The Cincinnati Reds are rolling right now.  Winners of 5 of their last 6 and 8 of their last 12 has jettisoned them up to 5 games above .500 and 1 game out of first place.  Right now, there is quite a buzz in the city because we have a winning team, a rarity in the Nati.  Reds tickets are going faster than a Las Vegas show ticket or any other kind of event.  This Saturday, they had 9,200 people walk up and buy tickets for a sell out crowd.  I was at that game, and it was awesome.  All kinds of people were scrambling to get to the game and get tickets.  I’d even see people straight from work in their business suits or Koi scrubs because that’s what winning does!  It brings people to the ballpark.  Enough with the gimmicks.  Ok, bobbleheads, fireworks and other giveaways can help bring kids to the game, which brings families to the game.  But long term, if you want to see the attendance go up, you just need to figure out how to win. 

It seems as if Mr. Walt Jocketty knows exactly how to do this.  He has transformed this team into just the right mixture of youth and talent.  The team is fast and plays great defense, and now their bats are starting to come alive.  Votto and Bruce look like they could carry this team for years.  Taveras has been an amazing pickup, and his OBP is no joke.  But it’s not just the stars, the bottom of the lineup has done their part.  Hernandez, Rosales, Hairston, and Nix have all been great contributors of late.  I love it!  I look forward to an exciting year, chasing down that NL Central pennant.