00:00We're going to focus on the Cincinnati Reds, who had rung it up here, Craig, to 20 and 11, but
00:04lost their last two games, which included last night on a Saturday night, but still playing good baseball, 20 and
00:0813 on the season.
00:09And as we said, three teams in the Central Division with 20 or more victories already, and we're just into
00:15the month of May.
00:17Yeah, well, the thing is with the Reds is, you know, their pitching was not going to hold up exactly
00:22the way that we thought over the course of the season, just because it got off to such a hot
00:26start.
00:26But, you know, Nicola Dolo was the victim yesterday.
00:30They gave up 13 runs on Wednesday to the Rockies, but they're going to have to get that fixed if
00:35they want to go deep into the postseason.
00:37I personally think that they're going to make it.
00:39I really like their team.
00:40I like their makeup.
00:41I like their manager.
00:42And I do think that they have a great future for this season and maybe even a deep postseason run.
00:47But the pitching is going to have to be really good until the trade deadline because their hitting is not
00:52very good.
00:52So there are going to be games like you've seen against the Rockies and Pirates where they don't score.
00:56And so if they can't pitch, they're kind of back to the Reds from a year ago.
01:00But every team does lose three out of five.
01:02That's just kind of where the Reds are at this point.
01:04Not particularly worried.
01:05Ellie Dela Cruz, 277 batting average on the season.
01:08Craig, 10 home runs there, but right behind them, rookie sensation Sal Stewart, 260 on the season, but also nine
01:13home runs.
01:14So 19 combined home runs by basically the three and the four hitter in that lineup really set up.
01:18But you're right about pitching.
01:20Andrew Abbott, ERA, 5.97.
01:22Brady Singer, 5.57.
01:24Rhett Lauder, 5.09, which is amazing, Craig.
01:27Do you even have a record of 20 of 13 when you're starting pitchers are looking like that and coming
01:30back from some injuries here?
01:32Maybe get some help down the line.
01:33We know this team is going to hit.
01:35It's a fun ballpark that you have.
01:36But also, Craig, Ellie Dela Cruz, MVP, MVP.
01:39Give me a little bit more stolen bases.
01:41He's got eight on the season.
01:42He can do some damage.
01:43He's one of those players you love to look at in that race because he can do all the wild
01:46card things you need to get it done.
01:48Yeah, he'll be in that conversation.
01:50And it's interesting that you brought up the pitching and the earned run averages of some of those players.
01:54Donnie, take a look at where those were two weeks ago.
01:56It was much better.
01:57It's just lately the Reds have been getting hit a little bit more.
02:01But, yes, if the Reds do make the postseason, Ellie will be in that MVP conversation, probably even if they
02:06don't.
02:07But I'll be curious to see.
02:08There was like an idea that maybe he could be a 50-50 guy this year.
02:12I don't think that's happening.
02:14I mean, I don't think he's got that juice in him, but certainly one of the best players in the
02:17game.
Comments