From reading through the threads tonight, I get the feeling that many of you believe that tonight's debacle in Pittsburgh may be the one that all but seals our fate as a non postseason club. I agree; it does feel different. The Reds are now in third place in the WC race, maybe fourth place by the end of the week. The Cardinals have pulled a couple of games ahead and we have the Dodgers coming in over the weekend to GABP. The Reds looked and sounded defeated after another boneheaded loss to the worst team in baseball. Not even Mr. Red could put a very positive spin on the team's current predicament.
When we reflect back on the last few weeks of the season, is there a game that you think stands out as the one could have turned the tide in the other direction ? Was it tonight's game with the Schrock misplay and the bone headed game ender? Or would you point to another?
Obviously, in a 162 game season there are numerous games one could point to as a game that was lost that should have been a won. But when those games happen in September, they are magnified in our memories. The pivotal game in my mind was the second game of the Cardinals' series. Castillo gave up a 4 to 0 lead in a game that I feel would have done in the 'Birds. A top of the order pitcher should be counted on protect a big league in such a meaninful game. I believe if we had won that game(as we should have) , we go on to win on Sunday and sweep the Cardinals out of WC contention. Not only that, but the momentum of a sweep of the Cardinals probably carries over to Pittsburgh and we probably win at least two of these three games in Pittsburgh and are firmly in control of our WC destiny. The Cards would be done...finished... looking to next season.
When I look back at this season , the 6 to 4 loss in that middle game of the St. Louis series will be the one stands out as the one that could have turned the tide in the Reds' favor and given them the momentum that would have carried them into the playoffs. The loss of a four run lead by the guy who is supposed to be your ace is the one that will be seen (by me, at least) as the one that was the beginning of the end. Had that one went the Reds' way, we would not be feeling so glum right now. We would be debating who starts on the mound at Dodger Stadium on October 6.
Agree or disagree?
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