Cincinnati Reds

The young Cincinnati Reds are a hanging tough at 26-20.

They are currently 1 1/2 games behind the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.  They also trail the Milwaukee Brewers by a half game.  The Reds are leading the preseason favorites, the Chicago Cubs, by three games.

You are about to read the inaugural edition of Reds Report. I am going to do my best to make this a weekly report on the state of baseball's first team, the Cincinnati Reds.  

So, in the words of my pal Kel Mitchell, "Awww, here it goes!"  

Wednesday, the Redlegs finished off a 6-3 home stand with a sweep of the Houston Astros. Bronson Arroyo delivered a 92-pitch complete game. Arroyo allowed just one earned run off of five hits.  

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I was going to start this game recap explaining how I hate Mike Lincoln, but Joey Votto stole the storyline and saved Mike Lincoln’s rear.

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I think the time has come to realize that Homer Bailey is not going to be the money pitcher that the Reds management hoped he would become.

In his major league career, all with the Reds, Bailey is 4-8 with a 7.01 ERA.  This includes 18 appearances, each one as a starter.  He has not yet seen the eighth inning of a game from the mound.

I am not out to denigrate Bailey or to maximize his shortcomings.  Perhaps he is not doing what he would be best suited for. 

The Cincinnati Reds really haven't been very good for a while now.

They seem like a franchise that is always rebuilding, yet never contending. A perennial cellar-dweller in one of baseball's most competitive divisions.

But fans in Cincinnati are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. A young lineup core with Jay Bruce, Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips are one of the most under-rated trio's in the major leagues.

Johnny Cueto and Edison Volquez are brilliant young studs that can anchor a rotation for years to come.

To say I’m a big Cincinnati Reds fan would be the understatement of the century, albeit this century is still relatively young. Cut me, and I’ll bleed Cincy Red.

My love affair with the boys in red started around the same time when many around the country also became enamored with them.

In the early ‘70s, I jumped on the bandwagon powered by the Big Red Machine. The Reds of that era were a high-octane juggernaut, sparked by household names like Bench, Rose, Morgan, Perez, and Foster.

From the Reds via Twitter: Volquez to DL w/ back spasms, Ramirez optioned, McDonald designated. Bailey, Fisher and Gomes promoted from Louisville.

This should definitely satisfy Reds fans in the blogosphere. 

Darnell McDonald has had a rough time this season. Hopefully, Jonny Gomes will be the right-handed bat the Reds lineup needs.