IT TAKES MORE THAN TWO QUALITY STARTERS, NO?:

Cincinnati and Detroit have surprised majors with hot starts (Seattle Times, 5/07/06)

Would it be far-fetched to envision the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers in the World Series? Yes, it would, but in the first five weeks of the season, the Reds and the Tigers have been two of the best teams in the major leagues.

The Reds and the Tigers began Saturday with 20-10 records, second in their leagues by half a game. No one expects either team to sustain its impressive start, but no one expected the Reds and the Tigers to have these starts.

"Everybody picked us for last," Jerry Narron, the Reds' manager, said. "It was important for us to have a good start."

The Reds, who last won the National Central title in 1995, have finished fifth three of the past five seasons. Although the pitchers have sparkled in the last two weeks, compiling a 2.04 earned-run average as the Reds won nine of 12, it has been the hitters who have powered Cincinnati's start. The Reds began Saturday first in the NL in runs scored and on-base percentage and second in home runs and slugging percentage.

The Tigers are totally legit and have more talent coming, but the Reds need to trade to bolster their starting pitching ASAP if they want to hang around this Summer even if Homer Bailey can help this year.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 7, 2006 12:00 AM