Game 13: Reds @ Cardinals (1:45 EDT) Arroyo vs. Wainwright

After last night's embarrassing loss, Kevin Mitchell is Batman went on an impassioned screed calling for a stark reevaluation of our expectations for this season. After such an abysmal start (4-8), both we as Reds fans and the Reds brass need to realize that we do not have to be in "win-now" mode right now. All the good young talent is locked up for a few years to come, so if this season is a total waste then we need to look forward.

With all due respect, KMiB, but you be illin'. We are only 12 games into the season! I feel like a bizzarro Nietzschian Madman running through the streets shouting, "THE REDS ARE NOT DEAD! THE REDS ARE NOT DEAD!" Of course, they have looked bad so far. Really bad. But there are 150 games left to play. They used to play whole seasons that long. I'm just as frustrated as anyone with the way they are swinging the bats (they have scored exactly one run in exactly half of their games so far). But let's have a little perspective, shall we?

Bronson Arroyo takes the bump for the good guys, coming off his best game in a long time. He threw 7.1 shut out innings last time out against the Nationals, but unfortunately it was one of those games where the Reds only scored once. The best part? He's thrown a total of 13.2 innings thus far on the young season, and has yet to give up a wanger. Keep it up, BroYo.

Adam Wainwright has had a rough start in his return to baseball. He's still racking up the strike outs, but he's been imminently hittable. He was chased by the Cubs after only three innings his last time out. Hopefully the nine hits the Reds scattered last night is a sign that they are ready to bust the slump. Hopefully Wainwright is still working out the kinks of his new bionic elby bone.

Bullpen Log