State Of The 2017 Reds
We are near the halfway mark of the season and of course we have to talk about the state of the team. While the team has a losing record at 31-44 as of June 27 and are in last place, this team is a lot better than they were at this point last season. It helps that the division is very weak in 2017, but at this point in 2016 the team was already 21 games behind first place. This season, 8.5 games behind. The Reds were 29-48 in 2016, so thats a big improvement even if it’s not that noticeable. As in terms of the product on the field, the Reds look like a team that is just on the cusp of doing something big and becoming a contender in the near future.
While they theoretically can win the division this season, that is not necessarily something they are trying to do. However, there is one big problem with this team: they aren’t consistent enough. The team started off hot to begin the season, then got cold, then played well for a while including a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, and have since gotten cold again.
As I have watched this team this year, I really have noticed that this team is much improved from 2016 and look like a squad that is capable of finishing at .500. Yes, I actually mean that. The talent is there, the poise is there, the energy is there, you can just see it. The problem is that they are young and the development is still in the process. Heck, even some of the youngsters look like they have finally reached their potential like Adam Duvall and Eugenio Suarez. Suarez’ defense at third base has been exceptional and his bat has been consistent. Plus veterans like Joey Votto and Zack Cozart have been fantastic this year with their bats being incredibly productive and vital to the offense. Scott Schebler has also been very productive and should get All-Star recognition. However, that isn’t even the best part. They added so many guys in the offseason to come off the bench, from the bullpen, or to start and eat up some innings and that has helped this squad tremendously.
One of the biggest acquisitions this offseason was picking up Scooter Gennett off the waiver wire. Gennett, coming into the June 27 contest, is hitting .306 with 11 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 11 doubles in just 173 at bats including a four home run night against the Cardinals at home. Scott Feldman was signed on to eat up innings and stabilize a rotation, which he has done as he has a 6-5 record with a respectable 4.07 ERA. Drew Storen was signed on to solidify the bullpen and has only given up nine earned runs in 31 innings pitched plus hitters only hitting .222 off him. And speaking of the bullpen, it has been one of the best so far this year in the Major Leagues with Raisel Iglesias, Michael Lorenzen, and Wandy Peralta helping Storen out. It’s amazing what a turnaround it has been for the bullpen as in the first half of last season, it was historically bad (second half was very good actually, but not as deep or as effective as 2017’s).
Starting pitching, however, has been an issue. Despite Feldman, this rotation has been bad. Tim Adleman has been inconsistent, but for the most part he has a respectable 4.30 ERA. Brandon Finnegan has been hurt most of the season, Anthony DeSclafani has yet to pitch, and Homer Bailey just came off the disabled list, so injuries have played a role too. Other than that, Amir Garrett, who at times looks like the next Clayton Kershaw and the next looks like a deer in headlights, Bronson Arroyo (who has since gotten hurt and acknowledged that his career might be over), Rookie Davis struggling with his control, Lisalverto Bonilla proving that he is a bullpen guy and not a starter, and having some pitchers who did some spot starting like Sal Romano, who weren’t very effective. However, most of this is growing pains for young players and when the others get healthy, the rotation will be better off and will likely end up helping them win more games.
I predicted at the end of the season the team would finish with 77 wins and if they got hot they could wind up winning even 80-something games. That looks likely right now and they look like they are on the brink of doing something big. They can still theoretically win the division, but the focus right now is to do something even better, become a world champion.
