The Cincinnati Reds completed the sweep Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals, and now hold a 1 1/2 game lead in the NL Central. Everything looks great in Redsland, right? Yes, but what I'm worried about is The Letdown.
Cincinnati starts a pair of 2 game series this week at home, first against the Cubs, then Pittsburgh. The team is healthy, Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto have returned to solidify the starting lineup, Scott Rolen is back in the lineup and his value goes way beyond statistics, and it look like everything is in place to make a run to pull away from the pack. But how do they react to taking three at home against their nemesis.
If the Reds get too cocky, they will be lucky to take one of the next four games. But having been through this last year, and especially with Rolen back to keep everything on an even keel, I believe the Reds can use this as a building block to even greater success this season.
By the way, if anyone knows what has happened to Aroldis Chapman and why he can't find the strike zone please let me know. One luxury the Reds have is a deep farm system, and if Chapman gets sent down to Louisville for a little tweaking the impact of his loss will easily be offset by bringing up Matt Maloney. How many teams are looking at the Cincinnati farm system and wishing they were that deep all over the field?
Monday, May 16, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Settling in at Average
The Cincinnati Reds seem to be settling in as an average team in the National League. The hitting is above, the pitching below. The result: A 14-14 record heading May, but thankfully they are in the NL Central. St. Louis took two out of three from the Reds last weekend, and leads Cincinnati by 2 games.
One area of concern for me, and it was last year as well, is the inability of the starters to get anywhere near a complete game. Every team would love to have a Roy Halliday type ace who can go nine every night out, but the Reds can't even get a starter to go eight innings. This early in the year, it's a problem. Yes, you don't want to wear out your starters, but you don't want to wear out your bullpen, either. Dusty Baker has a history of being Captain Hook 2 in going to the pen, but someone needs to step up and take that burden off of the skipper.
Edinson Volquez has finally been able to get out the first, and at times looks the part of staff ace. But Bronson Arroyo seems to be feeling the effects of mono still, and the young guns Travis Wood, Sam LeCure and Mike Leake seem to be getting stronger. But soon, Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey will move back up to the majors after their AAA rehab stints, and it would be oh so nice if by their third starts they can go nine and take some of the pressure off the pen.
The Reds complete their homestand with three against the Astros, then head out on the road for three in Chicago and three more in Houston before coming back to Great American for a series against the Cardinals. With two off days before the St. Louis series, I'm sure the bullpen will get a lot of action. But it would be nice to see a Reds pitcher go the distance and bring home the win. Let's Go Reds!!!
One area of concern for me, and it was last year as well, is the inability of the starters to get anywhere near a complete game. Every team would love to have a Roy Halliday type ace who can go nine every night out, but the Reds can't even get a starter to go eight innings. This early in the year, it's a problem. Yes, you don't want to wear out your starters, but you don't want to wear out your bullpen, either. Dusty Baker has a history of being Captain Hook 2 in going to the pen, but someone needs to step up and take that burden off of the skipper.
Edinson Volquez has finally been able to get out the first, and at times looks the part of staff ace. But Bronson Arroyo seems to be feeling the effects of mono still, and the young guns Travis Wood, Sam LeCure and Mike Leake seem to be getting stronger. But soon, Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey will move back up to the majors after their AAA rehab stints, and it would be oh so nice if by their third starts they can go nine and take some of the pressure off the pen.
The Reds complete their homestand with three against the Astros, then head out on the road for three in Chicago and three more in Houston before coming back to Great American for a series against the Cardinals. With two off days before the St. Louis series, I'm sure the bullpen will get a lot of action. But it would be nice to see a Reds pitcher go the distance and bring home the win. Let's Go Reds!!!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
On to St. Louis
The Reds salvaged a second win on a nightmarish homestand by taking the finale against Arizona 7-4 on Thursday. Mike Leake put all the distractions that have surrounded him this week by tossing seven strong innings and getting the support of a re-awakened offense that put 4 on the board in the first and never looked back.
The homestand ended at 2-5, and the Reds go to St. Louis tied for first at 10-9. This weekend will be a test of character more than anything for Cincinnati. The Cardinals handled the Reds pretty well all of 2010, but had their problems against the rest of the NL Central. St. Louis started out slowly in 2011, but their offense started to kick into high gear after a trip to Los Angeles, and what worries me is that someone on the Reds is going to make a comment that awakens the Cardinals pride.
Albert Pujols is the best player in the game, and Chris Carpenter is one of the premier pitchers in all of baseball. Cincinnati may have won the NL Central last season, but St. Louis has a World Series ring to their credit from 2006. It will be interesting to see if Edinson Volquez can get through the first inning unscathed Friday. If he can, it may set the tone for the entire series. If not, it could be a long Easter Weekend in St. Louis. Let's Go Reds!!!
The homestand ended at 2-5, and the Reds go to St. Louis tied for first at 10-9. This weekend will be a test of character more than anything for Cincinnati. The Cardinals handled the Reds pretty well all of 2010, but had their problems against the rest of the NL Central. St. Louis started out slowly in 2011, but their offense started to kick into high gear after a trip to Los Angeles, and what worries me is that someone on the Reds is going to make a comment that awakens the Cardinals pride.
Albert Pujols is the best player in the game, and Chris Carpenter is one of the premier pitchers in all of baseball. Cincinnati may have won the NL Central last season, but St. Louis has a World Series ring to their credit from 2006. It will be interesting to see if Edinson Volquez can get through the first inning unscathed Friday. If he can, it may set the tone for the entire series. If not, it could be a long Easter Weekend in St. Louis. Let's Go Reds!!!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Can we get a 1-2-3 first inning, Edinson?
If Edinson Volquez could just figure out how to get through a 1-2-3 first inning, do you get the feeling that he would win the Cy Young Award? Four more runs in the first, including his second set of back-to-back home runs to lead off the game this season, once again putting the Reds in a hole. Once again, the offense got the lead back. Once again, the bullpen couldn't hold the lead.
The Reds end the week at 9-6 and with a 1 1/2 game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals. But one has to wonder how long an inconsistent pitching staff can hold the lead. The answer could very well be Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto. Both have pitched rehab assignments in Louisville, and Bailey in particular looked especially good. And the pitching staff could use a boost at this time.
The Pirates came in with one of the weakest offenses in the NL, and left with 2 wins and 15 runs in three games. I have long been a believer that a team will win more 3-2 games than 10-9 games. They gain confidence in knowing that their pitchers can get out when they need them, and that any lead the offense puts up will hold out through nine innings. The Reds need this confidence more than anything right now. Can Bailey and Cueto give it to them when they return. We shall see. Let's Go Reds!!!
The Reds end the week at 9-6 and with a 1 1/2 game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals. But one has to wonder how long an inconsistent pitching staff can hold the lead. The answer could very well be Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto. Both have pitched rehab assignments in Louisville, and Bailey in particular looked especially good. And the pitching staff could use a boost at this time.
The Pirates came in with one of the weakest offenses in the NL, and left with 2 wins and 15 runs in three games. I have long been a believer that a team will win more 3-2 games than 10-9 games. They gain confidence in knowing that their pitchers can get out when they need them, and that any lead the offense puts up will hold out through nine innings. The Reds need this confidence more than anything right now. Can Bailey and Cueto give it to them when they return. We shall see. Let's Go Reds!!!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
2 out of 3 in San Diego
The Cincinnati Reds head back home after finishing up their first road trip of the year by taking two out of three against San Diego. Going into the series, the question was 'How will the young pitching staff bounce back after getting lit up in Arizona?' The answer was provided by three strong starts, and another question was brought up with the performance of one shaken reliever.
Going into the season, if you asked me which relief pitcher would have the most trouble getting through an inning, I would have answered Francisco Cordero. Turns out it is Nick Massett. The Reds have 4 losses, and Massett has accounted for 3 of them. And he very easily could have had another one Tuesday night. Massett has all the potential to be a star closer for years to come, but a wounded psyche could be the main impediment to him reaching that position with the Reds.
A return to Cincinnati could be what Massett needs more than anything. With the depth the Reds have in the bullpen, with Logan Ondrusek and Jordan Smith throwing as well as they have in the set-up role, Massett could be eased back into pressure situations. If he can get his confidence back, come in and get a couple of 1-2-3 innings with the outcome not on the line, he might be more prepared to come into a close game than to be thrown into the fire once again. If Massett comes out with more outings like the ones he had on this last road trip, he could very well find himself down in Louisville when Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto return to the Reds.
The Reds have a day off, then Pittsburgh comes to town for three this weekend. Cincinnati has a 1 1/2 game lead on Milwaukee, and stand at 8-4 on the season. Time for a little home cooking against the Pirates, so let's get out the Skyline Chili and Montgomery Inn Barbeque and take three this weekend. Let's Go Reds!!!
Going into the season, if you asked me which relief pitcher would have the most trouble getting through an inning, I would have answered Francisco Cordero. Turns out it is Nick Massett. The Reds have 4 losses, and Massett has accounted for 3 of them. And he very easily could have had another one Tuesday night. Massett has all the potential to be a star closer for years to come, but a wounded psyche could be the main impediment to him reaching that position with the Reds.
A return to Cincinnati could be what Massett needs more than anything. With the depth the Reds have in the bullpen, with Logan Ondrusek and Jordan Smith throwing as well as they have in the set-up role, Massett could be eased back into pressure situations. If he can get his confidence back, come in and get a couple of 1-2-3 innings with the outcome not on the line, he might be more prepared to come into a close game than to be thrown into the fire once again. If Massett comes out with more outings like the ones he had on this last road trip, he could very well find himself down in Louisville when Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto return to the Reds.
The Reds have a day off, then Pittsburgh comes to town for three this weekend. Cincinnati has a 1 1/2 game lead on Milwaukee, and stand at 8-4 on the season. Time for a little home cooking against the Pirates, so let's get out the Skyline Chili and Montgomery Inn Barbeque and take three this weekend. Let's Go Reds!!!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Bouncing back
The Reds ended a 3-3 week with a tough 10-8 loss at Arizona. But it's games like this that will show just how tough this team is the rest of the season.
Scoring runs is not going to be the problem. But how a very young pitching staff holds up under pressure will be. Cincinnati got very good outings from Travis Wood and Mike Leake to open the season at home, but both got roughed up on the road against the Diamondbacks. And to top it off, Nick Massett got hung with two losses as he could not hold a tie against Houston and a lead tonight in Arizona. The Sunday loss will be the one that hurts the most.
Up 5-0, Mike Leake couldn't hold the lead and after a Jonny Gomes homer put the Reds up in the seventh, Massett gave up 4 runs to let the game slip away. A ninth inning rally only produced one run, and the Reds came up on the short end of a 10-8 score.
But how will the defending NL Central champions rebound? They now go to San Diego for three games before returning to Cincinnati for three against the Pirates next weekend. If the pitchers can put the games away, keep runners off the bases and most importantly, stay away from the walks, the wins are going to come. The starters are going to get 5-7 quality innings, and the bullpen has to set them down 1-2-3. If not, that thought of 'here we go again' is going to creep into their minds, and instead of throwing strikes, they will be trying not to throw balls. You always play to win instead of playing not to lose.
Next up are the Padres. Two out of three in San Diego, then head home for Pittsburgh. Let's Go Reds!!!
Scoring runs is not going to be the problem. But how a very young pitching staff holds up under pressure will be. Cincinnati got very good outings from Travis Wood and Mike Leake to open the season at home, but both got roughed up on the road against the Diamondbacks. And to top it off, Nick Massett got hung with two losses as he could not hold a tie against Houston and a lead tonight in Arizona. The Sunday loss will be the one that hurts the most.
Up 5-0, Mike Leake couldn't hold the lead and after a Jonny Gomes homer put the Reds up in the seventh, Massett gave up 4 runs to let the game slip away. A ninth inning rally only produced one run, and the Reds came up on the short end of a 10-8 score.
But how will the defending NL Central champions rebound? They now go to San Diego for three games before returning to Cincinnati for three against the Pirates next weekend. If the pitchers can put the games away, keep runners off the bases and most importantly, stay away from the walks, the wins are going to come. The starters are going to get 5-7 quality innings, and the bullpen has to set them down 1-2-3. If not, that thought of 'here we go again' is going to creep into their minds, and instead of throwing strikes, they will be trying not to throw balls. You always play to win instead of playing not to lose.
Next up are the Padres. Two out of three in San Diego, then head home for Pittsburgh. Let's Go Reds!!!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Great Start to the Season
Greetings and Salutations to my fellow Cincinnati Reds fans. Don't you just love the start of a new baseball season. Spring is in the air. The grass is green, the sun is out more and more, and the Reds are taking the field. And what a start they have had in 2011. A three game sweep at home against Milwaukee punctuated with the dramatic walkoff 3-run homer from Ramon Hernandez on Opening Day.
I've decided to start writing my observances of the Reds throughout the season, how they have fared on the field and what everyone is saying about the Reds. I am about the biggest sports fan you may come across, and baseball has always been my first love. I went to my first Reds game at Riverfront Stadium in 1974. Cincinnati beat the Phillies that night, Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench hit homers, and Mike Schmidt struck out twice. Living in Louisville, I am close enough to make it up to Great Amercian Ballpark every now and then to take in a game, and I have the pleasure of being able to listen to Marty Brennaman on the Reds Radio Network. I'm old school-a baseball game on the radio is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.
I don't think anyone could have scripted a better start of the season, unless it would have had Edinson Volquez getting the Brewers out in order in the first inning on Thursday, and to have Francisco Cordero retire the side in the ninth on Saturday. The offense came through in all three games, and you have to be impressed by the work of Travis Wood and Bronson Arroyo on the mound this weekend. The Reds are going to hit. And when Ryan Hanigan goes 4-4 with 2 homers no one is going to stop them. The concern, as always, is on the mound. If the pitching is there, it is going to be a great season in Cincinnati.
I have created this blog to make weekly notes on the Reds, and Sunday nights I'll be on here writing about my favorites on the field. I'd love to do this every night, but work and life in general has a way of interrupting things. So let's get out the Big Red Smokys, Skyline 3 Ways, and Montgomery Inn Barbeque, grab a cold beer and watch the Cincinnati Reds defend their NL Central Division title. Let's Go Reds!!!
I've decided to start writing my observances of the Reds throughout the season, how they have fared on the field and what everyone is saying about the Reds. I am about the biggest sports fan you may come across, and baseball has always been my first love. I went to my first Reds game at Riverfront Stadium in 1974. Cincinnati beat the Phillies that night, Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench hit homers, and Mike Schmidt struck out twice. Living in Louisville, I am close enough to make it up to Great Amercian Ballpark every now and then to take in a game, and I have the pleasure of being able to listen to Marty Brennaman on the Reds Radio Network. I'm old school-a baseball game on the radio is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.
I don't think anyone could have scripted a better start of the season, unless it would have had Edinson Volquez getting the Brewers out in order in the first inning on Thursday, and to have Francisco Cordero retire the side in the ninth on Saturday. The offense came through in all three games, and you have to be impressed by the work of Travis Wood and Bronson Arroyo on the mound this weekend. The Reds are going to hit. And when Ryan Hanigan goes 4-4 with 2 homers no one is going to stop them. The concern, as always, is on the mound. If the pitching is there, it is going to be a great season in Cincinnati.
I have created this blog to make weekly notes on the Reds, and Sunday nights I'll be on here writing about my favorites on the field. I'd love to do this every night, but work and life in general has a way of interrupting things. So let's get out the Big Red Smokys, Skyline 3 Ways, and Montgomery Inn Barbeque, grab a cold beer and watch the Cincinnati Reds defend their NL Central Division title. Let's Go Reds!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)