[bird]

Originally Posted by dorciepatrick

I'm glad to see Redmond, in now his 3rd time called up, actually get a chance to pitch in Game 2. His family is flying in (from Florida, I think) knowing that they'll get to see him make his MLB debut.

I guess I'm just a soft-hearted sucker for those "feelgood" stories.

Hopefully he can keep the Reds in the ballgame.

I think you're a sucker...everybody makes their first start at some point in time. The feel-good story will feel a lot gooder if he can help the Reds win. He certainly drew the right opponent.

Game 1 is underway.

[dorciepatrick]

bird, I admit -- I am a sucker. I really want people to succeed. So many fans on here only view players as a way for them to have their own dreams to come true instead of seeing baseball players as individuals who are living their own lives.

[bird]

Originally Posted by dorciepatrick

bird, I admit -- I am a sucker. I really want people to succeed. So many fans on here only view players as a way for them to have their own dreams to come true instead of seeing baseball players as individuals who are living their own lives.

Well then you'll feel happy for the Cubs' starter, who looks like he's going to pick up his first career victory. Cubs are leading the Reds 8-4 in the sixth.

You're never out of it when you're playing the Cubs, but they held on for an 8-7 win.

Latos will try to make it three out of four for the Reds tomorrow.

[14Red]

Originally Posted by Lancer '65

Rolen is valuable. He can help us in many different ways. His experience, his clubhouse demeanor, his talent, wbich seems to be reappearing at a higher level each day, I'm not so sure I'd toss him away. You never know how much he may be able to help us, not just this season but perhaps next year as well.
He has been an important addition and has helped a lot already. I'm thinking we should keep him around.

Understood Lancer, I was not a big fan of signing him at the start of the season, plus he got off to a terrible start. He's has nearly carried the offense the past month in Votto's absence. The club may have an option for him next season, but yes, I'd say you have to keep him around now.

[14Red]

Picked up ground again today with the Pirates losing. Can't be too disappointed with the split, Redmond was terrible. The was on pace to throw about 300 pitches in 9 innings. Reds nearly came back and took it. Ondrusek? Got to wonder about him moving forward.

[dorciepatrick]

Originally Posted by bird

Well then you'll feel happy for the Cubs' starter, who looks like he's going to pick up his first career victory.

Somehow I don't have that same feeling about the Cubs' pitcher getting his 1st win, since it came against the Reds.

Oh well, Redmond got his chance. Too bad that it didn't go too well.

[merklaw]

Not a well played game last night, but still enjoyable to watch. We don't give up. But as The Cowboy said in game 1, Cincy really needs to firm up fundamentals if we make playoffs. We still make baserunning mistakes and are poor at moving runner over with bunt. And in playoffs, you play 3-2 and 2-1 games more than 5-2 games. But not to get cart before horse. Need Latos to stay hot and get W today while we have 1 more day of guaranteed gaining a game in standings over Pirates or Cards. Hope best lineup is penciled in, although my guess is you'll see Cairo at 1B and Frazier at 3B. Need another knock or two out of Miguel.

[bird]

Reds give Latos a 1-0 lead after the first inning in the series finale.

I think this is the first game of the series that the Reds have scored first?

[wisdome]

Luwwick is turning into Reds MVP. The guy has picked up!

[bird]

More work than we wanted, but the Reds won the finale 5-4 and took three of four from the Cubs.

The Reds are now 74-48. Playing .500 ball the rest of the way would put them at 94-68.

Pirates would need to go 28-14 the rest of the way to match that, including today's game. Cardinals would need to go 29-13.

The major question now is when Votto comes back. He's not making the road trip, although it's only a four-game trip to Philadelphia, then the Reds come back home for three against the Cardinals.

Pirates and Cardinals are into the 17th inning, tied 2-2. These types of games are always tough on your bullpen, but it's particularly rough when it's the last game of the series. When it's the series opener, at least the other team is going to be as tired as you for the rest of the series.

[14Red]

3/4 over the weekend, we'll take it. Got good pitching from our 3 regulars, got hitting when needed.
It would be really nice to go in and take care of business in Philly. Haven't had much luck there lately.

[bird]

Originally Posted by 14Red

It would be really nice to go in and take care of business in Philly. Haven't had much luck there lately.

Neither have the Phillies. This season, at least.

[14Red]

I'm excited about the next 4 games vs. the Phillies. This is a team who has been good, but is struggling now. This has to be one of the more disappointing teams in baseball for 2012. Look at that starting pitching..Halliday, Hammels, Lee, picked up Pappelbon during the off season. The've had Ryan Howard, Utley, Victorino, Pense, Rollins and they are 56-65.
They fleased their roster mid season, dumping Victorino, Pence & starter Joe Blanton.
This is a good model as to why you shouldn't load up guys with long contracts. Most have been injured on and off and they've largely been ineffective since their glory days from afew years ago.

[bird]

Reds and Phillies are starting to git it on.

Reds are facing Roy Halladay, who is trying to recapture his form after missing a couple of months due to injury. Reds have started the first inning with three straight singles to load the bases with nobody out. That's three more hits than they got off of Halladay in the 2010 NLDS.

2-1 Reds after two innings.

8-5 Phillies in the sixth. Reds have hit Halladay pretty well but Leake had a poor outing.

[cross_block]

Looks like the wheels have fallen off.......10-5 Fillies in the 7th.

[14Red]

This teams not going to win many slugfests. Off to a decent start, up 2-1 and 5-3, and Leake gives it right back. Phills clubbing the Reds now in the 8th, 11-5. Fortunately, we've not seen too many games like this this season.

Even with the loss, one thing is for certain, this isn't the Roy Halliday of old. The Reds got some really good swings on him. 7 innings, 10 hits, 5 runs.

[bird]

It was certainly not a good night for Leake or the bullpen, throw in a few baserunning blunders and this wound up being a throwaway game.

Homer Bailey goes for the Reds against Cliff Lee tomorrow night. It would be good to see a decent start from Bailey, especially after the bullpen had a long game tonight. Bailey has been struggling lately.

[tomindayton]

Good to see the Reds didn't lose any ground with the Pirate's 3-1 loss to SD.

[14Red]

Yes, good not to lose any ground on the Pirates.

The pitching rotations didn't fall good for this one, our two worst, Leake & Bailey vs. the Phills best. But, that's the way it goes.

I think last night solidified that Leake is clearly our #5. Then the bullpen didn't fare any better, LeCure, Arrondono and Ondrusek all added gas to the fire.

[bird]

Originally Posted by 14Red

I think last night solidified that Leake is clearly our #5.

Really? Leake just threw a complete game in his previous outing. Bailey has been lousy for the past month.

Pirates had to be gassed after playing 19 innings Sunday, flying two thirds of the way across the country, and dealing with the time zone change. They had to start a guy on Monday who had pitched in the game on Sunday.