Want To Read About The Reds Today? Of Course You Do!

The red hot Reds completed a three game sweep of the Colorado Rockies Sunday afternoon.  The win put the team at 14-2 since the All Star Break and the Reds are now tied with the Washington Nationals at 61-40 (.604) with the best record in the MLB.

Joshua Ramsey from the bleacher report wrote this piece about the Reds on Sunday in which he makes a case that the Reds are the best team in all of the MLB.

Ramsey describes one of the key strengths to this Reds team pretty well:

"The Reds' defense doesn't only make the plays that they should, but they make the plays that they shouldn't—the plays that other defenses can't make. Pitching and defense win championships, and Cincy could make an argument that they have the best of both."

Richard Justice from mlb.com wrote this on Sunday in which he suggests the Reds are the best team in the National League.

Some notes from Justice's article:

 -The Reds have been fortunate from a health perspective this season & have only used 30 players which is the fewest in the Major Leagues.  The Reds are also the only team in the majors that has only used 5 starting pitchers all season.

-The Reds are tied with the D-Backs for the fewest errors in the NL.

-The Reds bullpen has the lowest ERA in the NL.

-Closer Aroldis Chapman has converted 21 of 25 saves, including 13 in a row.  He is averaging 17.03 strikeouts per nine innings and has gotten 35 of his past 46 outs with strikeouts.  If that 17.03 ratio holds up, it'll be the best in Major League History.

-Matt Latos has a 2.45 ERA in his past seven starts.

-Latos' 115th and 116th pitch on Sunday were clocked at 95 MPH.

-The Phillies have listened on Victorino, and Jocketty has discussed Juan Pierre with the Phillies, too. Jocketty has also shopped for a starting pitcher, either as insurance or an upgrade.

The MLB trade deadline is about 48 hours away.  You can stay up to speed on the Reds trade situation here.

Reds prospect and Double A Pensacola outfielder Billy Hamilton has 113 stolen bases so far this season (combined between single A and double A) and has 35 games left to reach the all time professional record of 145 which was set by Vince Coleman in 1983 for Macon in the South Atlantic League.

Ben Walker (AP) discusses Hamilton's quest for the all time record here.