Cut4 postseason preview: Corn mazes, sumo wrestling and everything else you need to know about the Cincinnati Reds

Playoffs? You kiddin' me? Uh, no, actually we're not. In case you've been holed up watching Gangnam Style videos for the last few months, here's what you need to know about the season that was and the postseason to come – Cincinnati Reds edition.

Also: Athletics, Braves, Cardinals, Giants, Nationals, Orioles, Rangers, Tigers, Yankees

The Reds toasted NL Central-clinching champagne for the second time in three seasons last week, thanks in no small part to a knockout starting rotation and a flamethrowing bullpen. While the offense is more like a medium-sized Red machine, Joey Votto raked when healthy, Todd Frazier is a Rookie of the Year candidate and Jay Bruce mashed 30 homers. Put it all together, and you're looking at a balanced squad that can win on the mound, at the plate or because Tony here refuses to stop wearing a team-branded ice cream cup on his head.

- Mr. Nauman isn't the only guy with wraparound shades and a few weird compulsions out in the Power Stacks at Great American Ball Park. Chuck D was back for his fifth season inspiring 40,000 No. 1 fans from right field, grooming a potential successor -- or at least an official section choreographer -- in young T-Lowe.

- If you're a sports figure with even the most distant of ties to southwest Ohio, there's a good chance you made an appearance at GABP this season. There was the guy who drives cars in a circle at high speeds, the brother of that guy -- who also drives cars in a circle at high speeds, some older guys who used to drive cars in a circle at high speeds, at least three men whose Sunday best is frequently tiger-striped, a Minor League washout who had a little more success on the sidelines of the gridiron, a coveted hunk of wood and bronze ... the list goes on. Oh, and BP once sumo wrestled during BP.

- In one of the season's more memorable moments, Reds great Barry Larkin was inducted into the Hall of Fame in July. Larkin celebrated with a round of golf in Cooperstown, the Reds celebrated with a number retirement and Cincinnati fans celebrated with a pickup Wiffle Ball game.

- Frazier was called up in April to provide right-handed pop in the outfield and to promote proper chewing and swallowing in the greater Cincinnati metro area. The Frank Sinatra fan was successful on both counts, carrying the offense for several weeks following the All-Star break and saving a potential choking victim in May. Turns out, two successful Heimlich maneuvers in three years earns you a handshake and a certificate from Dr. Henry Heimlich himself.

- Aroldis Chapman impressed McKayla Maroney but lost a few sportsmanship points from after flipping out -- twice -- following a June save.

- The Red Hot Chili Peppers rolled through Great American that same month, showing enough skill at the plate to prompt a closed-door meeting between Flea and Reds skipper Dusty Baker.

- The Reds went on a tear in July, prompting Marty Brennaman to embrace a new look -- and raise more than $50,000 for the Reds Community Fund in the process. Marty looked almost as good bald as Arroyo did in an Elvis wig.

- In a late season highlight, Homer Bailey no-hit the Pirates on Sept. 28 at PNC Park. The feat was even more impressive after Bailey's own catcher nearly sabotaged the effort by failing to show up for the bottom of the first. Bailey, by the way, might be Batman. We've narrowed the Caped Crusader's identity down to either the Reds righty or Drew Storen.

POSTSEASON PREDICTIONS

- A severe corn shortage strikes across the Midwest in late October, driving up the price of goods as varied as muffins and ethanol. The reason: low crop yields from dozens of farmers who have plowed their fields in homage to Mr. Redlegs.

- Down one run late in an NLCS contest, Baker sends Frazier to the plate as a pinch-hitter. The outfielder, remembering back to a certain May contest, tosses his bat toward the first pitch -- and the mound. Unfortunately, failure to make contact this time results in both a strike and an irate opposing closer.

- When the skies open midway through an NLDS game at Great American Ball Park, umpires call for the grounds crew to start pulling tarp. A miscommunication, however, leads to the public debut of their carefully choreographed "Thriller" rendition. The game is eventually postponed.

- Tea Tree toothpicks become the latest Hollywood trend after one-time Reds tryout George Clooney is spotted dipping into a pack poolside at the Beverly Hilton. 

- Jeremy Moses / MLB.com