One of my favorite baseball teams of recent past, the 2003 Florida Marlins, opened the season with a record of 20-30. Then their young players caught fire, and one in particular, Dontrelle Willis, gave them a boost that lasted all the way through October. The Marlins beat the Yankees in six games to win the World Series, and it didn't feel like an upset, at least not to me. Youth doesn't equal untalented.
I think you know where I'm going with this.
And before you think I'm silly, let me just say NO. As in, NO, I do not think the Reds will win the World Series, nor do I think they have the talent to do so. I do think, however, despite the fairly awful brand of baseball they've displayed thus far, that they can put together a winning season.
The reason, of course, is Jay Bruce. I think he can provide a Dontrelle Willis-like boost and propel the Reds out of the cellar, past mediocrity, and into NL Central contention. I think you'll see pretty soon (like, beginning tonight) that Jay Bruce is the best player on the team. Add that to the fact that the Reds have been talented underachievers in '08...this could be the perfect storm for a turnaround.
In fact, I'll go out on a mini-limb: The Reds will be over .500 by the All Star break, and breathing down Chicago's neck by August.
-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/27/08
2 comments:
He is hitting 1.000...he's a perfect hitter. We should call you nostradamus
Jay Bruce's best career move would be killing himself right now. There's almost no chance he'll ever be able to top where his name is. Sad, but true
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