Will it take a miracle?

[Captain Hook]

I don't think it take a actual miracle for the Reds to make the playoffs but it will take an amazing second half.I don't think it will take everyone on the team just absolutely catching fire but it will certainly take a combined effort of just about everyone on the team greatly improving their play.

We all know that things are going bad right now.We will go into the break 4 or 5 games out and in 5ht place.We will have to outdo the 4 teams ahead of us the rest of the way.Luckily we are looking at 4 teams that are not world beaters and that if things go very well for the Reds could possibly be left to wonder how the Cincinnati Reds of all teams managed to win the central.I am by no means saying that this will happen.I'm not trying to convince anyone that it will happen.I only want to discuss what it will take for it to happen no matter how unlikely but within reason.What guys must do better?What moves must be made(lets try to avoid talking about imaginary and unrealistic trades)?So here is what I think it will take.

1.Harang,Volquez,Cueto,Bronson,Owings and Bailey all have to have great second halves.We went into the season knowing that it would take great pitching and nothing has changed.All of these guys have struggled at some point this year.Hopefully they have gotten it out of the way and they can get down to business by being the best rotation in at the least NL central.That would be a good start.

2.Dickerson,Gomes and Nix all have to be at least average as far as outfielders go.I think it will take a great second half out of one of those guys but like I said they all need to do well.

3.Baker needs to go.I don't want this to be a bash Baker thread but I have to say it because I really feel like that this team has underachieved despite their disadvantages.I blame Dusty for that.I have argued this in other threads to great lengths and will not do it here.I don't know who is out there that could take over but I'll take someone who plays the best guys and other then that does things by the book.

4.Votto will need to have a mvp kind of season.He won't have to pick the pace up much.Just keep doing it.

5.EE must have a good second half.A .300 avg 15 bombs and 45 rbi should get it done.

6.Gonzo must get healthy and continue to play good D.If he bats 8th a .260 avg. and .320 obp will not hurt us.

7.Hairston Jr. being a backup IF and 4th OF is the only roll he should have.

8.Taveras demoted to a 5th OF and pinch runner.

9.Everyone else just needs to keep doing about what they are doing.

That's a lot but I really think that is about what we need.

[gilpdawg]

We're dead as far as playoff hopes are concerned. It would take a Colorado '07 type run and I just don't see this team making a run like that. Heck, runs like that only happen once a decade or so.

[BLEEDS]

We need a BIG BAT, or we're SOL, IMO.

Bruce would have been nice if he would have turned it around offensively, but there is no indication that that was going to occur. His D will be sorely missed.

Unfortunately, I have to stand by my contention that ANY lineup that included Willy Taveras is going to be hamstrung offensively.
I was saying that when it was assumed Votto, BP and Bruce were a solid 3/4/5. Now we have no 5 either, haven't for awhile.

Our only saving grace would have been if Willy Taveras were otherwise not in the lineup and a REAL leadoff hitter like Stubbs would play CF (with gg caliber defense by the way), and a Dickerson were the everyday (at least against RHP) #2.

We also have Volquez out of the lineup, Arroyo sporting a 5.00+ ERA, Cueto struggling in his last 1/2 dozen or so starts, and the inevitable fall back to earth of Stormy Weathers. Not that he's absolutely terrible, but he started the season with a month of scorelessness, he was bound to get back to his norms, and of course due in no small part to the DUHster's infinite nonwisdom into how he was being utilized - you know 3/4/5/6 days between appearances, etc - his ERA is now back above 3 for the first time this year.

It won't take a miracle for us to make the playoffs, but it might take a miracle for the FOUR teams in front of us to play bad enough to allow that to happen, especially if we don't make a SIGNIFICANT move or two...

PEACE

-BLEEDS

[OesterPoster]

It won't take a miracle for us to make the playoffs, but it might take a miracle for the FOUR teams in front of us to play bad enough to allow that to happen, especially if we don't make a SIGNIFICANT move or two...

PEACE

-BLEEDS

This is the key. You know that the Brewers and Cards won't stand pat. Even if the Reds make some sort of move, those two teams will also do something to make their teams better.

[xavr1]

Yes it will.

[Captain Hook]

Yes it will.

Your telling me that there isn't some scenario where the Reds are able to overcome a 5 game lead and win the division other then a miracle?Crazy thing can and do happen every year in sports.I'm not saying that this year will be the Reds year but surely we can all think up some way this team turns things around enough to make the playoffs.

[BluegrassRedleg]

Those 8-9 things you listed falling into place would constitute a miracle.

[xavr1]

Your telling me that there isn't some scenario where the Reds are able to overcome a 5 game lead and win the division other then a miracle?Crazy thing can and do happen every year in sports.I'm not saying that this year will be the Reds year but surely we can all think up some way this team turns things around enough to make the playoffs.

Yes we can. A miracle occurs. That is some way we make the playoffs.

[Fon Duc Tow]

Yes we can. A miracle occurs. That is some way we make the playoffs.

"This way, Reds Fans!!!"


God helps those who help themselves. So far, from a Jocketty standpoint, that rules the Reds out. Now if you want to talk about a St. Louis Cardinal Gameplan...well they would qualify. But, like most people that do what it takes to get the job done, I doubt they need any miracles to make it happen.

Year after year, some teams find a way, other teams find a way to make excuses. And it ALWAYS come down to money.

[Captain Hook]

Those 8-9 things you listed falling into place would constitute a miracle.

Those 8-9 things that I listed are are mostly in line with what a lot of us thought it would take going into the season.The only thing that has changed is the likelihood that they will actually happen based on a track record of half a season.Maybe it would be a miracle but I just think it would be a lot of things going right witch hasn't happened around here for a while.