Too good to be true...so far

At risk of jinxing tonight's game, I'm going to say it: the Reds have been the most dominant team thus far in the 2012 postseason.

As if a 9-0 win over the Giants on Sunday night doesn't prove it, look at the offensive and defensive numbers of the club. The Reds have the highest batting average thus far of any postseason team left (.297, Atlanta recorded a .308 in their wild-card loss) and a 1.00 earned run average.

Let me repeat that: a 1.00 E....R....A.

In the opinion of many critics, the national media has done a poor job of recognizing the talented rotation and bullpen in the Queen City all year (3.34 regular season ERA, third best in entire MLB). The Reds did all they could to be noticed over the weekend, though, even overcoming unthinkable circumstances to get a decisive win.

With Johnny Cueto's back injury just eight pitches into Saturday's game, the hopes and dreams of a Red October deflated from me like air from a balloon. What was to come, however, reinstated that confidence, and pushed the level of belief higher than ever before. Sam LeCure produced when called upon, and Mat Latos showed once again why the offseason trade with the Padres was one of the best moves of the Walt Jocketty era.

Bronson Arroyo, without his red hooded sweatshirt, took the mound in a fly-ball park, his specialty, and dazzled the national viewing audience. Arroyo went seven strong innings with one hit, one walk, and no runs scored.

Matthew Carroll may have summed it up best in his tweet:

Matthew Carroll ‏@CoachMCarroll

Watching bronson arroyo pitch when he is on is like watching the worlds best wiffle ball pitcher. #Reds @DatDudeBP

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Brandon Phillips has taken advantage of the national spotlight, showing once again that he should be considered one of the greatest second baseman in the game, and that his absence in the All-Star game was in fact a snub. Phillips is batting .500 over the first two playoff games with a home run, postseason-leading four RBIs, and two doubles, all over five hits. Cap that off with some great defensive plays, especially the diving back-up behind first to save a run, and Phillips has looked like the postseason MVP two games in.

Jay Bruce, one of the streakiest All-Stars in baseball, is on fire thus far, and when number 32 is hot, he's hot. Bruce also has a home run (a monster 436-foot shot), two doubles, and three RBIs.

Another bright spot in the first few games for Cincinnati has been left field, usually the cause of much uncertainty for the Reds. Ryan Ludwick has come up big on both sides of the ball, with a few great snags, one diving and one over the head, along with a 432-foot bomb off of Madison Bumgarner. With Ludwick acting as a real threat at the plate, he's also drawing some walks and has scored a pair of runs to go with his .333 playoff batting average.

Some less positive spots have accompanied the glory games of October thus far. Aroldis Chapman, one of the most dominant closers this year, was having control issues on Saturday night. He escaped with allowing only one run on a wild pitch, but loaded the bases in the process with a hit and two walks. Chapman showed physical frustration when he felt the umpire missed a few strikes, but to criticize Chapman too harshly is unnecessary at this point. At some point, maybe even tonight, a close battle can not afford even one run surrendered by the Cuban Missile, and he will need to keep his composure to ensure Cincinnati can count on him in the late inning.

Another more obvious negative is the Johnny Cueto injury. Yes, Dusty and the Reds were quick on their feet when Redleg Nation had lost hope, but the Cy Young candidate is a crucial part of the lineup and will be needed come Game 4 or 5. Cueto is optimistic of a return by then, but the evaluation is still a day-to-day process. 

Tonight, though, MLB's newest member of the no-no club will take the mound. Homer Bailey, fresh off one of baseball's most difficult feats, takes the mound at 5:30 against Ryan Vogelsong (14-9, 3.39 ERA). The Reds can clinch the series tonight with a win, giving them a four-day rest before facing either St. Louis or Washington (series tied 1-1).

As, I said, with chance of jinxing all that is good in Cincinnati, the Reds have been the most dominant team thus far. Tonight, they strive to continue on the path to all the way.

Numbers never lie

The Reds and Giants take the field in less than an hour for Game 1 of the National League Division Series. Cincinnati and San Francisco both have dominant pitching staffs, but this one will likely decided on who plays the best small-ball (AT&T is the ranked as the second most pitcher-friendly park by ESPN). To prepare you, we turn to the numbers:

Record

Reds 97-65 vs. 94-68 Giants

2012 regular season head-to-head

Reds 4 vs. 3 Giants

Last meeting on July 1

Reds 3 vs. 4 Giants 

Games decided by one run between CIN and SF

Reds 64 vs. 50 Giants

Opening Day payroll

Reds $76,181,365 vs. $118,216,333 Giants

Batting average

Reds .251 vs. .269 Giants

On-base percentage

Reds .315 vs. .327 Giants

Slugging percentage

Reds .411 vs. .397 Giants

Home runs

Reds 172 vs. 103 Giants

Triples

Reds 30 vs. 57 Giants

Stolen bases

Reds 87 vs. 118 Giants

Errors

Reds 89 vs. 116 Giants

Team ERA

Reds .334 vs. .368 Giants

Shutouts

Reds 12 vs. 14 Giants

Hits leader

Brandon Phillips 163 vs. 190 Marco Scutaro

Doubles leader

Joey Votto 44 vs. 39 Buster Posey 

Triples leader

Todd Frazier 6 vs. 15 Angel Pagan 

Home runs leader 

Jay Bruce 34 vs. 24 Hunter Pence