For a decade and a half, the Reds ambled aimlessly, having clearly lost their way. More often than not, Cincy played ineffective and sub-par baseball which left an ugly stain on a once proud franchise.

How far had the Reds fallen? One needed to go all the way back to the year 2000 before hitting upon their last winning season. That's pretty astounding and pathetic stuff.

But that miserable journey through countless disappointing and frustrating days has basically run its course. Short of an act of God or the entire roster being quarantined with a contagious disease, the Reds of 2010 are going to emerge as the National League's Central Division champs.

All that is required for Cincy to gain entry into the postseason is for the Reds to win just one of their remaining six home games or for the stunningly underachieving St. Louis Cardinals to lose one of their last six contests.

For the Reds, that amounts to a one-inch putt. It's a gimme. It's a 99.99% certainty. Finally and at long last, the Reds are a sure thing to again win something. Needless to say, it's about time.

Nearly seven months ago, this writer sat in a beautiful and picturesque ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona and watched the Reds inaugurate their initial spring training in the Cactus League against the Cleveland Indians.

The Reds had recently moved into their spanking new digs in Goodyear, a spectacular state-of-the-art facility with meticulously manicured fields. The mood was upbeat and hopeful, but no one foresaw a Reds breakout. Realistically, what the team was seeking was some modest improvement that led to a winning season. Anything else would be considered pure gravy.

On that mild sun-kissed afternoon, the Reds hardly made a positive first impression in the Grand Canyon state. The Tribe absolutely hammered them with Cincy's pitching taking a nasty pounding. And though spring games are often trivial and inconsequential affairs, the Reds weren't exactly sending off an encouraging vibe. The Reds play throughout March was spotty and indicated nothing special was in the wind.

Fast forward to late September. Again your humble scribe has his backside in a seat, this time in San Diego's scenic Petco Park. And, wonders of wonders, those nondescript Reds of spring are actually positioned in first place. Honest. No kidding. But Cincy is noticeably laboring down the stretch, having dropped 12 of its previous 21 games. Normally, that sort of inept play late in the year will bury you.

But the Reds had some things working in their favor, not the least of which was an incomprehensible St. Louis meltdown. Despite the Reds recent travails, the Cards couldn't carve into Cincy's sizable divisional lead because they were struggling even more so than the team they were trying to catch. The Redbirds were experiencing a massive collapse and as a result, the Reds were inching closer to a title, although backing in would have been a more accurate description.

In the first two games of the series versus the Padres, Dusty Baker's team continued to scuffle and flounder, losing two one-run games primarily because of self-inflicted wounds. The Reds mistakes were many. They made mental and physical errors on the field. They continually failed to get the timely or clutch hit, thereby leaving a host of runners stranded. Cincy's relievers constantly walked their way into trouble and Baker seemed genuinely off his game as virtually every decision he made backfired on him.

Yes, the Reds still had a huge cushion on the Cards but this was no way to finish off what had been a memorable and uplifting season. It seemed as if the Reds were stuck in reverse, perhaps pressing too hard to lock down their first postseason berth since 1995 when Davey Johnson was the skipper, Pete Schourek was the staff ace and Barry Larkin and Reggie Sanders were wielding the most potent bats.

A Sunday in San Diego proved to be just the elixir Cincy so desperately needed. That and another huge day from the Canadian Crusher, MVP candidate Joey Votto. The Reds first-sacker whacked his 37th homer and later plated two more runs with a line shot single.

Though Votto led the way, he had more than ample help from a couple of his wingmen. Ever improving outfielder Chris Heisey knocked in four runs while maturing right-hander Homer Bailey delivered another solid and dependable performance.

The result? A redeeming 12-2 walkover that reduced the Reds magic number to a skimpy one and should relax the atmosphere in the dugout.

The pressure is all but off, at least for the time being. The divisional crown is as good as in the bag, it's basically a done deal. Baker can now dole out some much needed rest to his regulars, set-up his rotation for the upcoming postseason and attempt to get his team in the right frame of mind for making a deep run into October.

Yes, it's been a tortuous route that the Reds have had to traverse since their last foray beyond the regular season. No one in Cincinnati could've envisioned in 1995 that it would seem like an Ice Age before the Reds could call themselves winners again.

That wait has been anguishing, tormenting and often, excruciating. But alas, the heavy black cloud that hovered ominously over this historic franchise is lifting. Finally, Cincy has moved on from total irrelevance to being a gosh darn contender again.

And now that the Reds are out of the darkness and basking in the light, a once dreary future looms bright. The pieces are in place for an extended run of success. Exciting and talented youngsters like Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, Heisey, Paul Janish, pitchers Johnny Cueto, Travis Wood, Bailey and the scintillating Aroldis Chapman are primed to be contributors for many years to come.

In-their-prime standouts like Votto, second baseman extraordinaire Brandon Phillips, fiery Jonny Gomes and hurlers Bronson Arroyo and Edinson Volquez show no signs of slowing down.

And even Cincy's older guard of the indispensable Scott Rolen, catcher Ramon Hernandez and the ageless Arthur Rhodes seem far from done.

And don't look now but the Reds farm system has taken root and has become one of baseball's best. Hence, there are some real jewels on the immediate horizon.

As bleak as the outlook appeared not so long ago, now the prospects for baseball's oldest professional franchise seems as bright as the Reds home uniforms. Cincy is clearly headed in the right direction. Momentum is now moving with them, no longer against them. They have the potential to become an irresistible force.

The Dark Age has passed. A period of illumination now beckons. It'll be interesting to see how long the Reds can make it last. How about 15 years just to counterbalance the agony that mercifully came to an end in 2010?