Downward Spiral?

"Boy, that escalated quickly.  I mean that really got out of hand fast."
Will Ferrell as Ron Burgandy from Anchorman


Reds fans worst fears have been realized on this killer 10-game road trip as Thursday's 10-4 defeat to Philadelphia dropped Cincinnati to 1-6 with three to play in Atlanta.  What's worse is the Reds have fallen to third place in the NL Central and are getting beaten up on and off the field (not to mention mentally) as Homer Bailey had to leave Thursday's game with a muscle spasm in his throwing shoulder.  He's headed back to Cincinnati to get checked out and see how serious the injury might be.  Bailey's recent set back comes on the heels of Matt Maloney going on the disabled list with an abdominal injury, Sam Lecure is dealing with forearm soreness and Carlos Fisher and Daryl Thompson have been used up in the last two games respectively in extended relief duty.

To sum up, the Reds head into Atlanta reeling.  Mike Leake will be called up Friday to make the start versus the Braves in what would have been Edinson Volquez's turn in the rotation.  Dusty Baker and Walt Jocketty have to be praying the Reds offense can jump out early on Atlanta and that Leake can pitch deep into the ball game to save the depleted bullpen.  A tall order since the Reds have gone 1-8 in their last nine games.

Lost in this mess has been the emergence of Jay Bruce as a clutch performer.  Bruce single-handily carried the Reds in Philadelphia.  He drove in the winning runs in Tuesday's victory (with 2 out), tied the game (with 2 out) and then put the Reds ahead with a 10th inning homer (off lefty Antonio Bastardo) in Wednesday's 19-inning loss, and then tied the game Thursday (albeit briefly) with a 2-run homer off left-hander Cliff Lee.  Baker has been reluctant to put his two lefties, Votto & Bruce, back-to-back in the lineup because of match-up purposes with opposing teams left-handed relievers, but with the way Scott Rolen struggled versus the Phillies, it might be time to think about it.  I've said it privately last year and this year, Bruce is the key to the Reds offense.  For this team to be truly formidable as a contending team, Bruce has to develop into the player that set the minor leagues on fire and earned him Minor League Player of the Year honors.