Lots of Rumors today

John Fay has reported seeing both Todd Frazier and Matt Maloney seen in the hotel lobby.  Rumors are running rampant including Herrera being claimed off waivers, Gomes being released, Renteria leaving the team, and a trade of Homer Bailey.  Should be an interesting and hopefully exciting day.

Been on Vacation, did I miss anything?

So the Reds had a horrible road trip but the Cardinals didn’t do much better.  The Reds began today 6 games up after an extra inning (one that shouldn’t have been neccessary) win and a Cardinals loss.  The Cardinals game tonight just went final and the Braves continue to help the Reds and former Red Alex Gonzalez hit a walk off 3 run homer to win the game.  Unfortunately because of College Football the Pete Rose ceremony was only shown in brief highlights (the full ceremony will be on the Pregame show tomorrow at 12:30) but I still got goosebumps seeing him on the field in a Reds jersey.  I remember when I got home from Iraq and received a call from my parents, who happened to be in Vegas, and it was Pete Rose welcoming me home.  I also had the chance to meet him at an autograph show and have nothing but wonderful things to say about him, he is a great guy and really takes the time with fans.  I hope that Bud Selig will finally say enough is enough and let the man into the Hall of Fame before he passes away.  The game deserves it!!!

Hey ho Harang must go!

So I’ve never been a fan of bringing Harang back into the Reds rotation.  And after his last outing there is absolutely no excuse for not replacing him.  Volquez hasn’t been great but he’s been better than Harang and he hasn’t had any problem getting Minor Leaguers out, which is something that Harang couldn’t even do during his rehab starts.  Look, I appreciate the steady performances Harang put in for some really bad teams that gave him no run support.  But ever since that extra inning game in San Diego a couple years ago he just hasn’t been the same.  It’s time to cut our losses and move on.

The Reds really need a good performance from Cueto tonight, he’s been gone for a family emergency and will be flying into Denver today, hopefully he is still sharp.  The Reds lead in the Central was cut to six games so the a win is very much needed.

 

Wood does it all, can Bailey step up?

Travis Wood outpitched Adam Wainwright and hit his first career homerun.  Obviously the Reds need to have Wood’s parents in attendance every time their son pitches.  The Arkansas natives were in attendance to watch him pitch and he was stellar.  Not only pitching one run ball (unearned) over seven innings but hitting the only Reds homerun in the game.  In the chase for the MVP Votto was 2-5 with one RBI to sit at .324 and another RBI giving him two over Pujols.  Pujols went 1-4 (although that 1 was due to hometeam scorers) to lower his average to .311.

This afternoon the Reds send Homer Bailey to the mound.  Homer can be brilliant but unfortunately these glimses of greatness seem to happen less than half the time.  In his four game since returning from injury he has pitched 6 inn/ 0 ER, 7 inn/ 1 ER, 5.1 inn/ 5 ER, 6 inn/ 4 ER.  So of the four games two have been very strong, one pretty bad, and last weeks ok outing.  I said I would be happy if the Reds took one game in this series and since thats happen I have to be satisfied.  However it would be great to win today and gain another game in the standings. 

Todays lineup:

Phillips 4, Cabrera 6, Votto 3, Rolen 5, Gomes 7, Hanigan 2, Stubbs 8, Heisey 9, Bailey 1

Go Reds!

Tonight it begins

Tonight the Reds begin their final series against the St. Louis Cardinals.  With an eight game lead in the central a sweep wouldn’t end our season but the Reds could really make a statement with a series win.  At the least the Reds really just need to pull out one win to keep a sizable seven game lead.  Tonight we will see the return of St. Louis’ favorite Red Brandon Phillips.  Recalled from Louisville today is also Matt Maloney and Jordan Smith and Orlando Cabrera was activated after his short stint in Dayton.  Jay Bruce is still out with no update but the fact that the Reds didn’t bring up any additional outfielders should bode well that his injury isn’t too serious.  I’ll be watching to see if he is used tonight as a pinch hitter.  I would love to see a game with the Reds in the lead late and Aroldis Chapman mowing down Pujols, let’s bring his batting average down lower and leave no doubt who the real MVP this year is.

Lineup

Stubbs 8

Phillips 4

Votto 3

Rolen 5

Gomes 7

Hanigan 2

Heisey 9

Janish 6

Arroyo 1

Tonights Lineup

Stubbs 8

Heisey 9

Votto 3

Rolen 5

Gomes 7

Hernandez 2

Cairo 4

Janish 6

Cueto 1

Still no word on the severity of Jay Bruce’s injury, Cabrera has been sent to Dayton as well as Volquez.  Yonder Alonso, Corky Miller, and Carlos Fisher are our September callups so far.

John Fay has a great article about Chapman’s amazing display last night. 

Vottomatic and Chapmania converge on Cincinnati!

Votto continued his hot hitting with two double and three RBIs to pass Pujols in RBIs.  I can’t imagine a world where Votto isn’t the MVP if Pujols doesn’t win the Triple Crown.  On a National level no one expected the Reds to be where they are right now. 

Harang made his first start in over two months and the results were mixed.  He gave up three runs (one earned) in over four innnings of work, 8 hits, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.  His line really could have been much worse.  I hate to say it, but same old Harang, the good thing was the Reds supplied plenty of run support. 

Gomes started his march towards 200 homeruns with his 101st homerun.

Jay Bruce was scratched with pain in his right side just before gametime.  Rumors initially were saying possible appendicitis, but with him appearing in the dugout the entire game this seems unlikely.  I’ll report any news when I get it.

I hae to say I got goosebumps when Aroldis Chapman made his trot from the bullpen, and he didn’t fail to live up to expectations.  He hit triple digits at least four times and mowed down the lineup with what seemed like very little effort.  He could be this team’s version of Matt Garza for our postseason push.

Oh, and on a final note, the Cardinals failed to score a run against the Houston Astros for the second straight game.  Reds are up 7!

Chapmania comes to Cincy!

The most anticipated debut since Jay Bruce Almighty finally comes to Cincinnati, maybe the small 14,589 crowd last night was everyone waiting for tonights game.  With Harang on the hill I’m guessing we might get to see Chapman take the mound, especially since I don’t expect Harang to go past six innings.  With Masset, Rhodes, Chapman, and the newly non walking Cordero our bullpen seems to be getting strong.  The big question mark now is the rotation.  Homer was up and down last night, but good enough to win.  Cueto looked great in his last start and Arroyo is pretty consistent.  I think tonight’s start by Harang and Wood’s next start will be very telling for how far this team can really go.  Last night once again Bruuuuuuce was simply Vottoesque.  I don’t know what it is about the leadoff spot lately but we’re getting some amazing production from there.  Between Brandon, even Drew Stubbs and now Bruce its been a strength more than at any other point this season.  With the Cardinals stumbling its time for the Reds to continue to distance themselves and lock this thing down.

Go Reds!