They needed to do half-price tickets to sell out the Cardinals games last week. Cincy's a great baseball town, historically, but I think their fans are knowledgeable enough to know that the Reds aren't a good team... they're just getting enough hits at the right spot to win some games. Seriously... every game I watch them, they're either winning 9-8 slugfests, or giving up 7 runs to a team like Pittsburgh. Arroyo is their best pitcher... and he can't get power lefties out. Harang is built like a beast... but pitches like a finesse guy. Their bullpen changes on a daily basis... and Guardado and Majesksi are coming up lame with injuries. This is a HORRIBLE year for the national league... and add the fact that Pedro is gimpy and Glavine may have a blood clot... the Cardinals may back their way into another world series (where they will get flattened). Only one team can stop all of that... the only team in the NL that has truly underachieved... TURN THIS **** AROUND.
I like the strategy Pettite has against Cincy... don't throw anything over the plate. Cincy has a lot of dangerous hitters who nail guys that throw a lot of strikes (except Oswalt)... but they also do a decent job of getting themselves out as well. You have to be somewhat of a perfectionist against them (which will elevate the pitch count)... don't settle for giving away a hit just to avoid a walk... and be sure to not make mistakes against Griffey/Dunn.
Man! Pettite's pitching pretty good but damn is his pitch count getting high or what. I know it's a pretty overated thing, but will he even make it far enough to qualify for a decision?! He needs some short innings.
I know I said I thought he had a good strategy... but he may be nibbling a little too much (especially with guys like Encarnacion). Nevertheless, he's having a very Clemens-esqe like game... isn't going to make many mistakes, but will be out of the game by the 6th or 7th inning.
Pettite out and Arroyo now called back...battle of the bullpens: which is worse (actually though Houston's pen has done quite alright outside of Lidge and to a lesser extent Qualls.)
The team is looking pretty sharp tonight...but Cincy's history of come-from-behind wins and walkoffs still scares me.
With two righties sandwiching Dunn next inning, I'd have Qualls for the first batter... Miller for Dunn... and Lidge for Aurillia. Then Wheeler to close. THAT's how you run a freaking bullpen by commitee, my friends. GET R DONE.
Um I blinked and Qualls retired the side in the 7th. I heard that Wheeler may not be available tonite, please Garner, NO LIDGE!!!!
This is not the time of the year to have guys "not available"... nevertheless, lets get some more runs so that Lidge/no lidge will not be a factor.
Nieve is recovering from an elbow problem (not believed to be serious), and will be taking a few days off... read the articles!!! We need to have the minds together if we're going to do this... stay informed, stay focused, kick ass.
