Are the Reds for Real?

Yes and No. There are two things the Reds need in order to win. Number 1 is stay healthy on the hitting side. The last few years it was hard just to keep the OF healthy for an entire year. Number 2, get your pitching staff to pitch at league average. For the most part the Reds have accomplished these goals. Austin Kearns the only one being injured for an extended period of time. The Reds can provide just enough offense if their pitches just keep games close enough to win.

I thought the Reds pitching would be much worse. Paul Wilson is a surprise at 7-0 with a 3.34 ERA. If he maintains that ERA for the rest of the year he will win 20 games with this offense. If it goes to around 4.50 he will win 15 at best. Juan Acevedo is a good young power arm that has been forgotten about due to injuries in the past. Corey Lidle has shown he can pitch with an ERA below 4.00 in the past when he was with Oakland. So he isnt exactly a scrub. Aaron Harang is a young pitcher with a lively arm, and it looks like Todd Van Poppel has come full circle has he is back in as a starting pitcher and has performed well. 3.18 ERA in 4 starts this year. The Reds pitchers dont need to pitch like the Cubs in order to win.

If, and that is a big IF, the Reds maintain their current level of mediocre to average pitching they will be in the division title hunt for the rest of the year.

A few things to note on the hitting side. While Griffey may be hitting .247 he has driven in 39 RBI and hit 12 HR's. Mainly because he is deadly with RISP this year with a .366 BA.

Barry Larkin is silently putting up a decent season. .292 BA, 18 RBI.

And Sean Casey is doing his best Tony Gwynn impression with a .390 BA.