Say what you will about the Reds slow start both on the mound and at the plate, but lately, the Reds have been tearing it up in both departments. At the plate, guys like Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Johnny Gomes, and Ryan Hanigan have been hitting everything the past 10 games. With the exception of Homer's terrible start on friday, pretty much the whole rotation has been solid their last 2-3 starts.

So tell me.....did you expect the Reds to be good this year and you're finally seeing signs of what you expected to see, or is this just a lucky run against some not so great teams?

Personally, put me in the first category. I really expected the Reds to do well this season, maybe not winning 100 games and making the playoffs, but being a contender in the wild card race and actually resembling a Major League ball club. Finally I'm seeing some guys turn into the players they can potentially be. Votto is getting a reputation as a hitter that pitchers want to avoid, or else. Not quite of Pujols' proportions, but definitely the guy who is going to draw a lot of walks because pitchers are afraid to give him something to hit. Bruce has been hitting well lately too, as well as drawing walks. Gomes is quite a surprise in how well he's hitting lately, especially considering half the time he goes out there and looks like he's chopping wood. Hanigan has been unbelievable, and I am probably more happy for him than anyone on the team, the guy works hard and is amazing behind the plate. Great to finally see him become a more complete player. Brandon Phillips is what he is. He has traditionally been a slow starter but great finisher and I just hope to see more from him sooner as he can truly make this team great. Even Orlando Cabrera has been a surprise and has hit well lately, on top of driving in a ton of runs.

The rotation has really turned into what I expected them to be when the season started (Leake being the surprising exception). I hope Homer can really be more consistent with his good starts, and Cueto better with his pitch count. But I see progress out of everyone and thats a really good thing. Pitching is tough to improve, there are small adjustments to be made and the results are not always immediate.

So, now that the Reds are above .500, how do you feel? Do you feel like this team is smoke and mirrors and reality will set in in the end or is this the start of some better baseball out of Cincinnati?

I'm skeptical. The last couple years they have started out solid, only to start to tank and fall into oblivion.

However, I'm seeing things I like this year. I saw where the Reds are leading the league in 1st-3rd advances. They're also working the count deeper than they have the last couple years under Dusty. The energy they have been playing with his awesome. The defense has been pretty damn good. And for once, I saw a Reds team finally respond and right the ship after getting their asses handed to them the first 2 games against San Diego. However, I won't get too excited until the Reds prove they can weather a lengthy west coast trip. In what seems like forever, they always get skunked out there.

After getting swept by the Pirates the first time, this next series will tell me a lot about this team. If the Reds go looking for vengeance and take care of business against the Pirates, then that'll be a pleasant surprise opposed to years past.

Leake is a stud and gives me a lot of hope for this season and the future. Watching him makes me want to see some of the younger guys, like Wood and Chapman, even more.

I doubt the stats show it, but Rolen and Cabrera are priceless to this team in so many ways.

In Dusty I don't trust. Dusty's teams have always have had teh kncak of looking slightly above average and then in late May or early June lose about 13 of 16.


I still smell a 78 win season....but man the NL central is horrible

I wish Rolen had been here for about 3 years as I still don't think the Reds have a leader.......and he's the best candidate.

Phillips SHOULD be the leader of the team, but we all know he's too lazy to do that.

I don't think he's too lazy. I think he is a little too selfish to be a true leader.

This is about what I expected from them. I expected them to be competitive and hover around 2nd-3rd place behind St. Louis.

I like the lineup for the most part. I certainly like it better without Laynce Nix in there. Votto is a stud but everybody else is solid. Phillips looks really good hitting in the 2 hole and I think Stubbs is finally headed in the right direction.

Leake is awesome but everybody else scares the crap out of me each time they step out on the mound. You never know what you are getting out of Arroyo, Cueto, Harang, or Bailey. If Bailey can get his crap straight, I'd feel alot more comfortable.

The whole "leader" thing is overrated for a baseball team. It's completely overblown. Baseball isn't a Rah-rah sport. I think Rolen and Votto are sufficient with their current "leadership" styles. At the end of the day hitting and pitching wins games, not some guy busting the 8 hitter's balls because he didn't run as hard as he should have.

Dusty Baker is the devil. 80 wins.