Reds 1st Team Eliminated, but They Have a Lot to Be Proud Of

On the first day of October, four teams looked to stay alive and avoid elimination. Three teams did so, leaving the Cincinnati Reds to complete the sweep. They did strike first in Game Two of their National League Wild Card Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, plating two against, of all pitchers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. However, again, the Dodgers were just too much for them. An 8-4 loss to the Dodgers, and just like that, the Reds' season was over.

Now, this is supposed to be the first "What Went Wrong?" of the postseason. I've been writing these for baseball and hockey (and I will for basketball soon) since 2021, and those who know my WWW stories know I have rules when it comes to these stories. WWW takes a deep dive into eliminations and what mistakes were made. Normal eliminations get treated with some humor, but mostly with a standard demeanor. If it's an upset, the humor increases, and it comes with shock. If it's a team I despise, it's all humor mixed in with snarky pettiness. If it's a team I like, it's emotion. Same applies to "cursed" teams.

As for the Reds, well, the words "What Went Wrong" don't apply here. This team wasn't supposed to be in the postseason. It was supposed to be Brewers/Cubs for the Central, which it was. Dodgers defintely a factor, as are the Padres. It was supposed to the Mets running away with the NL East, but the Phillies did the running. Even so, the Mets were supposed to be in. Even though the Reds entered the final week actually above the playoff line, it was supposed to be the Mets sneaking into that last spot. Reds lost Game 162, giving the Mets a golden opportunity to get in with a win.

They didn't. That will definitely be another story for another time.

The Reds definitely made the best out of a good situation that they backed into. It was the perfect scenario, a win-win situation. This team was happy to be there and had nothing to lose. The Reds were swept, but it was the Dodgers. No harm, no foul. Nothing went wrong. Reds did way better than expected, they made the best of it, and the exit was early. The city of Cincinnati really needed this, especially since it's over for the Bengals already due to Joe Burrow being out for most (if not all) of the season. At least the Reds know that with players like Elly De La Cruz leading them, they do have a chance to possibly build on this surprise postseason appearance.

And there's the updated bracket. The Dodgers became the first team to advance from the Wild Card Series to the Division Series, and they will face off against the Philadelphia Phillies in the best-of-five series. As for the Reds, they have a lot to be proud of. In a National League with teams like the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, Padres, Brewers, Cubs, and Braves, the Reds were supposed to be an "also-ran," an "afterthought." As the famed Michael Jordan meme went, the Reds took that personally. They may have backed in, they may have capitalized on the collapse of a team who spent very, very hard, but the fact of the matter is, the Reds made it. And if they play their cards right, they'll make it to the dance again.

* * *

If you like this story, click the heart and the subscribe button, and feel free to comment below! Tips and pledges would be greatly appreciated, but only if you want to do so!