Coming into this season I was pretty optimistic. The Reds were breaking camp with two good looking pitching prospects in Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez. Joey Votto was going to be the starting firstbaseman. The bullpen looked decent. And of course we had Dunn and Jr's pop to mix with the young guys, which I include Brandon Phillips since he hasn't played all that many years for the big club.

Now not so much, Cueto has been up and down, which you expect with a rookie. Volquez has been better than advertised. Votto has shown he can hit and that he has a pretty good glove. The bullpen for the most part has been pretty good. The problem has been the teams inability to score on a regular basis, or come up with a big hit. Arroyo and Josh Fogg have been awful. With Fogg sent to the bullpen and Arroyo status up in the air. Aaron Harang has been as good as ever but is getting no run support. Jr's, Dunn, and Phillips have not been able to put anything together.

So is the season now over for you if your a Reds fan? I really don't mind the team losing as long as they are entertaining. Because I watch baseball to be entertained, I enjoy the game. The offense, the strategy, everything that goes into the game. But when the team is losing, and not being very competitive I have a hard time tuning in. I live outside the Cincinnati market so I get the Extra Innings package on Direct TV. Most season's I don't mind shelling out the money because the team was at least entertaining. But this season it's been like watching my nephews little league team at times with the silly mistake the team makes. Every manager the team has had since Ray Knight has preached that the team will emphasis fundamentals. And yet they always seem to be making the same stupid mistakes every season. So I ask you again. Is the season over for you? I need a reason to watch right now.

Coming into this spring training most talk with Reds fans was about Bruce, Bailey, Votto, and Cordero. Now it's Cueto and Volquez throwing some serious cheese. Cueto's first start was so good he was a topic on ESPN's PTI. When was the last time a Red was even mentioned on the show? Chris Henry and Chad Johnson yes! But a Red. Volquez was good in his first start as well, some fans were ready to run Wayne Krivsky out of town after trading Josh Hamilton in the offseason to acquire Volquez. Wonder if they'd do that now? I know it's only been one start apiece this season and it's a bit early to get those Hall of Fame busts ready. But hey where's the fun in being patient. If the Reds have any chance of contending this year these two guys have to be good. Did anyone expect the Rockies to make the World Series before the season started last season? Exactly. So why can't it be the Reds turn.

This time of the year I start to feel like a kid at Christmas. You know the big day is coming and you can't wait for it to get here. You mark days off on the calender and you think it's never going to get here. Opening day is just around the corner. Thankfully pitchers and catchers report in just over a week. And maybe Erik Bedard will be traded before then. Who knows?