That's because it has been hard to be optimistic in Redsland lately. Things have not gone well with the club, obviously. And given the payroll limitations and the lack of minor-league talent, the future doesn't look exactly rosy either.

But the past three games have been the most encouraging sign for the Reds in a long time.

The three consecutive quality starts going into Saturday, coupled with the bullpen performances of Ryan Wagner and Joe Valentine, are a reason for hope among Reds fans.

That's because there is no way to get around this: The Reds must develop pitching to have a chance to be competitive.

Whether the recent run of good starts and good relief is a mirage remains to be seen. The late great Bill Ford, a former colleague of mine, had a warning for anyone who was impressed with a pitcher's early success: Wait till he goes around the league once.

The reason for hope is youth.

The average age of the Reds' rotation - with Paul Wilson on the disabled list - is just under 26.

Luke Hudson, who threw six shutout innings Friday, has the best stuff of any Reds starter in a long time. He seems to have finally harnessed it. Brandon Claussen and Josh Hancock showed great poise in holding the St. Louis Cardinals to one and two runs on back-to-back nights. Aaron Harang has been consistent for two months.

If the Reds sign Wilson for next year - and they think they will - that has the makings of a rotation with a high upside.

That the Reds have starting help on the horizon, in Dustin Moseley and Richie Gardner, it's a nice insurance policy.

The Reds don't need eight shutout innings every night. Six decent innings will do.

The Reds went into Saturday 36-14 when they got a quality start (six innings or more, three runs or fewer).

But the bullpen has been a huge concern since the All-Star break. Wagner and Valentine got a chance only because the others in the bullpen had failed.

Wagner looks like the guy who was so successful last year. He has a 1.80 ERA over his past 13 appearances.

The Reds haven't had anyone throw the way Valentine did Friday night since Scott Williamson was traded.

Valentine needed only 12 pitches to get the save. He threw straight heat. Everything was clocked between 94 and 97 mph.

The best thing: Wagner's 22, Valentine's 24.

It should be noted that of the six pitchers we're talking about, only Wagner is homegrown.

The others came in get-younger, get-cheaper trades.

Hudson came from Colorado in the Pokey Reese trade in December 2001.

Claussen was the key player in the trade that sent Aaron Boone to the New York Yankees. Harang and Valentine came from the Oakland A's for Jose Guillen a year ago. (Props to then-acting co-GMs Brad Kullman and Leland Maddox for getting good arms out of the Fire Sale of 2003). Hancock was in the Todd Jones deal in late July.

WHERE HAS HE GONE? Remember David Espinosa, the Reds' first draft pick in the 2000 draft?

Espinosa slipped to 23rd overall in the draft because he was represented by Scott Boras.

The Reds said Espinosa had No. 1 talent when they signed him to an unprecedented major-league contract in September 2000.

Things didn't work out with the Reds, largely because Espinosa struggled in the field - first at shortstop, then at second base.

The Reds ended up trading him to the Detroit Tigers in the Brian Moehler deal in 2002.

Espinosa is playing right field for Detroit's Double-A team at Erie. He's hitting .268 with 15 home runs, 44 RBI and 17 steals.

WHERE HAS HE GONE II? Luke Prokopec, the Rule 5 pick in December 2002 who spent all of last year rehabbing his shoulder, has taken this season off. He is still property of the Reds if he resumes his career.

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com

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