Cards at Reds, Biggest Series For Reds Since 1999

[Warner2BruceTD]

I gotta say that I was less than impressed with Chapman today. Though he did get some undue stress from Votto's risky throw home.

I thought the Spillborghs out, and it would've been a great play by Votto if he got the call, but with a lead you gotta get outs. Especially with a young pitcher.

What didn't you like? He induced a ground ball that should have been called an out at home, then got out of the jam with a K on a great pitch looking, and got the hottest hitter in baseball to hit into a DP.

He essentially came into a game with 2 on, nobody out, and got 4 outs to preserve the lead.

He throws a TON of pitches. That's my only minor gripe.

[NAHSTE]

What didn't you like? He induced a ground ball that should have been called an out at home, then got out of the jam with a K on a great pitch looking, and got the hottest hitter in baseball to hit into a DP.

He essentially came into a game with 2 on, nobody out, and got 4 outs to preserve the lead.

He throws a TON of pitches. That's my only minor gripe.

That. But the velocity was obviously impressive. And he got out of the inning, so it's hard to knock him for that, but he was wild to every batter. I don't think he would be a good starter at this point in his development, he needs to become more economical.

Don't get me wrong, he's still an incredible talent who any team would be lucky to have. I just didn't see a great pitcher yet.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I honestly don't care what role he eventually settles into, as long as they don't jerk him around and ruin him like the Yankees did to Joba.

If he's a setup man, fine. Closer, fine. Starter, fine. Just let him concentrate on one role, no boucing back & forth. So far, so good. They saw they had depth at SP, so they moved him to the bullpen early enough to have him ready for September 1. Whether he ends up F-Rod or David Price at this point doesnt matter to me, so long as they pick a road and stay on it.

[nflman2033]

well starting tomorrow back to playing shitty teams, so lets hope that means back to winning.

[NAHSTE]

I honestly don't care what role he eventually settles into, as long as they don't jerk him around and ruin him like the Yankees did to Joba.

If he's a setup man, fine. Closer, fine. Starter, fine. Just let him concentrate on one role, no boucing back & forth. So far, so good. They saw they had depth at SP, so they moved him to the bullpen early enough to have him ready for September 1. Whether he ends up F-Rod or David Price at this point doesnt matter to me, so long as they pick a road and stay on it.

Good call. That's about all you can ask for. The Braves have a similar decision with Johnnny Venters. He is doing so well as a lefty specialist it's easy to forget he was a starter in the minors 4 months ago. I don't think he'll end up starting anymore but at one point they had talked about stretching him out. Bullpen arms are so valuable now that it makes sense to groom your studs for their role early, whatever it may be.

[Warner2BruceTD]

JOEY VOTTO

[Rudi]

This dude Francisco Cordero needs to GO!!! Our starters are going out there and pitching shutout baseball only to have his fucking piece of shit ass come in and blow the game AGAINST THE MFIN PIRATES.

That being said, I still like a 6.0 game lead on September 13th.

[Rudi]

Reds have 19 games left. If they go 9-10 in these games, the Cardinals would have to go 18-5 in their remaining games to catch.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I think Dusty has to seriously consider trying Chapman at the end of games. The problem, is Chapman has been so good in the 7th, saving the Reds ass a few times already when other guys got into jams. The Reds were lucky to go 2-1 vs the Pirates, and that's a joke, because they got three of the best starts of the year in that series.

The guy I think can be a closer, is Jordan Smith. I'm not saying for the rest of this year, because it would be crazy to put a guy like that in that position in a pennant race/postseason, but he was the closer at AA and seems to have the makeup.

[Rudi]

All I know is Cordero is not the answer.

[nflman2033]

#1 you can't like this past weekend, 3 blown games, luckily 2 comebacks, not the way i want to see this team play right now.

#2 Cordero blew 2 of those 3 games. I think let him come in with a 2 or 3 run lead and have Massett ready to go just in case, but when its just 1 run Massett should be the closer.

#3 as far as Chapman goes anyone else notice that if he starts the inning fresh he is lights out, but if he comes in with runners on thats when he has problems, so for now on if I am Dusty I never bring Chapman back in with runners on.

[Warner2BruceTD]

#1 you can't like this past weekend, 3 blown games, luckily 2 comebacks, not the way i want to see this team play right now.

#2 Cordero blew 2 of those 3 games. I think let him come in with a 2 or 3 run lead and have Massett ready to go just in case, but when its just 1 run Massett should be the closer.

#3 as far as Chapman goes anyone else notice that if he starts the inning fresh he is lights out, but if he comes in with runners on thats when he has problems, so for now on if I am Dusty I never bring Chapman back in with runners on.

The problem is Masset has usually already been used by the time Cordero gets in, plus Masset has been inconsistant, too.

I look at it from this perspective. If the Reds are taking a lead into the 9th in a Game 7, and you had a million dollar bet on the outcome, which bullpen guy would you want in the game?

It's got to be Chapman.

[nflman2033]

The problem is Masset has usually already been used by the time Cordero gets in, plus Masset has been inconsistant, too.

I look at it from this perspective. If the Reds are taking a lead into the 9th in a Game 7, and you had a million dollar bet on the outcome, which bullpen guy would you want in the game?

It's got to be Chapman.

not always, remember when Masset relieved Cordero in a save situation in Chicago. You just have to keep him back

[Rudi]

12.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Razor Ramon killed that ball, nearly had another comeback.