http://www.sportsnipe.com Cincinnati Reds, Team News, Updates, and Stats from all sports sources, updated continually. http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2933231/as-la-russa-goes-so-might-pujols-yahoo-sports.html Slugger Albert Pujols staying put in St. Louis after 2011 could hinge on whether manager Tony La Russa stays put. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2933230/no-soreness-for-bruce-after-taking-bp.html No soreness for Bruce after taking BP Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2933229/tale-two-seasons-for-masset.html Tale of two seasons for Masset Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2933228/rockies-shell-arroyo-reds.html The only good thing about the Reds' drubbing in Denver on Wednesday is that the Cardinals were drubbed just as badly in Milwaukee. Cincinnati has now lost four straight and five of their last six, but still lead the NL Central by six games. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2933227/slowly-steadily-gomes-on-track.html Jonny Gomes' long slump appears to be behind him. He went 35 games with a total of five RBI. He has eight in his last seven games. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2933226/old-baseball-town-cincinnati-coming-back-to-life.html The Reds have not had a winning season since 2000, but they are making do this year with a payroll of $71.8 million, 2oth in the major leagues. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932239/createacaption-dusty-baker-wants-you-to-buy-playoff-tickets-yahoo-sports.html Despite losing four of five games and being the subject of all that Twitter fretting from @MisterRedlegs, things... Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932238/2010-game-139-thread-reds-at-rockies.html Next Game Cincinnati Reds @ Colorado Rockies Wednesday, Sep 8, 2010, 8:40 PM EDT Coors Field Bronson Arroyo vs Aaron Cook Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 70.   Complete Coverage > W-L ERA WHIP K BB 2010 - Bronson Arroyo 14-9 3.84 1.15 97 55 W-L ERA WHIP K BB 2010 - Aaron Cook 5-8 5.21 1.57 58 51 Aaron Cook owns the Reds. The Reds have never beaten the Hamilton native in 8 career starts. They are the only National League team that can say that. Every other National League team has beaten Aaron Cook at least once. Like I said, Aaron Cook owns the Reds. In fact, this game doesn't even need to be played. We already know the outcome. The Rockies can just sit back and relax. Cookie's got this one sewn up. Shhhh, nobody tell the Rockies that they've never hung a loss on Bronson Arroyo since he's been starting for the Reds. I say it's time for the Reds to shut their critics up. I'm so tired of hearing on the Twitters and the Facebooks about how this team can't do this and this team can't do that. Poppycock! They have the best record in the National League. Act like. Kick some butt. Take some names. Chew some gum. Whatever it takes, just win, baby! From this point forward, you are no longer playing just for the division. You are playing to shut people up. Can you help me out on this one, please? Go Reds! Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932237/game-139-thread-2-rather-than-give-to-denver-were-going-light-our-country-music-award-on-fire.html More photos » Matt McClain - AP "My liege." (AP Photo/ Matt McClain) Browse more photos » Brandon Phillips advanced the runner to make our run in the first inning possible, but then snuffed out our rally in the third with a double play.  Still, plenty of time to score runs, I guess.  Reds are down, 2-1. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2931043/bats-v-bulls-series-preview-planetary-perspective-playoff-edition.html (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) Wednesday 9/8. The Bats are strangely balanced. As I wrote before, the new Moon can bring crisis and life changes in regards to personality and health. And the Moon being in Virgo is time for critical thinking and problem solving. These two facts will affect everyone, but it can be most acute for Leo's and Virgos respectively. Louisville Leo's include Zack Cozart and Sean Henry, Virgos; Joseph Krebs, Mike Costanzo, and Rick Sweet. Venus enters Virgo today. This fact is interesting when we take a look at the Bats pitching staff; straight up 8 out 11 of the pitchers are Libra (that's weird). Libras create, desire, and need Balance. The Virgo-ian Venus should help these fellows communicate better, and approach their work in a professional and critical manner. I imagine this staff is helped by the fact both catchers are also air signs, Gemini Wilkin Castilo and Devin Mersoraco. Thursday 9/10. The pitching should be good, and it better be. The Moon enters Libra today, just in time for this Libran pitching staff; expect it to accentuate teamwork and harmony. Whatever happens with the planets, this staff will largely be going through it together. Both Aquarian planets Saturn and Uranus point to serious ill health and injury. This is most worrisome when you consider half of the infielders on the roster are Aquarian; Todd Frazier, Eric Eyemann, and Kris Negron (and Ted Power). Friday 9/11. The Moon continues in Libra, and the only other aspect for today is in Neptune, and there will be no Pisces on the field today. Saturday 9/12. The Pitching may get lucky. Obviously the head liner on this team (astrology wise) is the Libran pitching staff, so what is going on with Venus is of the most importance. I am expecting this team to take the games under the Libra Moon, and then today, miraculously Venus is in conjunction with the Moon. In general, this is the most positive aspect for Venus, I expect the very best from the pitching staff (and the lone Libra position player; Michael Griffin). I must quote directly from one of my sources on this one: During this time He; "may receive gifts and favors from females" and has "an inclination for love-making"... Hot. Less exciting, but still positive is that Mars and Mercury are both in helpful positions today. Excellent for Aries Chad Reineke; and Virgos Joseph Krebs and Mike Costanzo. The Moon passes into Scorpio today, known for bringing out passion; Hopefully we play for the win today. Sunday 9/13. Nothing much going on today other than a mildly positive for Leo's Henry and Cozart. I would be surprised if the series goes five. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2931042/some-opiate-from-our-benevolent-overlords-heres-copy-for-card-part-sb-nations.html Some opiate from our benevolent overlords. Here's the copy for the card, part of SB Nation's Trading Cards series. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2931041/fay-votto-has-my-mvp-vote.html If he had a vote for MVP (he doesn't this year), John Fay would be choosing between Joey Votto and Albert Pujols. And right now, Votto would get his vote. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2930399/2010-fan-scouting-report-needs-your-input.html 2010 Fan Scouting Report needs your input! Tom Tango is once again soliciting scouting reports from fans on player fielding. In a time when we're seeing a lot of folks question the validity of the advanced fielding metrics we have available (UZR, DRS, etc), these provide an important reality check--or, at least, a useful alternative set of data. I use these data in much of my work that I post here on the Reds. So, if you've watched at least 10 Reds games this season, please drop by and give your opinion on our players' fielding skills. Thanks! Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2930398/red-reposter-free-will-useful-human-construct.html More photos » Keith Srakocic - AP This will serve as a good figure study for the life-sized statue dedicated on April 2, 2031 in the Bigger Red Machine section of the Garden of Legends at Chiquita & Gamble BananPark. Browse more photos » Remember, the Universe owes us for 1981. Despite grieving, Cueto took the hill and pitched admirablyIt's been tumultuous lately for Johnny, but his composure has been incredible. Hall o' Famer Hal values his access to Brandon Phillips "THIS IS NOT to point any crooked digits at Reds’ second baseman Brandon Phillips, but his night represented the frustrations of the Reds, who lost for the fourth time in six games on this seven-game trip, their seventh straight loss in Coors Field. Phillips struck out twice, grounded into a double play, made the last out of the game with the tying run on base, made his first error in 64 games and was out trying to stretch a single into a double." Hal is being at least a bit ironic by shifting blame while claiming not to, but Phillips did more than "represent" the frustration of the team last night. His play may have cost the team at least a run - the eventual margin of the game. I don't believe in a "goat," strictly speaking, since team sports rely on interdependent performances. The offense should have mustered more runs. Colorado shouldn't have designed a baseball stadium specifically for Carlos Gonzalez. But Phillips deserves the lion's share of the blame for last night. It's only one game in an All-Star season on a team still leading its division by six games in September, but sometimes you just Mess Up Big. Mark Sheldon has your Bruce and Volquez updates The sainted voice of ESPN announced yesterday that  Volquez was being recalled, but it hasn't been announced whether he will re-take his position in the rotation. Bruce hit off a tee. It always sounds like excessive humiliation when MLB players have to rehab on the tee-ball circuit, but far be it from me to question their methods. Hopefully Bruce will be active again in San Diego. Joe Posnanski probes the mystery of which pitcher has thrown the fastest in historyMainline some Poz:  "Finding the fastest pitcher is more art than science, more instinct than calculation." The inconsistencies in technology across eras, points of trajectory and even radar guns, taken with the velocity experienced by hitters in the presence of different deliveries makes this a subjective study. The effort yielded Posnanski's non-scientific list of the fastest hurlers in history. I may never break my cycle of addiction to ordered lists of baseball player's names. CoCo Cordero is Reds' nominee for Roberto Clemente Award The Closer drew scorn from fans when he forgot how to throw strikes a while a go, but don't let that obscure the fact that, on top of being pretty lights out lately, Cordero does good work in the community. Did anyone know that Pete Rose won the Roberto Clemente award in '76? Whatevs. Smoltz weighs in on Chapman The praise of Chapman's slider echoes what other analysts have been saying since his call-up. Doubting the radar gun is just a natural human response when being presented with evidence of real magic: His spin-rate and his slider with a dot like that is so tight and so nasty that it really has the hitter more confused than anything else. You throw a 103[mph fastball] down the middle; enough big league hitters are going to hit it. I’m more impressed by his slider coming off the fastball. It looks the same and you can’t tell. Marty Brennaman has a few words on the Reds starting pitching in this video/slideshow something or otherIt's well known that Marty likes to skew negative. But it's also true, as he points out, that the Reds rotation is uneven. Each starter is capable of a melt-down. The upside to the Reds' depth, though, is that if Dusty is willing to hook his starters who look like they're off, there's a good menu of starter-caliber guys capable of going multiple innings in relief. The Huffington Post on Pete Rose's "Crown of Thorns"There's definitely some Huffing going on this Post: "America has much at stake in the way we treat Pete Rose. This is not because Pete Rose is innocent, but because he is guilty. In this respect, we are on trial, not Pete Rose." The premise is the same one Reds fans have heard for the last 20 years: Pete Rose's lifetime ban is out of proportion with he did. But Rose's role as a baseball pariah is less about creating a diversion from the Steroid Era than Baseball simply acting like most big organizations with long histories, contradictory policies, and selective ideas of precedent (the ban) and tradition, which gravitate to its self-identified heroes and away from guys like Rose. There was a time when baseball thought, at least publicly, that Pete Rose was a good guy (Roberto Clemente Award), and that just so happened to coincide with the height of his star power. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2930035/farmers-only-season-winding-down.html Minor league seasons are officially over for Carolina, Lynchburg, Dayton, and the AZL team.  Louisville starts the playoffs today, so that leaves only Billings having played last night. The Mustangs won 3-0 behind another strong start from Kyle Lotzkar.  KyLo threw 5 shutout innings, striking out 7.  Yorman Rodriguez doubled, and Chris Berset singled and walked twice.  Up Next: They play their last game of the season at 9:05.  Finally, good luck to the Bats as they begin their run to playoff glory!  They'll get it started tonight at 6:05 with Chad Reineke on the hill. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919680/reds-rf-bruce-late-scratch-side-pain-ap.html Right fielder Jay Bruce was a late scratch from the Cincinnati Reds' lineup because of pain in his right side. Bruce has been one of the Reds' hottest hitters lately, going 8 for 15 with five homers in his last four games. Bruce homered three times during a 7-1 win over the Cubs on Friday. He led off Monday's 5-4 win over Milwaukee with a homer, then ended it with an RBI single in the... Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919679/reds-lh-chapman-arrives-100-mph-fastball-canadian-press.html CINCINNATI - The fire alarm was squealing at Great American Ball Park when left-hander Aroldis Chapman walked through the dugout and stepped onto a major league field for the first time. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919678/chapman-hits-102-mph-reds-beat-brewers-84-ap.html Aroldis Chapman was too fast to hit. Soon, the Cincinnati Reds could be too far ahead to catch. The Cuban defector made an eye-opening big league debut, topping out at 102 mph during his perfect inning, and the Reds added to their rapidly growing lead in the NL Central by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 8-4 on Tuesday night. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919677/reds-aroldis-chapman-debuts-four-pitches-topping-100-mph-sportingnewscom.html Left-hander Aroldis Chapman's major league debut Tuesday produced eye-popping numbers -- namely, a 103-mph fastball on the radar gun. Chapman, a Cuban defector, pitched one perfect inning for the Cincinnati Reds against the Milwaukee Brewers. Chapman joined the team at Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark after being recalled from Class AAA Louisville, where he had hit 105 mph on Friday. He entered the game in the eighth inning with the Reds up 8-3. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919676/reds-chapman-throws-102-mph-in-123-major-league-debut-yahoo-sports.html Enormous hype preceded the big-league arrival of Cincinnati Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919675/reds-call-up-firstround-pick-yonder-alonso-ap.html The Cincinnati Reds called up first baseman Yonder Alonso to give them another power hitter on the bench for their September playoff run. Alonso was the seventh overall pick in the June 2008 draft. He batted .296 with 12 homers and 56 RBIs in 101 games with Triple-A Louisville. Manager Dusty Baker says he'll be used primarily as a pinch-hitter and at first base if Joey Votto needs a day off. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919674/lhp-chapmans-fastball-overnight-sensation-pa-sportsticker.html By JOE KAY AP Baseball Writer Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919673/reds-chapman-hits-103-mph-gets-61-win-canadian-press.html CINCINNATI - No. 1 for Aroldis Chapman. Eight and counting for his new team. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919672/reds-aroldis-chapman-perfect-again-gets-first-victory-sportingnewscom.html Faster than you can say " Aroldis Chapman," the Cincinnati Reds have an eight-game lead in the NL Central. Chapman prefers to let his fastball do the talking, and Wednesday it was clocked at 103 mph. The Reds responded to their phenom's latest batch of blazing pitches by rallying for six runs in the seventh inning to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-1. Chapman was perfect for the second consecutive night in an inning of work and was credited with the victory. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919671/chapman-turns-baseball-world-upside-down-associated-content.html With a slow trot and steely nerves, Aroldis Chapman and his fire-hot fastball arrived on Aug. 31, 2010. The eighth-inning trip from right field was much less stressful than the one the 22-year-old Chapman took in 2009, when he defected from Cuba during a game in the Netherlands. Everyone, though, feels a few butterflies once they step onto the diamond. Or do they? As Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy stepped away from the plate after Chapman's second pitch, Lucroy knew there would be no debut jitters from this rookie. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919670/cueto-leaves-reds-to-attend-family-emergency-ap.html Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto missed the team's first series against the St. Louis Cardinals since he played a principal role in their fracas last month, attending to what the team called a family emergency in the Dominican Republic. Manager Dusty Baker thought Cueto, who last pitched on Wednesday, would be back in time for his next turn in the rotation Tuesday at Colorado. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919669/cardinals-finally-slow-1stplace-reds-32-win-ap.html Jaime Garcia told himself it was just another game, and when Brandon Phillips came to the plate it was just another hitter. The rookie maintained his focus to beat the Reds for the fourth time, halting the free-falling St. Louis Cardinals' five-game losing streak and ending Cincinnati's four-game run in a 3-2 victory on Friday night. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919668/life-in-fast-lane-chapmans-license-plates-reflect-his-speed-yahoo-sports.html In addition to being the fastest thrower in all of the land, Cincinnati Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman appears... Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919667/reds-roll-past-cardinals-lengthen-lead-ap.html Cincinnati rookie Travis Wood sported a new look Saturday. The long locks were gone, replaced with a shorter, more military-style haircut. His strong outing on the mound was the perfect match for his more clean-cut appearance. Wood pitched seven efficient innings and hit his first career homer to lead the Reds to a 6-1 win against Adam Wainwright and the St. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919666/cardinals-beat-reds-42-take-2-3-ap.html The St. Louis Cardinals handled the Cincinnati Reds again. Small consolation for a team that's seven games back in the NL Central because they can't beat anybody else in the division. Matt Holliday hit a go-ahead, three-run homer to back Chris Carpenter's latest dominant effort against Cincinnati in a 4-2 victory Sunday as the Cardinals took two of three from the division-leading Reds. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919665/colby-rasmus-isnt-thrilled-to-be-cardinals-sportingnewscom.html ST. LOUIS -- Don't count Colby Rasmus as thrilled to be a Cardinal. Rasmus, a second-year center fielder, requested a trade at some point in each of the past two seasons, manager Tony La Russa said Sunday. (GM John Mozeliak said later Sunday that no request was made.) Either way, Rasmus hasn't fully embraced the idea of being with the St. Louis Cardinals next season. ?He?s learned about being a Cardinal but ? ask Colby,? La Russa said. ?Let him handle it however he wants to handle it. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919664/jimenez-wins-18th-as-rockies-rally-past-reds-ap.html Ubaldo Jimenez stuck around long enough to turn a clunker into a classic. Another bloop single or broken-bat flare from getting pulled in the third inning, Jimenez buckled down to win his club-record 18th game despite a wild outing as the surging Colorado Rockies rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the Cincinnati Reds 10-5 Monday. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919663/reds-team-report-yahoo-sports.html Aaron Harang got a no-decision in the Reds' 10-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Monday. But it's pretty clear that a decision is coming on Harang's future in the rotation. "Yeah, pretty soon," manager Dusty Baker said. "We'll discuss things and see. We can't have these short outings. That puts pressure on my bullpen for the ensuing days after that." Harang went 2 1/3 innings Monday and allowed fours runs on four hits. He walked three and struck one. Since returning from the disabled list after missing nearly two months with a bad back, Harang was allowed seven runs (five earned) on 12 hits. He has walked six and struck out three. Harang is in the last year of his contract with the Reds. Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919662/wood-homers-leads-reds-to-big-win.html Wood homers, leads Reds to big win Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919661/chapman-hurls-scoreless-frame-in-road-win.html Chapman hurls scoreless frame in road win Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919660/alonsoamp39s-firsthit-ball-going-to-his-dad.html Alonso's first-hit ball going to his dad Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919659/reds-could-use-cairo-in-oufield.html Reds could use Cairo in the oufield Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919658/cordero-has-mojo-back-for-stretch-run.html Cordero has mojo back for stretch run Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919657/rolen-given-rest-after-starting-12-straight.html Rolen given rest after starting 12 straight Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919656/outlook-grim-for-edmonds-to-return-reds.html Outlook grim for Edmonds to return to Reds Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919655/chapman-yields-first-major-league-hits-run.html Chapman yields first Major League hits, run Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919654/harang-may-be-pitching-himself-out-rotation.html Harang may be pitching himself out of rotation Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919653/fireballer-chapman-claims-phenom-spotlight.html Fireballer Chapman claims phenom spotlight Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919652/cordero-redsamp39-nominee-for-clemente-award.html Cordero Reds' nominee for Clemente Award Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919651/reds-holding-off-on-adding-outfielder.html Reds holding off on adding outfielder Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919650/2010-game-134-thread-reds-at-cardinals.html Next Game Cincinnati Reds @ St. Louis Cardinals Friday, Sep 3, 2010, 8:15 PM EDT Busch Stadium Bronson Arroyo vs Jaime Garcia Partly cloudy. Winds blowing from left to right field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 80.   Complete Coverage > W-L ERA WHIP K BB 2010 - Bronson Arroyo 14-8 3.82 1.15 96 55 W-L ERA WHIP K BB 2010 - Jaime Garcia 12-6 2.33 1.29 118 58 This series means a lot more to the Cardinals right now than it does the Reds. Basically, the Cardinals need a sweep. Down by 8 games with 31 to play (29 for the Reds), they need to make a surge if they want to get back in the race. The Reds, on the other hand, simply need to not tank. Playing around .500 the rest of the way pretty much forces the Cardinals to play their best baseball of the year. The thing is, I expect the Reds to play at least a couple of games over .500 the rest of the way. That is to say, unless the Cardinals get a sweep, this race is close to done. Because of that, I expect the Reds to play much more relaxed this series than their last one against the Cardinals. This year's team seems to be one that can easily put the past behind them. I also expect that they learned a lesson in the last series, that they need to play calm. They've been much more calm in the last 3 weeks and it has showed in the results on the field. The Cards have some good pitchers going this weekend, so it would surprise me if the Reds win only one game, but I do not expect them to get swept again. And hey, even if they do get swept, it's still a 5-game lead. Like we've been saying, it doesn't matter how they play against the Cardinals if they can beat up on everyone else. Go Reds! Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919649/its-okay-as-long-they-still-cant-beat-other-teams-reds-lose-32.html More photos » Jeff Roberson - AP I really hope he stole that sign from a five year old. Penmanship counts! (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Browse more photos » Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game Jaime Garcia.  The St. Louis hurler went 6.2 strong innings, allowing six hits and two runs.  He also went 2-2 at the dish, including a double.  Honorary mentions go to Skip Schumaker, Scott Rolen, and Paul Janish. Key Plays St. Louis got off to a flying start against Bronson Arroyo.  Skip Schumaker singled to lead off the first inning, and then Jon Jay tripled, bringing him in.  Albert Pujols then hit a sacrifice fly and Jay scored.  Cardinals lead, 2-0. The Cardinals tacked on another run in the second inning.  Brendan Ryan singled with one out, and then Jaime Garcia hit a double.  If Bronson had managed to get the pitcher out, Skip Schumaker's subsequent ground out would have ended the inning.  Instead, it was enough to score Ryan, and give the Cardinals would turned out to be an insurmountable 3-0 lead. By the third inning, the Reds started to look like they would make a game of it.  Paul Janish homered.  Cardinals lead, 3-1. In the fourth inning, Scott Rolen drew a one out walk, then scored when Jonny Gomes hit a deep double to left center.  Unfortunately, Gomes was thrown out trying for third.  Just because you can't hit the cutoff man, Jonny, doesn't mean other teams can't.  Even more unfortunately, Ryan Hanigan then singled, a hit likely would have tied the game.  Instead, Cardinals win, 3-2.   via www.fangraphs.com Other Notes The Cardinals scored in consecutive innings for the first time in seven games. Jaime Garcia has beaten the Reds four times, but Paul Janish's homer ended a streak of 22.2 innings without allowing an earned run. Garcia is 4-4 lifetime batting against Bronson Arroyo. The one thing Jonny Gomes had avoided doing this season was grounding into a double play... until he did that in the second inning. Final - 9.3.2010 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 RHE Cincinnati Reds 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 St. Louis Cardinals 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 3 6 0 WP: Jaime Garcia (13 - 6) SV: Ryan Franklin (23) LP: Bronson Arroyo (14 - 9) Complete Coverage > Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919648/game-135-part-3-because-subjectverb-agreement-hard.html More photos » Dilip Vishwanat - Getty Images Who's better, eh? Browse more photos » Cabrera just drew a walk to lead off the inning, and now guess who's up? Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919647/reds-lay-down-some-great-wood-beat-cards-61.html More photos » Jeff Roberson - AP Yep. Good Wood. Browse more photos » Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game Travis Wood.  I mean, come ON!  The guy pitched seven innings while giving up only five hits and walking two.  The only run that scored in that time came around due to his own throwing error.  But he even made up for that by homering off of Adam Wainwright in his second AB.  Honorable mentions go to Jonny Gomes, who went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI, and Aaron Miles and Matt Holliday, who had some key defensive miscues to help the Reds to some of those runs.   Key Plays After an Aaron Miles error on what probably should have been a double play, the Reds had the bases loaded in the first with one out.  Ramon Hernandez sac fly'd in a run, and Jonny Gomes doubled in two more.  Reds up, 3-0. The Cardinals got one back in the bottom of the first off of two singles and a throwing error. Wood homered in the fourth.  Reds up 4-1. Aroldis Chapman pitched the eighth and got into some trouble, at least partially due to a slightly inconsistent strike zone.  After walking John Jay, though, he got Albert Pujols to ground into a double play to end the threat. In the top of the ninth, Yonder Alonso pinch hit and got his first hit of his career.  It was mostly Holliday's fault, though, as it bounced off of him into the stands for a ground rule double.  A groundout and a Votto single scored him. Francisco Cordero allowed one baserunner in the ninth but no runs, and the Reds won, 6-1. via www.fangraphs.com Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2919646/2010-game-136-thread-reds-at-cardinals.html Next Game Cincinnati Reds @ St. Louis Cardinals Sunday, Sep 5, 2010, 2:15 PM EDT Busch Stadium Homer Bailey vs Chris Carpenter Sunny. Winds blowing from right to left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 80.   Complete Coverage > W-L ERA WHIP K BB 2010 - Homer Bailey 3-2 4.92 1.40 59 27 W-L ERA WHIP K BB 2010 - Chris Carpenter 14-5 2.92 1.17 147 54 Yesterday's win wasn't the proverbial nail in the coffin just yet, but it may have been close. I won't pop the champagne until it is official - a lot can happen to make us look the fool - but as a Cardinals blogger told me last week, it's probably okay to go ahead and put the champagne on ice. A win today is probably enough to allow the Reds coast home the rest of the way. We've talked before about what the Cards would have to do if the Reds won X amount of games the rest of the way. A win today would put the Reds up by 10 games in the win column, so the Cardinals would have to win at least 10 more games than the Reds to even tie. With 26 games left, including 19 against teams that are currently at least 9 games under .500, I'd say it is a pretty safe bet that the Reds will win at least 10 more games after today. With the way they've been playing for the last couple of months, does anybody really think the Cardinals will win at least 20 of their last 28 games? I'm not saying it can't happen, but the likelihood of it is pretty slim. What would truly be awesome though is for Homer Bailey to out-pitch Chris Carpenter today and for the Reds to finally beat the Cardinals' right-hander again. Carpenter has won 9-straight starts against the Reds. Not decisions, starts. The Reds haven't beaten Carpenter since June 6, 2006, when he was beaten by...Eric Milton. The only player in the Reds lineup that day who is still with the Reds is Brandon Phillips. In fact, there were more players in the Cardinals lineup who are now with the Reds - Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds. Besides Carpenter, the only other current Cardinals who played that day are Yadier Molina and Aaron Miles (Pujols didn't play). That's how long it has been since the Reds beat Chris Carpenter. Win or lose today, the Reds will still have at least a 7-game lead. That makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Go Reds! Cincinnati Reds - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates