Reds-Giants Series Preview

Earlier this week, Homer Bailey complained about the Reds being a team that’s been under the radar.

 "No one's even paid attention," Bailey said. ... "You don't hear about that on ESPN. We keep hearing about (the Reds in the 70s). Nobody's talking about this team, this rotation, the things we've done, the amount of quality starts, the innings. 

Basically, Homer was being a homer. But the interesting part is, other than that joke, is that he’s kind of right. The Reds lept out to a big division lead in July, and, after a small threat by the Pirates (lol), never really looked back. Them and the Nationals were the only two teams never had any legitimate threat the majority of the year in the division, but the difference was the Nationals hadn’t been to the playoffs since the Civil War. Something like that. That’s pretty interesting. The Reds on the other hand, were in the playoffs 2 only years ago. No, no it’s true! Roy Halladay did something.

Don’t know what else happened to the Phillies that year. But for the Reds, it was a short stay. So brief that hardly anyone remembers they were there. That was their first in the playoffs in 15 years. That was the year that people noticed them. One of those teams where you were like "really? They were in the playoffs?" Related: The Astros were in the World Series in 2005. 

They probably want to redeem themselves this season. The 2012 Reds are muh better than that 2010 team. They’re a team that probably hits worse than you think but pitches much better than you’re accustomed too. I know, I know, Bronson Arroyo. But other than that, they’re fantastic, especially considering they play in a small office cubicle.

Johnny Cueto was a frontrunner for the Cy Young for a long while. He’s putting together his best year in the big leagues, and is a Ryan Vogelsong like quality start machine except better. Matt Latos is there too. He looks like what you would think a douchy Mr. Potato Head would like. I keep waiting for someone should put his ears on his head or something during the game. He also is pitching well, which is a real bummer. Actually it might be his best season yet, which is telling especially considering he was giving away home runs on a platter earlier this year. Just between Cueto and Latos, the Reds rotation is stacked.

The others aren't bad either. Bronson Arroyo has put together a semi-respectable season, posting a 3.74 ERA. He’ll probably make a song about that. He’s their Zito, in that he’ll throw in a gem in between a few craptastic crap starts all while throwing a fastball that gets passed up by sloths. But he's not as terrible as you might think. He is also still Bronson Arroyo, so that’s a relief.

Homer Bailey has finally put together a good season, and he’s always had good stuff. All in all the Reds pitching isn’t the 2010 Giants, but then again neither are the 2012 Giants. The Giants probably still have better pitching, but the gap is much closer than you might think.

The Reds hitting is Joey Votto. That’s probably a little misleading, but when you have a cyborg on your team you can’t really help but just go back to that. Votto is a mammoth, posting a Bonds-esque OBP of .474. Besides him, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce and Ryan Ludwick will give you shivers. Todd Frazier was ripping through the Rookie Of The Year race, but he fizzled out in a big way down the stretch. But other than that, the lineup is very mediocre which is probably too kind. Drew Stubbs just swung and missed and this sentence. The Reds scored 669 runs, the Giants scored 718. After you account for ballparks, the Giants outscored the Reds, 22344 to 3. It’s math. It’s an offensive team that will give you problems, but it’s not the same force you’re used to watching. Joey Votto could always go 10 for 5 though, so you have to look out for that.

The Giants went 3-4 against the Reds this year. The last time they played, a Pterodactyl appeared over Jay Bruce’s head.

My favorite part is at the end when he half heatedly bumps into the wall and is like "oh dear, I am a complete failure."

In the end though, that record doesn’t mean a whole lot. I should probably analyze the matchups a little, how the Reds hitters matchup against the Giants, or how a potential Guillermo Mota-Chris Heisey matchup will play out. But it’s the playoffs. It’s a crapshoot at the very highest level. The 2006 Cardinals won the World Series, led by the incredible pitching of Jeff Weaver and Jeff Suppan. Stupid things are going to happen. Edgar Renteria might be a World Series MVP. Basketball is different, where Martians were picking the Heat to win the championship and hey, looky there! The baseball playoffs nobody knows. Especially considering both the Reds and Giants are as even as you can get.

But it’s going to be fun. Oh man, the playoffs are fun. Except for Ivan Rodriguez, Scott Spezio, Jose Cruz Jr., Rick Ankiel, Eric Hinske, Darin Erstad, Rally Monkeys, Tomahawk Chops, Russ Ortiz and Dusty Baker and the game ball and whole lot more that I’m too young to remember. Other than that though.

Whatever the case, it’s going to be exciting. That's a guarantee. I love baseball.