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Things I don't get: The Cincinnati Reds are just 3.5 games out of 1st place. Just a half game out of the 3rd wild card.
They have already equaled their win total from 2022. 42 games remain.
Last night, they bounced off the mat to take Game 2....a game that felt like they really, really, really needed to win. I know it sounds corny, and I'll get ripped, but I felt proud of that team last night.
They rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the 8th and then won it in the 10th. They won using six relievers and using every position player. They got contributions from ......Henry Ramos, Stuart Fairchild, TJ Hopkins. Daniel Duarte, called up as the extra player for the doubleheader, saved his first MLB game.
This team is fighting, battling, scrapping, grinding. Doing it with five every day rookies and two rookie starting pitchers. That is insane. They are doing it minus three starting pitchers on the IL....Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Ben Lively. Plus, India and Fraley on the IL. The bullpen tank is on E.
And yet, they are still here. They are still in this.
But it feels like the vibe has changed with some. I don't understand the mindset of:
'They are done"
"It was fun while it lasted"
"Time to talk more Bengals"
Did anyone expect this would be easy after losing 100 games last season? Did anyone think it would be easy once they got a 1.5 game lead?
Can't people follow two teams at one time? What the heck is happening with the Bengals during the week, anyway? They are practicing. There first meaningful game is still 27 days away.
A year ago, the Reds stood 48-72…..21.5 out.....after 120 games.
The Reds have 42 games left. It's mid August and the Reds are in a playoff chase. Let me type that again. The Reds are in a playoff chase.
This is the Big 162....and about 25% of the season still remains!This is nerve wracking. This is fun. This is what it's all about.
Isn't it?