Loading ...Slugging hurler Bronson Arroyo makes his third start of the year today in the rubber match against the “stinky Cardinals,” as my 4-year-old daughter calls them. Mark Mulder will start for St. Louis.
I don’t know about you guys, but I would love to win this one today. Winning a series against three division rivals within the first two weeks would be sweet.
Discuss it here.
Is it raining in St. Louis? I can’t find any information, but the game appears to be delayed.
Gameday says it’s sunny and 82 degrees. Not sure why it isn’t playing on Extra Innings or MLB.tv.
Watching Ramon Ortiz on the hill for the Nationals. He’s doing alright, but I still feel really sorry for Nationals fans.
I think game time is 1:20 CDT
I know…for some reason, MLB Extra Innings and MLB.tv aren’t showing the pre-game shows (starting at 2 pm) the way they usually do. That’s what made me think it might be delayed.
Now it’s on MLB.tv, but it’s not showing up on Extra Innings. Sheesh….
Double for Freel to lead off the game. That’s why that guy needs to be in the lineup.
Junior still not playing. Could this be the same old story we’ve seen every single year — where the Reds say Junior is day to day and then, one day, it comes out that he’s going to be out for three months?
Kearns seems to be finding himself
Nice At Bat
What the hell happened to the DirectTV feed?
Dunno, Chip. I’m being forced to watch on the computer because the DirecTV feed isn’t working.
Watching in Illinois
EE popped out to 2nd end of inning Mulder pitched 31 pitches in the first 1-0 Reds
This stinks! All the other games are playing fine.
Runners at first and second 1 out, Rollen up.
K to Rollen!! on a breaking ball
2 outs
that strikeout was huge the rest of this lineup doesn’t look that intimidating as the Cardinals ususally do.
K on Rollen, breaking ball 2 outs
triple by Rodgiguez 1-2 Cardinals
Dangit. Reds can’t stand prosperity.
AS much as we harp about the bad defense by Dunn and Encarnacion…at least they can hit. Phillips was supposed to be a defensive whiz, he’s made and error and on the double, a terrible throw to the plate allows the 2nd run to score.
True, true.
Phillips Out at first
Ross Single to right
Bronson up now
I’d love to see Arroyo hit a homer here.
Guess that won’t happen if he’s bunting, huh?
K bunting foul
top of the order 2 out
Freel called out on strikes bottom of 2 gomming up
DirecTV feed just started working, but it’s a commercial. Dunno if it’s actually going to show the game.
Settle down now, Arroyo.
What’s the deal with the feed on this game? It is supposed to be showing on one of four channels and the game is not on on any of them. Does anyone know what’s up???
The other games are all showing just fine. On the FSN-Ohio they are supposed to be showing the game but instead it is some ultimate fighting challenge thing.
This sucks.
What’s up ???
We need to take advantage of this game. The entire starting outfield is not playing
On the other hand, St. Louis’ starting outfield is nothing to get crazy-excited about, esp. with Edmonds hitting the way he is.
Control, Bronson!
It’s working now
But the defense will be lacking. But Edmunds has 3 error this last week
Ross would have thrown Schumaker out at second on that steal attempt if he hadn’t double-clutched it.
Good throw, though.
Yeah, that Edmonds sure does suck, doesn’t he? Too bad he’s not playing so we can talk more smack about him. Now I just have to make fun of Spezio’s Crayola-marker facial hair.
I hope Krivsky trades for Eckstein and moves him to 2B. We need a second baseman.
Lets hope that this isnt the Bronson that the Boston fans complain about. WP by Bronson
Runners at 2nd and third
3rd out 3 to 1, end of inning
Arroyo got out of it. Whew.
Mike – thanks for the play-by-play, but you can focus on commentary if you want. Snark optional.
Play by play is great for those of us depending on game tracker. Keep it up, I say, Mike.
MLB gameday gives play-by-play, it’s just 5-10 seconds behind the radio, which is probably about 20 seconds behind live TV. Hurrah Aurilia – he sure has been a much better hitter than I ever thought was possible. Let’s have Dunn break his solo HR streak here.
That’s the radio as through mlb.com, not through the airwaves.
Game is on FS-Cincinnati
Since I’m DirecTV-less and well out of the Cincinnati area, did Dunn have an argument on the fair/foul tapper?
the replay out of St. Louis showed the ball hit behind the plate and rolled fair
These two starters are averaging over 20 pitches per inning so far, through 3.
So of course the Reds promptly do their best to keep Mulder’s pitch-count down, with a four-batter, nine-pitch inning.
And promptly a four-batter, ten-pitch inning from Bronson.
Good attentive baserunning by Felipe Jr.
Fair and balanced by Marty! Said he, “I don’t mean to pick on the guy, but he [Dunn] had 100 RBI last year and it’s almost scary to think how many more he could have driven in if he was a little more proficient in this area [hitting with runers in scoring position].”
Bout time Dunn HR
Yay! a 2-run Dunn HR!
And the ball does carry extremely well there, I guess.
Is there any web sites to show AB with RISP? Just to check
Is this the Kearns we have been waiting for?
All or None Dunn
Maybe the hit to Mulders knee is cathcing up to him
Attaboy Ears !!!
mlb.com offers a lot of splits and breakdowns, I think you can even look at batting average with a runner on 3B only.
Kearns with the back end of consecutive homers! And the WLW back-to-back-cash-back inning finally pays off for somebody.
99 pitches by Mulder, he’s done..Cards making a call to the bullpin to warm up another pitcher He won’t be back next inning
Long link, but here’s the mlb.com page to look at individual Reds’ batting numbers with RISP. This is going into today’s game. Link.
Thanks for the effort DA
Phillips has hit the ball hard consistently since coming to the Reds. One of these days they are going to start falling in.
Great stop by Lopez who then throws it away.
I just noticed that the page I linked to divides it up by position played. So Aurilia has three separate lines, for 1B, 2B, and 3B.
Can Bronson give us seven innings?
I really hate Pujols!
Don’t hang that pitch to a hitter like Albert 4-4
I dislike Edmonds more than Prince Albert. Though I don’t really dislike Pujols, as much as he’s hurt the Reds over the past several years.
Now I really hate Rolen!
Back to Back for the Cards. That ball was crunched
The game has settled into a bit of a lull. Reds need to make something happen soon.
Pujols vs. the Reds the past four full years (approx. 70 ab per year) plus 2006 up to the moment:
2006: .400/.462/1.000 (10 ab)
2005: .338/.411/.569
2004: .383/.435/.753
2003: .388/.453/.761
2002: .420/.488/.667
2001: .356/.418/.610
This is as opposed to a current career line (vs. all teams) of .332/.417/.622 .
He’s good.
Phillips missed a chance to become a Reds fan favorite there.
We’re well into the bullpens, and with these two staffs that means there is sure to be some more run-scoring action.
Well, having seen our bullpen, I know that one team is sure to score more.
Pujols scares me.
That’s why.
Good double play there – so often in that situation a comebacker to the mound gets thrown into centerfield, especially with a guy like Rick White who must be eager to get as many outs as he can before things go sour.
Argh.
This Albert thing is getting old, another on out of here
Make that .455/.500/1.273 for Pujols v. Reds so far in 2006.
Nice pitch hit McCrackin!!!!!HR
Quinton!
Did I just see Quinton McCracken hit a homer in his first AB for the Reds? To dead centerfield?
Game would be tied now if it weren’t for that last Pujols HR.
Baseball’s a wacky game, huh?
That’s why I love it, DA.
Think we might see Griffey if its close in the ninth?
He was in the on-deck circle to pinch hit last night, and Grande mentioned earlier that Junior is available to hit today, if needed.
So, I think the answer is probably yes.
Good question, Mike.
Get us started, Freel! It’s what you do best.
That’s what I’m talking about!
freel rox!
Freel’s OBP is over .500. How awesome is that?
Ryan Freel does nothing but help this team. May he play every game from now until the end of the season.
As long as he doesn’t get caught stealing here.
The other Encarnacion dropped the ball!
Did I mention this game’s crazy?
Thanks Juan, BIG error, got to take advantage of that!
Runners on first and third, one out, 3-4-5 hitters waiting in the wings.
Too bad Narron saw fit to bat Aurilia third today.
At the very least, Freel should be able to tag up and score on a pop up to 2B. He’s done it before.
Batting third is a good place for the first baseman. Unless it’s the Reds.
Freel could score on a pop-foul bunt. I almost believe that.
I wish we had Joe Randa. He beat Braden Looper on Opening Day last year with a homer.
Why would Aurilia swing at a pitch over his head? Is this Little League?
I love Rich Aurilia!!!!!!!!!!
hahahahahahahaha
Gotta take advantage of the Cards outfield. Bronson is off the hook
They’re going to walk Dunn now. But the Reds have the lead!
That’s what I’m talking about. I NEVER expected Aurilia to contribute anything positive at all to any team, not after his disaster in Seattle; how wrong I was.
If we play our “Cards” right we don’t have to see Albert anymore today, lets hope
mike, that’s some cheese. :mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:
Ouch – I’d not connected that the other Encarnacion was a defensive replacement, right before his game-changing error. Don’t give him anything to hit here, he’ll be anxious.
Did the umpire blow that call? He looked out to me.
Great play by Felipe Jr., regardless.
Coffey’s throwing hard. Let’s hope he can get some outs.
Go LLM!
Nice job by Javier Valentin, throwing Encarnacion out at second!
When did Javier come into the game, anyway. I thought Ross was playing.
Reds are showing confidence in Coffey for some tight situations this week
Sluggin’ Quinton McCracken pinch-hit for Ross.
Oh yeah, he batted last inning.
And throwing the runner out at second is even more important, since the next hitter got a hit.
I wish we still had Scott Sullivan, circa 1999.
How about a double play???
Or Scott Williamson, same time era. Actually no, he’d be giving me heart attacks.
Speaking of heart attacks, is anyone else’s heart beating fast right now?
Another foul! I’m on the edge of my seat.
Really, Williamson cured me of that anxiety. Nothing was more stressful than his brand of scoreless relief.
Darn. We might be in trouble here.
Danny Graves was more stressful, to me. Except he didn’t provide scoreless relief.
Graves didn’t stress me at all, because you knew exactly what was going to happen. No suspense there.
This IBB wil guaranteee Albert in the bottom of the 9th
Bases loaded, one out. This is bad.
Mistake to walk Schumaker there, I think. Taguchi is fast, and a good bunter.
Two outs!
It worked out, but it’s a good point, DA. That was exactly the type of situation that LaRussa is prone to squeeze.
I guess Luna is no Freel.
Atta boy Todd!
Coffey!!!!!
The Java Man delivers.
We need a run here to take off some pressure
Oh thank goodness.
Coffey kept us awake there, didn’t he?
Lets keep the confidence train running on Coffey
think coffey will end the season as THE closer?
Yes. By default.
More cheese, from RagTag…:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:
What’s up with the bunt?
I like Coffey, he’ll be fine. Molina had a GREAT AB vs him.
I’m glad Dunn isn’t in the game any longer. It’s not like we don’t need any more runs.
You’re right, DA. Too much cheese in these threads.
i sense a bit o’ sarcasm in that dunn comment…
pujols and rolen – this scares me.
I’m scared, too, daedalus. Very scared.
If he’d been due up in the ninth, I’d feel differently. But having a defensive replacement come in for Dunn after their eighth-inning, of a one-run game, is okay with me.
Problem is, if this goes to extra innings, our best hitter is on the bench.
LaRussa is using a pitcher to pinch hit.
And he got a base hit to lead off the ninth. He’ll score the tying run when Pujols hits a homer to win it.
Play to win! Don’t play it like you know your bullpen will let you down.
Of course…leadoff hit.
can’t…breathe…
“Weather” the storm, David…
I told you so.
He is too good.
How valuable is a pitcher that can pitch hit
Albert does it again
Damn.
i hate this bullpen
#@$#%$%$#%#$#$%
On the plus side, that wasn’t stretched out at all – barely any stress. I’m reaching here.
There’s a reason people didn’t pitch to Barry Bonds and there’s a reason people shouldn’t pitch to Pujols. There was no one left on the bench and we pitched to him 3 times and basically said here it is tee it up. Worst coaching decisions today that I have seen the Bob Boone era
It’s really too bad they couldn’t shut the door in the 8th to prevent Pujols from coming up again. But I don’t think you could walk him with no outs in the 9th, esp to put the tying run on 2nd.
narron is not a championship manager.
he was responsible for every run today except Rolen’s dinger. Come on he’s already just crushed two in the exact same place. Although I am guessing the last one went farther.
In one swing, Albert Pujols undermined all the good feelings we’ve had about this team thus far. It’s sickening.
I’m dreading tomorrow’s game now. I’m afraid that the team is going to hit the wall now.
I don’t think you walk him, there. You’re putting the tying run into scoring position. Sooner or later, you have to get people out–or admit the better team won the game.
Its exactly right that the eighth was where it all went bad.
I will agree that Coffey’s struggle’s in the 8th were the problem. If he get’s through the bottom of the order clean Pujols doesn’t even come up in the 9th, hopefully. But since he did come up with 0 outs and a pitcher on first I walk him. He’s already hit 2 bombs and is completely locked in and we let Weathers challenge him. Pitch around him hit him with the pitch I don’t care I rather see Rolen with his dinged up shoulder than Pujols in that situation.
After hitting two dingers, you don’t let Pujols beat you. I’m not saying you intentionally walk him, but you for sure don’t give him something he can hit into the seats, even if it means putting the tying run on 2B.
The guy is arguably the best hitter in baseball, make Rolen beat you.
It wouldn’t be just Rolen (who’d already homered himself) that you’d have to beat, though. There were no outs. I just don’t think you can put the tying run on 2nd in that position, even with the mediocre hitters after Rolen.
This was a screwed-one-way-or-the-other situation. Weathers gave up a leadoff hit to a pitcher. I’m not sure if he could’ve gotten anyone out – let alone three straight guys with runners on.
To be fair to Weathers, though, it wasn’t Harang or Schilling at the plate. Jason Marquis is one of the best hitting pitchers out there. He is one of the things that actually makes it possible for LaRussa to pull all his pinch-hitting and 1-batter relief stunts, without embarrassing himself by literally running out of players.
Marquis’ hitting lines over the past three years, since he came to St. Louis and became a full-time starter:
2004: .292/.297/.375
2005: .310/.326/.460
2006: .286/.286/.429
Juan E had better hope that LaRussa doesn’t try Marquis at RF.
Ha! Good call.
Dear Mr. Castellini,
Please sign, trade for, or otherwise obtain a real, “lights out” closer. You attention to this matter will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerley,
Glenn