What To Make Of Reds Start To Season

This is not the start I thought this team would be in nor did the organization, but standing at 2-11, Cincinnati's record is the worst in not only the National League, but of all of baseball. It is still too early to really determine how this season will begin as there have been clubs who have gotten off to bad starts, but have made it to the playoffs (I.E. 2005 Houston Astros started 15-30 and won the Wild Card and 2002 Anaheim Angels started 6-14 and won the Wild Card). However, there is a cause of concern as the offense, what many thought was going to continue to score runs like they did last season, is struggling. Adam Duvall is hitting an abysmal .116 this season and was expected to be the one of the main sources of power. Even Joey Votto is hitting around .250 which is something Votto never does. So far this season the offense has clubbed a grand total of three home runs. Three. That's it. Weather could be a factor as the beginning of the season was unseasonably cold, but it can't be all the reasons for this slump.

Some changes probably should be needed. The pitching hasn't been half bad, but the bullpen has definitely had their struggles to begin the season. Maybe once Michael Lorenzen comes off the disabled list, it could stabilize the bullpen. There's been promise with the rotation, but my concern is that they are throwing too many pitches and not lasting as long as they could.

Just looking at the opponents for this season so far, the schedule has not been favorable to them as the Washington Nationals, a pick by many to win the World Series, swept them, and the St. Louis Cardinals have taken two of the first four games of their current series. On any given night, any ballclub can win, but losing three of four to the Pittsburgh Pirates and getting swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, two teams that are in the process of a rebuild, is unacceptable. There should've been some victories there.

So, should we all be concerned about what is happening with the Reds at this point? It's still a little early, but if it continues in the coming weeks, then this could be a long summer in Cincinnati.