We've got a 10-footer for a Birdie on Saturday (beat the Royals on Saturday and we Birdie the 7th Hole). A very makable putt.
We've got a 10-footer for a Birdie on Saturday (beat the Royals on Saturday and we Birdie the 7th Hole). A very makable putt.
Last edited by Kingspoint; 06-12-2010 at 03:39 AM.
Hole #7: Falcons Fire
The REDS made a nice BIRDIE (5-4) with the win Saturday over Kansas City. They continue their consistent play of sub-par golf. If they could put some back-to-back good shots together, they could really take off. But, for now, settling for sub-par golf is still ahead of expectations. Expectations have certainly changed, though. They've especially changed with the unexpected Offense (1st in the National League) and unexpected Starting Pitching that's been a signature of the 2010 Cincinnati Reds. What's troubling them is their "pitching" wedge. They just can't seem to "pitch" it very well. They've been getting good shots off the tee. Their putter has been working pretty good, too. They've just had trouble getting from their long-shots to their putter, shanking their pitching wedge a few too many times. Anyway, -8 UNDER through 7 holes is still great. Would really like to Eagle #8, though, and get to -10-UNDER.
After 7 holes (8-UNDER):
1. BIRDIE (5-4)
2. DOUBLE-BOGEY (2-7)
3. EAGLE (6-3)
4. DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2)
5. EAGLE (6-3)
6. BIRDIE (5-4)
7. BIRDIE (5-4)
If asked at the beginning of the year if we'd be happy with 18 Birdies (90-72), anyone would have said, "Yes!". But, I think now, we want a few more Eagles tossed in there. It's probably inevitable that we're going to Par or Bogey another hole, so we're going to need a few more Eagles (or a Double-Eagle) to make up for it.
Last edited by Kingspoint; 06-13-2010 at 11:09 PM.
Hole #8: Pebble Beach
Our first shot went into the Ocean (loss to KC and two to LA). We get to hit our 3rd shot about 150 yards from the T-Box, so we'll have a chance to set up a nice Pitching Wedge for our 4th shot on this beautiful Par-5.
That first shot in the Ocean cost as as we two-putted for a Bogey (3-6), our first this year, and only our second hole we haven't gone under par. 7-Under through 8 holes, though isn't bad. When you consider that we're on our way to a possible Eagle or Double-Eagle on #9 (2 wins vs Oakland and 1 vs Cleveland so far), we could end the Front Nine at 9-Under or 10-Under, an excellent first half of Golf, and something nobody expected out of this team when the year began.
After 8 holes (7-UNDER):
1. BIRDIE (5-4)
2. DOUBLE-BOGEY (2-7)
3. EAGLE (6-3)
4. DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2)
5. EAGLE (6-3)
6. BIRDIE (5-4)
7. BIRDIE (5-4)
8. BOGEY (3-6)
Hole #9: Normandy
The REDS attacked Normandy the way the Canadians and British landed there 65 years ago....they walked on unchallenged (2 wins over the A's and 2 wins over the Indians). They faced a little resistance after that with losses to the Indians and the Phillies, but finished the hole strong with a BlitzKrieg against the lowly Cubbies (put a 9-spot on them in the 7th). Finishing the final hole of the first half of the season with a roar, the REDS earned themselves a DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2) for a Front Half total of 10-UNDER par. What a great First Half it's been. They come back from their 2nd worst hole with their best effort of the year. Truly this team is a Championship contender. The Back Half is always the most difficult and the winners separate from the pretenders. With the entire 10th hole being all Road games, we should have a good read right away on the makeup of this team for their chances of coming out of the back half as playoff participants.
After 9 holes (10-UNDER):
1. BIRDIE (5-4)
2. DOUBLE-BOGEY (2-7)
3. EAGLE (6-3)
4. DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2)
5. EAGLE (6-3)
6. BIRDIE (5-4)
7. BIRDIE (5-4)
8. BOGEY (3-6)
9. DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2)
Last edited by Kingspoint; 07-02-2010 at 04:52 PM.
Only 2 bad holes out of the first 9 and those holes were followed with and Eagle and a Double-Eagle.
This is the greatest team since the 1990 REDS.
Hole #10: Princeville
After a good driver followed by a terrific 2nd shot, the REDS punched an easy 4-footer 15 feet past the hole. Missing the tough comeback putt, it turned out to be the most disappointing hole of the course so far, as what should have been an easy Birdie became a BOGEY (3-6).
After 10 holes (9-UNDER):
1. BIRDIE (5-4)
2. DOUBLE-BOGEY (2-7)
3. EAGLE (6-3)
4. DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2)
5. EAGLE (6-3)
6. BIRDIE (5-4)
7. BIRDIE (5-4)
8. BOGEY (3-6)
9. DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2)
10. BOGEY (3-6)
Last edited by Kingspoint; 07-11-2010 at 05:13 PM.
With the First Half of the baseball season officially over, it's time to reassess the course.
It was a real toss-up before the game began whether "Par" would be 4-5 or 5-4, and it was decided that most pythagoreans had this team closer to 80-82 projected for the year.
Clearly, this team is not a sub-.500 team, so for the last 8 holes, "Par" is going to be 5-4. Think of it as a "U. S. Open" course from here on out. The course will be adjusted where Eagles will become much more difficult and Birdies will be more rare. Bogies and worse will still be bad efforts, but a Par will be a good hole. The goal will be to play Bogey-free golf for the last 8 holes. With the abundance of quality starting pitching this club is showing to have going into the last 8 holes (Volquez, Wood, Maloney, Cueto, Arroyo and Leake), they are very capable of doing this.
Bill Bray has proven to be a solid addition to the pen. Jared Burton seems to be ready, too. With a break for Cordero over the next few days, hopefully he can turn things around. Ondrusek has proven himself. Juan Francisco will certainly get a call up. Danny Dorn may also earn a call up. Alonso is looking like a September call up is in the works. The hitting of Cabrera is a real problem. Dusty can't keep playing him everyday.
Let's see what Walt does over the next 7-10 days. Knowing Jockety's history, he's not going to stand pat, and will do something to improve the club. Let's see what he comes up with.
Last edited by Kingspoint; 07-11-2010 at 05:33 PM.
Good insight. I'm not a golfer but I LOVE this thread. Please keep it up.
"Ahh, Jesus, I like him very much, but He no help with curveball." - Serrano. "Are you trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?" - Harris in Major League (1989)
With the last 8 holes of "Par" being 5-4, "Par" on the season will be 80-82.
So, at 9-Under par so far, we'll get an 89 if we just "Par" out.
Hole #11: Augusta
Where many a Master's has been won and lost, Hole #11, the first part of "Amen Corner", was tamed by the REDS.
With expectations now higher (5W-4L is Par from Hole #11 - Hole #18), the REDS still managed to Birdie (6W-3L) #11. A beautiful 2nd shot placed the ball 12 feet pin-high to the left. From there, it was one-putt. The 12th Hole will be tougher though as we stick with Augusta. A review of the 12th Hole in the next post:
After 11 Holes: (10-UNDER):
1. BIRDIE (5-4)
2. DOUBLE-BOGEY (2-7)
3. EAGLE (6-3)
4. DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2)
5. EAGLE (6-3)
6. BIRDIE (5-4)
7. BIRDIE (5-4)
8. BOGEY (3-6)
9. DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2)
10. BOGEY (3-6)
11. BIRDIE (6-3)
Last edited by Kingspoint; 07-26-2010 at 03:57 AM.
Perhaps the most famous hole in all of Golf, the #12 at Augusta:
1934 yardage: 150, par 3
"Here the distance must be gauged very accurately, and the wind sweeping down along Rae's Creek is often deceptive to the player standing on the tee about to hit."
--- Bobby Jones
This is the most terrifying shot on the golf course when the winds are swirling. A short approach will find Rae's Creek or the bunker in front of the green; a long approach could find one of the two bunkers in the rear.
You don't Eagle this hole. A good result is a Par. A great result is a Birdie. Bogey's and Double-Bogey's are not uncommon.
And, the REDS are looking for that "great result" on #12.
Sink this 10-foot putt (a win Tuesday Night @ Pittsburgh), not a gimme by any means, and the REDS get themselves another BIRDIE. If not, they settle for a well-earned PAR, their first PAR of the season.
After 12 Holes: (10-UNDER):
1. BIRDIE (5-4)
2. DOUBLE-BOGEY (2-7)
3. EAGLE (6-3)
4. DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2)
5. EAGLE (6-3)
6. BIRDIE (5-4)
7. BIRDIE (5-4)
8. BOGEY (3-6)
9. DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2)
10. BOGEY (3-6)
11. BIRDIE (6-3)
12. PAR (5-4)
The REDS finally get a PAR (5-4). Like Phil Mickelson at a Grand Slam Event, they've been going for it all season either getting under par on every hole or over par on every hole. Even after spotting the Pirates 6 runs today, they almost came back in typical Phil fashion with rallies in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th. Baker tried to pull a Gibson by pinch-hitting Votto in the 8th, but with an obvious IBB if Votto were to come up there, he should have waited either until the 9th and pinch-hit for Gomes or Bruce, or even Cairo, in case Janish came through by getting on also in the 8th.
Anyway, 10-under gets the team 90 wins. 15-under would get them to 95, and almost assuredly secure a playoff spot, either as the Division Winner or the Wild Card entrant.
With 6 holes to go, it's very possible for them to go 5-under over the last 6 holes. No Bogey's and they should be able to do it.
Don't know what hole #13 is yet, but I think I'll wait until the last shot (Aug. 14th) to post a picture of it.
2/3rd's of the course is now complete.
Hole #13: Pacific Dunes
Ranked again as the #1 Golf Course in the United States by Golf Magazine ( http://courses.golf.com/top-courses-...play-2010.html ), this course challenges the most accurate of hitters. Located in Bandon, Oregon (along with the 5th, 10th, and 15th ranked U.S. Courses), this God-inspiring design sits along the edge of the Pacific Ocean in Southern Oregon where tropical breezes blow inland throughout the year. If you're not accurate, you'll be playing from rough conditions, similar to what you've been seeing this weekend at the PGA Championship. If you ever find yourself on this challenging piece of Paradise, you'll be playing alongside players from around the World. On any given day, the normal golfer here is from Scotland, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Korea, England, Spain and South Africa. And, it's not because of the money. You can play here for as little as $75, depending on the season. At most, it's $275. It's links golf at it's finest.
The REDS hit a marvelous tee shot (winning the last game and the series against the Pirates) and beautiful second shot (a sweep of the Cubs) on this Par-5, but as with any great links course, their approach shot found trouble (3-game sweep by the Cardinals) and landed in some deep brush.
Like the true Champion they seem destined to become in 2010, they dug out of the rough with their best shot of the course and landed it in the hole for a BIRDIE (6-3) (First two wins against the Marlins setting up a possible sweep, which they accomplished; but, that's the first shot of the next hole, #14).
After 13 Holes: (11-UNDER):
1. BIRDIE (5-4)
2. DOUBLE-BOGEY (2-7)
3. EAGLE (6-3)
4. DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2)
5. EAGLE (6-3)
6. BIRDIE (5-4)
7. BIRDIE (5-4)
8. BOGEY (3-6)
9. DOUBLE-EAGLE (7-2)
10. BOGEY (3-6)
11. BIRDIE (6-3)
12. PAR (5-4)
13. BIRDIE (6-3)
So, with 5 holes to go, the REDS are set up to win this thing. They've put themselves in position to win through 13 holes. Only they can stop themselves. Don't look behind. Continue to play aggressively. Go for the pin!
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