The Reds Head to the Postseason for the First Time in 15 Years

After a winning drought of nine seasons, the Cincinnati Reds have changed all of that by one swing of the bat. Jay Bruce's walk-off homerun in the ninth inning gave the Reds a 3-2 lead over the Houston Astros Tuesday night to clinch the NL Central Division for the first time in fifteen years.

National League Central Division Champions--

1995- Reds

1996- Cardinals

1997- Astros

1998- Astros

1999- Astros

2000- Cardinals

2001- Cardinals/Astros

2002- Cardinals

2003- Cubs

2004- Cardinals

2005- Cardinals

2006- Cardinals

2007- Cubs

2008- Cubs

2009- Cardinals

2010- Reds

As you can see, the Cardinals have clinched the most titles in the last 16 years (8) than any other team. And they, along with the Cubs, have been the recent division leaders. So why is it that this year neither the Cubs nor the Cardinals have proven to be much of a threat?

Back in May of this season, the Cardinals were four games ahead of the Reds and it appeared as though they were going to have to fight it out until the very end to see who would end up the division winner. By the beginning of June, however, the tides seemed to be turning as Cincinnati took the lead in the division and from there the fight for the road to the World Series teeter-tottered between the two teams. The battle got so intense, when the two teams faced head-to-head in their series against one another, a fight broke out between the two teams and Brandon Phillips of the Reds was even quoted saying that he hated the Cardinals. Today, with four games left in the regular season, the Cardinals stand six games behind the division champions. It is appalling how one day a team can be a viable contender and as the days go by they slowly drift away to where they have no chance at all.

I must say, I am happy the Reds won the division title (if it can't be the Cubs, I would rather it be anyone other than the Cardinals). And I think this situation goes to show that the Cardinals let it go to their heads sometimes; they had it all going for them until they just started to lose more and more.

I am definitely not complaining that the Cardinals didn't make it but I'm just curious as to why you think they lost without a fight with the Reds (not literally, of course, because we all know there actually was a fight)?