I did not realize this, but holy #### the Reds bullpen is deep. They have eight guys with significant innings pitched and the worst ERA+ is 128.

Yeah, I don't think we should expect a "three and out" in the playoffs from the Reds this go around.

I did not realize this, but holy #### the Reds bullpen is deep. They have eight guys with significant innings pitched and the worst ERA+ is 128.

Yeah, the bullpen has been loaded all year. The Reds are a good team, and the pen has been their strongest asset

It's the perfect Dusty Baker team. Hitters running on all cylinders, and a pitching staff with no tough decisions to make.

The Reds have ONE pitching start this year made by someone outside their five-man rotation, and he isn't leaving his starters in forever for no good reason any more.

reds are a fascinating team

The Reds have ONE pitching start this year made by someone outside their five-man rotation

And that one was to start in the second game of a doubleheader.

Reds team ERA+ is 124. 124. Ummm....

One thing different about this staff from other Dusty staffs is that they are not giving up walks.

Where I'd worry about the Reds in the playoffs is that (a) the offense is not strong and (b) the starters give up a lot of HR (partly park effect no doubt) which can kill you in the playoffs. The bullpen is might stingy but they might well be down 4-1 before the pen gets into the game.

But, in general, the NL playoffs look like a real crapshoot to me, especially if the Braves win the play-in game. I'd bet on the Nats if I had to but these teams look pretty close to me.

congrats to the reds and their fans.

with the off days dusty could manage every game like it's a six inning affair since his bullpen is lights out.

But, in general, the NL playoffs look like a real crapshoot to me, especially if the Braves win the play-in game. I'd bet on the Nats if I had to but these teams look pretty close to me.

Ftfy :)

The Reds have a decent enough offense when looking at their starters (Votto, Bruce, Frazier, Ludwick at the core.) But they don't much depth.

That Latos-Vólquez swap has worked out pretty well for the Reds this year. A guy who has no problems dealing with the transition from Petco to the GAB and throws like an All-Star is pretty damn valuable. Vólquez has been, uh, not great for San Diego. It'll take a while to know if Alonso and Grandal pan out, but I doubt the Reds are ever going to look back upon this deal with any regret.

latos started really throwing some gas in mid-may and never looked back. early in the year he was throwing 90 or so and looked out of sorts.

then boom he's throwing 93/94 and that was that

It's not really accurate to call it Volquez for Latos. Volquez is a lottery ticket for recovering from injury and form, but Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal, two top prospects who were blocked in the Reds organization.

I think the trade will be win-win, but if Grandal turns into Joe Mauer or Mike Piazza, it might look different in the future. But I don't think either side will have regrets.

latos started really throwing some gas in mid-may and never looked back. early in the year he was throwing 90 or so and looked out of sorts.

then boom he's throwing 93/94 and that was that

I heard he was a slow starter, but he looked beyond awful in April. Since then he's been striking out a batter an inning, carrying a BB rate under 2.5, and an ERA around 3.20.


2 front line starters and an abundant number of quality arms in the pen make me feel comfortable about October this time around.

Reds are tied for second in the league in Pythag record with St. Louis and Atlanta. They are a good team, but the NL playoff teams all look around the same. Only the Nationals have played a lot better, but losing Strasburg pretty much negates that.