| Ryan Hanigan and Alfredo Simon celebrate clinching a playoff berth. (US Presswire) |
Welcome to the 2012 postseason Cincinnati Reds. With your 5-3 victory over the Cubs on Thursday, you became the first team in Major League Baseball to book your trip to October.
Have you stayed with us before? Yes, this will be Cincinnati's 14th postseason appearance, with nine pennants and five World Series titles.
How did you enjoy your last visit? It was too brief -- two years ago the NL Central champion Reds were swept by the Phillies in the National League Division Series, getting no-hit by Roy Halladay in Game 1.
Frequent flyers? The core of the 2010 playoff team is back, including Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips and Drew Stubbs. Scott Rolen has appeared in the most postseason games of any current Red, playing in 35, including two World Series. He has one World Series ring (2006 Cardinals). Also with a ring is right-hander Bronson Arroyo (2004 Red Sox). Arroyo has appeared in 11 postseason games, including three starts. Utility man Miguel Cairo has played 26 postseason contests with the Cardinals, Yankees, Phillies and Reds.
What's on your itinerary? The Reds could also become the first team to clinch their division. The team's magic number is two with an 11-game lead over the Cardinals. The Reds also have a chance at earning the top seed in the National League. The Reds are 91-59, but a game back in the loss column over the 90-58 Nationals (heading into Thursday's game against the Dodgers).
How long will you be staying with us? If the Reds are at their best, they've got a chance to go all the way -- but September hasn't been kind. Reds hitters are hitting just .234/.303/.334 this month, their worst marks this season. Votto hasn't homered since returning to the lineup. It's been a month since Todd Frazier's homered and Bruce is hitting .150/.209/.250 in his last 10 games, but hit .343/.439/.943 in his 10 games before that. He has a bat that could carry a team -- or sink it. There's also the issue of Johnny Cueto's September swoon. Cincinnati's lack of an ace did them in during their last postseason appearance and Cueto hadn't won this month until Thursday's game against the Cubs. On the postitive side, if Aroldis Chapman comes back, they have a dominant bullpen and have enough power to put up runs in a hurry, especially in hitter friendly Great American Ball Park.
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