Edgy MD wrote: It's sort of that we're not in an era of more crappy teams, but rather that the crappy teams are crappier. Though I tend to think the Reds may be trying to actually compete year in and year out and just desperately unable to assemble a pitching staff. They've had decent young guys through the years who just haven't panned out for them: Latos, Bailey, Leake, Cingrani, DeSclafani, Finnegan, Lorenzen, Straily. This year, it's Mahle, whose era is over 4.50, and Castillo and Romano, who are both over 5.60.