Loading ...Welcome back to St. Loo, Walt Jocketty. The new Reds GM returns to the scene of his greatest triumphs, and the Reds look to win the middle series on this 9-game road trip.
Tonight, of course, is game one of the series, and its very important for Bronson Arroyo to start pitching well if the Reds are going to have a decent team in 2008. Tonight is a good time for Arroyo to start the turnaround.
Discuss it here….
UPDATE: Welcome back to the majors, Bill Bray. So long, Java Man.
The JTM commercials must have gone to his head. Ya can’t throw the junk if your fastball tops out at 86 (see Barry Zito). It just becomes a choice between slow and slower. And they’ve all figured out his weird arm angles by now. Bronson is doomed, he won’t make it past the 5th and will give up at least 5 earned runs. Lets hope the offense stays hot. Go Reds!
Funny, I started to post something similar above about those JTM commercials.
I will post an update in a minute, but it looks like Todd Coffey was sent to AAA and Bill Bray was brought back up. Good move by Walt Jocketty.
its very important for Bronson Arroyo to start pitching well
Seems like every outing this year that line has been in the opening post. Lets hope he figures it out…soon. And yes, tonight would be nice.
Bronson and a quality start. Are they…together again?
That was very lame.
I wish it were still the Giants
Reds go out 1-2-3 in the top of the first. Not a good start.
I like Coffey, but good riddance.
Thread is titles Reds at Giants, not Reds at Cardinals.
2 outs, then a hit given up to Pujols. No shame in that, I guess.
D’oh! Thanks Dave. I’ll fix that immediately.
Arroyo doesn’t give up any runs in the first. It’s a start!
Haha really Cowboy?
Wow, a Pete Schourek mention by Marty. Haven’t thought about him in a long time.
What moronic statement did the Cowboy make this time?
That’s the good side of Phillips – turns on a pitch that would have been ball 4, and makes it into a double.
BP reaches base. He’s heating up again, I hope.
Hurrah Adam Dunn! Good to see an RBI hit for him.
Adam Dunn singles, driving in Phillips. Excellent.
I get sick of Phillips’ lack of patience at the plate sometimes, but he really makes things happen. I love the guy.
I hope Phillips is heating up, too, but we really need Dunn to get hot. Soon. Very soon.
Wellemeyer reverting to form – the Brennamen noted that his K to BB ratio has shown a stratospheric improvement this year over his career norms, but he’s looking more like himself now.
2-0! Go Edwin! And these guys are all hitting again.
Ground rule double by Edwin! 2-0 now, and the offense is showing signs of coming out of the slump. This is three straight games of scoring some runs.
Hope I didn’t just jinx the team.
Votto swings at the first pitch. He’s been fantastic this year, but he’s more impatient than he’s been before. Must be the Dusty influence.
Can’t complain about the recent results, though.
Anyone else get the feeling that Jocketty is going to have Bruce and Bailey up here soon?
Thom making a very astute point: the veterans in the lineup have all taken pitches and worked the count so far. Keppinger & Votto, who have likely rarely seen this guy and know little of his history of wildness, have swung at the first pitch and gotten out.
Who is this Bako guy? He just struck out, but this year he doesn’t even resemble the crappy Bako that we’ve seen in past years.
I heard that, DA, and it’s a great point.
I hope you are correct, Kenny, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Of course, I still think Belisle will snap out of it to be at least an average pitcher…so what do I know?
I don’t quite get that feeling about Jocketty, with Bailey & Bruce. I think they stay in AAA for at least 4-5 more weeks.
Alright, good inning. Can Arroyo maintain the 2 run advantage?
I’m nervous.
Maybe it’s just wishful thinking. I can’t wait to see those guys up here for good.
However, if I’m laying odds, I think Bailey is more likely than Bruce to get called up before June 1.
Listening to Mark Sheldon on the radio broadcast. I think I like him better than any of the other beat writers.
I think both Bailey and Bruce will be up here before the All Star break, and I agree that Bailey will be first. Bruce will have to take Patterson’s position to come up soon, and Patterson is Dusty’s guy.
Did you guys see the blog post from John Fay with Freel bitching about playing time? With that note I think Walt will be trading him ASAP. I didn’t think Freel was the type of guy to bitch to the media, that’s a chump move.
Arroyo’s fastball is looking good…good sign.
When is Pujols a free agent? Maybe the his old GM can sign him…then move Votto to the outfield. Dunn, Bruce, Votto in the outfield.
A pipe dream, but I love the idea.
I saw that Dave, and I agree that it’s out of character for Freel, who is a good team guy. I don’t blame him for being frustrated…
…if I were in charge, given the roster as currently constructed, I’d certainly play Freel more than Patterson. You are probably correct, though; his time in Cincinnati is almost over.
Speedster Patterson draws the rare walk.
Right on cue, Patterson raises his OBP by walking.
Hit by Junior, and good baserunning by Patterson gives us first and third with one away. BP up next.
I think that may be obvious though, if I were GM I would have been trying to deal him since spring training.
Who are these guys, getting on base with no outs and hits with guys on base. What is doing on????
There’s a perfect example of what Patterson gives us over Freel…good baserunning. Freel is a moron on the basepaths.
On the subject of Bruce and Bailey, I agree it may be June before we see either. I’m going to continue to beat the drum that they need to move Daryl Thompson up to Louisville soon enough for him to get more than half a season there.
Finally, the Reds offense is looking like we expected.
Monster sac fly by Phillips. How about a monster HR from Dunn?
3-0. Almost a HR by Phillips, but I’ll take the sac fly.
Make it sweet, EE.
Dunn walks on Wellemeyer’s 55th pitch of the night.
Come on, Edwin!
Dunn was the beneficiary of a couple of borderline ball-strike calls there. He’s been getting more of those this year, seems like.
How often does that happen in a game against the Cardinals? It is usually the other way around.
Hahaha…the Cardinals suck!
Dunn may be bad in the field, but Duncan is an absolute butcher.
Exactly what I was thinking, Jim!!!
Wonder if someone said something to Kepp and Votto about their first ABs. Much more patient this time around.
Wow, Votto crushed that one, but it’s just a loud out.
63 pitches for Wellemeyer through 3. Arroyo has thrown 28 through 2 innings.
DA, I agree that Dunn does seem to be getting the borderline calls in his favor more often. Maybe he has passed some rite of passage among the Order of the Umpires.
Votto’s hit more than his share of at-’em balls.
Not to change the subject from a Reds team that is suddenly playing well, but did anyone watch the NFL Draft? My alma mater had two guys taken in the top 15, including the 2nd pick.
With that type of talent, I wonder why the team stinks every year.
Dunn’s a vet now. He should get those calls.
Be happy neither of them went to the Bengals, CHad!
Oh-oh. Arroyo back to his bad habits. Bako needs to do a Tony Pena by going out and slapping him in the face.
I would love to see Bako slap Arroyo in the face.
It’s good to hear references to the Reds players studying video to analyze their performances.
Who were they talking about, Jim?
Definitely, Kenny.
I would have loved to seen Bob Uecker slap Bob Gibson in the face followed by Gibson pile driving Uecker into the ground.
Tonight they talked about Dunn using video to analyze his hitting to determine that he is jumping at balls rather than waiting on them.
Uh oh. I’m getting nervous, with Pujols at the plate and two on.
Need a twin killing here.
Walks will haunt.
Excellent…infield fly. That’s huge.
I still can’t believe Brohm fell as far as he did. If he enters the Draft last year he’s a top 15 pick. That’s crazy.
The NFL draft got me pretty pumped abotu the Reds 7th pick, though it doesn’t look like a worthy LHP will be there for us.
I am so glad Edmonds and Rolen are gone. They would unload on Arroyo right now.
Full count, bases loaded, two outs. Biggest pitch of the game so far.
Walks do haunt. Blerg.
Ball four.
Yeah, Dave…but the Reds have a good opportunity to get a good player, drafting that high.
There is out number three. It’s 4-1, but it could have been much worse.
Base hit for Bako, extends his hit streak to 7 games. Hitting over .325 now. Wow.
And the Reds keep hitting Wellemeyer.
I like the Reds.
Arroyo bunts foul. Out on strikes.
Ha! I like the Reds too, Ben.
I hope Bako attempts a steal here.
Keppinger was robbed! That should have been an infield single.
I still think the Cards finish second to last in the division….unless Carpenter comes back from the dead and wins in Cy Young.
Arroyo looks like he’s settled down a bit here in the bottom of the 4th inning. Sure, it’s against the bottom of the lineup, but still….
1-2-3 inning. 71 pitches for Arroyo through 4. His ERA is below 7 now, though!
I think you’re right, Dave. This Cardinals team just isnt very good.
I love listening to the radio broadcast when Marty and Thom are doing the game. I’ve grown to really like Thom.
I can’t stand the Cowboy, and George Grande kills me on television. Just give me Marty, Thom, and Chris Welsh doing TV and radio together and I’m a happy fan.
Peter Frampton is a Reds fan? Cool.
Well, now Wellemeyer has settled down.
Frampton lives in Cincinnati (Indian Hills, I think).
4-2.
Kennedy doubles with 1 out. Arroyo’s got to settle down now and keep the Cards off the board!
4-3 now, so much for my plan.
I agree with Marty, four runs isn’t going to be enough to win this game.
This is where Dunn needs to earn his paycheck.
Wow, an intentional walk to GET to Dunn?
Bases loaded for Dunn, one out. Sacrifice Fly needed, at a minimum.
Oh, man. That’s a spot of terrible luck.
Ball hits the runner…You’ve gotta be kidding me!
And the Reds continue to find ways to not score with the bases loaded. ^$#@!
What the fuck was that? Only happens withour runners.
Ridiculous.
Ugh.
StL TV mentions the Reds pen has a 6.57 ERA on this roadtrip – how much of that was Decaf?
If it wasn’t for Dunn’s terrible luck this year, it would look like he was playing like he’d just secured a contract.
At least that wsa some improvement for Arroyo.
Mean — probably about 15.00 of it.
Gotta love patterson’s defense!
So what if Coffey were to come in in a game like this?
If no more runs are scored, would this be just the 3rd save opportunity of the year?
The Cardinals broadcaster just called the Cubs and Cards, baseballs best rivalry.
That sure was some weak base running by Ankiel.
Oh, and the best rivalry in baseball is clearly Royals and Rays.
EEEEEEEEEEEE!
YES! Awesome play by Chris Sabo saves Burton.
The worst part about Dunn hitting BP is that it raised his batting average.
Sweet play by Edwin.
The glove is golden. And right after Thom mentioned that there must have been a scoring change on an earlier play to assign an error to Edwin.
Why is that the worst part, Dave?
Affeldt is in the game. He’s been better than I thought he’d be (though I thought he’d be a decent pitcher out of the pen). I’m afraid he’s due for a bad outing, though.
Credit to Affeldt. He looked very shaky in his first couple outings of the year, but he’s been pretty much lights-out since.
Because that did not deserve a hit. I think that would have been a fielder’s choice.
Affeldt looks great.
We need some runs here in the ninth!
I imagine Coco will be on in the 9th to save the game, but I’d like a couple more runs to make it safer!
Another good outing by Affeldt.
Patterson with an EdE-esque bunt attempt.
Why is patterson such a horrible bunter?
Crap, Patterson.
Dave: oh. I didn’t see it, but Marty was saying it was hit very hard and would have been a hit.
Dusty is a baseball intellectual, according to Marty.
I’m not disagreeing, by the way, it’s just rare that you hear a manager described that way.
I’d give anything for a Phillips homer here.
Or a three run homer by Dunn here.
Do they pass Dunn again just so the Reds can embarrass themselves with the bases clogged again?
George is saying it would’ve been a hit too, but I don’t see it. I think the 2B could’ve got it with a dive.
Coco…Coco…Coco…Coco!!!!
Bottom of the ninth, one run lead. I’m nervous, but at least Danny Graves or David Weathers aren’t coming into the game.
Wow, Hawks just beat the Celtics to tie the series.
I think this’ll be Coco’s first real save op – entering the final inning with a 1-run lead.
Dunn is removed for defensive purposes. Hairston is in left now. He’s faster, but is he that much better a defender than Dunn?
Can Arroyo get his first win of the year? Can the Reds win the first game of a series for the first time in 2008? Can Pujols be held in check?
Stay Tuned!
Hope he converts it, Chicago…
And there’s a strikeout for out number one! Coco brings some serious heat. Love this guy.
No need for defense when you get K’s!
Finally, cable and RR is back on after the storm. Even radio was out for a while.
Well, this is what Cordero is here for.
6-3 for out number two!!!!
ugh. Ankiel looks like a goon up there. And Kepp puts him away.
base hit!!! No!!!
…and this one belongs to the Reds!!!
It would have been nice for Phillips to have made that play to redeem himself for getting plunked by Dunn’s shot.
EE ends it with a nice grab.
Reds win!!!
Another nice play by Edwin, game over.
And four runs was enough to win, after all.
An ugly out but an out and a win!!
That’s a nice win, and it’s been a good road trip so far. Outstanding!!!
All the starters get hits except the speedster.
It’s no nice to finally have a REAL closer again!
Amen, ChicagoRedsFan.
CORRECTION:
It’s So nice to finally have a REAL closer again!
Another Amen, brother.
I am starting to get the feeling that if we have the lead after the 7, then its lights out.
In contrast to several years of lights on.
Edwin is just one of those players that makes fans crazy. The guy will make some total goofball plays on the easy ones and then MAKES the impossible ones.
It’s just Edwin being Edwin.
Interesting article on Krivsky at DDN
It is unlike Freel to complain to the media. He’s gotta feel pretty bad about Hairston jumping that much ahead of him on the depth chart.
I’m liking this…
3/5th of the rotation is solid:
Volquez 1.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP
Harang 2.76 ERA, 0.99 WHIP
Cueto 4.05 ERA, 0.87 WHIP
plus Arroyo is swimming back into shape?
5 solid relievers:
Cordero 1.64 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
Lincoln 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
Mercker 1.86 ERA, 1.03 WHIP
Affeldt 1.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
Burton 3.65 ERA, 1.30 WHIP (and lead team in K/9 with 18 K in 12.1 IP.