Cincinnati Reds Roundtable No. 2

Welcome to the weekly round-table conference of the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Writers Scribus Opinionati. 

Again, let's call the entire staff in: Illya, Russell, Stephen, both Tylers, Adam, Doug, Dan, Tom, Kevin, Bryan and Matt, Schmitters and Lamar.  Okay, let the round-table roll.

Unfortunately, the Houston Astros have proved me to be clairvoyant, flamboyant  or something.

In an article, or a comment on someone else's article, I wrote that as bad as they are now (next to last at the time) the are just a couple series away from being right at the top.

Now after sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals, and winning seven of their last 10, they are but one game back.  Incredible!

The Cincinnati Reds on the other hand are their mirrored image.  Being swept by the best team in baseball and managing only three wins in their last 10, the Reds find themselves two games from the cellar.

Six games below .500 is not where we belong.  The LA Dodgers treated us like 13th century slaves, and I for one, have had enough!

As Deadline Day approacheth, I mean approaches (sorry guys, that is the method actor in me) we are not dead yet, but if we lose the series to the Cubbies someone will undoubtedly call for the "breath on the mirror" test.

We can only drop so far, look out below Bucs.  We have certainly had more than our share of DL Riders but when looking at the Mets we should rejoice. 

As our Muckety Mucks sit back and do nothing, we continue to free-fall in this giant abyss they call the NL Central. Trade winds are in the air, I can smell them.  Oops, sorry I had Gold Star chili for lunch.

Who amongst us would not like to see a good deal made with somebody?  I have always been protective of Brandon, but now I will be open to discussion about anyone on the squad. 

Illya, as the co-leader here, you seem to usually have a thumb on the pulse of things.  What say ye, sir?

Russell, you always have your eyes open, any suggestions?

This is the first think tank I have been a part of.  The first tank as a matter of fact.  Ummm, drunk tank when I was younger, but that alone should not indict me sir. But, I digress.

Bronson Arroyo went five innings admirably, too bad the sixth would be his undoing.  Manny has no sense of drama whatsoever.  He doesn't care who or where he is hitting, he just hits.  Maybe he will be the next Reds killer, joining Berkman and Pujols (at least we don't have to worry about Bay any longer).

By looking at the standings I notice two things.  One, we are even at home (everyone else in the division is above .500) and six below on the road. Second, our run differential is the fourth worst in the MLB.

I say we take up a collection and try to buy Bill James from the Red Sox.  I am sure he would take a calculator and figure the whole darn thing out.

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