My approach to these games is about the same as it was to spring training - as long as no one gets hurt, then all's well. Having Dusty and Ryan Ludwick back is one of the few things of consequence the Reds can do before the playoffs. It's always possible there are players who are getting rusty and players who are overdoing it, but it's pure speculation.
If you're looking for something to worry about though, it's the bats. Toward the beginning of the month, it seemed like the Reds had hit a crop of pitchers that were either decent or didn't have much of a book out. There was also some unlucky runner-stranding and batted-ball nonsense. It's looking more like a team-wide slump as the page turns on September.
The team is hitting a little bit worse than it did in April. There are a number of ways to interpret that, but the most charitable is that we've been here before a it isn't a big deal. Offenses have down months. Sometimes they happen at the beginnings and ends of seasons. August was the Reds' best month at the plate, so we're not looking at long pattern of decline.
The 1990 Reds' offense didn't storm into the playoffs like it did into the season: they had their two best months at the plate during the first half. And that team's name was the 1990 World Series Champions.
REDS LINEUP
Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
Zack Cozart (R) SS
Joey Votto (L) 1B
Todd Frazier (R) 3B
Jay Bruce (L) RF
Dioner Navarro (S) C
Xavier Paul (L) LF
Drew Stubbs (R) CF
Mat Latos (R) P