It's Hard Not To Jump

It's very hard to be a Reds fan right now and not jump off the ledge. They have lost six of their last seven games. In three of those losses they were shutout, and they scored a total of six runs in the six losses. So the offense has gone to sleep. Teams go through swoons, but the Reds are swooning at a terrible time. While losing games to Kansas City and Seattle, the real heavyweights are lying in wait on the horizon. A team that is destined to make the playoffs would have chewed up the competition in the past two weeks. But in the last 14 games, the Reds have a 5-9 record. Ten of those 14 games were at home. There is time to get it together, but the Reds have blown a golden opportunity by losing to teams they should have handled. Now they will have to turn it around against teams that present some hurdles to overcome. Oakland is 21-13 at home. Cleveland should provide a respite next weekend at GABP, then three at home against the talented Phillies. After that, THE TRIP, an 11 game road trip that will decide the Reds fate this season.

It was good to see Aaron Harang give the Reds a clutch performance. But two things stick out: Harang really needs to pitch in a ball park like Safeco Field where the fly ball isn't such a bad thing. And 110 pitches in six innings? The big guy still needs to find a way to be more efficient and get deeper into games.

How about Jim Herman's performance at the U.S. Open Sunday? He shot a 3-under 68, tied for the best score of the day. He was a whopping 6-under after 15 holes, but bogeyed 16 and double-bogeyed 18. Still, a very impressive finish and a nice comeback after struggling on Saturday. But who didn't struggle on that course? I felt very bad for Dustin Johnson on Sunday. By the way, Herman should be playing in the Nationwide Tour event coming to TPC River's Bend in Mainville. The Chiquita Classic runs from July 12-18.