Game Thoughts: Reds lose to the Cardinals 8-7

by JD Arney on Apr 16, 2006 11:29 PM EDT in News

Fine, Narron doesn't walk Pujols in the bottom of the ninth, but why not intentionally walk him one of the other times he came up to bat? Sheesh. Teams need to start pitching to Pujols like they've pitched to Bonds in recent years. Why let him beat you when the Cardinals have a bunch of lightweights like Aaron Miles, John Rodriguez, Juan Encarnacion, Scott Spiezio, Yadier Molina, and Skip Schumaker in the lineup? The Cards have had exactly two hitters to be afraid of in their lineup for the past three games, and those two hitters hit a combined four home runs today. Maybe pitching around Pujols and Rolen would have been a good idea?
FSN flashed the career stats of McCracken when he came to the plate, and I thought "wow, 20 home runs in 11 seasons. that's terrible." And then of course he hit a home run to dead center. You never really know.
Arroyo didn't have good results today, but he'll be fine. I didn't see anything that really made me worry, and he still had nice movement on his pitches. I think he'll bounce back next time out.
I'm still hopeful that the Reds can get Weathers up to 20 saves or so by the trade deadline and then deal him for something shiny and new, but I don't know. His ERA (small sample size alert) stands at 5.79 after today. He's very much a closer in the mold of Danny Graves, doesn't throw too hard, and thrives on location. It'd be nice to have a pitcher who can K guys when needed as the closer. I don't think it'll be too long until Todd Coffey can fill the role.
The Marlins series that starts tomorrow is pretty critical. Losing a one run game to the Cardinals isn't a big deal, but the Marlins are a team the Reds have to beat. Hopefully they'll be smart enough to pitch around Miguel Cabrera.

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Reds vs Marlins

They do not have to face D-Train and face Moleher tomarrow and we all know that he is trash.Im hopeful we can take this series.

by gnarley on Apr 16, 2006 11:46 PM EDT reply actions

Any thoughts on LaRue? Its interesting that he's been on such an extended rehab assignment. All the reports say that he playing with no major issues. Seems like maybe they're looking to trade him? I haven't heard much speculation though. I'm equally satisfied with Ross, Valentin, or LaRue. It does seem like Ross and Valentin have perhaps called better games and have helped the starting pitchers have fairly good outtting thus far. So maybe LaRue is expendable. I wonder what kind of pitching a package deal with LaRue and one of our extra 2Bmen could get us?

by satyanaas on Apr 17, 2006 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

Dontrelle

I guess it will be Harang vs Willis WED

by gnarley on Apr 17, 2006 10:35 AM EDT reply actions

Encouraging

Yeah they lost a heartbreaker, and it wouldn't hurt to walk Pujols. What I take as positive is that we should have won, but more than one game, that we are maybe three players from contention, and have management that probably understands that. What we need: Closer, two pitchers. We could also use a little more production from 3B.

But we're getting there. Cardinals were not all that scary - they're not so strong as last year.

by Billingsfan on Apr 17, 2006 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

Encouraging

But we're getting there. Cardinals were not all that scary - they're not so strong as last year. We are stronger.

by Billingsfan on Apr 17, 2006 12:15 PM EDT reply actions

Trades

One problem with trading for a pitcher now is that nobody's going to trade one who's better than what we've got, because doing so inevitably hurts them as much as it helps. Take the Reds as an example. Let's say we could get a good position player (maybe another second baseman!)for Coffey and Weathers. Would you do that? Can this team possibly contend without Coffey and Weathers? So I think the strategy at this time of the year has to be to focus on a team that has no chance whatever to contend (and that's not really very many)and trade them a prospect, somebody that may really help them two or three years out. Kansas City comes to mind, and I'd focus on Elmer Dessens. We send them White to take up some of the innings immediately and a prospect, e.g. Shafer, Medlock, or Guevara (or better yet a position player if we can get away with it)

by HokieRed on Apr 17, 2006 1:15 PM EDT reply actions