The Mid-Summer Classic is upon us and the Cincinnati Reds find themselves in 2nd place, trailing one of the summer’s biggest surprises in the Pittsburg Pirates and only slightly in front of the 3rd place St. Louis Cardinals.
One surprise for Cincinnati is a pitching staff that ranks 4th in all of baseball in team ERA of 3.41. The staff has been lead by a steady crew of starters that ranks first in the majors with seven complete games and a dominant relief corps. “Should be” All-Star, Johnny Cueto, paces the staff with a 2.34 ERA, Mat Latos and Mike Leake have turned their seasons around, and Homer Bailey and Bronson Arroyo have been consistent and steady for most of the season.
But another unsuspected and unwanted surprise has continued to haunt the club—they rank in the bottom third of the senior circuit in runs scored, team BA, and team OBP.
The Reds began the season inept at scoring runs and save for only about a four week stretch last month, the team continues to struggle mightily at doing so. It is no secret that the top two slots in the Cincinnati lineup rank among the worst at reaching base.
So, the time has come when Dusty Baker and the Reds must make changes—continuing with the status quo is simply detrimental to this team’s playoff chances. Dusty Baker needs to “man up” to his players and make the changes that are going to hurt feelings.
Assuming the Reds make no immediate trades, check out these changes Baker needs to make to the Reds lineup.