where does that put us?

I look at all of that, pretend everything goes well and nothing big goes wrong, and still don't see us winning more than 88-90 games -- and that's that 1% chance we saw in the sims. Now I'm as optimistic as the next guy, but I'm curious what Krivsky's plan for this next offseason is. Right now, we just don't have the talent to get it done -- even best case scenario. Help from the minors is 2 years away at best. Purse string can't open up significantly until attendence does.

Though Krvisky seems to have a much better grasp on utilizing resources at the major league level than O'Brien did, we still have a major talent deficit that needs to be addressed. Are we stuck until (and if) Bailey, Wood, etc. arrive? Thoughts?

[VI_RedsFan]

If all of those things happen, then I think we will be a .500 team, or close to it. And if we are able to get Penny for LaRue (rumors say that we may do that trade), then I think we will be even better.

[Johnny Footstool]

Why stop there?

What if Dunn wins the batting title?

What if Freel breaks Ricky Henderson's SB record?

What if Mario Soto comes out of retirement and wins 20 games?

[RedsManRick]

Why stop there?

What if Dunn wins the batting title?

What if Freel breaks Ricky Henderson's SB record?

What if Mario Soto comes out of retirement and wins 20 games?

C'mon Johnny... none of those things individually is a big stretch. But Soto winning 20 games -- I gotta believe he'd be in the 15-16 range...

[TOBTTReds]

What if Claussen and Harang continue to improve? Probably won't improve because I think they pitched to their best ability last year
What if Arroyo gives us what he gave Boston last year? He very well could
What if Milton's ST appearance is legit and he gives us an ERA under 5.00? Very reasonable
What if the offense repeats its league leading performance from last year? Not so likely, but they will be good for sure
What if Coffey and Wagner get their stuff together and become real relievers? I got dibs on Coffey, not so sure about wags
What if Womack is released and Freel starts 120 games at 2B? This is where you go wrong, TW is not getting released, and Freel starting at 2nd doesn't do us any better
What if Junior stays healthy and starts 140 games in CF? This is where Ryan Freel should be if ego's didn't dominate baseball, Jr. in left, AK if right, dunn at 1st, hatteberg picking splinters til the 9th spot comes up in the 8th
What if Austin Kearns gets back the swing that Fat Toad smushed? Never gonna happen in my opinion (bc he was ridiculous that first month and a half) but hopefully a .800 ops guys with decent numbers
What if Encarnacion becomes more consistent on both sides of the ball? I feel this is in the making, can't wait for the numbers to actually count

Where does this put us? Above .500 I say, if we get Penny for LaRue, then I really like us. But come on pitching, pull us through!

[guttle11]

What if Claussen and Harang continue to improve?
What if Arroyo gives us what he gave Boston last year?
What if Milton's ST appearance is legit and he gives us an ERA under 5.00?
What if the offense repeats its league leading performance from last year?
What if Coffey and Wagner get their stuff together and become real relievers?
What if Womack is released and Freel starts 120 games at 2B?
What if Junior stays healthy and starts 140 games in CF?
What if Austin Kearns gets back the swing that Fat Toad smushed?
What if Encarnacion becomes more consistent on both sides of the ball?

What if...? Serious Wild Card contention.

That's how close (or far) the Reds are.

[top6]

IMO, for the Reds to contend, at least 8/9 of those things need to happend AND other teams in our division or in the Wild Card race need to catch some injuries/bad breaks.

[Johnny Footstool]

C'mon Johnny... none of those things individually is a big stretch. But Soto winning 20 games -- I gotta believe he'd be in the 15-16 range...

Don't be afraid to dream, RMR.

[Yachtzee]

Why stop there?

What if Dunn wins the batting title?

What if Freel breaks Ricky Henderson's SB record?

What if Mario Soto comes out of retirement and wins 20 games?

"What if God were one of us?"

(Try getting it out of your head now. : )

[OldXOhio]

If all of those things happen, then I think we will be a .500 team, or close to it.

We proved last year that with quality starts comes a record well above .500. To say that translates into 90+ wins over the entire course of this season is probably a stretch, but I'd also say that projecting 81 wins at best might be understating things.

[RedsManRick]

"What if God were one of us?"

(Try getting it out of your head now. : )

Dangit Yachtzee... :runawaycr

[scounts22]

"What if God were one of us?"

(Try getting it out of your head now. : )

Dang it. Thanks a lot.

[StillFunkyB]

What if Claussen and Harang continue to improve?
What if Arroyo gives us what he gave Boston last year?
What if Milton's ST appearance is legit and he gives us an ERA under 5.00?
What if the offense repeats its league leading performance from last year?
What if Coffey and Wagner get their stuff together and become real relievers?
What if Womack is released and Freel starts 120 games at 2B?
What if Junior stays healthy and starts 140 games in CF?
What if Austin Kearns gets back the swing that Fat Toad smushed?
What if Encarnacion becomes more consistent on both sides of the ball?

I'd say that puts the Reds right in line for a WC spot.

I don't see JR playing 140. 120 I would be happy with.