Still breathing

I have a ton of things to post from this summer. Right now, I'm trying to get back to DC but all transport is messed up right now so I'm stuck in Ohio until tomorrow.

Just a bummer about the Reds season. A small market team like this can't afford to waste it's young talent because they'll be gone in a few years. I honestly believe this team was mismanaged out of contention by Crusty, who either let players play too long (see Gomes, Jonny) or didn't play them at all (see Alonso, Who?). Usually, managers don't make a huge difference in what a team does, but when you have a borderline team, like the Reds, who are missing some parts, a manager can make or break a team. And Dusty broke this team. But Walt's failure to call up Cozart earlier or do something about leftfield until it was too late also contributed to the sad season.

Guess I'll root for the Brewers this year, the only team in the NL Central I don't hate. I look at them as the closest to Cincinnati, except with people who live in the 21st century.

So long, 2011

Ah well. Our hopes have been dashed. This is worst than 2001-2009, because at least we knew those teams were bad. This one, well, they won the division last year. They are better than this. Why have they done so poorly? A few suggestions:

Jonny Gomes was allowed to be a regular leftfielder for far too long. Seemed like Dusty kept him in there to spite fans who criticized him.

Bronson Arroyo has not been DL'd and has been allowed to take the ball every 5th day despite his velocity dipping down into the low eighties.

Walt and Dusty waiting ten years to call up Zack Cozart long after both shortstops proved they were wasted outs.

Oh well. Guess there's always next year.