Now I go out alone if I go out at all. Reds lose, 4-3.

by Brendanukkah on Sep 25, 2011 12:27 AM EDT in Game Recaps

Taylor Lautner vs. shadowy bad guys, @ PNC Park. Also, admit it. You want a store at your ballpark that sells pirate gear. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Brandon Phillips. When John Cusack recites his Top 5 Side 1, Track 1 songs in High Fidelity, he needs to start including DatDudeBP. Not even Janie Jones is as good a leadoff as Phillips. He contributed three hits, including two doubles, and scored a run. Honorable mentions go to Joey Votto (who also had two doubles) and Juan Francisco (who also had two doubles).

Key Plays

The Reds got off to an early lead, thanks to two of those doubles I mentioned. Brandon Phillips led off with a double off of Brad Lincoln. One out later, Joey Votto went shopping and bought a gallon of milk with one hop into the left field seats: automatic two-bagger. Reds lead, 1-0.
Travis Wood was pretty awful in this game. In the second inning, he walked Ryan Ludwick, then gave up a double to Jason Jaramillo. With runners on second and third, Ronny Cedeno hit a sacrifice fly. One out later, Alex Presley hit an infield single to Edgar Renteria, but the shortstop was able to nail Jaramillo at the plate. Game tied, 1-1.
It was the third inning that assured everyone who cared that this game was a lost cause. Cincinnati native Josh Harrison led off with a triple, and Andrew McCutchen drove him in with a sacrifice fly. The Pirates immediately sullied the now immaculate basepaths with a Derrek Lee single and a Neil Walker double. Ryan Ludwick used a sacrifice fly - Pittsburgh's preferred gritty, self-sacrificing, blue collar method of driving in runs - to drive in a run. Lee scored, and then Walker followed him when Jason Jaramillo singled. Wood was done for the day. So were the Pirates, and so, effectively, were the Reds. Pirates lead, 4-1.
In the fifth inning, pinch hitter Dave Sappelt led off with a walk, and Drew Stubbs also walked one out later. Joey Votto then doubled again, driving in Sappelt. It was his 101 Dalbattedins. Pirates lead, 4-2.
Jose Veras pitched the eighth inning for Pittsburgh, and started the affair by walking Jay Bruce. He struck out Devin Mesoraco and Juan Francisco, but did so with a wild pitch for the latter. Bruce took advantage by taking second. Edgar Renteria then singled to center field and Bruce flew home. Pirates win, 4-3.

20110924_reds_pirates_0_20110924212648_lbig__medium

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

With this loss, the Reds clinched another losing season. I hope you've stockpiled as many fond memories of 2010 as I have, because they'll need to last you.
One of the great memories of Reds fans is watching Reggie Sanders and Adam Dunn flirt with 100 RBI seasons and usually fall short. Joey Votto reached that mark tonight, and is the first Red with back to back century marks since Dave Parker in 1985-6.
Devin Mesoraco threw out a basestealer!
The Reds bullpen went unscored on. Good for them.

Final - 9.24.2011	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati Reds	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	3	8	0
Pittsburgh Pirates	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	X	4	11	0
WP: Brad Lincoln (2 - 3) SV: Jason Grilli (1) LP: Travis Wood (6 - 6)

Complete Coverage >

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Comments

i hope you guys got to watch jon jones dismantle rampage jackson tonight

he’s one of the most “must-see” athletes in the world right now!

Operation: 'tHan's Awesome Plan is living up to its name.

by 'tHan on Sep 25, 2011 12:30 AM EDT reply actions

Right up there with Dwayne De Rosario

by Brendanukkah on Sep 25, 2011 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions

nah, we tried to watch Your Highness

We didn’t get too far into it before ejecting the blu ray.

Turrible.

What’s the mma equiivalent of pacquiao vs mayweather?

"the only place they lost was the scoreboard"

by Ewok on Sep 25, 2011 10:22 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

GSP vs. Anderson Silva

or Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva

I expect the GSP fight to happen at some point next year

Operation: 'tHan's Awesome Plan is living up to its name.

by 'tHan on Sep 25, 2011 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

first time since Dave Parker in the mid-80s?

that is hard to believe

by Howie Feltersnatch on Sep 25, 2011 7:03 AM EDT reply actions

I know, hard to believe the Reds skipped thru the steroids era without having that

Casey also got really close a few times. Drove in 99 on a couple of occasions, iirc.

Big mobile rec for the title.

by ken on Sep 25, 2011 9:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

amen

I first heard The Rat based on someone’s recommendation here. I think FVA? I honestly don’t remember who.

But it’s a great song. Even if I wonder why the Walkmen never went for a harder edge in their stuff after their only popular song.

"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."

by Cy Schourek on Sep 25, 2011 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

They've done well enough in the record and concert sales to do whatever they want as artists.

Thankfully, because they’ve released some killer albums over the past few years.

by FordhamRam on Sep 25, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

ive always wondered what sound Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters would have had on their second album

Definitely would have had a bigger lasting impact than The Herdsmen,

"the only place they lost was the scoreboard"

by Ewok on Sep 25, 2011 10:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I just wish someone gave "Rod Torfulson's Armada featuring Herman Menderchuk" a record deal.

by FordhamRam on Sep 25, 2011 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't know about that

I heard an interview with them a year ago where they expressed an unmistakable disappointment in their lack of commercial success. More wistful than whiny.

They also still open for a lot of other bands, even though they’ve been around for about a decade. I think they’re on tour with Fleet Foxes now.

by ken on Sep 25, 2011 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Renteria did not actually nail Jaramillo at the plate

Jaramillo overran 3B and END nailed him.

It was scored out at home, but Jaramillo was only a couple of inches from 3B, toward the foul line. He did not try for home, or have any intention of doing so. He just slid a little bit past the base and couldn’t get back in time. Realized too late that the ball was coming to 3B instead of 1B, probably.

Props to Renteria for realizing that he didn’t have the arm to get the out at 1B. Frankly, it didn’t look like he had any chance at 3B, either, but Jaramillo went past the base and END very alertly tagged him then. Credit to END for that – I’m really impressed with how his defense has improved – and to Jaramillo for pretty awful baserunning.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Sep 25, 2011 7:06 AM EDT reply actions

so

Chien-Ming Wang looked pretty good yesterday against the Braves. Gave up just one run (a solo homer to Freddie Freeman). 6 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, no walks. 85 pitches, 51 for strikes.

He doesn’t have the velocity I recall from the years when he was the Yankees’ ace. He still has a good sinker, but it no longer clocks in at 96-97 mph. (Pudge Rodriguez said it was like trying hit a bowling ball: even if you made contact, you couldn’t lift it.)

But he’s still a pretty good pitcher, and he’s been getting better and better with every start. I don’t know if he’ll ever get his old velocity back, but he’s doing well enough without it.

He’s a free agent after this season. I’m sure the Nats want to extend him, and probably some other teams as well. But given his injury history, I doubt he’ll be too expensive. Might be worth kicking the tires on.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Sep 25, 2011 9:59 AM EDT reply actions

His baserunning leaves something to be desired

by Brendanukkah on Sep 25, 2011 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'm not sure what he does that Dontrelle doesn't.

"You said 'walks' twice."
"I like walks."

by Cy Schourek on Sep 25, 2011 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions

allows less runs

"Life is such a vapid world pool of nothing"-Eddie Pepitone

by Yossarian22 on Sep 25, 2011 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

wins

by FordhamRam on Sep 25, 2011 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

and less walks

Dontrelle has given up walks in every start this year. Wang has given up no walks in his last four starts. Wang has a 1.28 WHIP, Willis is 1.58.

Wang is still coming back from surgery. He looked so bad last winter some thought he’d never pitch in the big leagues again. But he has, and he’s getting visibly better with every start.

Willis is undoubtedly a better hitter and better baserunner, however.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Sep 25, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

So to further answer Cy's question

Wang sucks less that Willis.

"Life is such a vapid world pool of nothing"-Eddie Pepitone

by Yossarian22 on Sep 25, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

But he's probably not good enough to warrant shelling out money for him unless you'll get him below-market

Which, if the Nats are already interested in retains, you’ll probably end up doing.

by FordhamRam on Sep 25, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Hard to say at this point

Right now, Wang has an incentive-driven contract. I think it’s something like a million dollars, bonuses for every start he makes, plus another bonus if he’s still on the roster at the end of the season. He could earn up to $4 million in incentives.

How much is he worth now? Hard to say. He was the Yankees’ ace, and though that was partly for lack of alternatives, he could be a solid #2 starter. OTOH, he has a history of shoulder problems. Not sure if anyone would be willing to pay him a lot. Guess we’ll find out. If the Yanks decide they want him back, forget it.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Sep 25, 2011 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

cedric benson is suing the nflpa

And jerome simpson is dressing for todays game.

The brent spence has two southbound lanes shutdown and there’s no construction work being down before buttermilk pike.

Cincinnati is a fucked up town!

"the only place they lost was the scoreboard"

by Ewok on Sep 25, 2011 10:29 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Maybe Benson will leave the players union

Requiring Madden ’13 to give the Bengals a generic injury-prone back with a 75 OVR

by FordhamRam on Sep 25, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions

larry johnson has a tryout tuesday

His conduct is impeccable!

"the only place they lost was the scoreboard"

by Ewok on Sep 25, 2011 10:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

He's a few notches below Mike Vick in the "players I refuse to root for" department.

by FordhamRam on Sep 25, 2011 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

the lineup

Phillips 4
Sappelt 7
Votto 3
Bruce 9
Heisey 8
Francisco 5
Mesoraco 2
Janish 6
Willis 1

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Sep 25, 2011 11:20 AM EDT reply actions

Not bad

expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat

by kcgard2 on Sep 25, 2011 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

from Sheldon

After his three hits last night, Brandon Phillips has raised his average to .301. He could be the first Reds second baseman to finish a season at .300 or better since Bret Boone batted .318 in the strike-shortened 1994 season. Phillips could wind up with a Silver Slugger Award since he leads all NL second baseman in hitting, runs (89), hits (179), doubles (37) and OBP (.352).

…Jay Bruce’s next home run will be No. 100 of his career. When he hits it, Bruce, 24, will become the third youngest player in franchise history to reach the milestone behind Johnny Bench and Frank Robinson.

He also has a story about Aramis Ramirez helping END with his fielding. Dusty says Ramirez was a bad fielder when he first started out as well.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Sep 25, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

I wish Joey was resting

it’s a shame how his batting average has dipped

by Red_Poodle on Sep 25, 2011 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

gameday menu

Leftover frozen angus burgers from wedding reception

Tater tots

Homemade onion soup

Broiled havarti dill and gruyere baguettes

Breakfast sliders (bob evans maple sausage and eggbeaters on kings hawaiian mini bread)

"the only place they lost was the scoreboard"

by Ewok on Sep 25, 2011 11:35 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

cool story, broh

"Life is such a vapid world pool of nothing"-Eddie Pepitone

by Yossarian22 on Sep 25, 2011 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Any word on Frazier's hand?

No Stubbs today. Hmmm I’m going to miss that auto-Out with RISP.
This line-up looks fairly anemic offensively with Sappelt, Hi-Z and PJ…of course Dontrelle makes up for Janish.
Looks like Juan Fiasco has clawed his way back into the thick of things. That’s good. But I heard sMarty and Clownboy pondering on END as the ‘back-up’ for Rolen next year. Christ on a Hubcap…I can see Scott Rolen as the Red’s new 3B coach but why in the world would the Reds continue with him as a part player who is blocking the way of Fiasco and Frazier? With all Rolen’s physical problems I can’t imagine him playing more than 80-90 games tops and then being only 1oo% for maybe 60 of those.

Kevin Youkilis: If I were to go anywhere, I would want to go to Cincinnati .

by Madville on Sep 25, 2011 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

Being Rolen's backup is only a nominal thing

Whether Rolen plays 40 games or 140, he’s the starter, and whether END does the same, he’s the backup. We all realize that it’s more likely for Rolen to either play fewer games than the field, or to perform worse than the field, or both, but he is the “starting” 3B regardless, because only injury will cause another player to take his spot.

expectations are premeditated resentments - cheshirecat

by kcgard2 on Sep 25, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions