Game Thread: Reds at Cardinals — 2008.04.28
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
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!
April 28th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Funny, I started to post something similar above about those JTM commercials.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Bronson and a quality start. Are they…together again?
That was very lame.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I wish it were still the Giants :mrgreen:
April 28th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Reds go out 1-2-3 in the top of the first. Not a good start.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I like Coffey, but good riddance.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Thread is titles Reds at Giants, not Reds at Cardinals.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
2 outs, then a hit given up to Pujols. No shame in that, I guess.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
D’oh! Thanks Dave. I’ll fix that immediately.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Arroyo doesn’t give up any runs in the first. It’s a start!
April 28th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Haha really Cowboy?
April 28th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Wow, a Pete Schourek mention by Marty. Haven’t thought about him in a long time.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
What moronic statement did the Cowboy make this time?
April 28th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
That’s the good side of Phillips - turns on a pitch that would have been ball 4, and makes it into a double.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
BP reaches base. He’s heating up again, I hope.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Hurrah Adam Dunn! Good to see an RBI hit for him.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I hope Phillips is heating up, too, but we really need Dunn to get hot. Soon. Very soon.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Anyone else get the feeling that Jocketty is going to have Bruce and Bailey up here soon?
April 28th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I heard that, DA, and it’s a great point.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
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?
April 28th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Alright, good inning. Can Arroyo maintain the 2 run advantage?
I’m nervous.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Maybe it’s just wishful thinking. I can’t wait to see those guys up here for good. :mrgreen:
April 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
However, if I’m laying odds, I think Bailey is more likely than Bruce to get called up before June 1.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Listening to Mark Sheldon on the radio broadcast. I think I like him better than any of the other beat writers.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Speedster Patterson draws the rare walk.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Right on cue, Patterson raises his OBP by walking.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Hit by Junior, and good baserunning by Patterson gives us first and third with one away. BP up next.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
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????
April 28th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
There’s a perfect example of what Patterson gives us over Freel…good baserunning. Freel is a moron on the basepaths.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Finally, the Reds offense is looking like we expected.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Monster sac fly by Phillips. How about a monster HR from Dunn?
April 28th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
3-0. Almost a HR by Phillips, but I’ll take the sac fly.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Make it sweet, EE.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Dunn walks on Wellemeyer’s 55th pitch of the night.
Come on, Edwin!
April 28th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Dunn was the beneficiary of a couple of borderline ball-strike calls there. He’s been getting more of those this year, seems like.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
How often does that happen in a game against the Cardinals? It is usually the other way around.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Hahaha…the Cardinals suck!
April 28th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Dunn may be bad in the field, but Duncan is an absolute butcher.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Exactly what I was thinking, Jim!!!
April 28th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Wonder if someone said something to Kepp and Votto about their first ABs. Much more patient this time around.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Votto’s hit more than his share of at-’em balls.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Dunn’s a vet now. He should get those calls.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Be happy neither of them went to the Bengals, CHad!
April 28th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Oh-oh. Arroyo back to his bad habits. Bako needs to do a Tony Pena by going out and slapping him in the face.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I would love to see Bako slap Arroyo in the face.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
It’s good to hear references to the Reds players studying video to analyze their performances.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Who were they talking about, Jim?
April 28th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Definitely, Kenny.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I would have loved to seen Bob Uecker slap Bob Gibson in the face followed by Gibson pile driving Uecker into the ground.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Tonight they talked about Dunn using video to analyze his hitting to determine that he is jumping at balls rather than waiting on them.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Uh oh. I’m getting nervous, with Pujols at the plate and two on.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Need a twin killing here.
Walks will haunt.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Excellent…infield fly. That’s huge.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Full count, bases loaded, two outs. Biggest pitch of the game so far.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Walks do haunt. Blerg.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Ball four.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Yeah, Dave…but the Reds have a good opportunity to get a good player, drafting that high.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
There is out number three. It’s 4-1, but it could have been much worse.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Base hit for Bako, extends his hit streak to 7 games. Hitting over .325 now. Wow.
And the Reds keep hitting Wellemeyer.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I like the Reds.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Arroyo bunts foul. Out on strikes.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Ha! I like the Reds too, Ben.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I hope Bako attempts a steal here.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Keppinger was robbed! That should have been an infield single.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I still think the Cards finish second to last in the division….unless Carpenter comes back from the dead and wins in Cy Young.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
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….
April 28th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
1-2-3 inning. 71 pitches for Arroyo through 4. His ERA is below 7 now, though!
April 28th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I think you’re right, Dave. This Cardinals team just isnt very good.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Peter Frampton is a Reds fan? Cool.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Well, now Wellemeyer has settled down.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Frampton lives in Cincinnati (Indian Hills, I think).
April 28th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
4-2.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Kennedy doubles with 1 out. Arroyo’s got to settle down now and keep the Cards off the board!
April 28th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
4-3 now, so much for my plan.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I agree with Marty, four runs isn’t going to be enough to win this game.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
This is where Dunn needs to earn his paycheck.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Wow, an intentional walk to GET to Dunn?
April 28th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Bases loaded for Dunn, one out. Sacrifice Fly needed, at a minimum.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Oh, man. That’s a spot of terrible luck.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Ball hits the runner…You’ve gotta be kidding me!
April 28th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
And the Reds continue to find ways to not score with the bases loaded. ^$#@!
April 28th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
What the fuck was that? Only happens withour runners.
Ridiculous.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Ugh.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
StL TV mentions the Reds pen has a 6.57 ERA on this roadtrip - how much of that was Decaf?
April 28th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
At least that wsa some improvement for Arroyo.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Mean — probably about 15.00 of it.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Gotta love patterson’s defense!
April 28th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
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?
April 28th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
The Cardinals broadcaster just called the Cubs and Cards, baseballs best rivalry.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
That sure was some weak base running by Ankiel.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Oh, and the best rivalry in baseball is clearly Royals and Rays.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
EEEEEEEEEEEE!
April 28th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
YES! Awesome play by Chris Sabo saves Burton.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
The worst part about Dunn hitting BP is that it raised his batting average.
Sweet play by Edwin.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Why is that the worst part, Dave?
April 28th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Credit to Affeldt. He looked very shaky in his first couple outings of the year, but he’s been pretty much lights-out since.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Because that did not deserve a hit. I think that would have been a fielder’s choice.
Affeldt looks great.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
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!
April 28th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Another good outing by Affeldt.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Patterson with an EdE-esque bunt attempt.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Why is patterson such a horrible bunter?
April 28th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Crap, Patterson.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Dave: oh. I didn’t see it, but Marty was saying it was hit very hard and would have been a hit.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Dusty is a baseball intellectual, according to Marty.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I’m not disagreeing, by the way, it’s just rare that you hear a manager described that way.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I’d give anything for a Phillips homer here.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Or a three run homer by Dunn here.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Do they pass Dunn again just so the Reds can embarrass themselves with the bases clogged again?
April 28th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Coco…Coco…Coco…Coco!!!!
April 28th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Bottom of the ninth, one run lead. I’m nervous, but at least Danny Graves or David Weathers aren’t coming into the game.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Wow, Hawks just beat the Celtics to tie the series.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I think this’ll be Coco’s first real save op - entering the final inning with a 1-run lead.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Dunn is removed for defensive purposes. Hairston is in left now. He’s faster, but is he that much better a defender than Dunn?
April 28th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
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!
April 28th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Hope he converts it, Chicago…
And there’s a strikeout for out number one! Coco brings some serious heat. Love this guy.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
No need for defense when you get K’s!
April 28th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
6-3 for out number two!!!!
April 28th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
ugh. Ankiel looks like a goon up there. And Kepp puts him away.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
base hit!!! No!!!
April 28th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
…and this one belongs to the Reds!!!
April 28th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Reds win!!!
April 28th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Another nice play by Edwin, game over.
And four runs was enough to win, after all.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
An ugly out but an out and a win!!
April 28th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
That’s a nice win, and it’s been a good road trip so far. Outstanding!!! :mrgreen:
April 28th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
All the starters get hits except the speedster.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
It’s no nice to finally have a REAL closer again!
April 28th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Amen, ChicagoRedsFan.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
CORRECTION:
It’s So nice to finally have a REAL closer again!
April 28th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Another Amen, brother.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
I am starting to get the feeling that if we have the lead after the 7, then its lights out.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
In contrast to several years of lights on.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
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.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Interesting article on Krivsky at DDN
April 29th, 2008 at 9:04 am
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.
April 29th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
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.