Cincinnati Reds’ Jay Bruce optimistic about the second half of the season – MLB News
The Cincinnati Reds' right-fielder Jay Bruce on Wednesday, July 11, stated that the team is in the right position to get to the top. Bruce was commenting on the team’s ranking in the Division wherein they stand second, only a game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The first half of the season was fantastic for the Reds until a few seemingly unavoidable mishaps that altered the outlook of the team’s position. Injuries have arguably plagued the Reds, rendering them unable to toughen their hold on the ranking.
However, despite all the odds that have hit the Reds in recent weeks, they have performed relatively well, with their second position in the Division ranking. That which in Jay Bruce’s view need critical appraisal and resetting of the line-up and offense.
"We've played OK. We were in first place for about 50 days, and we're still right there," Reds' right-fielder Jay Bruce said. "We're still in a great position to be there at the end. ... Our pitching has really been the story. Our lineup and offense has been a little inconsistent and sporadic. We have to lock that in. We're a team that's going to hit.”
There are a lot of factors that can help the Reds to leave behind their rival teams. Take for example the injury-ridden St. Louis Cardinals and the seemingly weakened Milwaukee Brewers who are struggling a great deal.
The only team outrivaling the opponents in the Division is that of Pittsburgh Pirates. The Reds will be looking to strategise something workable to deal with them.
In the team manager’s view, the club has not underachieved given their performance so far.
"We certainly haven't underachieved. That's not the case," Reds' manager Dusty Baker said while speaking of the overall performance of the team in the first half. "Could you improve in some areas? Yeah. We need to get better with runners in scoring position, big time. I think that's No. 1."
The Reds will have challenges to grapple in the second half of the season where their rivals’ resurgence cannot be dismissed given the strength in their line-up.
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