Thrice is Nice!

1.       Welcome back Joey Votto. Votto is not only locked in at the plate right now but is looking like the player that won the MVP. All last season, people hoped that Votto would come through with a big hit whereas we are back to thinking that he will come through with the big hit. Most impressive part of the 4-4, on base 5 times, night that Votto had last night? Two singles off swings in which he broke his bat, the man is strong.

2.       Speaking of strength let me introduce you to Todd Frazier. Breaking ball on the outside corner that completely fools the hitter should not end up in the 5^th row of the right field bleachers but that is exactly what happened last night. Todd Frazier hit a home run on a ball that he honestly had very little right to even make contact with, let alone hit it 397 feet. As most of you will remember, Frazier has also hit a home run with only one hand in his career and hit a different home run off of the riverboat on top of the batters eye in straight away center field. Oh, he also hit a 446 foot shot this season into the upper deck of the upper deck. Frazier is proving that when he hits a ball, it stays hit and goes very far.

3.       Opportunity to win a series. Today marks the first day this season that the Reds have the opportunity to win a 3 games series as opposed to having to win the 3^rd game to avoid a sweep. Taking 2 of 3 from the Pirates would be huge for this club before embarking on a 10 game road trip which includes stops in Wrigley, these same Pirates, and then to the monster that is the Braves pitching staff this season. Currently sitting at 5-9, with 1 game remaining on this home stand and 10 games on the road, I believe when the Reds return home for a game on April 28^th against the Cubs they will be 12-13. At 12-13 against the quality of opponent the Reds have faced this month, that would be a win.