Daily Archives: October 11, 2012

October 11, 2012

40th anniversary of a Reds NLCS win

By
Amanda
Posted at 11:03 pm

Today is my birthday. All I asked for was a Reds win, but instead I got a lump of coal. I don’t really want to think about it any more.

Pennant honoring the 1972 Reds winning the NLCS

Pictured borrowed from http://4192cards.com. If you’d like to buy this pennant, you should go check them out.

So instead, let’s live in the past for a while. Thankfully, Chris Jaffe is always on top of making us aware of awesome stuff people did on this day in years past.

For example, on this date 40 years ago (still a few years before I was born) there were two incredible LCS games going down, and the Reds were the beneficiaries of one of them.

In game five of the NLCS, the Reds won the pennant on a walk-off wild pitch. In the other game the Tigers came back in the 10th to force a Game Five against Oakland.

Check out the whole story on The Hardball Times.

Posted in Random Ramblings.
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October 11, 2012

NLDS Game 4: This used to be fun, right?

By
Zeldink
Posted at 8:15 am

Team123456789RHE
Giants (2-2)1200203008111
Reds (2-2)101001000390
W: Lincecum (1-0) L: Leake (0-1)

Boxscore

Boy, the playoffs got real ugly, real fast. It seems like only yesterday that the Cincinnati Reds were in the driver’s seat of this best-of-five series, holding a 2 games to none lead. And all that without their ace, Johnny Cueto.

The San Francisco Giants are a good team, though. And they’ve roared back, taking the momentum away from the Reds.

After finally making the hard decision yesterday, the Reds removed Cueto from the roster and activated Mike Leake, hoping he could turn in a good start. He couldn’t. The bullpen didn’t help matters, and with the offense failing, it was a long, painful game.

Leake pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 1. You knew things weren’t looking good when the very first batter he faced hit a home run to give the Giants an early lead. Baker probably left Leake in too long for this one.

The bullpen came in after that, and Sam LeCure put up another 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Then Jose Arredondo allowed 3 runs to make it clear that the Reds weren’t going to win. J. J. Hoover and Alfredo Simon kept the Giants off the board after that, but it was too late.

The Reds did have score a few runs, but the offense really failed to drive in runs. The team left 10 runners on base and failed to have a single hit with a runner in scoring position. That is just not good enough.

What could very well be the final game of the year for the Reds is this afternoon. Cincinnati will turn to Mat Latos to see if he has any Giants-killing magic left in his arm. The Giants will counter with their game one starter, Matt Cain.

Posted in Cincinnati Reds, Game Wrap, NL Central.
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October 11, 2012

5 ways to prepare for the Reds’ game

By
Amanda
Posted at 6:24 am

Last Game
Unlike the first game at GABP, where Homer Bailey rocked but the team lost, last night Mike Leake sucked and the team still lost. Giants 8, Reds 3.

A lot of people are putting the blame on Dusty Baker, who probably gave Leake too long of a leash and who also saw fit to bring in Jose Arredondo at a moment when the team really needed to not give up 3 more runs, but Baker isn’t the one who stranded 10 runners.

Next Game
For the first time in the postseason, today the Reds face elimination. It will be a redux of the first game with Matt Cain going against Mat Latos, though Latos starts in the first inning this time. First pitch at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Learn to Protect Yourself
We were riding high in the first two games of this series, but with our ace not even on the roster anymore and our offense off in that alternate dimension it likes to disappear into for weeks at a time, we’re forced to face the minute possibility that this might not be the year after all.

Some will say that a true fan believes 100% until the it’s all over, but not everyone can handle getting their heart torn out of their chests right now. Some of us need to batten down the hatches, just in case. So here are my five tips to prepare yourself for the possibility of elimination today:

Chris Heisey, Zack Cozart, and Mat Latos spraying an elephant with a hose

#1. Appreciate all the good stuff you have.
Even if the Reds’ season ends today, no one can take away how much you enjoyed those first 2 games. Plus, you probably have your health, right?

#2. Think of all the fun things you’ll be able to do with your spare time and money.
Cheering on a team takes a big investment of time (and cash, if you’re going to the games in person). Once elimination happens, you’ll be able to dedicate that time and money to things like decorating the house for Halloween and storing away all your summer clothes.

#3. Remember that everything that doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.
An early post-season exit would encourage the Reds’ brass to keep strengthening the team. Maybe we’d have 5 closers by this time next year, or 4 aces. If you’re in the anti-Baker camp, remember that losing is the best way to get a manager fired.

#4. Focus on something else.
One way or another, the baseball season is going to end. It’s just a matter of when. So why not start scheduling time to vote for Todd Frazier for the the Roberto Clemente award or planning your trip to Redsfest? There are plenty of other activities that can keep your mind off elimination.

#5. Don’t forget: it could always be worse.
At least when you say, “there’s always next year,” there’s some truth in it. Not all teams are so lucky.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
The Reds haven’t lost 3 games in a row at home all season. But there’s a first time for everything (#6. Keep your expectations low.)

Posted in Daily Briefs.
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