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Time for a recap of tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Albert Pujols 5 (St. Louis 7)
Cincinnati 4
WP: Motte (3-2)
LP: Herrera (1-4)
S: Franklin (20)
BOX SCORE
I’m going to be honest with you guys and gals. I don’t have the heart to do a full recap tonight. I’m exhausted after watching our Redlegs blow yet another game to the hated Cardinals.
A few random thoughts….
–Homer Bailey was magnificent. Seven and a third innings, three hits, two runs (that shouldn’t have scored), 5 Ks. This looked like the Homer Bailey we all hoped for after his superb run at Louisville over the last few months. I couldn’t be more pleased with his performance this evening.
–Bailey absolutely made Albert Pujols look silly with a splitter in the first inning. Pujols then swore out revenge on Bailey’s teammates. He was just throwing rocks tonight (Big Lebowski reference). After the first two batters of the game reached, Bailey retired 13 in a row. Then another reached, and Bailey sat down 7 straight. Great stuff.
–When Homer walked off the mound to a standing ovation in the 8th inning, the Cardinals had not scored a single run yet. Then, the best bullpen in the National League proceeded to give the game away (with a big assist from Paul Janish’s crucial error).
–I’m not going to get into the particulars, you can read those here. Suffice to say that Albert Pujols hit a grand slam off my least favorite Red, and I don’t care if that guy never gives up another run as a Cincinnati pitcher, I’ll never write his name on this blog again. He’s dead to me.
–W******* was 9-18 with 2 HR allowed to Pujols before tonight. Great idea bringing him in there, huh?
–Some people are hammering Dusty for sending Homer back to the mound for the 8th inning. I actually agree with our manager here. Bailey was mowing them down, having allowed only 2 hits and no runs through 7. I would have left him in, too. Of course, that was the one correct decision Dusty made all night.
–Edwin Encarnacion returned in grand style, hitting a double in his only plate appearance. Welcome back, Edwin.
–The Reds scored four runs. Albert Pujols drove in five runs in the 8th and 9th innings alone. Sheesh, he’s great.
–This one is for loyal citizen of Redleg Nation “pinson343″: Jerry Hairston, Jr., was great tonight. He had three hits, one a double that he just crushed. For good measure, he also had one of the best defensive plays of the year. (I hope he isn’t starting at 3B tomorrow, though…what am I thinking? Janish made an error, so JHJ will be starting at SS until September.)
–Love the headline at RR. Sums it up.
–If the Reds had won, they would have been one game out of first place in the National League Central division. Instead, they are three games out, and in fourth place. As was mentioned in the game thread, this is why they are the Cardinals and we are the Reds. They don’t lose games like this.
–It just feels like a punch in the gut. The Reds had this game won. I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep tonight.
I was at the game and just got home after the tremendous fireworks. That’s the first time I’ve ever stayed for them – are they always a patriotic theme, or just tonight because of July 4.
Dusty Baker lost this game for the Reds. Yes, he had plenty of help from Rhodes, Janish, Herera and he whose name won’t be mentioned.
1. Homer Bailey should never, never, never have been sent out to pitch in the 8th inning. He started the inning in the mid-90s pitch count. He had been absolutely dominant since the first inning. You need to get him out of there and let the bullpen have a clean set of bases.
To top that off, Baker does not even have someone warming up at the start of the inning. I’m sure there is some perfectly BS reason for that (’showing confidence’) which Baker will surely offer. So after the first hitter got on we didn’t have the option then of pulling Homer, because the bullpen wasn’t ready.
2. You never, never, never give Pujols a pitch to hit in the 8th inning. You can pitch around him and maybe get hit to swing at a bad pitch, but you don’t let him hit a home run. He is the single best player in baseball by a long shot (no pun intended). You can’t let him beat you.
Well, I read that Baker said tonight that if you walk Pujols then you have to pitch to Ludwick who Baker points out “had 37 home runs last year”. Look, Albert Pujols already has 30 HOME RUNS THIS YEAR. And Ludwick is hitting like Willy Taveras so far. For Dusty to be equally afraid of Ludwick and Pujols in insanity. Last year was last year, this year is different.
Some other little things bothered me.
In the Reds ninth, why is Nix (who I like) sent up to pinch hit instead of Hanigan? The only thing that matters is getting on base. Getting on base. Literally a walk is as good as a home run. Does Baker even bother to read the OBP statistic for our players? Save Nix to bat for Taveras with, hopefully, two runners on base. If Hanigan leads off getting on base then he scores or is at third on EE’s double. Making the next three Reds hitters all the tying run.
Having Taveras batting second is moronic beyond belief, but that horse is so dead…I’m also sick of scorers giving Taveras base hits on bunts where if the pitcher makes the simple throw to first, Taveras would easily be out. That happened tonight as it has two other times recently.
How does Hanigan then not bat for Taveras in the ninth? I realize hell froze over and WT walked, but again, the only thing that mattered at that point was getting on base – which Hanigan does 15% more often than WT does.
Finally, I want to conclude with some words about Homer Bailey. I can’t tell you how happy I was to see how well he pitched. I felt like he deserved a better fate in Cleveland (as I wrote here) and really seemed to have turned a corner. Tonight confirmed that. I think we have ourselves a major league pitcher. He won’t win every game, but he had dominant stuff tonight.
I’m going back tomorrow, in just a few hours. I hope the Reds bounce back. I have to get the bobblehead, you know. My seat is close enough that I can yell at Baker, which I intend to do.
Don’t pitch to Pujols in that situation. Sheesh.
Thanks for the report, Steve.
I forgot to mention it in the recap, but the fans were awesome tonight (at least, they appeared to be so from the television broadcast).
It always seems like the Reds lay an egg whenever the crowd is great like that, though.
I’m a nit picky a-@#$% like this but the Dodgers have had a better bullpen this year than the Reds and that is before today’s implosion. LA has been hands down the best bullpen in baseball.
If we look at the Reds and Dodgers bullpen looking at WXRL (I’ll include the best of the AL, Boston) here have been the most valuable relievers. It shows the Reds are deep but don’t have the 2 sure things that the other teams have.
WXLR
3.9 Broxton (LA)
3.2 Toncoso (LA)
2.9 Papelbon (Bos)
2.5 Cordero (wonder where he was tonight? eating ice cream?)
1.9 Okajima (Bos)
1.7 Rhodes
1.3 Ramirez (Bos)
1.1 Weathers (hmm. 3rd best reliever gives up the HR?)
1.0 Masset
.9 Masterson (Bos)
.8 Belisario (LA)
The Reds might be deep in the bullpen and the bullpen has done an AMAZING job but we do not have a Broxton/Troncoso or Papelbon/Okajima light outs 8-9th
Went to the game tonight (2nd this season) while I was in town, and yes, the crowd was great. I had an obnoxious cards fan that screamed M-V-P everytime Pujols was mentioned. At one point as he’s chanting it some guy a few rows back started chanting H-G-H.
Also saw a comical shirt a guy was wearing that said “The Cardinals Like It In Their Pujols.” Childish, but hilarious.
I’m trying to be positive after bearing witness to the blowup, but here’s to hoping Bailey has turned the corner, because he looked MAGNIFICIENT. Last game I saw (coincidentally his other start), he got boo’ed and there were shouts of “Go back to the minors Homer.” He got a much deserved HUGE ovation when he got taken out of the game. The biggest ovation I’ve seen at a Red’s game recently.
Also, on MLB Tonight they did an entire overview of Weathers facing Pujols and basically tore him apart for throwing him the pitch he homered on. Pujols is 6-7 with FOUR home runs with the bases loaded this season. Yea, you read that right. Somehow I don’t think a waist high dead center pitch was what we needed Stormy.
Re: “I forgot to mention it in the recap, but the fans were awesome tonight (at least, they appeared to be so from the television broadcast).”
why is this? The Reds have some of the lowest attendance and worst fans in baseball. Why did they show up tonight? Why did they actually cheer tonight? Are these those people that go to 1 game a year because they have a day off?
this made me laugh
“Somehow I don’t think a waist high dead center pitch was what we needed Stormy.”
yeah, you thought that. I thought that. and everyone in the known universe thought that cept Dusty, D-W, and Hernandez.
what I’m REALLY waiting for and looking forward to is Dusty and is coupla-dwarfs DOING THE SAME THING TOMORROW. cuz, ya-know, learnin is for stoopid people
you know what I just wondered.
you think the owner watched tonight’s game?
do you think the GM watched the game?
do you think either understands how to quantify the quality of a baseball player?
I would pay each of them $1000 RIGHT NOW to pick their brains for 15 minutes each as to their understand and thoughts about tonights game
Dusty….the $5000 for 30 minute offer still stands (an email I sent him a month or so ago)
Ramrod–
I was at a couple games the last time the Cardinals were in town, and I saw a guy wearing that exact t-shirt.
one more thought
I’ll bet we could come up with a list of 50 (yes 50) things that the Reds and and Reds management did wrong in tonight’s game
Weathers, et al. deserve to take the heat for that pitch to Pujols. But what about Rhodes setting up that situation by walking a guy – who’s making his first major league at bat – in 4 pitches ?
Rhodes has been very effective when starting an inning but when he comes in with runners on base, he’s done this “walk the first batter on 4 pitches” thing before, at least twice.
And then Dusty takes him out.
FWIW, I would have given Masset a shot against Pujols, or left in Rhodes, maybe with the same result.
Thanks Chad for mentioning me and JHJ’s good game in the recap. I got lucky in terms of Hairston having one of his best games of the season just after I defended him.
Just saw this on the Baseball Network. Pujols this yea with the bases loaded is 6-7 with four grand slams. Now you tell me, why WOULDN’T you walk him intentionally?
Hey, where was my mention? I defended him too!
Maybe it is some kind of odd sportsmanship thing with Dusty and he still honked off that people kept walking Bonds and thought it was unfair or something, so he feels compelled to test Pujols
You can go to David Weathers when it is the bottom of the lineup or guys that don’t have any bat control. Bottom of the D-Backs order, it probably will be fine. It’s probably not going to work when it is Albert Pujols or Adrian Gonzales (remember that one). Stormy will pitch that same pitch that tries to hit the outside corner get behind the count, get mad when the ump doesn’t call it and then send up a meatball strike that will get hit to Venus.
I’ve been thinking that Masset’s performance has been good enough to move him up the ladder and Weathers down a run for a while. I’d think the fact that none of the vet Cardinals have seen Roenicke would have been a plus, but hey what do I know. I guess the Dusty rule that certain pitchers only pitch in losing games or blow outs comes into effect here. Good think Dusty never had K-Rod in 2002, he would have left him on the pine for some seasoning instead of watching him beat his Giants in the World Series.
I guess it is good for the vets that I am not the Reds manager. The club only owes them a paycheck by contract, it does not owe them playing time.
Good thing is that Dusty Baker is going to eventually run himself out of town with his dumb decisions, bad thing is that the Reds might have enough talent to keep him around for too long. All managers win because their teams have good players, but a good manager gets the most out of what talent the club has going. I think Dusty Baker has been extremely lucky to have had a bunch of talented clubs.
I know in my heart of hearts a Reds fan can never trust a 70s Dodger. That is still just not right that one of those guys is the manager of the Reds. I wouldn’t want Scioscia for the same reason and he is a GOOD manager. I hated those guys.
Homer pitched outstanding…and I was very happy with his poise and agressiveness.
W******* is awful. Can’t stand him…reminds me of D**** G*****.
I know it sounds stupid, but I really would have pitched around Albert in that situation. Maybe not Intentionally, but I wouldn’t throw a strike. Either make him be impatient and swing at bad pitches. or face Ludwick, who had looked AWFUL at the plate all game. He is THE BEST player in the game. Don’t let 1 player beat you, make the rest of the team of misfits beat you.
This game literally made me sick to my stomach and throw my remote. :poke:
Tomorrow is a new day, and hopefully Dusty learns if anyone is on base, there is no reason to pitch to Albert.
is there any chance that the moron won’t be managing this team next year? ’cause all he’s doing is holding these kids back. complete and total idiot.
This is not David Weathers’ fault. While he had hit .500 against Weathers, Pujols was 0 for his last 7. Pujols is THAT good, which is why you walk him intentionally. Doing that makes it 3-1. It just so happens that the next two batters made easy outs.
This game – if it falls on anyone – falls on Paul Janish. He is here for defense and nothing else. Top of the 9th, game tied 4-4, with runners on 1st and 2nd, Janish takes it off the Chest Roger Dorn style.
Janish? He contributed but I don’t put the game only on his shoulders.
Cardinals hitting loves the Reds bullpen, no matter the names on the jerseys, it seems.
Losing that game in that manner obviously stunk, but I disagree with all the writer/media/etc who were building it up beforehand (and lamenting afterward) that this was the game of the season.
The problem with this team is Dusty Baker. Dusty Baker needs to be replaced. The Reds are not good enough to win despite bad management. Baker can certainly cost them a chance at the playoffs, and so far I would say his decisions have led to anywhere from 2-5 losses.
Dusty is a bumbling idiot. His consistently bad decision making over the past two years have cost the Reds dearly. From Corey Patterson to ruining Aaron Harang for 2008 to running Wee Willy out there over and over to playing JHJ almost daily and so forth.
Why is still here?
IMO, if you are going to pitch to Pujols in that spot, the ONLY option is to bring in Cordero to pitch.
There is no logic to using a pitcher other than the best one you have out there in the bullpen, against the best hitter in the world.
Well, the thing is it is unlikely that the Reds can take the series now. That’s because the Cards are throwing out Carpenter against Arroyo on Sunday. That’s why last night was really important. The Reds cannot afford to get swept and fall 5 games back. If that happens there is no chance management makes a move to help this team this year.
I am not very confident with Owings and Arroyo going the next two nights. I will be ecstatic if we can split the next two.
What the hell was Jon Fay watching?
Weathers then came into face Pujols. Weathers threw a fastball down and away.
“I got him to do what I wanted – to pull an outside pitch,” Weathers said of facing Pujols. “But he’s so strong.”
You tell me? Wasn’t that pitch belt high right down the middle?
Flat out, hands down, we saw how good managing beats bad managing last night. Each and every opportunity, LaRussa brought in a lefty to face a lefty and a righty to face a righty. He walked Joey Votto (our Pujols-lite) rather than letting him hit the big one, even if it meant bringing the winning run to the plate (Phillips).
What really just blew me away (assuming the first Pujols late-inning at bat didn’t do the trick) was when with 2 on in the 9th, he pitches to Pujols rather than walk him, and he crushes another one for a 2 run double…what did Krusty do next? He intentionally walked Ludwick, with 2 men still on. Why not just walk Pujols, you dunce? Seriously? Are you mental?
Worst. Loss. Ever.
Worst. Manager. Ever.
Also saw a comical shirt a guy was wearing that said “The Cardinals Like It In Their Pujols.” Childish, but hilarious.
I want one of those t-shirts.
Every year it seems like the Cards take a game away that the Reds should have waltzed through. Every year it seems that its Albert that does the killin.
Brantley hit the nail on the head last night. Don’t pitch to Albert with runners on base. Let the other 8 beat you. With the bases loaded last night Weathers didn’t have the option to pitch around Pujols, but the tactic is still valid.
I don’t think the other 8 in the Cards lineup are that much better than the Reds. If you don’t give Albert the opportunity or at least limit his opportunities to hurt you, I think the Reds can match up pretty well with the Cards.
Now someone go tell that to Dusty!
You will all agree that I don’t know very much about anything…but I know one thing:
“Kevin Mitchell is Batman” is the greatest username in the history of the internets.
to Chad @20
that was my thought as well, if you are pitching to Pujols with bases loaded and 2 outs in the 8th, then Cordero should be on the mound, as your best reliever. Bringing in Weathers, even before factoring his work vs Pujols, was mind boggling to me. I stopped listening to the game on radio once Pujols drilled it as I felt Reds would not win it because Baker would not know what to do and think fast enough. Like Earl said @13, Curse of having an ex-Dodger as manager. :poke: