A Closer Look

It's August 17th and the Reds are still in first place. Regular readers know that I predicted an implosion several weeks ago. So, what's keeping this team in the hunt?

• Joey Votto: To nobody's surprise, the Reds 1B is having an MVP season. Votto is a special player who should put up big numbers for the next eight to 10 years.
• Scott Rolen: Anyone who says they saw this coming is lying. Two years ago, Rolen looked like he was near the end of the line. In 2010, he's cruising along at .298/.369/.540. He's missed 23 games, so as always, his health is a question mark.
• The Bench: Somehow, Dusty is getting solid contributions from the likes of Miguel Cairo, Ryan Hanigan, Lance Nix, and Chris Heisey. Maybe it's the toothpick.
• The Big Three: Who would have thought that Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto, and rookie Mike Leake would be 31-14 in mid August? Certainly not yours truly.
• The Bullpen: Once again, Dusty is shocking the hell out of me. He's really gotten the most out of a collection of arms that includes Nick Masset, Arthur "Older than Dirt" Rhodes, and Logan Ondrusek. This simply can't continue.

Will the Reds outlast the Cardinals? Smart money says no. However, "Dusty's Dudes" have already exceeded my expectations for 2010.