Ouch Houston

[Hoosier Red]

I just realized this morning, Houston lost 3 out of 4 games in the series when...

1- their starting pitchers left each game with a lead
2- until Monday, their starting pitchers hadn't given up a run.

That's pretty much a textbook kick in the nuts.

[Scrap Irony]

Similar to the Red pen, B.C. (Before Cordero)

How much has Cordero's signing impacted the Cincinnati pen? They went from a 5-ish era before to a 3 and 3/4 ish era after.

Say what you will about the money he makes, but the guy's been invaluable.

Or, perhaps, is it the other arms too?

[schroomytunes]

I for one am happy about taking 3/4 from Houston, they owned us last year and to win on the road is even more of a plus!!! I am concerned about our offense though, but this series has told us that our strength definatly lies within our pitching staff, and the bullpen has been solid!!! Now lets take 2/3 from the Cubbies!!

[Caveat Emperor]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

Similar to the Red pen, B.C. (Before Cordero)

How much has Cordero's signing impacted the Cincinnati pen? They went from a 5-ish era before to a 3 and 3/4 ish era after.

Say what you will about the money he makes, but the guy's been invaluable.

Or, perhaps, is it the other arms too?

Arthur Rhodes has been worth every penny thus far -- though I highly doubt he will hold up with this kind of workload as the season stretches onward.

[Scrap Irony]

Agreed about Rhodes' workload. This is why Burton needs to get healthy in the worst sort of way. Pairing RH Burton with southpaw Rhodes as 7th inning set-up men (assuming similarly solid results as last season) makes the pen among the toughest in the National League. Weathers as set-up guy, Cordero closes, with Lincoln and Masset as middle relievers and Herrera as LOOGY rounds out an unusually dependable pen with roles already sorted.

Assuming injuries, this, in turn, allows the young guns (Roenicke, Bray, and Fisher, along with assorted starting pitchers that get turned) to step into a defined role with clear expectations.

Amazing what pitching depth allows you to do!

[Sea Ray]

I do think the Reds got some key lucky calls from the umps this weekend. The fantom DP that Phillips pulled off led to a victory in this series and I think that called third strike vs Pence in the 8th inning yesterday was something we'd be complaining about if it was called on one of our guys. I do wish our Reds FSN had some kind of strike zone graphic like many other team's do. If so I think it would have shown that pitch to be low and outside.

But I'll take it...

[bucksfan2]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

Agreed about Rhodes' workload. This is why Burton needs to get healthy in the worst sort of way. Pairing RH Burton with southpaw Rhodes as 7th inning set-up men (assuming similarly solid results as last season) makes the pen among the toughest in the National League. Weathers as set-up guy, Cordero closes, with Lincoln and Masset as middle relievers and Herrera as LOOGY rounds out an unusually dependable pen with roles already sorted.

Assuming injuries, this, in turn, allows the young guns (Roenicke, Bray, and Fisher, along with assorted starting pitchers that get turned) to step into a defined role with clear expectations.

Amazing what pitching depth allows you to do!

There was a lot of complaining about the Rhodes signing because there were better arms that weren't given a shot. But as the season has begun to play out its nice having a depth of live arms sitting in AAA ball. Odds are that Rhodes, Weathers, and Lincoln won't pitch injury free throughout the entire year. I don't mind Dusty going to Rhodes a lot early in the season because there is depth in AAA ball if a reliever goes down.

[Screwball]

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

I do wish our Reds FSN had some kind of strike zone graphic like many other team's do. If so I think it would have shown that pitch to be low and outside.

While it may have looked low, Gameday has it at the bottom of the strikezone, right at the kees. I thought at the time it was a good call by the ump, and Gameday agrees. Still, I could see that call going either way.