Cincinnati Sports News and Commentary
About Me
- Gary Schatz
- I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992. I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble. I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Perspective On A Bad Start
The Reds are 4-8 after an absolutely awful 11-1 loss to St. Louis. There are signs that they are going to break out though.
They had nine hits off Jaime Garcia and the Cardinals bullpen, only one run but nine hits. They bounced into four double plays. With the ailing Brandon Phillips hitting into two of them. Chris Heisey hit into one because he happened to hit it right at second base. Meanwhile, Mat Latos makes a good pitch to Lance Berkman that was a little too good. Instead of a double play ball, it was a slow roller that couldn't be turned into a double play.
Reds line drives into the corner stay fair and leave the shortest wall in the house. Reds batters line drives curve foul.
Every St. Louis bloop falls in. Every Reds line drive is directly at a fielder.
A look back at virtually every team in every year and you will find a stretch of 4-8. It gets magnified when it happens to start a season.
Texas won the American League Pennant last season.
From April 25 through May 6, they were 3-9.
The Milwaukee Brewers lost their first four games. Then from April 23 through May 6 they were 3-10. They won the National League Central.
The Arizona Diamondbacks were 4-8 from April 2 through April 16. They won the NL West.
The Phildelphia Phillies won the NL East but were 1-9 from September 16 through the 24th.
The Detroit Tigers from May 16 through May 29 were 3-8 on the way to the American Central crown.
The New York Yankees were 3-10 from May 3 - 16. Yep, they won the AL East.
The Reds are not hitting through 12 games but the law of averages will turn around in their favor. The good thing is they have gotten good pitching with an exception here or there. They have taken two winning teams to extra innings, four times on this current road trip, games in which, a bounce here, a bounce there or a call here or there could have turned a loss to a win.
Baseball is a marathon and nothing should be read into any 12 games. It is no time to start trading, firing or sending people to the minor leagues.
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I agree-for now- about the trading ,firing part.. but if u get 10 games behind to start the season is that good? or even over-come-able?
ReplyDeleteThere have been a lot of teams that have overcome a 10 game deficit. It's not ideal but it can and has been overcome in a lot shorter period of time than 150 games. Suppose the Reds were 0-12 and the Cardinals were 12-0. The Reds could gain one game every 10 games and it would have a 3 game lead over the Cards in the end. It wouldn't be easy but it is doable.
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