Down the stretch - LucianoJJ's Blog

LucianoJJ's Blog

Down the stretch

Posted on September 9, 2010 at 02:27 PM.

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The Cincinnati Reds have opened up a nice lead of six games over the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central as of the morning of September 9th. Colorado has used their home field advantage to make the Reds look vulnerable, putting on a usual stretch run, and keeping the Reds from further distancing themselves from the struggling Cards. Colorado is trying to catch up with the fading Padres and the steady Giants, so they have motivation. Cincinnati, however, seems to be auditioning starting pitching for the post-season.

Homer Bailey had his typical lapse against the Cardinals on Sunday. Bailey tends to get himself into jams in the fifth and sixth innings, seemingly on the brink of escaping with at least a quality start, but he failed to locate his out pitch, and Matt Holliday went yard, effectively putting the game away. Those troubles will not serve the Reds well if they hope to progress in October. Aaron Harang failed to even eat innings in his start this week against the Rockies. There is a certain sadness about seeing a former ace fail to shine as his club finally nears the playoffs. Edinson Volquez has gone from Tommy John surgery, drug suspension, recovery from the arm injury, a return to the rotation, a demotion to the bullpen, a demotion to Class-A Dayton, and a possible reprieve by taking Harang's turn in the rotation.

Pitching has always been an issue for the Reds. Great American Ballpark plays small. Pitchers get lit up. Bullpens get taxed. Arthur Rhodes has battled through a sore foot the entire season. Aroldis Chapman figures to see more action in crucial situations if Rhodes finally breaks down. Which would you prefer in the playoffs? A veteran at forty or a rookie reaching triple digits on the radar gun? The recent losing streak may have helped Francisco Cordero take a break after an up-and-down year as the Reds closer. GM Walt Jocketty failed to deal for a veteran reliever to take some of the pressure off Nick Masset. Dusty Baker and pitching coach Bryan Price must hope to find three good starters, and a set bullpen for the post-season.

Comments

# 1 waspman3 @ Sep 9

As a Cardinals fan I say Congrats. Ya'll have had a nice season and you deserve everything ya get this year. You have some good ex Cardinals in place in Jockety,Rolen but in no way,shape or form are they the only reasons ya'll are successful this year. Even if all you do is get to the playoffs Cinncy will be bleeding Red again. I can still remember the Big Red machine. Now so guys were fun to watch. Good luck from here on out.

# 2 stlstudios189 @ Sep 9

I am rooting for the reds now as the tigers are out

# 3 Beastly Wayz @ Sep 9

GO REDS - "The Human Rocket" Aroldis Chapman

# 4 LucianoJJ @ Sep 10

waspman 3 and stlstudios189: thanks for the good wishes. It's funny how there are ex-Reds in StL, and some good ex-Cards in Cinci. Rolen and Jocketty definitely put them over the top. With Pujols, Holliday, and the rest, the Cards will contend in 2011, and could still pull off a miracle finish and win the Central, or even get back in the Wild Card race.

beast: Chapman has some "electric" stuff!