The Cincinnati Reds have just
clinched the NL Central with a 6-0 victory over the Los Angeles
Dodgers. It is the Reds second divisional title in the past three
years.
It would come as no surprise to me if the Reds were to go on and
win the World Series. The Reds played their best baseball when
their star player Joey Votto tore his left knee. Between July 6th
and August 4th,
the Reds went 22-3. So Brandon Phillips, Ryan Ludwick, Jay
Bruce and rookies Todd Frazier and Zack Cozart more than made up
for Votto’s absence. It also didn’t hurt that their starting
rotation of Johnny Cueto, Bronson Arroyo, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and
Homer Bailey stayed healthy all season with a nearly invincible
bullpen of Sean Marshall, Jonathan Broxton and 100 MPH flamethrower
Aroldis Chapman. This is a deep team.
The Reds won the division by 11 games over the St. Louis
Cardinals (who hold one of the two NL Wild Card berths at the
moment).
Unfortunately, manager Dusty Baker was unable to be with the
club to see this triumph. Baker was hospitalized during their last
road trip in Chicago with an irregular heartbeat. Bench coach Chris
Speier has been the acting manager the past few games. Baker may
return to Cincinnati on Sunday.
The Reds last won the World Series in 1990.
