One Week In...

Evidently, my compatriots KFW and El Fuerto have either been tanked this past week or are still a little too choked up about the tribute to pump out some blogwork, so I figured I'd step up to the plate. First off, thanks to everyone for their support on the tribute. I have gotten a lot of positive feedback, and that's really what it's all about. In other news, the Nasti Nati Redlegs have just completed week one of the 2010 season, and yall must be crazy if you don't think I'm not just bubbling with observations at this point. Let's make it happen.

I was going to apologize for the lack of the bullpen preview I'm sure all our readers were giddy to get a hold of, but I'll allow 7.16 ERA and two "L"s from the pen alone to speak for itself. Coming from a bullpen that ranked 3rd in the league, this is slightly disturbing. If Masset and Herrera simply "reer'd" it last year and aren't clutch as Robert Horry again this year, we might be seeing ERA's from these guys comparable to Mr. Clakny's after serving up right hook hoagies to Pablo Sanchez in bp. (For those of you who no habla Backyard Baseball lingo, that's pretty goshdarn high) Before you get too steamed though, I advise you to slow your roll, and just envision Rhodes, Masset, and CoCo: 7th, 8th, 9th...BALLGAME. Bottom line, these guys know what's up, and a turnaround in the near future is likely.

To be brief, real disappointed with the hitting. It seems like these guys have made every starter so far look like Henry Rowengartner (After all, even Barry Bonds couldn't catch up to that heat). Stubbs and Bruce have practically been providing the GAB and its attendees me with air conditioning with all the K's they're racking up. We saw first hand what happens when you put the ball in play when Jonny Gomes hit a weak liner to left and Fonso Soriano did his sweet little bunny hop, dropped the ball of course, and wall-ah, RUNS. It's early, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, but Bruce might be suiting up for Billings if he doesn't get his shtuff together asap. After all, anytime your batting average is lower than your alcohol content, and for Jay Babay (.053) its gettin pretty damn close, you might as call it quits.

The core of Rolen, Votto, B-Phil have all been doing there thing...which is expected. I thought Cabrera was getting the hang of it until he fanned with a runner of 3rd at a crucial part in yesterday's ballgame after being ahead 3-1 in the count. C'mon Son. Really liking what Dickerson brings to the ballclub day in and day out, and I'm not just saying this because he's homo either. Of the little I saw Juan Francisco play, I had seen enough. He had himself a solid golden sombrero Saturday (0-4, 4 K's) and was promptly shipped back to Louisville in exchange for none other than Mike Leake. Gotta love his major league debut. Excuse the 7 walks, and this guy had a heckuva ballgame. What a better way to start of the career than loadin up the bases, then sitting down the next three chums. Then to see him going 2-2 from the dish...gotta love the chutzpah of the young fella. With Aroldis simultaneously mowin down some Mud Hens on Sunday, there's no doubt you might need to put on some shades when you're lookin at the future for this Redlegs ball club.


Other than that, the 3-3 start was respectable. As KFW puts it, the "Big Road Machine" will commence on its road adventures tonight against a Marlins squad. The Reds were 18 games under .500 last year against non NL-Central opponents, so road series like this against a non division opponent will really define the kind of ball club the Reds will be this year. Arroyo on the bump tonight looking extend his streak of 13 consecutive starts of pitching at least 7 innings and allowing 3 runs or less. Talk about consistency; the leg kick at its finest.

Possibly Fuerto and Kevin Frey Wannabe will awaken from their slumbers and enlighten you in the next few days, but in the spirit of capitalism, I'll just worry about myself. With that, Burnside over and out. S'GO Redlegs.