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news197/ The Red Struggle : Curt Bell [08.16.04]mon.[3:38am]
The Cincinnati Reds have just fell out of the NL Wildcard leader and since they've signed Curtis Bell the team has a 0-2 record and has been outscored 16-4 in the 2 games losing the first one to the Pirates 4-3 and losing to the Padres 12-1. The Reds (Bell/White) did however pitch a 3 inning no-hitter but lost 4-3 and that was because the team had 7 wild pitches in the game and all 4 runs scored on that. They had another 7 wild pitch game and it was only a 2 inning game. 6 runs scored on the wild pitches. So in those 16 runs in two games 10 of 16 runs from the wild pitch. Last night the 15th Curt Bell was warned because he threw hit glove after he was struggling in the first inning and then he tossed it later in the same inning and umpire Willie Micks tossed him and Curt said he won't do it again give me another chance but Micks told him to hit the shower. So it looks like the 6-5 Reds team will not make the playoffs because their rebuilding now. Cardinals/Pirates are the current teams tied for the NL Wildcard. Padres are coming into the wildcard picture and the team scored 12 runs in their first game as the first ever team to have an all-speed team. Braves are 1½ games back in the wildcard race and will need some serious wins to even think about making the playoffs. The NL East is out of the question so if DeWitt and his teams wants to play in October then he can only afford to lose 5 more games if that. We will say 4 which seems more of a possibly because a team with a 12-12 record making the wildcard? You will see more than 4 teams with a .500 or better record. So the Braves can only afford to lose 4 more games. The tough games he has left are against the Yankees (2), Phillies (2), Astros (2), A's (1), Bluejays (1). We think it's pretty safe to say he'll lose both to the Yankees. Then he'll have 4 huge games against the two best NL teams, Phillies/Astros. It'll seem impossible to split a 2 game series with these two teams. You never know anything is possible but the odds of the Braves making post season are very slim.