Yearly Archives: 2010

September 11, 2010

Pirates 3, Reds 4: Remembering How to Be Lucky

Team123456789101112RHE
Pirates (47-93)0010000020003103
Reds (80-61)003000000001490
W: Smith (3-2) L: Ledezma (0-2)

Boxscore

It took 3 innings more than it should have, but the Cincinnati Reds finally won another game, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates late last night 4-3.

Homer Bailey started for the Reds and pitched more than good enough for the win, going 7 innings and allowing 1 run while striking out a career-high 9. Unfortunately, Francisco Cordero came in in the 9th for the save with the Reds leading 3-1. He faced 5 batters and got only one of them out. After that, the game was tied.

It was Cordero’s 7th blown save of the season. He was bailed out in the 9th by Arthur Rhodes. Then the bullpen came in to shut down the Pirates until the Reds could score.

Cincinnati was unable to plate a run until the 12th, despite opportunities throughout the game. In the bottom of the 12th, Chris Heisey started things off by bunting down the 3rd-base line. He saw the third-baseman playing back and took advantage, beating the throw with his speed. After that, the birthday boy Joey Votto was hit by a pitch–the second time of the game–and Scott Rolen loaded the bases with a single. Up came Jonny Gomes, who hit a grounder that the shortstop Ronny Cedeno fielded cleanly. Cedeno threw home, and the umpire initially signaled out, until he saw the ball pop out of the catcher’s glove. The crowd roared as the call switched to safe and the Reds had another walk-off win.

The RHM crew had the opportunity to watch the game from the Cincinnati Bell Riverfront deck above the batter’s eye in center field. It’s a great view, and if you ever have the opportunity, be sure to take advantage of it. Below are a few pictures.

Apparently, Gapper honors German heritage by wearing pants
It was German Heritage night at Great American Ballpark. To celebrate, for the first time I’ve ever seen, Gapper put on pants.

Votto looked at a lot of strikes on his birthday
It was Joey Votto’s birthday, but it wasn’t a good one. He had no hits and struck out 3 times, twice looking. He also got hit twice.

Witness the calm of Mount Cordero before the eruption
Francisco Cordero, before all hell broke loose.

Gomes is under that pile somewhere
The Reds rushed the field, piling on Jonny Gomes, while someone next to me screamed, “Don’t hurt Gomes! We’ve only got 3 outfielders!”

The first win in a long while
The scoreboard showing the Reds breaking their 5-game losing streak.

September 10, 2010

The Daily Brief: Hoping for a Fresh Start

Last Game
Despite surging to an early 5-0 lead, the Cincinnati Reds crumbled again yesterday, and ended up losing to the Colorado Rockies 6-5. And it was all on a straight steal of home. Nick Massett, in a moment he will relive for a long time whenever he closes his eyes, turned to face second instead of throwing home to allow the go-ahead run to score. It was bad. Worse, the Rockies swept the 4-game series, and the Reds have dropped 5 in a row. The Cardinals won, as well, shrinking the lead to 5 games.

Next Game
The Reds return home as the Pittsburgh Pirates arrive in Cincinnati. If one of the worst teams in baseball doesn’t restart the Reds winning ways, nothing will. Sounds like a perfect time for a fresh start to me. It’ll be Homer Bailey and Paul Maholm at 7:10pm EDT.

Reliving Votto’s Ankle Strike Again and Again and Again
During the wretched Colorado series, it seemed the Reds could never do anything to really hurt the Rockies. Well, there was one notable exception.

On Wednesday, Joey Votto stepped to the plate and hit a line drive up the middle that connected loudly with Aaron Cook’s fibula, fracturing it. Cook left the game and is unlikely to return before the playoffs begin, should the Rockies reach them.

If you missed the crack of the bat followed by the crack of the bone, a helpful internet denizen assembled it in video form for your viewing.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
The Reds currently lead the majors in the fewest number of fielding errors with 59. The team with the most? The Chicago Cubs with 115.

September 9, 2010

The Daily Brief: Miserable Road-trip to End

Last Game
The Reds dropped another game to the Rockies 9-2, losing the series, but maintaining their lead on the losing Cardinals. They’ve now lost 4 in a row.

Next Game
The good news is today’s game is the last of this current road-trip. They’ve gone 1-5 on the trip, and games at home (and against the loserly Pirates and Diamondbacks) are tantalizingly close. They need to focus today, though, and try one more time to beat Colorado. Travis Wood will be the one the Reds turn to, while the Rockies send out Jason Hammel. Game-time is 3:10pm EDT, and the game will not be televised.

Bruce, Nix Still Injured
The report on Jay Bruce and Laynce Nix is still not good.

Bruce is coming around. He swung from a tee 2 days ago and took batting practice yesterday. However, he took it slow, swinging at only half power.

“It felt fine,” he said.

That’s good news, but the day he returns can’t come soon enough, and right now, it’s looking like Saturday at the earliest. Bruce’s loss has been devastating for the offense. He was the hottest bat when he injured his side muscle during batting practice.

As for Nix, he apparently has made no progress in healing his sprained ankle. He’s eligible to come off the disabled list Friday, but it won’t happen. The outfield could certainly have used him a time or two during this road trip. If only Walt Jocketty hadn’t taken an outfield surplus and turned it into a shortage.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
The Reds have been in first place for 25 straight days. With their 6-game lead, it will be at least 31 before they could even move to second place, assuming the Reds stay so bad and the Cardinals get super-hot, both scenarios incredibly unlikely.

September 9, 2010

Reds 2, Rockies 9: Losing 4 in a Row

Team123456789RHE
Reds (79-60)1000001002101
Rockies (75-64)02304000-9140
W: Cook (6-8) L: Arroyo (14-10)

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds lost their fourth game in a row last night, and their third straight to the Colorado Rockies. The good news is that the St. Louis Cardinals also lost, keeping the Reds 6-game lead intact, and moving their magic number down to 19, the lowest in the National League.

The primary reason for the loss was Bronson Arroyo. Yes, Bad-rroyo showed up last night, and he allowed 7 runs in 4 1/3 innings. He also allowed 3 home runs. The Reds pitching staff has had a very difficult time containing the Rockies offense. Of course, most teams have. Colorado has one of the best home records in all of baseball. They are a team made for their stadium, but away from it, they’re only 29-42.

Still, it would have been nice to at least tie the series. Now, the Reds will have to go for the not-swept today.

The Reds 2 runs came from an RBI off the bat of Joey Votto, who was 3-3 with a walk, and Paul Janish. The offense has been quiet in Colorado, probably due in no small part to the team having only 3 outfielders. These guys need a day off, and Walt Jocketty has failed to bring up someone to help cover Jay Bruce during his injury. It’s quite shameful.

The Reds have one more game in Colorado before heading home to begin a 7-game homestand against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks. I have a feeling that will be the cure for all this losing.

September 8, 2010

The Return of George Grande

The affable, always cheery, “smilin’ side of the scoreboard” Cincinnati Reds broadcaster George Grande announced his retirement last year. And I’ve missed him a lot this year, particularly every game that Paul Keels has broadcast. The only way to make the loss bearable has been with the Georginator 6000 XL.

Good news everyone! Fox Sports Ohio just announced that Grande will be back starting this Saturday the 11th. The only sad thing is that he’ll miss getting to see Jim Edmonds play for the Reds.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – While the Cincinnati Reds recognize the 25th anniversary of Pete Rose’s 4,192nd career hit this weekend, FOX Sports Ohio will also celebrate this milestone. Following the Reds vs. Pirates game on Sunday, September 12, FOX Sports Ohio will air the September 11, 1985 game when Rose singled to left-center field off San Diego Padres pitcher Eric Show at Riverfront Stadium to pass Hall-of-Famer Ty Cobb and become MLB’s all-time hits leader.

Beginning Saturday, September 11, George Grande will return to the FOX Sports Ohio Reds broadcast booth. Grande was the television play-by-play voice of the Cincinnati Reds for 17 years. He will call the Reds vs. Pirates game this Saturday as well as the following games this month:

  • Friday, September 17: Reds vs. Astros 8pm
  • Saturday, September 18: Reds vs. Astros 7pm
  • Sunday, September 19: Reds vs. Astros 2pm
  • Friday, September 24: Reds vs. Padres 10pm
  • Saturday, September 25: Reds vs. Padres 8:30pm
  • Sunday, September 26: Reds vs. Padres 4pm