Is this the defining 10-game stretch?

[RedEye]

So we've been wondering for awhile if this team is for real. I personally can't think of a better test than 10 straight games against elite competition. We start with probably the best team in baseball, the defending World Champs, the Chicago White Sox, who swept a similar Reds team out of contention in the not too distant past. Next, the New York Metropolitans, who are on an 8-game win streak and look to be poised to unseat the Atlanta Braves this year. Finally, we end with the Cleveland Indians, who are not at their best but always seem to rise to the occasion when they play their Ohio rivals.

What are your hopes for this 10-game stretch? 5-5? 6-4?

Personally, I think anything worse than 5-5 portends bad things for this team in the future. It's time to put up or shut up. And if there are close games, we might be singing the genius of Kriv's Juan Castro trade in a few days!

[dabvu2498]

It's not a home stand... unfortunately only the 1st 3 games are at home.

[RedEye]

Oops... thanks, dabvu2498. I've altered the thread title.

[cumberlandreds]

I think 5-5 over the next ten games would be very good for this team. If they do that it should insure that that they are still in the race for the divsion and certainly the wild card. If they can avoid a 3-7 span or worse we all should still feel good about this team.

[Tommyjohn25]

It's gonna be a tough stretch without a doubt, but this team has risen to the occasion every time so far in the "must win" games. I gotta say, I have a good feeling.

[reds44]

I'd take 5-5 in a heartbeat.

[steig]

i don't think I would call this 10 game stretch a defining period of the season. All stretches of the season are important. The reds could go 2 - 8 against in series against the pirates, brewers, and cubs and be out of first by 8 games if st. louis played well. Any period of time like that defines when the team flopped for made a huge move but it is after the fact that you decide how it defined the team. If the reds go 5 -5 we are just not shooting ourselves in the foot. If the team is gong to contend then I expect 6 - 5 over every 10 game stretch during the season. If the team wants to make a statement here then they better go 7 - 5 at least and beating the Mets is more important than beating the White Sox.

[zombie-a-go-go]

Originally Posted by RedEye

we might be singing the genius of Kriv's Juan Castro trade in a few days!

That will never happen.

I thought the defining stretch would be our last road-trip, but it's really impossible to tell what series of games will "define" this team until closer to the end of the season, IMO.

Were the Redlegs as good as they were on the road against HOU and STL? Or were they as bad as they played - anywhere, really - ahainst CHC?

The jury is still out.

[Redhook]

This team has proved to be capable of beating good teams so I don't think this is a defining stretch. It'd be nice if we play well and win some of these games, but this team is so erratic I don't know what to expect. They could lose 9 of 10 then come back the next week and win 6-10 in a row. Who knows? I still think this team can compete for the wild card, I doubt they'll beat the Cards over the next 3 1/2 months for the Central, but the wild card should be wide open. Two or three key trades to shore up the pitching staff would do wonders for this team.

[KronoRed]

It's the most important 10 game stretch of the year

[Hoosier Red]

Definately the most important ten game stretch of the season, right EDSKIN?

[RedEye]

Originally Posted by steig

i don't think I would call this 10 game stretch a defining period of the season. All stretches of the season are important. The reds could go 2 - 8 against in series against the pirates, brewers, and cubs and be out of first by 8 games if st. louis played well. Any period of time like that defines when the team flopped for made a huge move but it is after the fact that you decide how it defined the team. If the reds go 5 -5 we are just not shooting ourselves in the foot. If the team is gong to contend then I expect 6 - 5 over every 10 game stretch during the season. If the team wants to make a statement here then they better go 7 - 5 at least and beating the Mets is more important than beating the White Sox.

I'm assuming your mean 6-4 and 7-3, right? But your point is well taken. I'd be doing somersaults if the team came out 6-4 after the next 10. I have to disagree with you about the importance of the series, though. No doubt, it is also important to beat the Pirates and Brewers. But winning series against the ChiSox and Mets could add confidence to this team, something that can never be measured by statistics. Sure, it all comes down to how many you win and lose in the end, but beating teams like this puts us in a better mental state come playoff time because no one can say you got where you were cheaply.

[oregonred]

Originally Posted by KronoRed

It's the most important 10 game stretch of the year

Agree. Getting out of this tough stretch 5-5 (maybe even 4-6) would be huge.

Will be a great test for the starting staff as the current 4.32 team ERA and the other associated key splits (K/9, K/BB, WHIP, OPS) are actually respectable (giddy by Reds fans standards).

The offense may need to carry 2-3 of the games as these teams can rake, otherwise it could get ugly over the next week.

The hope is that the 2006 Reds team is a bit of an enigma and hopefully they'll once again step it up a notch against the Sox and Mets over the next week.

[kyred14]

Anything more than 5-5 in this stretch would be gravy. What little chance the Reds have of making the playoffs could be killed over the next 10 days.

[steig]

Originally Posted by RedEye

I'm assuming your mean 6-4 and 7-3, right? But your point is well taken. I'd be doing somersaults if the team came out 6-4 after the next 10. I have to disagree with you about the importance of the series, though. No doubt, it is also important to beat the Pirates and Brewers. But winning series against the ChiSox and Mets could add confidence to this team, something that can never be measured by statistics. Sure, it all comes down to how many you win and lose in the end, but beating teams like this puts us in a better mental state come playoff time because no one can say you got where you were cheaply.

Opps, sorry about the math error. I understand your point about gaining confidence by beating the big time teams but the reds have had so many problems in the past with the little teams beating them and absolutely killing us in the standings. The Reds have to be able to focus on the little teams just as much as the big teams. We've had great runs against the cardinals and houston this season but the cubs have killed us the last two series. I think this team is good and could contend for the division title but right now I don't see them as a title contender, especially with the bullpen status.