I Am Tired of the Yearly Bullshittting
That I get from basically every fucking sportswriter who calls the Reds their dark-horse team.
Seriously - this shite has happened every year since 1999 - and the Reds have had eight straight losing seasons.
Addressing a few of Mr. Dobrow's points:
- The Reds have one returning regular who played 120 games and OPS+'d over 110 - Joey Votto. Only ONE player in the Reds' eight position players was an above-average major league hitter for a significant portion of the season.
- Of the great fact that "80% of their starting rotation is returning": only one of those starters contributed an ERA+ of over 100 - Edinson Volquez. Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo are both on the wrong side of 30 and unless they find someone to fill the chasm that is the 5th rotation slot... apocalypse. Maybe Micah Owings can stiffen the staff?
- This team is still managed by a man who started a player who managed to OBP . 238 over 366 at bats. This is utterly inexcusable.
- This team's Pythag had them at 90 losses - AND THEY LOST THEIR BEST HITTER with no prospect of the offense being replaced.
1. Team X had a below average year last year!
2. Team X has one or two young studs !
3. If 239487 things go right, Team X will confirm my dark-horse article!
4. Team X will be the next Tampa Bay Rays!
Oh well. It's hot-stove season, and I am a bitter man whose team has spent the last decade playing baseball just well enough to encourage the smallest smudges of hope, but never well enough to merit serious consideration after Bastille Day.
