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4-0 oz To Freedom. Reds Hook Marlins, 4-0.

Choo! Choo got what I ne-eed! But you say he's just a rental...

By Wick Terrell
This isn't from tonight's game.
This isn't from tonight's game.
USA TODAY Sports

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Look, I'm unafraid to say this is an absolutely biased decision, but the bias only makes me 100% certain as opposed to, say, 77% certain.

Through this point in the season, Shin-Soo Choo is, and has been, the National League MVP.

You can talk to me about Justin Upton (who now has a lower OPS than Choo), you can bring up Bryce Harper (who does, too), and you can...well, who am I kidding? Those are the only guys who are even close to having an argument against what Choo has done so far this season.

Tonight, Choo added to his already impressive start to the season by going 4 for 5 with 2 HR and 3 runs scored. You can look, but it will be awfully tough to find someone out there who misses Didi Gregorius more than I do, but the fact remains that the Reds have upgraded the most woeful of spots in any order in any lineup (their 2012 leadoff hitters) with, hands down, the NL MVP to this point.

I can only hope that this makes the Reds more aggressive in their pursuit of an NL Pennant and a World Series.

Honorable Mention is due to Mike Leake, who was impressive through his 6 2/3 IP. He allowed 9 hits and a walk, but he also struck out 6 and didn't allow any of those 10 baserunners to score. Hat tips are also due to the heart of the lineup, as Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, and Jay Bruce all had 2 hit evenings.

Key Plays

  • The Reds got the only run they truly needed in the Top of the 1st. Choo led off with a single, HAIL CESAR walked, and Brandon Phillips later doubled off the wall in LF to score Choo. Reds led, 1-0.
  • After Leake struck out to start the Top of the 4th, Choo followed with a Seoul-sucker to left-center. Izturis then doubled...HAIL CESAR!...and Votto singled to score him. Reds led, 3-0.
  • Choo added another HR in the Top of the 6th with a shot to RF, and the Reds' staff combined to shut the door on the woeful Marlins afterwards. Reds win, 4-0.

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2013-05-15&team=Marlins&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width = "450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2013-05-15&team=Marlins&dh=0&season=2013">FanGraphs</a></span>

Other Notes

  • Hey! Red Reporter is back online and kickin'!
  • I never, ever want to say that a baseball game was boring. Watching baseball is, and always has been, a way to enjoy some free time and watch some competition. The Marlins, however, are just so, so bad.
  • 24-16...that's nice. So, so nice. The Reds are puttin' in work. Y'all cats know they always playtawin.
  • Once again, Slyde wins the internet:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Be right back, gonna go ask that Chapman slider to prom.</p>&mdash; Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) <a href="https://twitter.com/jluckhaupt/status/334854216642359297">May 16, 2013</a></blockquote>
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