> SOUTHERN INDIANA — 1. Why have the Reds been able to pull away in the NL Central and win more than 60 percent of their games?



Chris Morris, Assistant Editor: “The Reds have the best bullpen in baseball, which is why they sit in first place. The offense has been streaky all year, so has the starting pitching. They have also gotten a career year out of Ryan Ludwick, which has helped offset the injury to Joey Votto.”



Mike Hutsell, Sales Representative: “Walt Jocketty. The [Reds’ general manager] built a roster that was tailor-made to withstand the rigors of a 162-game season. Deep in the starting pitching pool, good enough in the bullpen [with a dominant closer], solid defensively and the shrewd under-the-radar signings like Ryan Ludwick have made them a contender.”



Matt Koesters, News Reporter: “It all starts with pitching. Although the Reds have gotten some nice contributions from some unlikely places on offense, it’s been the pitching staff that has given the team the opportunity to win. It’s rare to see the Reds get blown out.”



Shea Van Hoy, Editor: “I think the key has certainly been the pitching for the Reds. The bullpen has been outstanding and the same five starters have taken their turn every time and been solid, with Johnny Cueto being spectacular and Mat Latos being very good. Their staff ERA is 3.38, with a great 3.50 ERA at their hitter-friendly home park.”



2. Who has been the Reds’ MVP so this season?



Tim Reynolds, Sales Representative: “The tandem of Todd Frazier and Ryan Ludwick. No one would have guessed these two would put up combined numbers that mirror Jay Bruce and Joey Votto. Frazier and Ludwick — .280, 42 [home runs], 123 RBIs; Bruce and Votto .291, 39 HR, 125 RBIs.”



Morris: “Ryan Ludwick. He was suppose to be a platoon player, but is among the league leaders in home runs. He has been a pleasant surprise. A close second would be starting pitcher Johnny Cueto who has 16 wins and has been money in the bank.”



Hutsell: “Johnny Cueto. Arguably the best pitcher in the league. You’d have to be an old, embittered, haggard drunk not to consider this guy a National League All-Star.”



Koesters: “Ryan Ludwick. Ludwick’s offensive numbers since Joey Votto’s injury have been nothing short of staggering, and he’s helped will this team to wins.”



3. Who is currently the best team in baseball?



Bill Hanson, Publisher: “The Nationals because they have the best record. Right now, that is all that matters.”



Greg Mengelt, Sports Editor: “The team that has the best chance to win the World Series — and is, thus, the best team in baseball — is the Texas Rangers. They can hit with anybody, and the rotation of [Matt] Harrison, [Yu] Darvish, [Ryan] Dempster and [Derek] Holland should be good enough to win most postseason series. That is, if they don’t choke.”



Van Hoy: “The Washington Nationals because of their big three starters of Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann, plus a solid bullpen and good lineup. The team becomes much less imposing, however, if Strasburg, the NL’s most dominant starter, is shut down as planned. The Reds are certainly in the discussion when Votto returns, as are the Yankees once C.C. Sabathia is back.”



Koesters: “Right now? Probably the Nationals. Like the Reds, they have excellent pitching, but they have a little more offensive firepower. But when the Reds get back Votto and the Nats shut down Stephen Strasburg, things could change dramatically.”



4. Which team has been the most surprising this season — Baltimore, Oakland, Pittsburgh or the Chicago White Sox?



Reynolds: “Pittsburgh. Keep waiting for them to fade away and it hasn’t happened yet.”



Hutsell: “Baltimore. The [Orioles] are hanging in despite having a woefully thin starting pitching staff. They’ve built through their bullpen and a solid young lineup and haven’t faded in the face of perceived better teams [Detroit], Los Angeles [Angels] and Boston chasing them all season.”



Hanson: “Maybe not most surprising — but the most pleasant surprise — has been the Pirates. Good young club with a fiery manager in Clint Hurdle, who just happens to be the former manager of my favorite team in Colorado.”



Van Hoy: “While the Pirates are my second-favorite team and I love their story this year, I’m more surprised that Baltimore has maintained to hang around in a very tough AL East even though they are 18th in the majors in pitching and 20th in runs scored. If the season ended today, they’d be a playoff team. But I can’t see that keeping up, as they have been outscored by 43 runs on the season as of Monday.”