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The mighty Redlegs return to action tonight with a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 National League Division Series. Cincinnati can clinch a spot in the NLCS with a victory tonight.
Mr. No-No, Homer Bailey, will take the mound for the Reds. As Greg noted earlier today:
Over his last 7 starts, Homer Bailey has a 1.85 ERA with a 0.74 WHIP, .463 opponent OPS, 1.7 BB/9, 8.9 K/9, & 0.7 HR/9. This includes 3 starts at GABP. Bailey faced the Giants once this year, back on April 26th in GABP against tonight’s starter, Ryan Vogelsong. Bailey was in line for the win after tossing 6.1 IP and allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 6. He threw just 86 pitches, 59 for strikes. It was Sean Marshall’s first blown save of the season, back when he was still the closer, as he allowed a 3-run homerun in the 9th inning to Angel Pagan.
The Giants will counter with Ryan Vogelsong, a 34-year old right-hander who finished up the season with a 14-9 record and a 3.37 ERA. In the second half of the season, however, Vogelsong’s ERA is 4.78.
Here’s your game preview. Go Redlegs.
I like our chances tonight!
Really hope they wrap it up tonight. I like our chances against Vogelsong who has been very pedestrian since the All-Star Break and I believe the Giants have announced Zito as Game 4 starter (if necessary). Lets not rest on this 2-0 lead and end up with a Game 5 vs Matt Cain, handle business tonight.
How are injuries handled on a post-season roster? Can the Reds replace Cueto if need be? Or are they forced to play short (not that we would ever do that willingly, of course…..)
@preach: If they pull Cueto from the NLDS roster, he cannot participate in the NLCS.
@preach: And they can only replace him with another pitcher, but yes he can be replaced.
So what are the exact rules? You can replace a position player with a position player only? Kind of sounds like fantasy baseball!
Any reason why they would want to wait to announce the injury was more serious? Hard to believe the medical staff actually thought it was back spasms for more than a couple of minutes. I’m have no medical knowledge whatsoever, but I knew it was more serious while he was still on the mound.
They survived two months without Votto, we can survive two weeks without Cueto. This team is resilient as hell and they will march forward. I’m still confident.
No chance, if Cueto is down for more then a week or so, you got to remove him from the roster and go with Leake.
anyplace online to watch the game? don’t think I’ll have a TV today.
The Reds just announced the game 4 starter, Todd Frazier!!!
postseason.tv. Its a little raw, but its all i’ve got online.
Cueto hasn’t had an MRI yet.
“We’re debating that,” Lessard said.
What?
MRIs are expensive. I mean, once you have the machine, it still probably costs 5 bucks for each one.
Sheesh, Fay reports that Latos is dealing with the flu now. This game is becoming more must win by the second.
I’m not even thinking of Cueto any longer. I believe this will finish him for the season. I like our chances with the big 3!
TBS is saying that Cueto does not have an oblique strain, rather just muscle spasms in the oblique. Not sure what to believe, just hope they can wrap this up tonight.
Electric atmosphere in and around the ball park. Lots of brooms.
Go Reds!
Go Homer!!!! I’m in before game time: Joey picks tonight to hit his first HR since returning. Cross your fingers.
Stadium looks awesome! Wish I was there.
@Josh M: My doctor friends tell me that “strained oblique” actually means a strained abdominal muscle in the oblique area. So the TBS account only differs in terms of calling it a muscle spasm instead of a muscle strain.
Johnny just jogged onto the field with a big smile, and they said he’d just received a cortisone shot.
A cortisone shot for a muscular problem ? I guess it’s to reduce inflammation in the area ?
Anyway let’s win tonite.
Trying to decide whether to watch Gameday for the few minutes before I leave work or just wait to watch it on the DVR. Don’t think I want to wait.
The way I’m trying to sneak out of work early to catch as much of the game as possible reminds me of sneaking out of bed to watch World Series games in 1990.
Good late movement on that pitch to Scutaro.
Is it too soon to start talking about that which we don’t talk about?!
Ha!
Go Homer go! Good start.
Perfect pitch- under the hands and high enough where he couldn’t drop the bat head on it and golf it.
How long will it take the TBS guys to learn to cut to the smokestacks on an inning ending K?
Answer: Top of the 5th!
95 cheese on that last one. Homer looks poised to start off. Like that.
BP is locked in right now. Loving it.
So fun to watch this team when guys get hot.
Lead off hit! Great start!
The leadoff spot one of strength for the reds!? Can it be?
I don’t care what anyone says, I was happy with the BP signing and still am. Forget what it’s going to cost in year 3, think about the total value over 3 years.
So I’m supposed to be at the game – had two seats, section 510 (I love sitting in the upper deck down the left field line – love the view of that bridge and the river, full overview of the field…) – and came down with a cold. Sucks sucks sucks…if I didn’t have a PT test this weekend, I’d say screw it, I’ll take trade a playoff game for a quick bought of pneumonia…
You get peumonia first, and then get diagnosed with a cold…..oh, that’s the Reds medical staff at work….never mind.
Think he got an MRI on his nasal passage?
Oi, seriously BP??? Come on.
So dumb.
BP just made a dumb Bryce Harperesque baserunning blunder!
Nice job by Cozart though to work that walk.
One good one in the books for Homer…8 more to go. PLEASE let it end today…
As soon as I heard “Phillips trying for third” I wanted to shout “NOOOOO!” I don’t think my coworkers would have appreciated that.
Can I get a 3-0 REDS on a Bruce HR??????????????????
Ludwhacked!
If Bruce gets a hit they may bring down the house.
*pneumonia.
Bruuuuuuuuuce!!!!
Marty: “As Jay Bruce goes, so go the Reds…”
YES!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, SMASH EM
Bruce with a nice hit…
Demoralize them now with the big fly and its 4-0, heads will droop
You know, I like this Bruce kid, but he just disappears at big moments.
Is it bad that I wish the series wasn’t possibly over after today because I freaking love watching this team play? I don’t want to possibly wait another 5 days to see them play again.
Bullshit call
Tough call there but he got a close one his way the pitch before that.
Rolen needed a 9 iron on that pitch.
Pitch tracker agrees with Dusty and Scott – that was both low and inside…but still, third strike, gotta defend the plate…
That was a 30 pitch first inning for Vogelsong.
Ouch
Well, that was just bull$4it. Low and in. My pitcher better get that call too.
Vogelsong sure is going to his mouth habitually. Keep an eye out to make sure he wipes.
Nice heater.
he’s getting good late movement on the inner half of the plate.
Homer should throw every pitch into the low inside corner and get he call. Pretty much unhittable.
Pence makes me fidget.
Hunter Pence looking more and more like Woody Harrelson every day
Dealing so far.
Homer feeling like 1 run will be enough.
15 staight scoreless for Homer.
2 down, 7 to go…
Wet blanket comment: one would hope three hits and a walk would yield more than one run.
Wow – nice catch…
Nice catch by Pence….
Nice catch by the goofiest schmuck in the majors.
Still made him throw 15 pitches in that inning. 45 total
I *LOVE* hearing Marty broadcasting with Thom…
Homer dropping the arm slot and it got away
Announcers won’t shut up about the 1st inning. We get it, it was a mistake.
Why so careful
well there goes the perfect game..;-)
Homer has no one to blame but himself there….HBP and walk = run
True, but it could have been much worse. I’m happy with the way Homer handled that.
I say Homer has no one to blame but himself, but I’m the one that said, “15 straight scoreless innings”…so, I’ll take some of the blame.
Suddenly, Vogelsong looks good.
The Reds should hit this guy, right?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/batter_vs_pitcher.cgi?pitcher=vogelry01#ajax_result_table::none
Here we go, As Bruce goes so goes the Reds. Get famous
After walking two straight I would have liked to have seen Bruce take a pitch.
Agreed, can’t get over anxious.
Sorry, my link didn’t work!
It’s only the 4th so, don’t say what you shouldn’t say yet.
2 mistakes are keeping this game tight, a no hitter and yet we are tied…;-(
@preach:
anyplace online to watch the game? don’t think I’ll have a TV today.
http://www.vipboxsports.eu/
Let this walk you.
If we knock Vogelsong out of the game by the 5th, the bullpen will be eaten alive.
Not being negative, but I am ready for Frazier to get some playing time the rest of this game.
That’s a BEAUTIFUL shot from the blimp…wow…
I like the Reds chances!
Big K!!!!!!
I’m listening to the radio – what did Brian Pryce say?
I thought for sure Frazier would be in the lineup. Has anyone heard anything about Frazier being injured. So far so good. C’mon boys lets score a few runs and let the bullpen take it home. Go Reds!!
Anybody else feel like the TBS guys are pulling the for Giants pretty hard? Very complimentary of them and seem to want them to win. I understand that they’re trying to generate some drama to the series, but be fair.
Homer is really hitting his spots…Hanni barley has to move his glove at all.
I like our chances
There are the smokestacks
Just said that Reds pitchers retired higher % of first batters of inning than any team..that’s interesting, hadn’t heard that before.
Rolen 1-9 is that correct?
Dustys gonna ride that Rolen train till the end buddy. Frazier will have to be late game replacement
Time to get the offense going. If there’s a such thing as being tied and dominating a game, this is it.
g’day nation! Homer…Homer…Homer…
Are we really going to judge someone on 9 at bats?
Homer’s dealing!
Ho-mer! Ho-Mer! Ho-mer!
Struck out the side. Wooooo! Homer ain’t no Gomer that’s for sure. Go Reds!
Homer and the crowd are electric! Soooooo wish I was there tonight!
The Giants look lost
Ok, Brandon, let’s get somethin’ started!!!
Oh great, the Reds trainer will probably amputate Phillips leg…
No part of this is good…
Jesus now Phillips is hurt
Jeez, we had this guy on the ropes in the first now he’s Cy Young. And to top it off now Phillips is lame. What’s next?
This will be a 2-1 Reds ninth inning victory
Ok, we’ll get a shot at their BP.
Dealing.
Nice to get to their bullpen, while Bailey is still just a MONSTER!
I have never seen him have this much late break on his pitches.
No need to fret, this is the 2012 Cincinnati Reds, if BP is hurt, next man up. This team takes care of bidness no matter what. Go Reds!
Phillips and Votto both playing on 1 leg
The calf didn’t look bad there.
Chad’s fault…ok, Homer, get the out, we’ll move on.
Dang. Good run, you can’t no-hit them all I guess.
Good work, let’s keep Posey leading off.
And our best lead off hitter is coming up now.
Votto, Luddy, Bruce. Sounds like some run scoring action (Joey, it’s time for that Homer I called for… go ahead, it’ll be great. You’ve picked a dramatic moment for it). Go get some runs for Homer boys!
BP can do one of two things with that calf muscle, he can rub some Ben Gay on it, or let Gay Ben massage it. Either way should work.
That was no accident.
Wow, that one was really launched.
If I was the Giants I would semi-pitch around Hanigan and go after Stubbs.
or not
Ugg this offense tonight is gut renching at best…
Pinch hit for Honer next inning?
I wouldn’t in a tie game or if Stubbs reaches.
This game seems like one of those GASP games where it’s a matter of who hits the next (cheap) home run will win, because no one is doing anything else offensively.
It just feels like we should be winning this game!
Hopefully Stubbs can get on so Homer can bunt
Gotta get Homer some runs after what he’s been doing. Don’t leave it to some bottom-of-the order guy for the Giants to screw it up by hitting one out 335 feet.
And I don’t like the idea of Zito pitching tomorrow night. Left-handed junk-tossers give the Reds fits.
Homer obviously shouldn’t be pitching at home.
I’d like to see the crowd give Homer a collective “We’re not worthy” treatment
You know, I think now is a good time for a Drew Stubbs home run. So yeah, lets get on that.
Bailey’s gotten two favorable calls to K Belt today. I’ll take ‘em.
I wonder if he will get more of those since he has thrown the no no.
Does Bailey hit if we get a base runner?
Bunt
Sandoval thinks Stubbs can bunt? Ha, Ha
Frazier’s goin deep
Deep 2nd
Cairo is 600 hitter vs Affeldt
Hey guys, did you know that Phillips made a base running mistake in the 1st? Geez, starting to drive me crazy…
Well, it’s the biggest play in the game so I have no problem with them bringing it up.
Dont like that move at all. I will miss homer
@jas_428: don’t tell Dusty
Live by the bullpen, die by it. Well, except the whole “can’t score” part.
I’d like to see Cozart try and lay one down vs Casilla.
44,501 turned out for tonight’s titanic struggle, 44,501.
Marshall getting the calls on the corner with the breaking pitch.
Someones going deep and we will see the Missle
I’m afraid after the near-debacle in Game 1 that someone will go deep OFF the Missle, or at least score on a walk or wild pitch.
It is time to win this series.
I’ll take that Votto HR now…
I guess we might have to settle for a sweeet walkoff tonight.
A little RBI double now, please.
Wow, very quiet in here for a playoff game.
I guess everybody is at GABP?
I wish
I guess we’re the only ones not there
We’re all on the edge of our seats, can’t type
An unlikely hero will win this game for the Reds, that always seems to be the way in playoff games.
That one hurt…
@Sergeant2: Or Bruce right here.
Ludwick missed two fastballs in the heart of the plate. Bet he wants both of those back.
Hey Bruce…would you please hit a home run? Thanks.
oy vey
That would be sweet if Bruce hits one out off of their best lefty.
The crowd is just begging to explode
The legend of Jay Bruce will be written- hopefully
Not gonna get another chance like that.
Well if Ludwick would have hit the ball it would have landed next to the Curiosity Rover.
Man, this game has me as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
Playoff baseball is too intense!!!
@Prime: Tell me about it, I can’t stop sucking down bourbons. Had one for every inning since the 5th.
Awesome.
They’re on the ropes ready to be put away. Instead, a team that can’t score right now just needs one run to get a win before their bats wake up. I don’t want to put too much emphasis on this ninth inning, but putting Chapman in now could be the blunder that loses the series. Why, Dusty?
WTF
Not sure why you bring in Chapman now. The Closer doesn’t ALWAYS have to pitch the 9th. What if this game goes 15 innings?
Putting Chapman in now is the right call. You use him in the 9th in a close game. I have no problem with it.
@AnnapolisHoosier: This exactly. You can’t mess around and let them score a run and put all the pressure on you. I like the move. Playoff Dusty has been calling all the right shots.
No wind up tonight? Straight from the stretch
Vintage Chapman… Still not sure why Dusty brought him in there, but Dusty has certainly been pushing the right buttons all series. Guess it’s time to go with the gut.
Time for someone to be a hero
Place your bets now. (no, not you, Pete)
I’m calling a Stubbs walk off home run.
Here we go….
MVP, MVP, MVP! Or not.
Even dumb political ad’s can’t dampen my mood at this point. Playoff baseball in Cincy!
Romo needs to hang a slider right now for someone to tattoo.
That’s about all Hanigan’s got as far as power
I agree… He’s not had power all year, and that’s perfectly all right. He’s been so great behind the plate.
Bring Chappy back in for the 10th if we don’t clear the pitcher spot? I say yes.
Ugh, twice my heart has started up thinking a HR was in the making.
bonus baseball…
Its been like two hours since either team has really squared up a pitch
Lotta fat pitches there for Romo.
Well crud.
I would use Chapman for a second inning because I feel like this is a must win the way the pitching staff is shaping up but we are getting Broxton.
And here it goes…
@AnnapolisHoosier: And it’s already not looking good. Dang it.
Pence scares me here- he’s hitless in the series but hit the ball well his last time up.
I would’ve rather have seen Hoover here.
I was thinking the same thing. Broxton scares me here.
Come on Broxton, we need a double play ball here!
I believe the Giants only have one bench player left
Wonder which Giants pitcher will play right field?
Bunt. RBI groundout. Game over.
Not looking so good
get Broxton out now
Gotta love the pure disdain for not bunting. Reminds me of Thom.
HUGE strikeout! Now we need that double play ball!
Broxton starting to find the zone… that’s a good thing.
For the record, the last time Romo pitched 2 full innings in a game was Apr 26, 2010.
Come on. Get two.
Timmy is up
Crap. I don’t want to face The Freak again.
They will score against him. Heisey, Phillips, Cozart. Votto wins it with a single.
Wow, Broxton looked good against Nady.
Ugh, that doesn’t happen very often.
Oh come on! A single puts us down two now!
Hanigan ugh
get out of this
One more
Shit
sigh
Unreal. Passed ball cost them. Tough play for Rolen.
Crap!
Wow, Defense bites the Reds in the butt…
Now tell me why Frazier can’t play?
Come on, that was a tough play. Hanigan’s passed ball was worse and Broxton gave up two straight singles. Can’t just blame Rolen.
I think that was the sound of the series going to Game 5 vs. Cain. Damn it.
costly passed ball
If I’m the Reds, I hit everything to right field… Pence has a bum leg.
XP do your magic here baby!
The passed ball was the killer in that inning. That was a very tough play at 3rd. Doubt Frazier would have made it either
Take a dang pitch Paul.
That was a quick out.
Like to Votto one mo time
swinging at first pitch out of the zone…c’mon man
Really, why not work a pitcher?
Swinging at first pitch? Really?
So…who do we pitch tomorrow night?
If the Reds lose this game, they lost it in the first inning because Brandon Phillips makes
poor decisions every so often.
Man that looked good off of his bat
Didn’t Rolen have 2 errors in the 2012 division series too???????
Didn’t Rolen have 2 errors in the 2010 division series too???????
Yes Rolen probably should have made the play, Hanigan definitely shouldn’t have let that passed ball happen, and Broxton shouldn’t have given up back to back singles. But Chapman should have still been in the game, he only threw 15 pitches and he could have thrown another inning easily.
Dusty botched it the last inning. Had to walk Arias to load the bases and make either Romo hit or have them burn their last hitter and Romo
Great point
That’s a good point. Giants have to burn their last bench player and if they bat a pitcher, you like your odds. Wonder is someone brings it up to Dusty?
I think they might have been worried about Broxton’s control. However, I’d have still walked him because of how good Romo is.
Still, Phillips should put on the goat horns, IMO. I don’t mind Rolen’s play so much, or Hanigan’s, those are physical errors. But they don’t play with flair, I guess, so everyone will focus on their mistakes.
I doubt the weak beat writers will ask. They think Dusty walks on water.
@AnnapolisHoosier: You are totally right…ugh!
Fellas, that’s a tough loss.
Two huge mistakes cost us the sweep, oh well. Great pitching today again.
And the Giants win tonight without an earned run. Ouch!
I don’t think that was a tough loss. If were down 2-1 now, that would be a tough loss.
We also could have walked Arias and forced Bochy’s hand on Romo and didn’t.
Tough loss. Bench rolen. Frazier is better.
If there is one consistent thing in the 2012 postseason, it’s that teams that make stupid plays to leave runs on the table in the early innings lose.
I really felt it was bad news after the first inning. At least they were “aggressive”, right?
Phillips baserunning, Hanigan passed ball, weak Rolen play and no hitting nullify great Bailey start.
Could have killed them off tonight, instead gave them life and let them back into the series. Guarantee you Zito blanks them tomorrow. The offense didn’t even threaten to score the second half of the game. I really feel like the Reds are down 2-1 now.
That was a rough way to lose right there. I honestly would have much rather them beat us 10-0 than the way they did. I guess the good take away is that their offense still isn’t doing much.
Giants will score 5 tomorrow. They’re awake now that the Reds bailed them out with crappy defense and inability to get guys on.
One thing is for sure: Todd Frazier will not start a single game at 3rd base in the postseason. It just will not happen.
@LVW: That is a situation where I think Dusty lacks the guile to do something like that. For example Johnson does something like that and forces the other manager to make a move e.g. the other night when he force Matheny into a pitching change and switched hitters on him. In Dusty’s defense every other move (except possibly using Chapman in the 10th) has been spot on this series.
How about Sam Lecure for tomorrow’s start?
Couldnt agree more about pitching to Arias. Why in the world would you pitch to him? One bench player left for SF and base open. If they pinch hit and score, their closer is gone. That was a disgrace. There are other coaches on the bench; I wonder if anyone suggested it.
Dusty really dropped the ball in the 10th. A manager doesn’t have to do much during the course of a game, but in this case, you ABSOLUTELY have to walk Arias and force Bochy’s hand. He either leaves in Romo to hit, or he pinch hits his LAST position player for him. Doing that would have been a risk as well, given how gimpy Pence looked on the basepaths. At least then you get Romo out of the game for the bottom of the 10th.
Of course, if Phillips doesn’t get out in the first, I fully believe we win this game 2-0. I’m confident that if Homer had a 2 run lead in the third inning, he isn’t quite so careful with Brandon Crawford, and the Giants more than likely don’t score.
See you in Cincinnati on Wednesday for the clincher…
The offense was pathetic tonight, which has become par for the course when Homer pitches. Seems like he never gets any run support. ONE hit after the 1st inning. Just pathetic, especially considering who they were facing tonight.
I have a bad feeling about things now. They had Giants on the ground, foot on the throat, and let them back up. San Fran may be down 2-1, but they have all the momentum in the world, knowing they just stole a game they had no business winning.
Take a chill pill peoples, it was highly unlikely the Reds would sweep the Giants. The Reds will take it tommorrow, no problem-mo. Go Reds!! Adios Amigos.
Yeah, I’m not freaking out yet, it was just a tough way to lose.
I hate being a Reds fan who is always waiting for the other shoe to drop. If it’s not worrying the Giants will come back with three straight wins, it’s worrying they couldn’t beat the Cardinals in the NLCS. Hell, I’m already worrying about next year. Can we just win the series so I can enjoy baseball?!
@Sam Jackson:
Step away from the ledge.
Weren’t we discussing hyperbole earlier……?
This loss is on BP I am sorry that was a dumb baserunning decision on his part, all the other things that happened in the 10th would be a non-story. As to Dusty I did not think about that descision to get bochy to call his bluff and empty his bench, I agree he should have done that.
That’s exactly right. Mental errors trump physical errors, and mental errors trump managerial decisions that can go either way. I don’t like the way Phillips plays the game: I don’t like how he holds the ball for a half hour before throwing to first, I don’t like how he barehands balls he doesn’t have to. I don’t like his mental model. However, I recognize that he is a superior defender and slightly above league average hitter, which makes for a good player.
However, today, the Reds payed the Brandon Phillips tax, not the Dusty Baker tax.
Watched the press conference, nobody even asked Dusty about walking Arias.
I think people are being way too tough on Phillips. He was being aggressive and got a terrible bounce right back to Posey. I really don’t have a major problem with it.
Nobody out. Made an out at 3rd. Not smart.
Aggressive often means “stupid”.
Yes you never want to make the first out at third, but he got a bad break on the ball bouncing straight back. If it goes anywhere else he’s on third and people are calling it great baserunning. Dusty has no excuse.
Honestly: say he was safe by a foot. I would have said it was a bad baserunning play.
But that’s just my outlook. I absolutely hate making outs on the bases. I realize others disagree.
I agree with you philosophically. However I don’t agree with the sentiment others have expressed that the Phillips play “cost” the Reds the game. What cost them the game were defensive miscues by two of their most reliable defenders (Hanigan and Rolen) on the Giants 30th out.
One just cannot project the rest of an inning let alone the rest of a game by looking at what follows immediately after a play like the Phillip’s play, especially when it happens right out of the chute.
There are just too many variables involved. The pitcher’s outlook is different; the hitters’ outlooks are different. Even if somebody follows with a HR, you can’t assume one more run would have scored because the pitching might have been different or the hitter might have been looking to do something different.
On the other hand in extra innings, when there is a past ball that advances a runner to 3rd with already 2 outs then several pitches later the 3rd baseman boots what looks like a routine grounder allowing the run to score, that is pretty concrete.
Fair enough. Your point is correct. Let me say it this way: the Reds’ failure to blow the game open in the 1st inning, when Vogelsong was off his game, cost them a win in regulation.
This I agree with; and, giving away an out was a part of the failure. And actually they gave away two outs in the first. Rolen took a borderline pitch he saw all the way for strike three. It was right down the middle but perhaps a bit low but certainly not an ankle bruiser. Scott Rolen taking a pitch like that, i.e. trying to beg a walk versus looking to foul it off or put it in play says worlds about how much (little) he has left in the tank.
The rule is always that you don’t make the first or the third out at 3rd base. That’s exactly what he did. You just can’t do it, unless it’s 100% that you will make it.
It was a lucky break. It wasn’t an obvious bad play. I hear what you are saying, but I’m not going to kill him for it.
@AnnapolisHoosier: One of two things happened: 1) Dusty made the decision NOT to walk Arias 2) Dusty did not think to walk Arias. Either one is inexcusable. Not the best 10th inning showcase for the Reds; Hanigan whiffs on a fastball, Dusty, was well, Dusty and then Scotty botches a grounder. Glad the world saw that.
If the offense doesnt wake up tomorrow then they have the task of beating Matt Cain again, and I know no Reds fan wants that. I have the unshakable feeling that Dusty is putting Leake on the mound tomorrow too… This series just got a lot more interesting than I would have liked
I feel like finding a ledge after this day. This game only made it worse, as does the feeling of Doom I have after watching the offense look like the Double-A team the Reds fielded after they clinched and not knowing who the hell pitches tomorrow. If Mike Leake jogs out there, I’ll throw up in my Mr. Redlegs hat.
I think they go with Latos
Somehow this feels like game 5 of the 1990 NLCS. Reds could easily have won the game, Piniella was second guessed by Tim McCarver for about a half hour because he could have ended up with a pinch hitter, I believe, but instead had Jeff Reed having to hit against a lefty with bags loaded, one run down, 1 out in the 9th. Reed hit into a double play, and everyone worried that the Reds would lose games 6 and 7. They won game 6.
There, though, they had a distinct pitching advantage, as I remember. Our game tomorrow, well, it’s not an advantage if Zito faces Leake. Probably a push.
The Reds did little against Zito in April, and the Giants did nothing against Leake in July.
And yeah, Dusty was stupid not to walk Arias, but I’d say the groundout fest that was the offense tonight is a little more to blame any time you lose on a sac fly and a ground ball.
Watch the A’s lose today too—had a run in, 1st and 2nd in the first, went K/double play. You blow those early chances, you’re in trouble. They are up 1-0, but if I’m an A’s fan, I’m scared.
Asking for a sweep against a successful team is a little much, but why didn’t they do it!!!
Get em tomorrow Redlegs.
I just can’t shake the feeling of how awesome it would’ve been when Chapman blew away Sandoval for the last out in the ninth of a 2-1 victory…
Sigh.
Tonight is an example of why they still have room to grow. The lineup will vanish for days on end after scoring nine runs, and they really don’t seem adept at scoring unless they hit balls out. St. Louis does it, the Giants did it tonight, which is why they have won the past two WS. I am at least hoping to see the Reds take the next step and get to the NLCS before the Dodgers take over the National League with a $300M payroll.
Homer Bailey just said Mike Leake is starting tomorrow.
The way I’m looking at it, I think the Reds still have the advantage in a Latos vs Cain game 5. Of course they could lose, anyone can lose, any game.
I really don’t like the Zito matchup for the Reds hitters. They scored 1 run off him in each of their 2 games, 6 innings pitched each time. The Reds hitters today swung at a lot of bad balls. The Giants pitchers also made some really good pitches at (in)opportune times. Zito will throw a LOT of bad balls.
Of course, maybe Latos won’t pitch game 5 either because he’ll be too sick. What a postseason.
Oh come on people, the loss is not on BP. Get a grip. 1st inning and he’s being aggressive. It was a great throw by Posey.
Dynamite pitching on both sides. Look how the Giants scored their runs. You may not see a game like that again for a long time. How can anyone blame Dusty for a passed ball then an error by Rolen?
My one little beef was with Bruce. After Votto and Ludwick walked, Bruce swung at the first pitch and flied out. Really? After back-to-back walks you swing at the first pitch?
Actually, yes, I don’t mind Jay Bruce swinging at the first pitch there. He’s a home run hitter. Plus Rolen’s on deck, and he isn’t exactly hitting.
I didn’t see this AB yet, so I don’t know where the pitch was, but in general, home run hitters should be hacking the first pitch there if it’s a hitter’s pitch.
Ugh…with our pitching questions in Games 4 and 5, I don’t like our chances if we pitch Latos and Bronson on 3 days rest…
One ironic thing is with all the discussion of who should pitch game 2, all of the possibilities have now already pitched and each gave up 1 run. Seems like Baker couldn’t go wrong!
The Reds lost. Start the witch hunt! Brandon Phillips is to blame for getting thrown out at third. Broxton for throwing a passed ball that Hanigan should have caught, which set up the tough fielding error on Scott Rolen. Drew Stubbs and Dusty Baker are usually blamed for anything that goes badly, so they might as well be charged also. That’s five.
Who expected this series to end in three games? Not many. How many expected the Reds to WIN this series in three games? Even fewer.