Game Thread: Game 25

by JD Arney on May 2, 2005 6:58 PM EDT in News

TIME: 7:10 @ Great American Ball Park

REDS PROBABLE: CARDINALS PROBABLE:
Eric Milton (2-2, 6.75) Chris Carpenter (4-1, 4.01)

Homecoming. Battered and bruised, the Reds shuffle home tonight to find one of the strongest teams in baseball awaiting them.

The Reds are on the ropes, and how they'll respond is anybody's guess. For traditionalists this is what it's all about. All that matters tonight, and for the next two days, is heart. How bad do the Reds want to turn things around? How much do they want to avoid playing out the string for the next five months?

Eric Milton takes the hill, our $8.75 million "stopper". Stop snickering.

No really stop. Stop it.

/sigh

Yes, I agree. Milton isn't exactly who we want to run out there tonight, not against this lineup. But it's not as if we have anyone better. Aaron Harang may be developing into something ... better, but he's not all the way there yet. Eric Milton is it.

This is it.

Just a reminder, here are the Red Reporter threads/stories from earlier today:

News on RedsZone, which has now undergone their change.

Great Baseball Analysts entries.

My Weekly Minor League Roundup

GM For a Day, where I asked you what you'd do to fix the Reds. Something certainly needs to happen, I think we can all agree on that.

Also, the trivia thread is going well, and we're currently waiting for Caleb to bedazzle us all.

Let's go Reds! Give us a reason to hope.

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Comments

ESPN

Reds schedule says today's game and Wednesday's game are on ESPN (in-market games are on FSN). But apparently not. I'm in California and it's apparently the Mets and Phillies today. And since it's raining there, the have Bonus coverage of the Red Sox and Tigers on NESN. What the hell?

Brian B

by Brian B on May 2, 2005 7:33 PM EDT reply actions

ESPN

That sucks Brian. = (

ESPN.com says they're playing Phillies/Mets so I imagine the Reds site just screwed up.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. --Oscar Wilde

by JD Arney on May 2, 2005 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

ESPN2

I've got the Reds v. Cards on ESPN2 in upstate New York.

by pw on May 2, 2005 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Same in Michigan

Sportscenter kept previewing the Reds-Cards game all the way up til 7pm. I thought they'd have it on here in Michigan, but apparently not. I don't know who they are showing the game to if it's not in Michigan or California?

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Pinch hitting at Reds (and Blues)

by Slyde on May 2, 2005 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Kerry Wood

Apparently Kerry Wood will not be throwing for a minimum of three weeks and it's hard to tell exactly how long he'll be out.

Interesting after our Dunn for Wood thread the other day.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. --Oscar Wilde

by JD Arney on May 2, 2005 7:39 PM EDT reply actions

So

Taguchi?

Brian B

by Brian B on May 2, 2005 7:52 PM EDT reply actions

Home Runs

That's 11 home runs allowed by Milton.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. --Oscar Wilde

by JD Arney on May 2, 2005 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Terrible at bat

Milton had him at an 0-2 count and then threw three pitches nowhere near the strike zone. I guess pitching to contact only applies when you have to throw a strike.

--
Pinch hitting at Reds (and Blues)

by Slyde on May 2, 2005 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

LaRue

He has now struck out 26 times in 59 at bats (after his first at bat today). Is Dane Sardinha that bad? They talk about him like he can't hit . . . how bad can he be? It's not like LaRue is going to get any better.

Brian B

by Brian B on May 2, 2005 8:02 PM EDT reply actions

Update

Make that 27 times in 60 at bats.

Brian B

by Brian B on May 2, 2005 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Aurilia

Richie boy just earned himself a few more weeks of PT. 1-1 tie.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. --Oscar Wilde

by JD Arney on May 2, 2005 8:27 PM EDT reply actions

Bold Prediction (started prior to the Aurilia HR)

The Reds are currently down 1-0 in the bottom of the 5th.

I predict that the Reds will get to Carpenter for three runs by the end of the 6th.

Miley will send one of the following out to try to hold the lead:

Joe Valentine
Ben Weber
David Weathers

Some combination of the above will blow the lead, and Graves will give up the winning run in the top of the 9th via a home run.

No, not the real Paul Householder...just a fan who remembers the wretched 1982 Reds.

by Paul Householder on May 2, 2005 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

lottery numbers

can i have tuesday nights numbers? that was scary it was so good.

Caleb

by Caleb on May 3, 2005 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Jr just hit a lazer

That was on a line, although I'm not sure it got out.

by Tyler on May 2, 2005 8:51 PM EDT reply actions

HR

The umps called it a ground rule double at first, and then overruled themselves.

2-2 tie.

Nice to see Junior breaking out of the slump a bit.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. --Oscar Wilde

by JD Arney on May 2, 2005 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Griffey homer

Mark McLemore on ESPN said it wasn't out, that it hit the line, and that the first call was right. I tended to agree with him when it was shown dead on.

by pw on May 2, 2005 8:56 PM EDT reply actions

JR HR

I thought it hit the line then the grass behind and bounced back to Edmonds.

Caleb

by Caleb on May 3, 2005 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

OK.

Even David Weathers could not blow a six-run lead. Question is, whether this is actually a save situation for Graves.

No, not the real Paul Householder...just a fan who remembers the wretched 1982 Reds.

by Paul Householder on May 2, 2005 10:13 PM EDT reply actions

You speak so soon

Maybe not by nimself, but he and Graves together are making it interesting. 9-8, are you kidding me. This is driving me nuts.

The Cardinals just took the lead.

No. Its a blown save and possibly a loss situation.

by Tyler on May 2, 2005 10:18 PM EDT reply actions

P.S.

Why is Wagner not in the game???????

by Tyler on May 2, 2005 10:19 PM EDT reply actions

Graves

And perhaps the worst part about it all is that Graves will only be charged with 1 ER. Excuse me, second worst part. The worst is that Miley won't do anything about this.

Brian B

by Brian B on May 2, 2005 10:24 PM EDT reply actions

Graves

If that wasn't the final straw for Graves as closer, I don't know what would be. He has nothing except the hope a batter will be "fooled" by hanging breaking balls. Let Wagner and Mercker (if you must hedge, and Miley shouldn't) split the save opportunities (and please let them throw more than one inning, if for no reason than you can't trust anyone else). The worst thing is I don't know where you let Danny "work it out". The damage in the 7th/8th would be almost as painful as watching the 9th.

I'm usually for being patient and not worrying too much until mid May, but there better be a some new members of the bullpen by tomorrow's game.

I've been following the Reds for 38 years, and I can't remember an uglier loss. More painful yes, but not uglier. What is the win expectancy for a 6 run lead and no outs in the 9th? :-(

Greg in Atl

by Greg in Atl on May 2, 2005 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

brutal

The only way to describe it. Brutal

Caleb

by Caleb on May 3, 2005 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Arrrrgghhh!

Groundhog Day.

No, not the real Paul Householder...just a fan who remembers the wretched 1982 Reds.

by Paul Householder on May 2, 2005 10:46 PM EDT reply actions

Season over

The season's over, if not for the Reds, then for me. I'm not wasting any more time watching this crap! Miley has no concept.

by pw on May 2, 2005 10:47 PM EDT reply actions

Goodbye, cruel world, it's over...

How many think we'll ever see the Reds have a seven run comback in the 9th against the Cardinals in our lifetime?

More to the point, how long does this have to go on before someone calls for Gullett's and/or Miley's head?

by Joe Public on May 2, 2005 10:51 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think it's Miley

Someone explain to me how it's Miley's fault.

What's he supposed to do, go pitch?

by joeberk on May 2, 2005 10:57 PM EDT reply actions

It is his fault

For continuing to run David Weathers, Joe Valentine and Danny Graves out there when he knows they can't get anyone out. At the very least he can tell O'Brien that they are not getting the job done.

No, not the real Paul Householder...just a fan who remembers the wretched 1982 Reds.

by Paul Householder on May 2, 2005 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Paul

Just so you know Paul, I blame you for your horrible prediction. Which I laughed at when I saw it. And then it came true.

And yet I was still stunned.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. --Oscar Wilde

by JD Arney on May 2, 2005 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

He doesn't have any other options

Well, who is he supposed to run out there? He can't pitch Wagner three innings every game, and everyone else in the pen has been just as bad as Weathers or Valentine on any given night. Who's he supposed to have confidence in, outside of Wagner?

If Dan O'Brien has to be told these guys aren't getting the job done maybe he isn't paying enough attention. He's sent Miley into a gunfight armed with fruit.

by joeberk on May 3, 2005 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions

See JD's piece today.

I pretty much agree with what he is saying.

In general, the GM will not make a personnel move without getting the OK from the manager (unless the situation is all screwed-up, as it was for the Mets last year or as it is for the Yankees most years).

If Miley walked into Dan O's office and said he wanted to send Joe Valentine down to the minors and bring up someone who is getting it done in Louisville, it would happen.

No, not the real Paul Householder...just a fan who remembers the wretched 1982 Reds.

by Paul Householder on May 3, 2005 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions