My mistake, but with the way this team has been playing Id feel fortunate with us going 500. And theres 5 teams if you count LA (I thought Atlanta was still ahead of us). The Five teams: LA (50-52), Milwaukee (59-44), St. Louis (57-48), Philly and Florida (55-49).
I guess "in the hunt" is one of those things where you ask 50 people and get 50 different responses. Because in my opinion theres no difference between finishing more than 8 games out in any standings. Beyond that games are pretty much worthless games in September. I want to see a team built where were playing for ourselves in September not trying to play spoiler like the last decade or so.
And again were not in the race as it is right now. Were afterthoughts with the exception of trade rumors, theres no pressure on anyone now just like the last decade. There wont be any pressure until we build a team that can actually play above 500 ball for more than a week.
Id give him to anyone that wants him for a bag of balls, nothing against Griff, but we need to start investing time in guys we dont know rather than hold on to the hope that Griffey is going to magically return to being the ticket drawer and 40+ hr man.
Why cant we resign Affeldt? He's been a good arm in that pen this past year. He (after Dunn) would be 2nd on my list of FAs to be to get resigned. If he likes Cincy and wants to stay I would do everything in my power to try and make that happen. But we have seen that this team is what it is (about 500) as constituted. Why not go ahead and throw Jerry Hairston (if healthy before the end of trading), Bronson Arroyo, David Ross, etc out there and see what you can get and expand the farm system and see if you cant find another Brandon Phillips or Josh Hamilton among the roster moves. Use the farm rather than keep the same team thats proven its a 500 team and see exactly where we stand with in house options and maybe get the diamonds in the rough that farm systems need to produce in order for teams to succeed without blowing 90+ mil a year in order to try and buy competitiveness.