Last Game
It always seems to go this way: the worst team beats the best team when the two get together. Does the bad team get an extra jolt of adrenaline that pushes them over the top? Or does the good team fail to find the competitiveness? Or is everything bound to happen eventually as the number of games approaches infinity?

The answer is unclear. What is clear is that the Reds lost an ugly one to the Astros yesterday afternoon, 5-1. It gave the Astros the W in the series.

Johnny Cueto lasted only 4.0 innings, which makes for his second short start in a row. Zack Cozart has been out of the line-up with a strained oblique, Todd Frazier needs a couple days off, and Jay Bruce is the only one who managed to get on base more than once.

It may ultimately be a good thing for the Reds to lose a little in the standings. It’s easy to lose your edge right when it matters most when you’re coasting on a 8.5 game lead.

Next Game
Even though I know these losses recently aren’t likely to change anything, post-season-wise, they still make for some really crappy baseball to watch. Personally, I hope the Reds can get some intensity back in the series against the Pirates that starts tonight. Mat Latos (RHP, 12-4, 3.69 ERA) will take on Wandy Rodriguez (LHP, 3-4, 3.50 ERA) at 7:10 p.m.

Jay Bruce, Superhero
The Reds media notes yesterday pointed out that Jay Bruce is the first player ever who hit at least 20 home runs in his rookie year and then hit progressively more home runs the next 4 years:

• 21 in 2008
• 22 in 2009
• 25 in 2010
• 32 in 2011
• 33 in 2012, so far.

Bruce is the first one to do that starting with his rookie year, but 5 other guys have had progressively increasing home run total over 5 years at other points in their careers. They are:

• Hack Wilson (1926-30)
• Willie Stargell (1967-71)
• Jim Thome (1998-2002)
• Derrek Lee (2001-05)
• David Ortiz (2002-06)

I don’t know Hack Wilson, but the other names are pretty good ones to be in the company of. Bruce is streaky as can be, but when he’s on, he’s a force.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Joey Votto has gotten on base in each of the 4 games since he’s been back. He’s gone 4-for-10 over those 4 games with 5 walks and a hit-by-pitch.

Last Game
The Reds had the day off yesterday to lick their wounds after that unfortunate series against the Phillies. It’s over and there’s nothing we can do about it now. Moving on.

Next Game
Today the Astros come to town. Homer Bailey (RHP, 10-9, 4.09 ERA) hasn’t gotten a win in a while, including in his last appearance against the Astros’ 10-game winner last Saturday. And he gets to face off against Lucas Harrell (RHP, 10-9, 3.81 ERA) again today. Hopefully the team will come up with a little more run support for him this time.

Enter for the chance to buy NLDS tickets
They aren’t drawing a lot of attention to it yet, but there’s a link on Reds.com where you can enter your name in the lottery for the right to buy NLDS tickets. The drawing will be held on or about Thursday, September 13, 2012.

I remember entering this in 2010. While I didn’t get the chance to by NLDS tix back then, I do still possess the NLCS tickets that never had a corresponding game. I bet that woudn’t be the case this year.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Since Jay Bruce had 2 games off on August 11 and August 12 in Chicago, he’s has a .364 batting average, has hit 10 home runs, and has contributed 24 RBI.

Last Game
Yesterday’s loss was, for me, shrouded in the mystery of being a non-televised, not-available-online, only-AM-radio-I-own-is-in-my-car game. I tried to follow it on the Gameday and through the Sportacular alerts on my phone, but it was like distant wails of mourning–“aaaaaawwww Joey Votto’s return to the line-up is wasted wwwwaaaaaa.”

To be somewhat less melodramatic about it, Mike Leake pretty much screwed the pooch yesterday and gave up 6 runs (earned) in 2.1 innings. The offense only put together 2 runs against Roy Halladay, which isn’t too bad for the Reds against that particular pitcher, but sure as heck wasn’t enough. Reds lose the game and the series. The final score: Phillies 6, Reds 2.

Next Game
It was kind of a bummer way to go into the off-day today, but at least the free time won’t break their stride. This is the first of four off-days for the Reds this month.

They’ll be back in action on Friday when they host the Astros. It will be a Free Agent Friday, so all you single Reds fans looking to pick up a kindred spirit can get drink specials, attend a singles mixer, and “more.”

Joey Votto Finally Stops Jerking Us Around
As if it weren’t bad enough that the dude had to have a follow-up procedure to the original arthroscopic surgery that happened right after the All Star Break, making it out of the rehab-start phase turned out to be a real challenge for Joey Votto.

First it was “he’ll join the team in Houston,” then it was, “we’ll just wait till the rosters expand,” then it was “we’ve run out of minor league games to send him to, so he’ll just sit the bench for another day.” At last, today, they ran out of excuses and had to put Votto in the line-up.

And guess what? He rocked! From the story on Reds.com:

Joey Votto certainly didn’t look like he had missed 50 games when he played Wednesday for the first time since being sidelined with a left knee injury.

The Reds first baseman was 2-for-3 with two singles, a walk and a strikeout in a 6-2 loss to the Phillies.

Rumor has it he even slid into second, and his knee failed to explode into little pieces of cartilage confetti. Post-season, here we come!

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Thanks to the national FOX deciding to air the Reds game on 9/22, FSOhio has picked up the remaining two games that weren’t already scheduled to be broadcast. So, the dearth of AM radios will no longer prevent anyone from catching any Reds game for the remainder of the 2012 season.

Last Game
Mat Latos had the Phillies’ number last night as the Reds took the second game, 1-2, to even the series.

Latos pitched 7 and allowed just 4 hits for his 12th win of the season. Jonathan Broxton pitched the eighth and didn’t allow any hits. Aroldis Chapman pitched a hitless ninth and got his 35th save of the season. And let’s not forget Jay Bruce, whose 2-run home run provided the Reds’ score.

Next Game
The Reds finish out the series against the Phillies today at 12:35 p.m. and I’m not sure I like the looks of it. Mike Leake (RHP, 7-8, 4.45 ERA) tries his best against Roy Halladay (RHP, 8-7, 4.02 ERA).

It’s a Paycor Business Day Special, which means you put your card in the fish bowl at a Fan Accommodation Station for a chance to win tickets to the next Business Day Game. It’s also the Tri-State Centers for Sight Senior Citizen Specials, where fans 60 and older buy tickets at half-price in advance of game day only. So be on the lookout for some “senior” executives running around the park tomorrow.

Reds Rake in the Awards
Aroldis Chapman has been killing it on the mound all year, and it hasn’t escaped noticed. Yesterday Chapman was named the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month for the second month in a row (July and now August).

Meanwhile, Todd Frazier was declared the Rookie of the Month for August. He hit .330 for the month and had 25 RBI. I should say so: he’s only been filling in for the best player in the game and been doing it with style. I wonder if this award will help keep him in the line-up when Joey Votto does finally return (rumored to be today, but I’ve been burned before).

Frazier had had a games-with-a-hit streak going, but he ended it at 26 with an 0-fer game last night. He did, however, take a walk, so his games-with-a-turn-on-the-bases streak continues.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Six Reds pitchers have 100 strikeouts apiece this season (Arroyo 107, Bailey 129, Chapman 117, Cueto 149, Latos 158, Leake 108). They’re just the fifteenth team in ML history to do such a thing, according to the game notes. If Arroyo, Chapman, and Leake can squeak their way up to 120, it’ll be the first time any team has had six pitcher with 120 Ks apiece.

Last Game
The Reds yesterday started a series with the Phillies, and it didn’t go so well. Johnny Cueto was rolling right along, but then suddenly, with 2 outs in the bottom of the fifth, he gave up a couple of singles and then a home run to Jimmy Rollins. Those 3 runs were all the Phillies would need, but they ended up with one more to win 4-2.

Next Game
Today the Reds try to bounce back. Mat Latos (RHP, 11-4, 3.79 ERA) defends against Kyle Kendrick (RHP, 8-9, 4.01 ERA). Both guys are doing well lately, so it ought to be a hard-fought contest. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m.

Record Perspective
The Reds’ loss yesterday combined with the Cardinals’ win brings their lead in the NLC down to 8.5 games. They’ve played 2 more games than the Nationals and lost both of them, so they no longer have the best record in baseball, either.

It’s hardly the brink of disaster, I suppose, but it’s kind of hard to get excited about taking 2-of-3 from the Astros when you’re used to the team setting the world on fire.

Here’s something to help you keep a little perspective: if the Reds play .500 baseball for the rest of the season, the Cardinals would have to go 22-5 just to tie. The Pirates would have to go 25-3.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Reds’ Rookie of the Year candidate (one of them, at least), Todd Frazier has a 26-game hitting streak going. Two more games, and he’ll tie Joey Votto’s 28-game hitting streak from earlier this season.

At this rate, he’ll beat that record before Votto returns to the line-up.