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Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 10
Chicago 8
W: H. Bailey (10-7)
L: J. Germano (1-2)
S: A. Chapman (26)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Todd Frazier reached base four times, going 3-4 with a double, a walk, a run scored, and 4 RBI. Ryan Ludwick was the other big offensive contributor, also reaching base four times: 3-5 with a walk, four runs scored, and 2 RBI on his 20th homer of the season.
–In the bottom of the eighth, the Cubs had cut the lead to 9-8, and no pitcher in the city of Chicago could keep the other team from scoring. The wind was swirling worse than I’ve ever seen, and every routine fly ball became an adventure. Well, maybe there was one pitcher in the city who was up to the task.
Dusty Baker brought Aroldis Chapman into the game with two outs in the eighth (after Broxton couldn’t retire the side). Aroldis proceeded to blow a 102 mph fastball past Rizzo to end the inning. In total, he struck out three of the four batters he faced to pick up the save.
–Brandon Phillips had two hits, including a double, and two runs scored. Xavier Paul reached base three times, with a hit and two walks.
NEGATIVES
–I have a hard time criticizing the pitching today (because of the ludicrous weather conditions). Clearly, no one except for Chapman was able to manage much success, and his success was due to the fact that he throws the ball by people at an amazing rate. That said, Homer Bailey wasn’t particularly effective, and neither were Sean Marshall or Jonathan Broxton.
–That was one of the worst ballgames I’ve ever seen. The Cubs booted the ball around (five errors), and yet they still almost won. The game was long, it was poorly played, and the wind was swirling like they were in Candlestick Park. Only one redeeming factor: the losing sreak is over!
–Xavier Paul misplayed a ball in right field worse than I’ve ever seen. It wasn’t necessarily his fault, as the wind was ridiculous, but still… The ball landed thirty feet to Paul’s left.
You have to watch the highlights if you get a chance. Paul’s play, along with about three others, were absurd. Routine pop ups to shortstop ended up going out of play behind the first base dugout. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen. It would have been funny if I weren’t so concerned about the Reds finally getting another victory.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–One game winning streak!
–Aroldis Chapman may be the greatest pitcher in the history of the universe.
–Ryan Ludwick: .266/.335/.549, 20 HR, 60 RBI. I’ll take that.
–It wasn’t pretty, but:
For the first time in his career, Homer Bailey is a 10-game winner. Well deserved.
#Reds— Dylan Moody (@dmoody46) August 10, 2012
–There’s probably a legitimate criticism to be made that Dusty didn’t bring in Chapman earlier in the eighth, when it became clear that only a strikeout pitcher was going to have any success in that weather. Broxton certainly wasn’t responding well to the wind. Still, Dusty does deserve some kudos:
We joke around, but I’m glad Dusty brought in Chapman for a four-out save (hopefully). Many managers wouldn’t bring closer in in 8th.
#reds— Redleg Nation (@redlegnation) August 10, 2012
After five days rest, I would have brought him in immediately when it became clear Broxton didn’t have it, but I’ll take what I can get.
— Redleg Nation (@redlegnation) August 10, 2012
–No matter how ugly it was, the Reds finally won a game. Maybe the season isn’t over after all. Next up: another afternoon tilt tomorrow, with Bronson Arroyo facing former Red Travis Wood.
Source: FanGraphs
If the wind is anything like that again tomorrow.. expect a lot more runs.
Hope all of you who have them, have your have your Edinson Volquez jerseys on, tonight.
Seems like the starting pitching has melted down pretty quickly in the last two weeks. Is this an aberration or a sign of things to come?
Phillips and Cozart faking out a Cubs player as he ran to third causing him to stop at 2nd had to be the funniest thing ive seen executed in a ball game.
I will admit that I saw only a couple brief snippets of the game, but nonetheless, some issues jumped out and slapped me as I revied the game log. @Boneill1621: I did see the Castro faux paw catalyzed by Cozart, simply brilliant. I am more impressed with Cozart every time I see him play. I also caught the fly ball to XP in RF, but only after it was hit. I couldn’t figure out what I was watchingwhen XP started circling and then broke out in a full run after the ball came down. It didn’t look like a ball lost in the sun. That was about the extent of the game I saw live.
Normally when the wind is blowing in at Wrigley you expect a low scoring game. Not today. To compound the issue, the pitchers weren’t getting the low-strike call most of the game.
I suppose the scorer can’t give three errors on a play that starts with an attempt to steal second base, but if there ever was a cause for it, that play today by the Cubs was one for it. The catcher throws the ball ten feet wide of second base (1) then the infielder backing up the play allows the ball to go into the outfield (2), then the centerfielder charges the ball to make a play at third and lets the ball get past so that Stubbs scores unchallenged. Comedy of errors.
Steve: Right. It took 3 misplays for Stubbs to score. Part of what I mean about the 5 errors not capturing the extent of the Cubs hapless defense today. I count 11 misplays, and I didn’t even see the whole game.
I feel more positive about how the Reds played defensively than Chad. I watched the game on Cubs tv until the Reds led 8-3, and up to that point all the defensive blundering was by the Cubs. 5 errors does not even begin to capture how bad they were. Some of the 3 WPs/PBs had not happened yet, but a dumb blundered cutoff attempt by Rizzo, a booted ball by Castro that wasn’t an error because Cozart didn’t run full speed to first base until too late, etc.
I saw a lot of the 1962 Mets on tv, who lost 120 games (still a record), and were especially known for their defensive antics, a carnival act. The Cubs defense today was worse than the ’62 Mets on a bad day. and the wind was not an excuse for the 5 errors. They were all made on bouncing balls, either hit or thrown.
Thank goodness for Chapman, without him I don’t believe the Reds win that one.
People complain that here at RLN we never give Dusty credit for good decisions. I don’t think that’s true, but anyway … He did make some good ones today.
Bringing in Chapman for the 4 out save was kind of obvious, I’m thinking of other things. Sitting Bruce and Cairo was a good move that paid off. (You can’t see it in the box score, but in addition to a hit, Valdez got on base by hitting the ball hard to their 3rd baseman, who couldn’t handle it. Cairo just hits cans of corn now.) Paul’s contribution was obvious.
And whereas Dusty made a terrible double switch yesterday, today he made a good one, bringing in Hanigan, who singled and scored an insurance run.
I’m having a bit of trouble even giving Dusty credit for this one, because I think he always brings in Hanigan to catch Chapman. Once they were both brought into the game, it didn’t take much ingenuity to figure out which order to bat them in, since the 9-hole was gonna lead off the ninth inning for the Reds.
Today’s game reminded me a bit of one of the wildest All Star games in history. It was at Candlestick Park in 1961, when the park was wide open to the ocean winds. The NL blew a 2 run lead in the 9th and gave up another in the 10th before winning it with 2 runs (without an out) in the bottom of the 10th.
The late scoring was because in the late afternoon high winds were swirling around the park, and no one could catch a ball hit in the air. It was either misjudged or dropped. It was crazy seeing All Stars dropping pop ups.
Stu Miller of the Giants was the winning pitcher, he struck out 4 in one and two thirds innings. He was a changeup artist who had 3 pitches: slow, slower, and slowest. He said after the game that he was afraid the wind was going to blow the ball back in his face.
The wind did knock him off the mound that game.
Sorry for all the confusion in the game thread posts. Just DVR’ed the last two games and now I know what Marshall was saying to Dusty, when leaving the mound. “Hey, I just met you, and this is C-R-A-Z-Y, but here’s my number, so CALL me MAYBE.”
I am so glad Volquez does not pitch for the Reds anymore.
I see our guy Volquez continues his one-man assault on the Reds tonight. Guy is usually good for the opposite of what I’m looking for.
@gosport474: I was about to post that at least the Pirates did not keep anyone up past their bedtime to see what was going to happen there.
Don’t go to bed just yet….
Not to defend Xavier Paul completely, but on that ball that he misplayed so badly, not only was the wind a factor, but it was hit with a wicked tail spin as it came off of a right handed batter hit to right field. The ball was initially hit to XP’s right (from his point of view) towards the gap, it then ended up all the way in the corner almost. So he should have known that the tailspin + wind would affect it a lot, but anyone who has played corner outfield knows the balls that come off the bat with crazy tailspin are very difficult to judge, even on a normal day.
Padres tied it up now, 7-7. Ever since they came into GABP they have had their hitting shoes on.
@pinson343: I didn’t necessarily think the Reds played poorly on defense. I just thought it was an ugly game all the way around.
The Cubs defense was laughable.
@BearcatNation: You’re exactly right. I didn’t intend to blame XP completely. I don’t know if anyone could have made that play.
But sheesh, it really looked bad. Paul was looking up at the sky and the ball landed thirty feet to his left.
@Chad Dotson: The video of BP making fun of him for at least a full minute afterwards was hilarious. It’s on MLB.com under the game recap.
Absolutely hilarious. BP does a bit of an imitation and then a full one of Paul on that play.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=23777303&c_id=mlb
There’s a highlight of the wind related plays – it was ridiculous, the wind making these guys look like little leagers. I heard a few minutes of the game on WLW where they talked about the wind blowing the flags UP somehow, with Jeff Brantley saying that he’d never seen that happen before.
On the ball hit to Xavier Paul you can hear the Cubs broadcasters laughing because they doubted he’d seen anything like it in his career as an outfielder – you see Brandon Phillips laughing at him. In another case Todd Frazier breaks for the pitching mound for a pop-up that lands in the seats behind the first base dugout. I was watching on WGN when a ball hit right towards Soriano in LF landed between the LF, CF, and shortstop.
Unfortunately the ball to Xavier Paul was an earned run for Homer Bailey and probably cost Bailey another quality start. I think that run was just bad luck on Bailey’s part. Bailey had an RBI and made a nice play at the plate to save a run in the third inning.
I also had to save the video of Drew Stubbs stealing second and getting to score on a throwing error on the same play. Embarrassingly entertaining play.
Cards lose and the Pirates are down 1 at the moment.
At least the 3rd time this year they have made the last out of the game on a baserunning blunder.
@Abel: Yes, that was fantastic.
Pirates lose. Cardinals lose. Reds now up 3.5 games. Good day for the ol’ Redlegs.
Of all the goofy plays in this game, I think the errors allowing Stubbs to score from first are my favorites. The catcher’s throw almost looks as if it’s intended for the second baseman even though the shortstop is covering. The whiff in the outfield is just icing on the cake.
@LVW: Oh right, great memory. Wasn’t that called a balk ?
@redsfanman: Thankyou! Thats a crazy game. I knew everyone was pushing the panic button a little to quick. The Reds are a very good team this year
The bench is a little weak bot Paul seems to be a good player.I said it earlier this year but Rolen is going to need to rest from time to time.But would love to have Rolen after All-Star break Rolen for the playoffs.Just think Votto will be back soon.Think of the possibilities!
Cards lost, Pirates blew a 6 run lead and have lost. Things are looking slightly brighter than they were 24 hours ago in Redleg Nation.
Let’s hope the offense can keep ticking tomorrow without the added help of 5 errors. The pitching is slumping slightly as well, not a good combination over the past week. We’ll be ok. Glad we pulled it out today.
Here’s why I love baseball: yaneverknow. Reds lost 5 out of 6, yet only lost 2 games in the standings, still hold a nice lead.
@Chad Dotson: And what a difference a day can make. The Reds are sitting pretty, and Joey’s coming back soon.
Dusty’s words on Rolen’s condition are ominous. When Joey comes back, the move might be Scott to the DL.
I’ve been pretty much out of touch most of the day/ evening. What did Dusty say about Rolen?
Just watched Houston Street pitch the 9th against the Pirates. What a huge strike zone he gets, outside and low pitches off the plate called strikes. He hurt himself when he started to cover first base on the final out.
We have a young team so it is time to rest some players- specifically pitchers. Rest them now so that September is strong!
Scotty to the DL now big playoffs later!Chad I wanted to Thank You for all the writing you do here for Redleg Nation.
Ok; Brewers lead 3-2 going to the bottom of the 9th in Houston; they have Henderson warmimg up to come in; decide to go to Axford instead and get beat after pitching to a lefty with a base open and a righty coming up instead of setting up a double play.
@steelheels: Thanks. It’s a labor of love, my friend.
Actually, the only reason I keep the blog going is because I’m seeking the approval of pinson343.
@Chad Dotson: Whoah !!! That’s in fun but even so such a compliment that I’m blown away.
I second the thanks to you for all the work you put into making this a great blog, the perfect one for diehard, serious Reds fans.
@OhioJim: From mlb.com:
Rolen, who missed the series finale in Milwaukee on Wednesday and Thursday’s opener of a four-game set against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, is “day to day” for now. However, Reds manager Dusty Baker didn’t sound that optimistic prior to Friday’s game that Rolen would return anytime soon.
“I haven’t heard anything better [since Thursday],” Baker said. “Usually when that thing grabs you like that, you don’t get better overnight or right away. It doesn’t look pleasant.”
——————————-
The thing that “grabbed” Rolen is his lower back locking up.
@pinson343: Thanks. If they get Joey back and healthy, I think they can get by without Rolen, although to have him playing like he was since the All Star break would be great.
However I think they really need to do something about the bench, especially if Rolen is out of the picture. They don’t need 5 OF but they do need what XP gives them offensively. Valdez is the middle IF back up; so that leaves Cairo’s spot.
But who do they get??? For as bad as he looked defensively, as you and some other’s suggested, Navarro was two outstanding plays against him away from being the offensive star of series won by the Reds versus a series where the Reds were swept.
I wonder if the team really needs 12 pitchers between now and 1 September? Maybe they DL somebody (which keeps them playoff eligible) to create a bench spot there. After all if they make the playoffs, they will probably go 11 or even just 10 pitchers.
Phillips was 2/6 with a double and reached base a 3rd time on an error. 2 of the 3 plate appearances he did not reach base were 5 & 6 pitch at bats. That would be a pretty good line for a leadoff hitter. Ludwick was 3/5 with a double and HR. Frazier was 3/4 with a double and a BB. Between them they had 6 RBI, 5 Runs scored and only 3 LOB. Those would be pretty good lines for the 4 hole & 5 hole hitters. Cozart & Stubbs hitting #1 & #2 were a combined 2/12 with 2 SO & 5 LOB. There aren’t a lot of options until Votto gets back but once again the obvious is sitting there in plain sight for anyone willing to look. Then there is Valdez going 1/5 with 6 LOB. Valdez is hitting .214/.246/.241 for the year. Valaika is on the 40 man roster and in a fairly small sample is hitting .270/.303/.381 in 63 ML at bats. He can play all the IF positions Valdez plays, specifically SS, 2B & 3B. He hasn’t produced very good numbers at AAA the past two years but he has done a good job at the ML level every chance he’s had. He certainly wouldn’t do any worse.
Another negative (and I admit this being a pet peeve) were the lack of hustle on balls by Cozart and Phillips that cost the Reds bases. Cozart’s was on a ball booted by the SS which he could have beat out had he run hard right out of the box and on the popup that Phillips got a single on, it could easily have been a double.
I simply don’t understand how, especially when your team is struggling and on a losing streak, you don’t run out every ball you hit.
@Bill Lack: What I really don’t get is people who condone this crap. Like the best time of the day to get “rest” is when you’re on the field. If you need the rest and relaxation that bed, you ought to stay on the bench and the Reds need to get some healthy young man to fill out the roster. What the heck are they running here? An Old Folks Home. This is Dusty’s BS and it doesn’t win championships.
Dusty: “Son, you have the day off today”
Young Player: “So you want me on the bench?”
Player: “No. Didn’t say that. I just want you to take it easy out there. If you feels a sweat coming stop all activity. Need to keep you fresh for September.”
r
Sorry this type of nonsense is not only inexcusable but idiotic as well.
If a ground ball is hit to an infielder, why not have the batter just walk back to the dugout? That will help conserve the players limited energy even moreso.
@Bill Lack:
Where’s Jerry Narron when you need him? E5 could tell you all about that.
When of the rare games I miss due to a plane flight without WiFi. So I didn’t have a clue what the score was until touch down. Looked at some highlights and although as Chad said, “it was an ugly game”; it did look entertaining.
Call of comments: first the hustle- I address above, great games by Frazier, Ludwick, and Chapman. Good move by Dusty to bring Chapman in the 8th and also in playing XP. I hope Dusty “rests” Jay today and tomorrow. This would be considered a “mental” rest not “I can’t go on” rest. I’m seeing this Trout kid, with no days off, rip through the AL like I’ve never seen anyone ever do. He is doing it as a rookie no less and those guys are extra susceptible to being worn out.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan:
Have you given any thought to how Monday’s off day will affect the team. I am afraid it might put an end to Ryan Ludwick’s hot bat.
@CaptainTonyKW: Cappy, there is slight difference, IMO, in an “off-day” and a “day off” when an actual game is going on. I just don’t get sitting the hot guys, especially Bruce. I just remember more than a couple of guys were wondering the same thing on the 16th. What’s the point? I’m not big on too many days off. Most weeks I work 7-days so maybe my sympathy isn’t what it should be. But I do like my vacations and take off 6-8 weeks a year. Seems to me, the players get at least that much.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: Haven’t you been watching the Olympics? They keep talking about the way all these athletes prepare for their events by taking it easy for long stretches of time prior to the games. Everyone knows the way you train for a race is to sit around watching TV for at least 6 months. Preferably a year, if possible. How else are you going to be fresh enough to run 26 miles or sprint 400 meters? If you run every day, your legs will be completely shot. Swim every day, your arms will fall off. Lift weights too often, and by the time you get to the Olympics you won’t be able to lift anything at all. Every elite athlete knows this.
Votto had minor procedure to remove floating piece of cartilage. Will require another 7-10 days. Doesn’t sound promising. This injury seems to have been mismanaged from the get go.
I posted the other day that I’d had a dream about Votto requiring additional surgery. Maybe the Reds’ medical staff should start consulting my dreams. Couldn’t be any worse.
I mean, consulting my dreams couldn’t be any worse than the Ouija board they seem to be using.
@zippy: Votto said he had pain, so their first step was to perform an MRI. The doctors are getting better.
@nelly33:
Votto said he had pain, he is getting better…….
Solves one big problem, where to play Frazier.
Makes another worse – Cairo plays more.
If we are going to get out of August in first somebody has to get hot, Dusty has to play the hot hand. On that note – Bruce sits, Luddy is 4th, Heisey is in and Valdez has his chance.
Who is gonna get hot and salvage August ?
Jay & Scott still out today.
I’m a little surprised by Dusty’s benching of Bruce. he is slumping for sure, but Cozart and Stubbs have slumped far worse during this season and not gotten benched for two games like this.
All I can say is that I hope it cures what’s ailing him. With Votto out for a longer period (and at this point I’m just thinking of it as indefinitely until I hear an actual return date) I just don’t see how this team hits enough if Bruce doesn’t step up.
Ludwick and Stubbs have both been hitting really well since Votto went down, but someone has to be the power enforcer vs. RH pitching.