6/21/09 Reds vs White Sox

[Red in Chicago]

Scott Podsednik 7
Alexei Ramirez 6
A.J. Pierzynski 2
Paul Konerko 3
Brian Anderson 8
Chris Getz 4
Gordon Beckham 5
DeWayne Wise 9
Mark Buehrle LHP

Reds
Willy Taveras 8
Jerry Hairston 6
Brandon Phillips 4
Jonny Gomes 7
Ramon Hernandez 3
Jay Bruce 9
Ryan Hanigan 2
Adam Rosales 5
Aaron Harang RHP

[Reds Fanatic]

Posednik singles to left

[Reds Fanatic]

Ramirez singles to right. 1st and 2nd.

[Raisor]

Aaron not fooling anyone to start the game

[Reds Fanatic]

Pierzynski lines a single to center. 1-0 White Sox.

[Falls City Beer]

Harang vs. AL :(

At least he gets to face a pitcher though.

[Reds Fanatic]

Konerko grounds into a 6-3 DP. 2-0 White Sox.

[TheNext44]

They really haven't hit the ball that hard, just been finding holes.

[Falls City Beer]

They really haven't hit the ball that hard, just been finding holes.

Respectfully, that's what they all say....

[TheNext44]

Taveras gets another bad jump on a bloop double for Anderson.

[Reds Fanatic]

Anderson doubles as Taveras just misses a diving catch.

[Reds Fanatic]

Getz strikes out swinging. 2-0 White Sox mid 1st.

[Falls City Beer]

Another textbook Harang first inning. Now let's see if he can't channel his inner-Smoltz for the next 7 innings against this rag-tag assemblage of hitters.

[CTA513]

Harang vs. AL :(

At least he gets to face a pitcher though.

Maybe he can do as good as Cueto did yesterday?

[TheNext44]

Buehrle's given up 12 dingers. Otherwise a very tough pitcher

[TheNext44]

Buehrle eats up Taveras on three pitches. K

[Reds Fanatic]

Taveras strikes out swinging. 1 out.

[Falls City Beer]

Buehrle's given up 12 dingers. Otherwise a very tough pitcher

That's really not that many, especially for the AL.

[Reds Fanatic]

Hairston flies out to right. 2 outs.

[Reds Fanatic]

Phillips flies out to left on the first pitch. 2-0 White Sox after 1.

[CTA513]

7 warm up pitches for Buerhle

[TheNext44]

That's really not that many, especially for the AL.

Tied for 12th in AL. Guthrie leads the lead with 16. Enough to take notice.

[Reds Fanatic]

Beckham doubles to center and goes to 3rd on a wild pitch.

[TheNext44]

Beckham, mad the Reds chose Alonso over him, doubles to start the inning.

[Reds Fanatic]

Wise hit by the pitch.

[TheNext44]

Not looking good for the home team.

[Reds Fanatic]

Buehrle sacrifices the runner to 2nd. 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.

[Reds Fanatic]

Posednik strikes out swinging. 2 outs.

[GADawg]

how is it that Grande can pronounce Podsednik but can't pull off "Hairston"?

[Falls City Beer]

Getting to face a pitcher truly saves this starting staff. Transplant these guys to the AL, and look out...

[Reds Fanatic]

Hanigan is hurt on the foul ball.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Hanigan got hit...whether with a ball or a bat I don't know. He looks hurt.

[Raisor]

Hanigan got whacked in the charlie.

Poor guy.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Hanigan's fine. Apparently a foul ball to the family jewels. And Harang pulls a houdini. 2-0 Sox after 1 1/2

[Reds Fanatic]

Ramirez grounds out to 3rd. Good job to get out of that mess. 2-0 White Sox mid 2nd.

[Reds Fanatic]

Gomes doubles down the left field line.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Gomes with a lead off double

[Reds Fanatic]

Hernandez grounds out to short on the first pitch. Gomes goes to 3rd. 1 out.

[Reds Fanatic]

Bruce walks. 1st and 3rd.

[Reds Fanatic]

Hanigan flies out to shallow right. 2 outs.

[CTA513]

The Reds keep showing everyone how to not to get a runner in from 3rd with less than 2 outs.

[Tom Servo]

And nothing to show for the leadoff double.

[Kc61]

Just from watching, no stats, but recently Hanigan seems to press with that man on third situation and less then two outs. He has popped up or fanned a number of times recently that I remember.

He's been excellent, but I believe it's an area for improvement.

[Falls City Beer]

Buerhle's a bear. Were he pitching in the NL, he'd be an unequivocal ace. Harang's and Buerhle's ERA's look similar, but that's where the similarities stop.

And it's not that the Sox's offense is any good; they've scored fewer runs than the Reds (though probably not after today).

[Reds Fanatic]

Pierzynski grounds out to 1st.
Konerko strikes out swinging. 2 outs.

[CTA513]

Buerhle's a bear. Were he pitching in the NL, he'd be an unequivocal ace. Harang's and Buerhle's ERA's look similar, but that's where the similarities stop.

And it's not that the Sox's offense is any good; they've scored fewer runs than the Reds (though probably not after today).

What does that say about Cueto who blew a 5 run lead to the White Sox?

[Falls City Beer]

What does that say about Cueto who blew a 5 run lead to the White Sox?

I don't expect a 24 year old to maintain a sub 3.00 ERA for 6 months?

[Tony Cloninger]

So Harang has no heart or cajones then? What is your problem with Harang please?

Is it that hard to get a runner in from 3rd with less than 2 outs? Why can't these guys just relax and do it? They are no better than the same guys who the announcers and press would say about Dunn in 04-06. Where are all those sacrifice flies that these contact hitters are supposed to drive in?

[Reds Fanatic]

Anderson strikes out looking. 2-0 White Sox mid 3rd.

[Falls City Beer]

So Harang has no heart or cajones then? What is your problem with Harang please?

Is it that hard to get a runner in from 3rd with less than 2 outs? Why can't these guys just relax and do it? They are no better than the same guys who the announcers and press would say about Dunn in 04-06. Where are all those sacrifice flies that these contact hitters are supposed to drive in?

No heart? Doubt it. Not sure what his problem's been. My guess is that he's getting a little older.

[Reds Fanatic]

Harang grounds out to 3rd. 1 out.

[_Sir_Charles_]

So Harang has no heart or cajones then? What is your problem with Harang please?

Is it that hard to get a runner in from 3rd with less than 2 outs? Why can't these guys just relax and do it? They are no better than the same guys who the announcers and press would say about Dunn in 04-06. Where are all those sacrifice flies that these contact hitters are supposed to drive in?

Well, I disagree with the getting down on Harang. He's not your traditional ace, but he's certainly one of the best #2's out there.

As for the last inning...remember we're talking about 2 rookies here guys.

[Reds Fanatic]

Taveras strikes out swinging. 2 outs.

[Reds Fanatic]

Hairston lines a single to left.

[_Sir_Charles_]

2 out single to left for Hairston

[Kc61]

Taveras had a ten pitch at bat before the strikeout. Well, it's something.

Hairston, who is hitting better last few days, singles to left.

Now maybe Phillips can do something. No. Inning over.

[Reds Fanatic]

Phillips flies out to right. 2-0 White Sox after 3.

[Reds Fanatic]

Getz bunts and is thrown out by Hanigan.

[Reds Fanatic]

Beckham with a bloop single to left.

[Tony Cloninger]

Game plan for some seems to be....swing early ...then the others are taking pitches. Whenever Phillips starts NOT working the count is when he starts to not hit.

[Reds Fanatic]

Wise fouls out to 3rd.

[Reds Fanatic]

Buehrle strikes out swinging. 2-0 White Sox mid 4th.

[Reds Fanatic]

Gomes flies out to center. 1 out.

[Reds Fanatic]

Hernandez grounds out to 3rd. 2 outs.

[nate]

Bruce needs Jobu.

[Reds Fanatic]

Bruce grounds out to 2nd. 2-0 White Sox after 4.

[JaxRed]

George needs to study his Cliff Notes a little better if he's going to make literary quotes.

[Reds Fanatic]

Posednik reaches on an infield hit.

[BCubb2003]

George needs to study his Cliff Notes a little better if he's going to make literary quotes.

What did he say?

[CTA513]

Another ball not hit hard that goes for a hit.

[Reds Fanatic]

Ramirez flies out to center. 1 out.

[Reds Fanatic]

Pierzynski grounds out to 3rd. Runner goes to 2nd. 2 outs.

[JaxRed]

What did he say?

Atributed a Dickens quote to Dostoevsky

[Reds Fanatic]

Konerko singles up the middle just off the glove of Phillips. 3-0 White Sox.

[CTA513]

The offense might want to show up.

[Tony Cloninger]

Would have been a great play if BP makes that stop and throws out the slow running Konerko. Cemented another GG for him basically.

[Reds Fanatic]

Anderson strikes out swinging. 3-0 White Sox mid 5th.

[Reds Fanatic]

Hanigan singles to center.

[RedsManRick]

Hanigan really needs to be pushed up in the order. He's not going to drive in many runs due to his lack of power and his OBP is a real waste. If Taveras is in the game, he should be batting eigth and Hanigan lead off.

[Reds Fanatic]

Rosales grounds into a 5-4 FC. 1 out.

[Reds Fanatic]

Harang attempts a bunt and it ends up a 1-6 FC. 2 outs.

[Raisor]

Hanigan really needs to be pushed up in the order. He's not going to drive in many runs due to his lack of power and his OBP is a real waste. If Taveras is in the game, he should be batting eigth and Hanigan lead off.

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[Kc61]

Hanigan really needs to be pushed up in the order. He's not going to drive in many runs due to his lack of power and his OBP is a real waste. If Taveras is in the game, he should be batting eigth and Hanigan lead off.

Hanigan should lead off or bat second. He is purely an OBP guys these days.
He also needs to hit the fly ball with a man on third.

[Reds Fanatic]

Taveras grounds out to 3rd. 3-0 White Sox after 5.

[Reds Fanatic]

Getz lines out to right. 1 out.

[Reds Fanatic]

Beckham strikes out swinging. 7 Ks for Harang. 2 outs.

[Reds Fanatic]

Wise flies out to center. 3-0 White Sox mid 6th.

[Reds Fanatic]

Hairston attempts a bunt and grounds right back to Buehrle. 1 out.

[Reds Fanatic]

Phillips grounds out to 2nd. 2 outs.

[jojo]

Hairston just cursed after being thrown out..... does that nullify his grit factor on that bunt or enhance it?

[Red in Chicago]

Hairston just cursed after being thrown out..... does that nullify his grit factor on that bunt or enhance it?

He pretty much does that every time he makes an out.

[Reds Fanatic]

Gomes singles to left.

[Falls City Beer]

Buehrle's pretty much exactly the pitcher the Reds need. Groundball lefty ace.

[jojo]

He pretty much does that every time he makes an out.

Wow, the cuss jar is gonna pay off the mortgage.... :cool:

[Reds Fanatic]

Hernandez just chased a low outside pitch and grounds into a 4-6 FC. 3-0 White Sox after 6.

[jojo]

Buehrle's pretty much exactly the pitcher the Reds need. Groundball lefty ace.

Buehre is locked up but the Reds can bid for an even better lefty this off season.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Buehre is locked up but the Reds can bid for an even better lefty this off season.

Too lazy to look it up. Who are you referring to?

[Tony Cloninger]

If you are going to swing at that slow outside junk...then give it a rip and don't half-A it! :D

[Reds Fanatic]

Buerhle grounds out to Harang. 1 out.

[Reds Fanatic]

Posednik flies out to right. 2 outs.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Although he's down 3-0, Harang really hasn't throw too bad at all. No walks, 7 k's. After that first inning he's settled down nicely.

Not quite sure what it is with Reds' starters and the first inning, but they definitely don't mix well.

[Falls City Beer]

Buehre is locked up but the Reds can bid for an even better lefty this off season.

FA? That's not going to happen.

[Reds Fanatic]

Ramirez lines out to left. 3-0 White Sox mid 7th.

[Reds Fanatic]

97 pitches for Harang.

[jojo]

Too lazy to look it up. Who are you referring to?

Eric Bedard.

[Reds Fanatic]

Bloop single to left for Bruce.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Eric Bedard.

Oh, I was thinking Cliff Lee. He's a lefty too, correct?

[Reds Fanatic]

Hanigan flies out to left.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Rosales bunts Bruce over.

[Reds Fanatic]

I don't really agree with bunting there for the 2nd out of the inning when you are down 3 in the 7th.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Micah PH'ing

[_Sir_Charles_]

I don't really agree with bunting there for the 2nd out of the inning when you are down 3 in the 7th.

ditto

[mth123]

I don't really agree with bunting there for the 2nd out of the inning when you are down 3 in the 7th.

Amen. Its plain stupid.

[Reds Fanatic]

Owings strikes out swinging. 3-0 White Sox after 7.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I guess it's possible that Rosales was trying to bunt for a hit there on his own (I'm listening...did he show bunt early?). Still a bad idea though.

[Reds Fanatic]

Masset in to pitch

[Reds Fanatic]

Pierzynski flies out to the wall in right. 1 out.

[nate]

Nice throw by Rosales on the outfield grass to get Konerko.

[Reds Fanatic]

Konerko grounds out to 3rd. 2 outs.

[nate]

And there's a nice diving catch and throw out by Rosales to end the inning.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Rosales is struggling with the stick, but his defense has been quite good.

[Reds Fanatic]

Another nice play by Rosales to end the inning. 3-0 White Sox mid 8th.

[CTA513]

Although he's down 3-0, Harang really hasn't throw too bad at all. No walks, 7 k's. After that first inning he's settled down nicely.

Not quite sure what it is with Reds' starters and the first inning, but they definitely don't mix well.

Overall not a bad game but its impossible to win a game when you score 0 runs.
Could have used a performance like this last night.

[RedsManRick]

After holding my breath for so long with EE's throws, it's nice to see Rosales' accurate cannon. If only he could hit like EE...

[nate]

After holding my breath for so long with EE's throws, it's nice to see Rosales' accurate cannon. If only he could hit like EE...

Maybe we could combine EE and Rosales like Scotty combined the good Kirk and bad Kirk on that one episode of Star Trek.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Linebrink in to pitch.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Maybe we could combine EE and Rosales like Scotty combined the good Kirk and bad Kirk on that one episode of Star Trek.

I'm giving her all I've got, Dusty!

[Reds Fanatic]

Scott Linebrink in to pitch.
Dickerson hitting for Taveras.
Dickerson singles to center.

[nate]

its impossible to win a game when you score 0 runs.



its impossible to win a game when you score 0 runs.



its impossible to win a game when you score 0 runs.



its impossible to win a game when you score 0 runs.



its impossible to win a game when you score 0 runs.

Yes.

[mth123]

Scott Linebrink in to pitch.
Dickerson hitting for Taveras.
Dickerson singles to center.

Dusty puts Dickerson in against the righty. Maybe he'll platoon from now on. If so, its a silver lining in this game.

[CTA513]

Dickerson up to .341 this month and .271 on the season.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Dickerson: Past 4 games....

6 for last 8. 2 doubles. 0 k's. 2 sb.

Nah, no reason to play him more.

Ummm....make that 3 sb's. and 7 for last 9.

[nate]

Nice AB by HARRISTON so far.

Chriserson steals 2nd.

[Reds Fanatic]

Dickerson steals 2nd.

[Tony Cloninger]

Kudos to Dusty for finally realizing that WT needs to be PH for more often.

Pull a Dan Driessen PH for John Vuckovich in the 2nd inning if you have to.

[mth123]

Dickerson steals 2nd.

Glad he was safe, but its an unnecessary risk down three in the 8th IMO.

[nate]

HARRISTON works an 11 pitch walk.

Excellent AB.

[Reds Fanatic]

Great AB. Hairston walks on an 11 pitch AB.

[Tony Cloninger]

JHJ should do that and can do that more often.

[nate]

BP up no outs and guys on 1st and 2nd.

[Reds Fanatic]

Wild pitch moves Dickerson to 3rd. 1st and 3rd.

[nate]

Dickerson takes 3rd as the catcher drops the ball.

[Reds Fanatic]

Phillips sac fly to right. 3-1 White Sox.

[nate]

Ah, BP just a bit short. Sac fly to RF, Chriserson scores. 3-1 Sox.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Brandon drives one to the warning track in right that scores Dickerson.

[nate]

Gomes HBP.

[Reds Fanatic]

Gomes hit by the pitch. 1st and 2nd.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Gomes HBP

[mth123]

I'd go to Nix here.

[Reds Fanatic]

Hernandez hits it hard but lines into a 6-4 DP. 3-1 White Sox after 8.

[mth123]

Well he hit it hard anyway.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Brewers lost 2-3 to the Tigers
Houston up 3-1 over Twins bottom 6th
Top 4th: Cards 9 / Royals 4
Pirates up 1-0 in the first
Cubs up 2-0 in the fifth.

Ramon lines into a DP as Hairston caught off 2nd.

[nate]

Oh man...that is a bummer.

Ramon, laser liner to SS, Hairston doubled up.

[Tony Cloninger]

JHJ was not napping....he broke beacuse it looked high enough to go through....he had a big lead to begin with already and it was a good play.

Bad hitting and then bad luck= priceless

[nate]

JHJ was not napping....he broke beacuse it looked high enough to go through....he had a big lead to begin with already and it was a good play.

Bad hitting and then bad luck= priceless

Yeah, I didn't think it was a bad play by Hairston either.

[Reds Fanatic]

Getz grounds out to 2nd. 1 out.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Yeah, I didn't think it was a bad play by Hairston either.

Sorry, I changed it as soon as I typed it. I just meant he was caught off second...napping made it sound worse.

[Reds Fanatic]

Beckham walks.

[Reds Fanatic]

Wise doubles. 4-1 White Sox.

I have to leave if anyone else wants to do updates.

[WVRedsFan]

Massett has been really hittable lately.

[nate]

Dewayne Wise? Really?

Is the league just catching up with Masset? He's been pretty bad ever since FCB deemed him an elite reliever.

I wonder if the two are related!

:cool:

[CTA513]

Masset has been good at giving up runs lately.

[nate]

Dr. H in for Masset.

[_Sir_Charles_]

4 past outtings he's given up a run. And even with that, his ERA is still under 2.00. I'm not going to harp on Masset too much. He's been VERY good overall. Just a tough week.

[WVRedsFan]

Dewayne Wise? Really?

Is the league just catching up with Masset? He's been pretty bad ever since FCB deemed him an elite reliever.

I wonder if the two are related!

:cool:Nah, he's been knocked around by everyone lately. He's not an elite reliever. If he had been, we wouldn't have got him from the Sox in the Griffey trade.

[nate]

Thome. Thome, Thome grounds into an FC 6-3 (I think). Wise to 3rd.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Cubs & Cards bats are coming alive. 11 runs for the Cards by the 4th. Cubs with 6 by the 5th with the bases jacked.

Cards with 10, 7 and now 11 runs in the Royals series
Cubs with 6, 8, 6 and now 6 in thier past 4.

I think the Cubs are poised to go on a monster run here shortly.

[nate]

Podsensnicknenenq grounds out 6-3.

[nate]

Jenks to pitch the ninth for the Sox.

[Tony Cloninger]

No one can have a bad stretch without the old "He really is not that good anyways" talk......so okay...he is not elite, he is good and has the stuff to be more than a mop up guy.

[nate]

Two quick ground outs by Bruce and Hanigan leaves the Reds' fate in the hands of Danny Richar.

[BCubb2003]

Podsensnicknenenq grounds out 6-3.

You mispelled Podsyaztremkiewicz

[WVRedsFan]

Reds 8 runs last night will make it look like they had a decent offensive series. 13 runs and 31 hits. That averages out to 4 runs and 10 hits per game, but...

Richar the last hope. Not much of one.

[nate]

Richar imitates Bruce and Hanigan. Game, set, match.

[CTA513]

Reds lose 4-1

Sorry Harang you needed to pitch a shut out to have a chance to win.

[WVRedsFan]

No one can have a bad stretch without the old "He really is not that good anyways" talk......so okay...he is not elite, he is good and has the stuff to be more than a mop up guy.Probably has a lot to do with over work?

Regardless, he's allowed a run in his last four appearances. Stuff's good, but missing bats is better.

[WVRedsFan]

Reds lose 4-1

Sorry Harang you needed to pitch a shut out to have a chance to win.Unfortunately, that's more often the case than not.

[Tony Cloninger]

Overworked lately? Maybe. That's what happens when you start doing god....you get more work. People kept asking ...why not Masset instead of Weathers? Well now more Masset means he is going to get tired or over exposed. Soon it will be...why not more Josh instead of Masset?

[Falls City Beer]

Cubs & Cards bats are coming alive. 11 runs for the Cards by the 4th. Cubs with 6 by the 5th with the bases jacked.

Cards with 10, 7 and now 11 runs in the Royals series
Cubs with 6, 8, 6 and now 6 in thier past 4.

I think the Cubs are poised to go on a monster run here shortly.

Lots of teams ready to leave the Reds in the dust, healthy or not.

I think the Brewers are probably on the elevator down with the Reds. Their pitching is coming apart at the seams.

[WVRedsFan]

Overworked lately? Maybe. That's what happens when you start doing god....you get more work. People kept asking ...why not Masset instead of Weathers? Well now more Masset means he is going to get tired or over exposed. Soon it will be...why not more Josh instead of Masset?
Truth. He needs a break, but most managers wear the hot pitcher out.

Ah well, it didn't make any difference anyway. I really hate it for Harang. Best years of his career and no run support. I'd bet he'll be looking elsewhere come contract time.

[traderumor]

Lots of teams ready to leave the Reds in the dust, healthy or not.

I think the Brewers are probably on the elevator down with the Reds. Their pitching is coming apart at the seams.You predicted the same thing back on May 6 after the Brewers kicked our butts at GAB. Here were are on June 22 and they are still hanging around. Sort of like the weather man predicting 50% chance of rain every day.

[Falls City Beer]

You predicted the same thing back on May 6 after the Brewers kicked our butts at GAB. Here were are on June 22 and they are still hanging around. Sort of like the weather man predicting 50% chance of rain every day.

It's been trending badly for a few weeks (for both the Reds and the Brewers). When the only hope is a gimpy Volquez and Votto, and the number of teams ahead of you in the division and wild card grows every day, the prognosis gets darker. That's not meteorology; it's plate tectonics.

It's trending very, very nicely for the Cubs and Cardinals, the latter of whom is going volcanic on offense.

[jojo]

For those who enjoy this kind of stuff:

http://www.baseballrace.com/main_racePlayer.asp

Let the graphical depiction of the race begin!

[traderumor]

It's been trending badly for a few weeks (for both the Reds and the Brewers). When the only hope is a gimpy Volquez and Votto, and the number of teams ahead of you in the division and wild card grows every day, the prognosis gets darker. That's not meteorology; it's plate tectonics.

It's trending very, very nicely for the Cubs and Cardinals, the latter of whom is going volcanic on offense.I think you are making too much of short-term hot streaks and continuing to hedge your bets with the Reds.

[Falls City Beer]

I think you are making too much of short-term hot streaks and continuing to hedge your bets with the Reds.

Well, I guess by virtue of the fact that I predicted a .500 season, it's always going to look like I'm hedging a bit. It'll likely plateau some when Votto and Volquez return.

[traderumor]

Well, I guess by virtue of the fact that I predicted a .500 season, it's always going to look like I'm hedging a bit. It'll likely plateau some when Votto and Volquez return.You said leave the Reds in the dust. That implied to me that the Reds would only get worse, record wise, from here. Perhaps we're on opposite side of assumptions. I don't see anyone taking off in this division, so .500 will always keep the Reds a long winning streak away from sneaking up on the field.

[Falls City Beer]

You said leave the Reds in the dust. That implied to me that the Reds would only get worse, record wise, from here. Perhaps we're on opposite side of assumptions. I don't see anyone taking off in this division, so .500 will always keep the Reds a long winning streak away from sneaking up on the field.

Not necessarily. I just happen to disagree. I think both the Cards (with their offense) and the Cubs (with their pitching) were poised to be bears coming out of the gate; they stumbled, but they're finding their footing.

The Reds looked like a .500 squad and I think that's the tier they're settling into.

[traderumor]

Not necessarily. I just happen to disagree. I think both the Cards (with their offense) and the Cubs (with their pitching) were poised to be bears coming out of the gate; they stumbled, but they're finding their footing.

The Reds looked like a .500 squad and I think that's the tier they're settling into.The Cards offense has been inconsistent, and I think that is going to continue. The Cubs are the Cubs.