Heading into the 2008 season, expectations were higher for the Cincinnati Reds than they had been since 2000.
They had made several acquisitions in the off-season along with the hiring of manager Dusty Baker, though they weren’t picked to make the playoffs, they would be improved.
At the All Star break the Reds are 46-50 and the first half of the season has been quite a bumpy ride.
The question for the Reds going into the season was: did they have the pitching from the starters and bullpen to keep them in games, so their offense didn’t have to outscore their opponent to get the win?
However, that assumption was wrong.
Though their pitching has been inconsistent, it is much improved and has been the reason the Reds are close to .500 and still have a long shot to win the wild card.
The Reds hitting on the other hand has been atrocious. The identity of their offense has finally surfaced.
If the Reds aren’t hitting home runs they usually lose, and most of their best hitters are swinging for the fences instead of putting the ball in play. If the Reds want to be considered a serious contender in the National League next season they must address these hitting issues not only from a personnel standpoint but a philosophical standpoint.
Nonetheless, here are the mid-season grades for the Cincinnati Reds:
Corey Patterson: F
The Reds attempt to have Dusty’s guy be the lead-off hitter has failed miserably and it has come at no surprise. The question is how is he still on the team and for how much longer?
Adam Dunn: D
At the break Adam Dunn’s numbers are on par with his career averages which are 40 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 walks, and 100+ strikeouts.
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