I went to bed last night instead of watching the end of the game, and it turns out that was a pretty good decision.
Games like last night are the absolute worst. I can generally find a positive somewhere just about every day, but last night there was nothing. Claussen was bad, the bullpen was bad, the hitting was pathetic. You've got problems when the highlight of the night is Justin Germano's scoreless inning.
Marc thinks a change is coming:
The postgame atmosphere in the Reds' clubhouse was awfully tense. Those guys know at least one move has to be made tomorrow, and Rick White and Brian Shackelford in particular didn't do themselves any favors tonight.Bob Castellini was at the game, having flown in this afternoon, and he did not look real pleased when John Fay and I encountered him walking through the stands on our way to the clubhouse. Also, Wayne Krivsky was reportedly on the phone to Jerry Narron shortly after the game ended.
All that said, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if there are multiple moves made Wednesday. I don't think it'll measure up to the San Juan massacre of April '03, which saw the legendary Jimmy Anderson and Josias Manzanillo DFA'd and Brandon Larson optioned out, but it just feels like something bigger than simply optioning out Shackelford, for instance, needs to be done.
I can only hope. This season isn't lost yet, and there's no need for a collapse to be a foregone conclusion. Even with the absolutely atrocious month that they've had, they're still four games over .500 and right there in the wild card race.
This team wasn't as good as it played in April, that's pretty clear. But I don't think it's as bad as it's played in May either. I guess we'll see, but I'm hoping for some type of move that'll bring hope.