reds

  • Monday, July 20, 2020

Las Vegas - You smelling the pine tar, the grass and the chalky white lines. BASEBALL BAABBBEEE!!!

Kicking it off Thursday with the Yankees at the Nationals and the Giants at the Dodgers. But first, gonna take a look at an Over/Under total for wins in the abbreviated 60 game season that looks VERY tasty. And we're putting a laser on the Cincinnati Reds. The listed total at most sportsbooks is 31.5, and we're going OVER. Why? Few reasons. Added firepower and strength of schedule.

First the firepower. The Reds acquired Mike Moustakas (35 HRs) and Nick Castellanos (27 HRs and a league leading 58 doubles) to go along with the HEAVY sticks they have in place. And when we're talking heavy, we mean 3B Eugenio Suarez and his FORTY NINE bombs and SS Freddy Galvis (23 HRs). Throw in All-Star Joey Votto and Aristides Aquino who hit a record 13 HRs in his first 100 at bats, and this could get scary. Also drop in Shogo Akiyama, a star in Japan, to set the table from the leadoff spot. Think Ichiro Suzuki-lite. Shogo averaged 189 hits per year since 2015 in a 146 game season with the Seibu Lions. He played 143 of the 146 games in each of those seasons, he hit .359,
.296, .322, .323, .303, won a couple of Gold Gloves and was a 5X All-Star!

The rotation is also pretty solid, with Luis Castillo, Trevor Bauer, Sonny Gray, Wade Miley and Anthony DeSclafani. Surprisingly, MLB ranked 'em the third best, behind only Washington and Tampa Bay.

Now the schedule. Cincy's schedule might be the best in either league, with 33 percent of their games coming against the Tigers, Pirates and Royals. These three bottom-feeders combined for a 175-310 record last season, so the Reds should be able to find a bundle of Ws against these guys. Just asking for Cincy to go two games over .500, but thinking they can do at least 34/35 wins. Gonna drop some green on the Reds.

The only problem I have is, the GREAT Marty Brennaman, longtime play-by-play voice for Cincy, called his last game on September 26. He worked the mic for a ridiculous 45 years, and his famous call, “And this one belongs to the Reds,” will be missed.

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