The Cincinnati Reds continue to rise with persisting odds
The Cincinnati Reds had a rather slow start when the 2012 Major League Baseball kicked off. The club could not have made their mark last year as it was ultimately the St. Louis Cardinals which not only won the National League Central title, but also stole
the show in the World Series finals when they beat the Texas Rangers.
The Reds, nonetheless, like all other rivals, are vying for the slice and share in this year’s playoffs, and – if luck would have it, the World Series. A quick look at their performance brings to fore an interesting prospect: The Reds may make it to what
the Cardinals achieved last year.
Starting from the bullpen to the offence, the Reds are not showing any sign of weakness in any aspect of the game. The fact that they have already proved to be too tough a rival for the teams like Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals,
put other teams in defensive position.
But what might lead to potentially enormous concerns are the injury problems that can plague the team. This month alone, two of the players – All-Stars Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips, have missed a number of games due to respective injuries.
But it was Joey Votto who had to undergo a knee surgery last month that culminated with his staying out of the game for weeks. While Brandon Phillips was to fill the spot that Votto had left back, he too had a strain in his left calf.
That resulted in his absence for the few games, resulting in the team’s looking desperately for another equally strong player to fill the vacuum temporarily created by the absence. Even though the Reds eventually fought their way out of it, injuries nevertheless
showed that the club had to manage it effectively least they pay the ultimate price for it.
Other than that, the Reds have relied over five of the starters the whole season. Were any starter to get unfit, the gap would be seemingly too huge. From Johnny Cueto to Homer Bailey, every starter has performed outstandingly well this season to keep the
Reds up in the National League Central ranking.
So it is not about the hitting alone that the Reds might be concerned with. It is about keeping in mind several other spots, whose going vacant due to injury might create a trouble for the Reds in the long run.
As the season draws ever closer to its end, and the Reds in one of the longest stretches of the game, there are bright chances that the Reds make it to the playoffs now. With the return of Votto and Phillips in the lineup, the team is stronger than ever.
It is the same team that has performed consistently to occupy the top spot in the division. The Reds would obviously want their fitness and form intact to continue the march to success and glory.
They have already achieved a lot of milestones this season, from winning the longest streak of games after years to maintaining above .500 average.
If the Reds maintain this display of the game, and the fitness problems do not arise, the team will be all set to do what the great teams do: Win the World Series. Of course, to realize that dream, the same team spirit ought to stay intact.
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