Reds Alert!

And the hole just keeps getting bigger.  Monday's shellacking by the Phillies coupled with the Cardinals victory in San Diego means the Reds are now 3 1/2 games out of first.  The deficit is certainly manageable with a little over four months of the season left, but what is disturbing to me is how this team handles big moments. 

Monday's beating was nothing more than a flashback to last October when the Phils showed the Reds what playoff baseball was all about.  It certainly seemed this club was ready to rise to the occasion when put on the big stage after sweeping St. Louis a little over a week ago (in fact someone on this blog called it a "turning point" in the season).  Instead, they've acted like shrinking violets through the first four games of this hellish road trip.  My sense is loyal fans are sick of it and I can't blame them.  Please don't misunderstand, I'm not saying the team isn't trying, but they certainly are not on the same level right now with Cardinals, Phillies, Yankees or Red Sox... or even the Indians for that matter.  No, there's no quiet resolve or defiant demeanor of "We will find a way to beat you!" from this club.  All championship teams have it.  Just ask The Big Red Machine. 

Case in point, the Minnesota Twins.  Before this year they had made the playoffs in six of the last nine seasons.  Pretty impressive for a small market team (like Cincinnati).  Do you know how many playoff series they've won? One in 2002.  The Twins have lost in the AL Division series in each of its last five post season appearances.  Four of those falling to the Yankees, including back-to-back sweeps in 2009 & 2010.  In fact, the Twins have been swept in each of its last three playoff appearances.  Don't you think Twins fans were pleading last year for their team to stand up and show they weren't going to take it anymore?  Not many gave the Giants a chance to beat the vaunted Phillies in the NLCS last year--except them.  And when the opportunity presented itself they seized it... all the way to a World Series title!  Do you think they're intimidated by the Phillies?  Heck they beat them and then Cliff Lee in the World Series.  The Cardinals are without one of their top flight starters, have a bullpen by committee endured Albert Pujols' longest drought without a home run and are playing guys by the name of Craig and Descalso playing at second and third base... and they swept the Phillies last week!

I know it's May and not October, but the Reds have been presented with a similar opportunity to step out into the lime light.  To prove that all the talk by all the baseball pundits that this team was on the rise wasn't just wishful thinking.  So far they're 0-4.  Sure it would be terrific to emulate the Twins success but their window may be closing and they have yet to raise a World Series banner during that span.  My fear is the Reds could suffer a similar fate.  The choice is theirs.

Other Musings

I'm not surprised the Reds demoted Edinson Volquez to Triple-A Louisville.  Something had to give as the former All-Star hasn't been the same since the Phillies beat him in game one of their NLDS last year.  Volquez continued to give up runs in bunches in the first inning which contributed to a high pitch count that hindered him from pitching deep in to games.  His outburst about the team not scoring runs following Sunday's game didn't help him either.  Something Dusty Baker said he will address with the right-hander if and when he returns to the club.  In the meantime, it looks like the Reds will call-up a starter from the minor leagues when they need one, which would be Friday.  So Todd Frazier's time on the big league roster could be short-lived.  As much as fans would like to see the promising prospect get a chance in left field, Chris Heisey deserves the first shot.

Bronson Arroyo certainly earned the contract extension he signed this offseason.  But if you're the Reds you have to be hoping his poor start to the year is a result of the lingering effects of the mono Arroyo was diagnosed with this spring; rather than the number of innings the right-hander has pitched over the last several seasons.  Reds TV analyst Chris Welsh accurately pointed out Monday night how Arroyo doesn't have the zip on his fastball from last year, allowing hitters to sit on his curve ball.  Arroyo said he felt fine, but nine runs on 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings says otherwise.  You've got to believe the Reds front office is holding its collective breath that Arroyo can rebound, otherwise this contract becomes an albatross around the team's neck.