Cincy's surge to first place allows Reds' fans to dream
By Jim Morris
Staff Writer
Isn't it a nice feeling to be excited about a baseball team again?
If you are not a Cincinnati Reds fan, feel free to turn the page or find the crossword puzzle. But if you are a Reds rooter, let's take a minute to enjoy the excitement of having the team locked in an honest-to-goodness pennant race.
OK, it's early, but those of us who have endured the Boone Breakdown, the Bowden Bungling and the Miley Miseries — all brought on by those Lousy Lindner years — have to take our little joys when we can get them.
Last year on this date, the Reds were 24-35, 14 games out of first place and only one-half game out of last place. And that's after a three-game winning streak.
The difference? New ownership, new attitude and a general manager who isn't afraid to pull the trigger.
This is not to say the Reds will win the World Series, the National League pennant or even the Central Division. It's early June, so we're a long way from any of those.
There are still problems in the rotation, the bullpen, the defense and some occasional glitches in the offense. But overall, there's obvious improvement.
The best thing is the feeling fans get — and probably the players, too — that upper management will do the right thing to help the team win.
If this success continues after the All-Star break, and Reds management goes shopping to tune up the lineup the way most winning clubs have in the past, fans will really know times have changed.
So now there is hope. A look at today's 36-24 record will tell you that.
No, it's not time to celebrate yet. But at least now we can dream.
