Pirates @ Reds Series 8/3 thru 8/5/12

**LRCW** · Aug 3, 12, 05:19 AM

Big series. Latos vs. Wandy in game 1.

**malachicrunch** · Aug 3, 12, 06:37 AM

Go Reds!!

**ekubum** · Aug 3, 12, 06:49 AM

Ready to watch this series! Let's go Reds!

**UKMustangFan** · Aug 3, 12, 07:01 AM

Pirates switched up their rotation to have Burnett go Sunday night....Kinda makes you think they view this as a "make or break" series.

**LRCW** · Aug 3, 12, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by UKMustangFan

Pirates switched up their rotation to have Burnett go Sunday night....Kinda makes you think they view this as a "make or break" series.

So who is going Sunday afternoon?

Seriously, I fully expected them to do that.

**dmderringer10** · Aug 3, 12, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by UKMustangFan

Pirates switched up their rotation to have Burnett go Sunday night....Kinda makes you think they view this as a "make or break" series.

With the awful schedule the Reds have remaining the Pirates need to win this series.

**SSC** · Aug 3, 12, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by dmderringer10

With the awful schedule the Reds have remaining the Pirates need to win this series.

Isn't the Pirates schedule pretty similar?

Also as far as easy schedule I don't care what the Phillies record is right now with their starting pitching the 7 games with them including 4 at Philly after the Reds play 7 games in 6 days make those Philly games much more difficult than they may look on paper.

**UKMustangFan** · Aug 3, 12, 08:34 AM

Scott Podsednik has been released....Was hitting .387 and had an OBP of .409 in 70 PA's this season. Possible bench option?

**dmderringer10** · Aug 3, 12, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by SSC

Isn't the Pirates schedule pretty similar?

Also as far as easy schedule I don't care what the Phillies record is right now with their starting pitching the 7 games with them including 4 at Philly after the Reds play 7 games in 6 days make those Philly games much more difficult than they may look on paper.

I have no idea what the Pirates schedule looks like. Unlike most here, I'm not concerned about them. If Cincy takes care of business they win this division easily.

There's a reason Philly has such a bad record. Like I said, take care of business and they win the division easily. Heck, play .510 baseball the rest of the year and I bet they still win the division pretty easily.

**Voice of Reason** · Aug 3, 12, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by UKMustangFan

Scott Podsednik has been released....Was hitting .387 and had an OBP of .409 in 70 PA's this season. Possible bench option?

Don't mess with the team chemistry for a spare part that will have minimal impact. If things take a bad turn, you can look at players like this but for now - leave it alone.

As to this being a big series, absolutely. Any time you go head to head, those games are guaranteed standings changers. I wouldn't say it is a make or break series. It is still too early to say that. But it is important for the Pirates to take 2 of 3 and not lose more ground plus games to make up that ground.

**LRCW** · Aug 3, 12, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by dmderringer10

I have no idea what the Pirates schedule looks like. Unlike most here, I'm not concerned about them. If Cincy takes care of business they win this division easily.

There's a reason Philly has such a bad record. Like I said, take care of business and they win the division easily. Heck, play .510 baseball the rest of the year and I bet they still win the division pretty easily.

Why don't the Pirates worry you? They've already beat the Reds 5 out of 9 games this year. Do you still think they will fade like they did last year?

**SSC** · Aug 3, 12, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by dmderringer10

I have no idea what the Pirates schedule looks like. Unlike most here, I'm not concerned about them. If Cincy takes care of business they win this division easily.

There's a reason Philly has such a bad record. Like I said, take care of business and they win the division easily. Heck, play .510 baseball the rest of the year and I bet they still win the division pretty easily.

I wasn't as concerned about the Pirates early in the year but they're schedule is also weak and Burnett, Wandy and McDonald is a pretty nice front 3. They will beat up on the Cubs, Astros, and Brewers just like the Reds will.

**Da champ** · Aug 3, 12, 09:04 AM

Reds vs the Bucs ! Reminds me of the 70's. Doc Ellis vs Jack Billingham tonight. Jerry Reuss against Don Gullett Saturday. The finale has John Candelaria vs Gary Nolan in the series finale !

**Clyde** · Aug 3, 12, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by Da champ

Reds vs the Bucs ! Reminds me of the 70's. Doc Ellis vs Jack Billingham tonight. Jerry Reuss against Don Gullett Saturday. The finale has John Candelaria vs Gary Nolan in the series finale !

Doc Ellis will be doing LSD about 4:00.

**UKMustangFan** · Aug 3, 12, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by SSC

I wasn't as concerned about the Pirates early in the year but they're schedule is also weak and Burnett, Wandy and McDonald is a pretty nice front 3. They will beat up on the Cubs, Astros, and Brewers just like the Reds will.

McDonald has been atrocious since the All-Star Break, and Wandy hasn't been good since May. The only guy they have in the rotation that really seems to be an "ace" type guy is Burnett.

**SSC** · Aug 3, 12, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by UKMustangFan

McDonald has been atrocious since the All-Star Break, and Wandy hasn't been good since May. The only guy they have in the rotation that really seems to be an "ace" type guy is Burnett.

Unless you want to include Latos, and I think it's a tad early for that the Reds have one ace too. All of the Reds young pitchers will throw more innings than they ever have. Cueto was roughed up in Colorado and wasn't great yesterday. McDonald owns the Reds. The Reds two best hitters by far have missed time recently. It goes both ways. I would much rather be the Reds down the stretch though.

**Da champ** · Aug 3, 12, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Clyde

Doc Ellis will be doing LSD about 4:00.

**Flotsam** · Aug 3, 12, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Da champ

Reds vs the Bucs ! Reminds me of the 70's. Doc Ellis vs Jack Billingham tonight. Jerry Reuss against Don Gullett Saturday. The finale has John Candelaria vs Gary Nolan in the series finale !

I enjoyed the rivarly with the Pirates teams of the late 80's - early 90's. Would love to see a Doug Drabek vs. Jose Rio rematch. (Maybe Barry Bonds could even get a couple of hits this time around.)

**UKMustangFan** · Aug 3, 12, 11:55 AM

I'm most interested to see if Bruce is in the lineup tonight....He normally sits against Wandy (he's something like 1-29 against him), but with Votto and most likely BP out, there's no way Dusty sits him too, does he?

**LRCW** · Aug 3, 12, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by UKMustangFan

I'm most interested to see if Bruce is in the lineup tonight....He normally sits against Wandy (he's something like 1-29 against him), but with Votto and most likely BP out, there's no way Dusty sits him too, does he?

Ludick, Heisey, Frazier in the OF, with Cairo at 1st, if Valdez is available to play 2nd.