Former State Champion Baseball Coach Gary Yeatts Mid-Season Analyisis

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Hey there Reds fans! Its summer and hotter than Hades out here in Arizona. Just finished a weekend in Vegas where the temps reached about 115 degrees but thankfully cooled down to 88 degrees at night. The good news is that the Reds have also heated up after a miserable start. My spring training prediction was 90 wins and another playoff appearance.

Eleven guys on the DL have certainly dinged that optimism. Still, there is a great deal to be optimistic about. The offense has started rolling mainly because Hamilton, Mesoraco and Frazier have had very productive seasons so far. The starting pitching has been about as good as any in baseball. Chapman and Broxton have been so solid at the end of games. Cueto and Simon have really been sensational and as a result the Reds are in contention at the halfway mark. Of course, the BIG question is can they stay that way.????? Yes they can! Simple reason starting pitching.

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The Reds are a very dangerous team if they make the playoffs/ Can they win the Central Division. I doubt it. Milwaukee is rolling and without a healthy Votto and productive Bruce their chances are limited. The second half of the season is a war of attrition. The team that can stay healthy will win the wild card. For the Reds they need to follow up with a 45-36 second half to go with the 43-38 beginning. That would give them 88 wins and probably the wild card. All of the wild card teams have issues at this point. Injuries and poor production from key players have made it unlikely that anyone can win 90 gamesl Adding a key player or two could push anyone of the 5 teams in the fight into the playoffs.

It promises to be a long hot summer and it is always fun to have your team in the hunt.

I have to comment on our manager. I believe Bryan Price has done a remarkable job so far. He has shown the willingness to make changes and adapt to what the season throws at him. I have not second guessed him nearly as much as good ol Dusty.

Okay-the second half begins. As far as the future goes, the clock is ticking on these Reds. This starting rotation will be very different in  the next 18 months. The signing of Cuban phenom Iglesias means that the Reds have a deep base of pitching on the way. No fewer than 7 quality arms are now at Double A Pensacola or higher. Fourteen of the top 20 prospects are pitchers. Either some go as trade chips for this season or the writing is on t​he wall for Cueto, Latos and Leake. My guess is that the Reds sign Cueto and Leake and Latos go as free agents after 2015.

This only adds to the drama of the 2014 season. Hopefully, it will be a Red hot summer. Two weeks to the All Star game and my hope is that most Reds miss it and get some rest for the second half. Cher and I will be in Cincy in September and we hope there is a pennant race going on. Thanks for reading. Go Reds YIB-GY