Hanging By a Red

 

It might not happen. It's not completely guaranteed to happen. But the possibility still exists that, if things go a certain way, it could.

The Mets play the Marlins this weekend, the Reds play the Brewers. Both the Mets and the Reds are after one wild card spot. Obviously the Reds have the tougher series, as the Brewers are essentially playing for a 1 seed. The Mets do have the leverage over Miami, but have to contend with A.) some inexperienced starters and B.) just how volatile the Marlins can be as a spoiler. So there is a chance that the Reds can stay at a decent pace, or sweep the Brewers, and just wait for the Mets to fall over. The Mets have the spot right now but only by a game, and the Reds own the tiebreaker.

Again...it's unlikely. But there's enough of a chance that the Reds aren't going to start fighting.

How else do you explain Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo having the starts of their lives this week, with the latter throwing until he literally could throw no longer? How else do you explain how Elly de la Cruz went 2 months without a homer and now is hitting them way more consistently? How else do you explain how this Reds team was able to sweep the Cubs while the Cubs were closing in on the first wild card spot? They want it. They want it very badly.

You can make the argument that the Reds still don't have the team, and that so many of the pieces that looked near ready in 2023 have taken major steps back, and that is valid. Spencer Steer has yet to completely follow up with his monster 2023, and even if he's been decent, with 21 homers and 73 RBIs this year, he's not hitting as consistently as he used to. Matt McLain is similar, as the defensive numbers are great but he's still only a .220 hitter. Even Ke'Bryan Hayes, as crafty as he is, isn't the five-tool player that was advertised. But I see a team that's succeeded where many others have failed, especially in its pitching. Abbott, Greene, Singer, Lodolo, Burns, Littell and Martinez have all been fantastic this year, and they haven't needed to break into as many failsafes as usual. That is a serious difference-maker, and it's kept the Reds in the race all summer basically. 

I do worry about how well this team could do if they do make it in, especially from an offensive standpoint, but it's also the kind of team that could catch fire and surprise people if given the opportunity. And it's not like anyone WOULDN'T want to see a surprise Reds team become a playoff favorite this year. They all love underdogs. 

So yeah...the odds do say the Mets finish it off, but I'm secretly hoping the Reds can surprise people and make the leap. It'd be good for baseball, and as someone who doesn't even dislike the Mets...it'd be pretty funny.

Coming Tonight: A catcher for a team that technically also has a chance at October. It's dwindling by the day but it is still there.