Reds @ Cubs Series Preview

[reds44]

Coming off a 4-2 homestand to open the season, the Reds begin a six-game road trip Tuesday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The Reds were 6-3 last season at Wrigley Field, including victories in five of the last six meetings there.

"I'm looking gorward to it," Reds manager Jerry Narron said of the trip. "We're playing two very good ballclubs in Chicago and St. Louis. They're outstanding."

Bronson Arroyo will make his second start for Cincinnati. For the second time in a week, Arroyo will be opposed by left-hander Glendon Rusch.

In an 8-6 victory over Chicago during his Reds debut at Great American Ball Park, Arroyo allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits. The right-hander did not walk a batter and struck out seven. Of the 26 batters he faced, Arroyo threw 21 first-pitch strikes. He also hit the first homer of his career in his first at-bat.

Pitching matchup
CIN: RHP Bronson Arroyo (1-0, 4.05 ERA)
The right-hander is 1-3 with a 5.84 ERA in six games lifetime against Chicago. He's 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA at Wrigley.

CHC: LHP Glendon Rusch (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
Gave up four earned runs and six hits over four innings in April 5 loss to the Reds.

Player to watch
Right fielder Austin Kearns has hits in five of his first six games for the Reds.

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• none

On radio
• WLW 700-AM

Up next
• Wed: Reds (LHP Brandon Claussen, 0-0, 5.40 ERA) at Cubs (RHP Greg Maddux, 1-0, 1.42 ERA) 2:20 p.m. ET
• Thu: Reds (LHP Eric Milton, 1-0, 2.57 ERA) at Cubs (RHP Carlos Zambrano, 0-0, 4.42 ERA) 2:20 p.m. ET

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060409&content_id=1392676&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

[Larry Schuler]

This is going to be a very telling series for the Reds. The Cubs are coming off a sweep of St. Louis and are probably on cloud nine confidence wise. It would say a whole lot if the Reds were able to derail them.

[reds44]

This is going to be a very telling series for the Reds. The Cubs are coming off a sweep of St. Louis and are probably on cloud nine confidence wise. It would say a whole lot if the Reds were able to derail them.
Big week for us. @ Cubs and @ Cards. Could be a "statement" week. Although it is still really early.

[RedsMan3203]

3 up and 3 downs on the road trip wouldn't be bad... but i dont wany anything below that.

4 and 2 would be mighty fine again.

[kyred14]

I don't think there is a such thing as a statement series in the second week of April. That said, I would LOVE nothing more than to sweep the baby bears this week.

[BoomerSoonerRed]

I don't think there is a such thing as a statement series in the second week of April. That said, I would LOVE nothing more than to sweep the baby bears this week.
I would rather sweep the Cardinals than the Cubs. My home area is swarming with Cardinal fans, most of whom act like they invented the game of baseball. I would like nothing more than to go into their beautiful new ballpark and leave footprints all over it.

[Gainesville Red]

I would rather sweep the Cardinals than the Cubs. My home area is swarming with Cardinal fans, most of whom act like they invented the game of baseball. I would like nothing more than to go into their beautiful new ballpark and leave footprints all over it.

Aw hell, lets just sweep em both.

[BoomerSoonerRed]

Aw hell, lets just sweep em both.
Works for me.:thumbup:

[GridironGrace]

My Monthly Goal for the Reds is:

26 Games:

17-9

Anything Above that is Great!!!!!!!

Now id settle for 16-10, 15-11 maybe...

But just think. If we Avg 15 Wins a month that is 90 WINS!!
And a final record of 90-72 :)

A 14 Win avg. Per Month is 84 WINS!!!
And a final record of 84-78 :)

So after a month. We'll see where we stand :) I figure every Win ABOVE 14 wins in a month is one step closer to achieving that ABOVE .500 Record that we all LONG for.

[GAC]

Every game played should be played like it is a "statement" game.

How one plays in the early stages of the season can come back to haunt you in the latter stages.

Wrigley Field is an offensive juggernaut.

And seeing how this BP has performed coming out of the gate.... that should scare alot of us.

[LincolnparkRed]

Wrigley Field is an offensive juggernaut.



Pujols might argue with that from Friday. At Wrigley you never know which way the wind is going to blow. On the days it is coming in you can still hit homers they just can't get above 20 ft in the air. I have been to quite a few games were normal moonshots have turned into routine fly balls.

I will be there on Thursday and am hoping for a 20 mph breeze going in for Milton's sake.

[Falls City Beer]

Pujols might argue with that from Friday. At Wrigley you never know which way the wind is going to blow. On the days it is coming in you can still hit homers they just can't get above 20 ft in the air. I have been to quite a few games were normal moonshots have turned into routine fly balls.

I will be there on Thursday and am hoping for a 20 mph breeze going in for Milton's sake.

Even when the wind is as still as a Zen master, it's a neutral park.

[vaticanplum]

By the time the Reds play at Wrigley on Tuesday, the Cubs will have had three days off since Opening Day a week ago and have been settled in Chicago since last Wednesday night or Thursday. Can somebody tell me what genius did this scheduling?

[smith288]

Poor Pirates have 17 straight days... Do they have a dos application that generates schedules?

[Chip R]

"I'm looking gorward to it," Reds manager Jerry Narron said of the trip.

I like the proofreaders at MLB.com.

[PuffyPig]

My Monthly Goal for the Reds is:

26 Games:

17-9

Anything Above that is Great!!!!!!!

Now id settle for 16-10, 15-11 maybe...



Settle for 16-10, which equates to 100 wins. Settle????

[lollipopcurve]

Gotta get game one vs the Cubs, because with lefties facing Maddux and Zambrano in the next two, it could get ugly.

[membengal]

Why would you think it would get ugly for Dunn/Griffey/Hatteberg against Maddux? He has been pretty hittable for this team the last few years.

I hate having another off-day this early in the season. Selfishly, have waited so long for baseball, it sucks to have to wait yet another day for them to resume.

[lollipopcurve]

Why would you think it would get ugly for Dunn/Griffey/Hatteberg against Maddux?

You're absolutely right that the Reds have hit Maddux well. It always surprises me, and it would surprise me again. In any case, I look for Claussen and Milton to get roughed up by Lee, Ramirez, Barrett and Murton. Hope not, but......

[Falls City Beer]

In any case, I look for Claussen and Milton to get roughed up by Lee, Ramirez, Barrett and Murton. Hope not, but......

I agree. I think those two games send the Reds down the slope to mediocrity. The starters will both be out by inning 3 or 4, and the atrocious bullpen will get deeply taxed--and become worse than it already is.

[KearnsyEars]

Big week for us. @ Cubs and @ Cards. Could be a "statement" week. Although it is still really early.


AND REALLY SCARY! :eek:

[KronoRed]

By the time the Reds play at Wrigley on Tuesday, the Cubs will have had three days off since Opening Day a week ago and have been settled in Chicago since last Wednesday night or Thursday. Can somebody tell me what genius did this scheduling?
Cub fans? :D

It all evens out by the end of the year.

[Chip R]

Cub fans? :D

It all evens out by the end of the year.

Yeah, it's no big deal. It isn't like the Reds haven't had any off days and they are coming in to CHI today.

[reds44]

Just got my tckets for Thursday, so I will be there on Wed. and Thursday!

wOOt!

[vaticanplum]

Yeah, it's no big deal. It isn't like the Reds haven't had any off days and they are coming in to CHI today.

But they MUST WIN TOMORROW.

[KronoRed]

But they MUST WIN TOMORROW.
Or the season is over? ;)

[Chip R]

But they MUST WIN TOMORROW.

vaticanplum, Edskin has stolen your user name! :laugh:

[LincolnparkRed]

But they MUST WIN TOMORROW.

Because that is the game he is going to.

[RFS62]

vaticanplum, Edskin has stolen your user name! :laugh:



Yep, it's the most important game of the year.


:cool:

[vaticanplum]

Because that is the game he is going to.

...and I live in the heart of Wrigleyville, and it becomes a horrible place when the Cubbies win too many times in a row.

[KYRedsFan]

Their sweep of the Cards has Cubs fans buying series tickets already. Let's Go Reds! End this madness.

[Newman4]

I would rather sweep the Cardinals than the Cubs. My home area is swarming with Cardinal fans, most of whom act like they invented the game of baseball. I would like nothing more than to go into their beautiful new ballpark and leave footprints all over it.

I hate the Cardinals. I hate their fans. I hate Jim Edmonds. I hate their arrogance. I hate their fans two faced attitude (how many Cards fans come around and pull this "I root for the Reds except when they're playing the Cardinals" and "I like the Reds, they're my 2nd favorite team" bullcrap?). I hate Cris Carpenter's less than manly hair thing under his lip. (Claussen copied it:rolleyes: ) I hate Larussa. I hate Mark McGwire and his steroids. I hate George Grande and his Redbirds fetish.

In short, I would not urinate on them if their rear ends were torched with gasoline and lit.