Reds August 2023 thread

[*ochocincos*]

(08-14-2023, 11:00 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: The major difference between the 2021 roster and the 2023 roster is 2021 had a "this is your last chance" feel to it. 6 of 8 regular starters (Barnhart, Votto, Farmer, Suarez, Naquin, Castellanos) were 29 or older. Winker, Votto and Castellanos each had resurgent seasons but we still fell short.

They had just lost Trevor Bauer, Archie Bradley, Anthony Desclafani, and Curt Casali (the first time) in the previous off season, and were going to lose Lorenzen and Castellanos the next off season. Castillo's control was coming due, Sonny Gray's bargain of a deal was a few years from coming due and there was just this feeling of time running out. 

2020 and 2021 were two competitive seasons in which it felt like we were on the verge of a collapse. When we missed the playoffs at the end of the 2021 season, it felt like that was the last straw and we needed to tear it down and build from scratch.

Which we did.

And that's where we are now. Even if we miss the playoffs this season (which, for the record, I think we likely do, unless Greene comes in and gives us a major shot in the arm), we know that the vast majority of this offense is rookies and 2nd year players who will continue to improve. This isn't the end of a window of opportunity. This is the beginning of that window.

And that makes me feel like we'll be okay regardless of how this season ends up.

For sure.
I wasn't meaning to imply it's this season or back to a rebuild.
This is probably the best young roster the Reds have had for the past 10+ years.
They have the opportunity to really bring in a couple good FAs (within reason) and compete for the next few years...if ownership wants to.

With all that said, I still would be sad to see the Reds miss the playoffs this year.