DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Its August, and the Reds are still in contention!

The radio links I had keep quitting on me so I've only been able to scan the boxscores and watch their TV highlights.
Won't use the 'P' word. Yet.

Yeah, as a Reds fan, that's the only good thing about living in Cincinnati "territory"...watching the Reds on FSNOhio or listening on 700WLW. I know Jules had to subscribe to MLB radio to listen in Missouri.

My bad. Pretty vague usage of pronouns, there. Reds.

I'm good with Cordero closing for the most part, but getting the ball to him? Our starters can't go seven, eight innings every night. I'd like to see an addition to make that less of a weak link.

It's too late,...i.e. past the trading deadline,...to make that happen. If they have a fireballer down in AAA, maybe bring him up, bu then you have the emotional pressures.

They need to stand pat, and hope the Cards continue to fail; save these big boy starters for the Playoffs.

Jay Bruce just hit his third home run of the game tonight!

7-1 Reds in the 7th.

Good to see Brucie coming around at the right time of the year.

Reds losing 3-2 in the 7th, and Cardinals losing 8-5 also in the 7th...come on Reds!!

Buddy sent me an email with pics showing Chapmans fastball clocked 105:

AROLDIS FEVER REACHES 105
Louisville's Aroldis Chapman last night vs Columbus earned his 9th win of the season by pitching a perfect 9th inning (3k)...Chapman's fastball reached 105 mph on the radar gun...loyal Better Off Red readers Katy Blanton, Kelly Knapp and Annie Welch attended last night's game and saw "the Fever" firsthand...Katy sent the above photo of the radar gun reading...over his last 17apps Chapman is 3-0 with 8 saves and a 0.96 ERA (3r/2er, 4bb, 31k, .136oba)...in 26 appearances this season as a reliever, he's 4-1-8 with a 2.40 ERA (30ip, 12bb, 49k, .156oba).

Reds win today and Cardinals lose. 5 games up!!

GO REDS!

Looking at the box from today's game, I see it was a brilliant pitcher's duel......with the 2 squads combining for 28 base hits.

30 games left.

5 games up in the Central...(6 in the W column).

Milwaukee comes to Cincy tomorrow and then we have to visit St Looie for the weekend.

C'mon, Boys, let's go! And, I really hope the Cardinals continue to have issues. Seems like almost every time they lose lately, the Reds lose, too.

Jay Bruce homer...........1-0 Reds!

Reds win; Cards lose.



Reds to recall Aroldis Chapman

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press

CINCINNATI -- Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman is bringing his 105 mph fastball to the big leagues.

The Reds plan to call up the hard-throwing lefty before their game Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, trying to strengthen their bullpen for a playoff push in September and beyond.

“
We felt with his stuff, if you shorten the game more he should be successful. That's why we put him in there for now. We'll get him back to starting next year.

” -- Reds GM Walt Jocketty on moving Chapman to the bullpen temporarily

By adding him in August, the Reds will make him eligible for the postseason -- and unleash him on opposing hitters who have never seen him.

The NL Central leaders had a five-game edge over St. Louis heading into Tuesday's games.

"I think Dusty [Baker] will ease him into a role until he gets his feet on the ground, he gets accustomed to pitching up here," general manager Walt Jocketty said in an interview. "Then depending on how he does, we'll see how the role develops."

The 22-year-old Chapman signed a six-year, $30.25 million deal with Cincinnati in January. He was in the competition for the fifth starter's spot during spring training until he was sidelined by back spasms.

The Reds sent him to Triple-A Louisville to start the season. He got mixed results, throwing a lot of pitches to get through five innings. He went 5-5 with a 4.11 ERA in 13 starts.

Cincinnati has plenty of starters, but decided to see if Chapman could help the Reds out of the bullpen this season. They moved him into a relief role at Louisville last month and he was even better, going 4-1 with a 2.40 ERA in 26 relief appearances.

His fastball was clocked at 103 mph as a starter. Jocketty said he's been throwing consistently harder as a reliever, hitting 105 mph recently. He has struck out 49 in 30 relief innings.

"We felt with his stuff, if you shorten the game more he should be successful," Jocketty said. "That's why we put him in there for now. We'll get him back to starting next year."

Chapman has handled his many adjustments -- new country, new culture, new baseball team -- without much trouble. Jocketty thinks he's ready to handle the pressure of making his major league debut in the middle of a pennant race.

"That's why we left him down there a little bit longer, to get more experience in the bullpen," Jocketty said. "And he's adapted really well to it. He actually enjoys it."

And in other news, the Pirates were officially eliminated from playoff contention with last night's 14-2 loss at Wrigley. So, good luck with that whole "playoff race" thing Reds fans.

Once again, Reds win, Cardinals lose. 7 games up!!!!

Chapman is definitely worthy of the hype, I don't even see how that guy fouled off the 102 mph pitch.

Wow... the Cardinals are falling apart, and the Reds stay hot.
See you in October (don't jinx 'em with the 'P' word).
The Reds are an interesting team to follow, I must say (of course what makes them even more interesting is that seven-game lead thing).

The Reds will make the playoffs.. only a total collapse could keep them from making the playoffs.. they would have to suck really bad the rest of the way to not make the playoffs.. or the Cards could get hot and sweep a few series and that would put some pressure on the Reds to make the playoffs... who do you think they'll match up against in the playoffs? What do you think their pitching rotation will be in the playoffs?

I still can't completely figure out the wildcard thing. If the Reds win the Central and Cards win the wildcard, I know the Reds won't play St. Louis, but don't know if they'd play the east or west division winner.
And what ya poking me for?