Hang in There Reds Country

The Reds have struggled mightily since the All-Star break, going from NL Central contenders to a team desperate to grab a wildcard spot. Winning has almost been nonexistent for this team, especially during this past week in which the Reds lost seven games in a row.

The Reds’ postseason dreams seemed to be fading fast, and the frustrations they had been battling all season were on full display. Baseball, however, is game that can change in an instant, and a team that was icy one week can become scorching the next. Fans in Cincinnati should know all about this because that is exactly what happened to the Reds earlier in the season.

The Reds looked like they were out of the pennant race in May, but as the summer went on, the team hit their stride and started reeling off win after win. By the All-Star break, they had climbed from fourth in the division to 1.5 games out of first place. They were on the hottest streak of the season and seemed to pull out victories every time they played. Unfortunately, they have tumbled back to fourth, but they still have a shot.

With five weeks left in the season, the Redlegs are six games out in the wild card race. Before the season ends, they play the Pirates and the Cardinals, two teams ahead of them in the wildcard standings, and earning wins over these teams is a must, as it would allow the Reds to climb over them and into a wildcard spot. The door to the wildcard opened up a bit more as Phillips returned to the lineup, and Simon pitched his best game since before the All-Star break on Sunday in a 5-3 Reds’ victory over the Braves.

Coming up next for the Reds is the NL Central cellar dweller Cubs, a team the Redlegs should beat. Should they sweep the Cubbies out of the Queen City and extend their winning streak to five games in a row, a hot streak could be on the horizon, and all of the doubt and disparity surrounding this team will disappear as their chance of playing in October grows. So hang in there Reds Country. This team has climbed up the standings before. They certainly can do it again.

Go Redlegs!