63 Games Tell the Story

The Cincinnati Reds (32-31) once again find themselves in that all too familiar situation that has haunted them in years past. A strong start to the first one-third of the season gradually gave way to four losses in a row: one to MLB's worst franchise record (Nationals), and being swept by the Kansas City Royals on their away stand.

Still yet, even as the Reds have somewhat faded in the early season, it's easy to see that the NL Central is wide open, and up for grabs. After all, 60 games into the season and still only 5.5 games separate the first place franchise from last.

So what does this mean for the 3rd place Reds?

Looking at the facts, the Reds have a 2nd best record of 20-16 in the NL Central, yet you'd have to go all the way back to Wednesday, June 3rd, against the St. Louis Cardinals, to find the last time they scored over 5 runs in one game. Since that date, the Reds are 3-7 with Masset and Cueto picking up the wins.

On another note, the Reds were once again at the .500 mark; a mark they haven't dipped below since April 12th when their record stood at 2-3. However, the franchise has also been six games above the .500 mark twice this season.

So what can we look for throughout the rest of the season?

Someone who can hit, someone who can score runs- This offense is extremely young, and very vulnerable to the hitting slumps that many major leaguers see on a consistent basis. A solid outfielder is always helpful, but after watching the first part of the season anyone could tell you that a more solidified pick would be a 3rd basemen.

Trade Deadline?- It's obvious that a .500 record isn't going to give anyone a playoff berth. What the Reds need is a proven winner on and off the field. A younger version of Sean Casey, if you will. My pick is the Cleveland Indians third basemen, Mark Derosa. Derosa is hitting .279, with 13 homers, and 48 RBI's. With these statistics already in hand, Derosa would be at the tops of many stat categories just by walking onto the team.

Who to deal?- While Derosa's hot, the Cincinnati Reds might have someone who's a bit hotter: Outfielder Jonny Gomes is hitting .317 ( 13/41). Gomes' stock currently is on the up which might surprise many fans due to his activity on the free agency this past off-season. Conclusion: Acquire Derosa for Gomes, and a minor league third basemen.

The Reds are 18-7 when scoring five or more runs in a game. For once, this franchise can finally say that the pitching is where it needs to be. If the Reds acquire one or two more decent hitters to ignite this ball club there's no telling how late in October they might play until.