The slump ended, and the primed Reds swept Los Angeles in the Division Series before Atlanta's superior pitching overwhelmed Cincinnati in the League Championship Series. Veterans say feeling a little nervous is natural at this juncture. It's OK to scoreboard-watch. It's OK to look at the standings. I don't care who you are, how many years you've got in or how many postseason wins you have.
Veterans also know the importance of relieving pressure through humor.
By now, even the rawest Reds ought to be accustomed to the pressure. It's the same principle as college basketball, where it's said that freshmen are no longer freshmen when the NCAA Tournament arrives. Reliever Scott Williamson, the only rookie who has been with the Reds all season, hardened himself by pitching in dozens of close ballgames. He did that well enough to be named to the NL All-Star team. The Cincinnati Enquirer , a Gannett Co. Inc. newspaper.