The Cincinnati Reds’ season ended with the kind of mixed emotions their fans know all too well. On one hand, they broke through and reached the postseason — a step forward for a young, exciting roster that looks built for more October shots in the near future.
On the flip side, that postseason appearance barely had time to breathe. The Los Angeles Dodgers shoved the Reds right back out of October almost as soon as they walked in.
Now the winter comes with its own little contradiction: Cincinnati grabbed a valuable Competitive Balance pick, but any hope of Draft Lottery magic vanished with that playoff berth.