Reds vs Astros 8/26/08

[Red in Chicago]

Cincinnati
C. Dickerson cf
J. Keppinger ss
B. Phillips 2b
J. Votto 1b
E. Encarnacion 3b
J. Bruce rf
J. Cabrera lf
R. Hanigan c
B. Arroyo p

Houston

D. Erstad lf
M. Bourn cf
M. Tejada ss
L. Berkman 1b
M. Loretta 3b
H. Pence rf
D. Newhan 2b
B. Ausmus c
W. Rodriguez p

[NC Reds]

Did Rosales make fun of Dusty or something? He never gets a chance.

[Matt700wlw]

Maybe Corey missed the flight...

[OnBaseMachine]

Dickerson work an eight pitch walk.

[mth123]

Dickerson work an eight pitch walk.

Against a lefty

[OnBaseMachine]

And then he pulls a Patterson and gets picked off.

[Matt700wlw]

Dickerson went to the Corey Patterson/Ryan Freel school of buserunning...

[Matt700wlw]

Please hire Eric Davis...

[OnBaseMachine]

Arroyo and Rodriguez each have no-hitters through three innings.

[OnBaseMachine]

Dickerson singles on a 0-2 count to begin the 4th inning.

[Bob Borkowski]

The game is moving right along in time consumed.

Reminds me of the good old days when once in a while a game would be played in 2 hours or a little over.

[OnBaseMachine]

I hate this stupid ballpark. Votto hits a 415 foot flyball that Bourn makes a great running catch on the hill in CF.

[NC Reds]

I hate the dimensions of that ballpark. I don't like gimmicky overly deep center fields. Joey deserved better.

[dougdirt]

How in the world did Keppinger not tag up on a 410 foot fly out?

[OnBaseMachine]

1-0 Reds after 3 1/2.

[OnBaseMachine]

How in the world did Keppinger not tag up on a 410 foot fly out?

Better yet, why didn't he advance to third base on that groundout to first base? That ended up costing the Reds a run.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Astros announcers are slamming on Keppinger for his boneheaded baserunning. Saying he should've advanced on that grounder to berkman that scored Dickerson and then being baffled by him not tagging on Votto's drive. Should've been 2-0 without a doubt.

Also, I'm not sure if the Reds station showed it, but Hanigan clearly threw out that runner earlier in the game and now he guns down Tejada. He's got a rifle. :O)

[_Sir_Charles_]

Phillips should've gone for the play at home there. I think it was definitely hit hard enough. Oh well. 1-1 ballgame.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Just saw that play from a different angle, and you can clearly see Hanigan pointing for Brandon to throw to first. Bad move by Hanigan there. But I kinda expect that from a rook.

[_Sir_Charles_]

2 extremely well pitched games so far. You could argue inept bats...but both Wandy and Bronson are really on top of their games tonight. Other than the Keppinger baserunning brain-fart...it's been a VERY well played game all around. Nice change after that Rockies nightmare.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bruce is lost right now. I agree with Chris Welsh, tonight would have been the perfect time to sit him with a lefty on the hill.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Agreed. He's swinging at everything.

Cabrera almost makes a nice grab and then almost snags it again on the deflection off his glove. Berkman on with 0 outs to start the bottom of the 7th.

[OnBaseMachine]

Jolbert Cabrera in left field makes Adam Dunn and Pat Burrell look like gold glovers. That is flat out embarrassing. How does a major league team turn so many routine plays into base hits?

Thankfully Arroyo gets out of it scoreless.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Great play by Phillips to get Berkman at 2nd. Flipped it with the glove after snagging it on the SS side of the bag. Not able to turn the DP though.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Jolbert Cabrera in left field makes Adam Dunn and Pat Burrell look like gold glovers. That is flat out embarrassing. How does a major league team turn so many routine plays into base hits? Watch, that will start a big rally.

Oh, come on. That was FAR from a routine play. That would've been a web gem if he'd hauled it in. That was a very long run and then a sliding catch attempt. Someone with great speed probably pulls it in without a problem. CF type speed...Dickerson...yep, he makes it. But definitely not a "routine" play.

[OnBaseMachine]

Oh, come on. That was FAR from a routine play. That would've been a web gem if he'd hauled it in. That was a very long run and then a sliding catch attempt. Someone with great speed probably pulls it in without a problem. CF type speed...Dickerson...yep, he makes it.

Someone mentioned it earlier, but this is a case where your eyes deceive you. That's a routine play for just about every team in baseball but not the Reds because they have yet another guy playing out of position. That was a routine flyball. That's a play I've seen Dunn make before.

[_Sir_Charles_]

DP gets out of the inning. 1-1 going into the 8th.

Reds have K'd 10 times tonight. Career high for Wandy. Free-swingin Reds combined with Rodriguez having great stuff tonight.

If the Reds can score some runs here, Bronson's looking a CG right in the eye.

[OnBaseMachine]

Hanigan homers to make it 2-1 Reds in the 8th.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Hanigan BOMB! 2-1 Reds! WooHoo!

That'd be one they'd review a week from now...no doubt. Right above the line. Really close.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Yes! Hanigan goes yard.

9th hit for the mighty REDS in the last 19.1 innings. A big one (thanks to Arroyo's effort).

[_Sir_Charles_]

Dusty letting Bronson continue. He hits for himself. Nice to see. He deserves a shot to finish this off. 96 pitches through 7 full.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Dusty letting Bronson continue. He hits for himself. Nice to see. He deserves a shot to finish this off.

Probably one more inning. He is at 96 pitches after 7 innings.

[OnBaseMachine]

Arroyo has thrown 96 pitches in seven. No way he finishes this off.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Dickerson draws a walk from Geary. 2 outs.

Byrdak up throwing.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Cordero still not available due to his wife having a baby.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Kepp with a single. 1st & 2nd with 2 outs. Phillips up.

Dickerson rubbing his leg...cramp I'd guess.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Last REDS complete game?

August 29, 2007 at Pittsburgh. Aaron Harang throws a 2-hit shutout. 8 Ks and 1 BB.

160 games since then.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Dickerson stays in, just a cramp apparently.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Last REDS complete game?

August 29, 2007 at Pittsburgh. Aaron Harang throws a 2-hit shutout. 8 Ks and 1 BB.

160 games since then.


Only team in the bigs this year without one. It's been in the papers a bit lately...so it might be on Dusty's mind. If Arroyo stuggles at all, they'll pull him. But he could just as easily have 2 easy innings. Never know. He certainly deserves a shot to finish it off IMO.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Phillips flies out to end the inning. 2-1 Reds mid 8th.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Patterson in CF, Dickerson to LF, Cabrera out.

Lead off single. VERY short leash now. Bray up throwing.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Be a bummer for Houston's Geoff Geary to get a loss on his 32nd birthday. I feel less sympathetic, however, when it is my fav team that causes it. :)

[_Sir_Charles_]

Sac bunt advances the runner. 1 down.

Blum pinch hitting. 1-18 versus Bronson.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Be a bummer for Houston's Geoff Geary to get a loss on his 32nd birthday. I feel less sympathetic, however, when it is my fav team that causes it. :)

Well, I vote we win it for Benihana. His B-day as well. Benihana overrides Geary. :O)

[RedFanAlways1966]

Only like 6 pitches that inning for Bronson. Maybe he can go for a CG?!? :thumbup:

[_Sir_Charles_]

GREAT stab by Joey. 3 down.

Yep, I say he gets a shot at a CG. 102 pitches.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Berkman returns the favor on Votto. Robs Joey of a single with a great grab.

[_Sir_Charles_]

12 K's now for the Reds. Byrdak throws low 90's completely flat. Edwin just hacked away at it. Struggling Bruce up next.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Bruce eligible for the golden sombrero...

[RedFanAlways1966]

No golden mexican hat for Jay... 6-3 groundout.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Jay bounces out to Tejada. 2-1 Reds mid 9th.

Let's see some solid D for a change of pace. Let's get that 0 CG monkey off our backs.

[_Sir_Charles_]

1 pitch 1 out. one hopper back to Bronson.

[CTA513]

Bruce had struck out 7 straight times before grounding out in the 9th.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Tejada & Berkman coming up.

Tejada grounds out after 2 pitches.

Big Puma coming up. *shudders*

[RedFanAlways1966]

Come on Bronson. One more out!

[_Sir_Charles_]

0-2 to Berkman. I really like this change of tactics versus Berkman. We're not painting the corners anymore....just going after him with fb.

COMPLETE GAME. Flies out to Patterson. 2-1 Redlegs. Great outing by Bronson.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Last time Arroyo threw a 9-inning CG was Sept. 5, 2006. A 3-hit shutout vs. the Giants.

A day that will live in REDS infamy... the REDS acquired pitcher Sun-Woo Kim in a trade with the Rockies (for cash). They also DFA'd Mike Gosling.

[redsmetz]

Is this the first complete game all season?

[_Sir_Charles_]

Yes. And the last team in the majors to get one. The 'stros got one a couple weeks ago from Oswalt for their first.

[WVRedsFan]

Yes. And the last team in the majors to get one. The 'stros got one a couple weeks ago from Oswalt for their first.

Which speaks volumes about the Reds' "improved" pitching. The team is nowhere where they need to be compared to the rest of the league. Combine that with an anemic offense, and Walt's got a lot of work to do over the winter. I don't envy him at all.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Which speaks volumes about the Reds' "improved" pitching. The team is nowhere where they need to be compared to the rest of the league. Combine that with an anemic offense, and Walt's got a lot of work to do over the winter. I don't envy him at all.

No, I disagree again. Aaron Harang has stuggled, there's no secret about that. But both he and Bronson had gone 8 innings twice before this season. Our other 3 starters are young kids for most of the season. With all the concern about pitchcounts...I certainly wouldn't expect (or want) Dusty to let them go for a complete game this season. So when you're talking about only having 2 of your 5 starters even really eligible for a CG....it's not THAT surprising that it took this long. How many other teams out there have 2-3 rookie starters?

[OnBaseMachine]

Which speaks volumes about the Reds' "improved" pitching.

Not really. It doesn't prove anything IMO. Aaron Harang is usually good for 1+ complete games a year but has been injured most of the year, and Cueto and Volquez are both young kids still learning to be pitch efficient in order to go deeper in games.

[OnBaseMachine]

Arroyo has thrown 96 pitches in seven. No way he finishes this off.

I was happy to be wrong. Arroyo finished the final two innings on a total of 13 pitches. Nice.

[mth123]

Not really. It doesn't prove anything IMO. Aaron Harang is usually good for 1+ complete games a year but has been injured most of the year, and Cueto and Volquez are both young kids still learning to be pitch efficient in order to go deeper in games.

Complete games are hard enough to come by these days when a pitcher only has to get 27 outs to accomplish the feat. Getting the 30 to 35 outs that the Reds defense requires turns a lot of potential complete game performances into 6 and 7 inning outings.

[nate]

Complete games are hard enough to come by these days when a pitcher only has to get 27 outs to accomplish the feat. Getting the 30 to 35 outs that the Reds defense requires turns a lot of potential complete game performances into 6 and 7 inning outings.

An excellent point.