August 12, 201016 yr Okay I guess it is time to weigh in with my thoughts on the Cards series. I have been reading this week's posts but have been too busy spending some quality time here @ my favorite summertime hangout Dale Hollow lake with my 3 grandkids before they head back to school. I know this will surprise most of you but my main disappointment was the fact that the Reds were not able to at least salvage 1 win out of this series. I fully expected Carp and Waino to step up as they did and win their games but I thought the Red's might be able to hold their own with Cueto going against Garcia. This Red's team came into the series with a lot of offensive question marks and left it with many more. Most of you are looking for me to blame the "toothpick" for any losses but I only blame Dusty for setting the tempo of the series. He tried to play down the importance of the series and I think that was a huge mistake. He had a chance to flip his rotation like Tony Larussa did but he didn't want to play chess with Tony. This team has had trouble with the Cards this year and they needed too know that they could beat them, because we all know that they will probably have to at some point in the playoffs, if they get there, It may or may not have cost this team the division only time will tell. He sent a guy out there to open the series who has clearly been struggling the last month and he could have gone with one of the hottest pitchers on his staff instead, Wood. He chose not to and we all know the results, Tony got the first win and set the tone for the series. Not only did they get beat the first game but they were embarassed in front of a large Monday night crowd at home with bad offensive execution, bad defense, you name it. Then BP had to really pull the move that will probably haunt him for a long time to come with his statement to the media which really fired the Cards up. Once again we all know how that turned out. This team has clearly showed resiliency throughout the year but let's see how they react to a day off and a tough matchup with Johnson and the Marlins on Friday night. This team could come bouncing back like they have or put their tails between their legs and go hide in the corner like a scared bunch of rabbits. Let's hope they respond positively because to date they have given us a lot of hope for the future of this franchise. I think it's time for the "toothpick" to make some big decisions with players in certain spots. There are guys on this team that need some downtime and others that need to see more time on the field. Let's hope he can make the right moves to help this young team get things turned around quickly before they head West for what could be a killer road trip. After spending the last hour and a half reading your assessment ( lol) , I must say that I agree with much of what you profess. I said prior to the series that the big game was the first one, the tone setter. If Captain Toothpick was determined to go with a rookie in the opener, it should have been Wood, who has been pitching much better than the struggling Leake. Also, Phillips' stupidity did not help. Rasmus admitted yesterday that the Reds' trash talking "awoke a sleeping giant." Other Cards' players, including Carpenter and Wainwright , have pretty much echoed the same sentiments. ESPN analysts noted that the Reds showed that they were not yet ready for the grand stage. I knew the Carpenter and Wainwright games would be tough, but the performance in game two was most disheartening. It's time to see what this team is really made of. They have been resilient all season long. Do they bounce back once again, or will Phillips' immaturish actions along with the drubbing by the Cards send the Reds' into a downward death spiral? I believe this team may have some fight left in it. However, let's hope that lessons have been learned that will pay big dividends the remainder of the season(and hopefully, post-season).
August 12, 201016 yr I'm not a big Dusty guy but do we really think Wood beats Carpenter in game 1 of the series? Say they use Leake Sunday against the Cubs and they lose that game then Wood gets beat by Carpenter. Where does that put them?
August 12, 201016 yr I'm not a big Dusty guy but do we really think Wood beats Carpenter in game 1 of the series? Say they use Leake Sunday against the Cubs and they lose that game then Wood gets beat by Carpenter. Where does that put them? I could have started against the Cubs on Sunday and won. Game one of the Cards series was huge. If you're gonna go with a rookie, go with the one who has been pitching far better. Yes, the Cards still have the edge with Carpenter, but you give yourself a better chance with one of your hotter pitchers.
August 12, 201016 yr I could have started against the Cubs on Sunday and won. Game one of the Cards series was huge. If you're gonna go with a rookie, go with the one who has been pitching far better. Yes, the Cards still have the edge with Carpenter, but you give yourself a better chance with one of your hotter pitchers. Don't fool yourself, they weren't beating Carpenter. I know I was all for mixing up the rotation before the series to match the Cards, but I kind of like how they were approaching it as nothing big and just another series. That way if they sweep the Cards or win 2 of 3, it's no different than any other series, and same goes for what happened. Move on, you've still got 47 games to play.
August 12, 201016 yr Don't fool yourself, they weren't beating Carpenter. I know I was all for mixing up the rotation before the series to match the Cards, but I kind of like how they were approaching it as nothing big and just another series. That way if they sweep the Cards or win 2 of 3, it's no different than any other series, and same goes for what happened. Move on, you've still got 47 games to play. I agree the Cards had a big edge in game one with Laettner, I mean Carpenter, on the bump. However, to say they weren't beating him regardless is a bit strong. Had the Reds given up just two runs they win the game. They would have had a bit better chance at that result with Wood instead of Leake in this writer's opinion. Bottomline, though, Cards are just better.
August 12, 201016 yr I could have started against the Cubs on Sunday and won. Game one of the Cards series was huge. If you're gonna go with a rookie, go with the one who has been pitching far better. Yes, the Cards still have the edge with Carpenter, but you give yourself a better chance with one of your hotter pitchers. It's easy to say that now. If Leake gets bombed Sunday and they don't win it's a 4 game losing streak.
August 12, 201016 yr I agree the Cards had a big edge in game one with Laettner, I mean Carpenter, on the bump. However, to say they weren't beating him regardless is a bit strong. Had the Reds given up just two runs they win the game. They would have had a bit better chance at that result with Wood instead of Leake in this writer's opinion. Bottomline, though, Cards are just better. Remind me, which Red pitcher held the Cards to two runs this past series?
August 12, 201016 yr Cueto suspended 7 games and Baker out for 2. Phillips and Springer get fined... Anything on the Cards?
August 12, 201016 yr Cueto suspended 7 games and Baker out for 2. Phillips and Springer get fined... LaRusa suspended 2 and Carpenter and Molina fined... I am not sure I saw Springer's involvement, but I would think that this is pretty fair.
August 12, 201016 yr LaRue doesn't get any games for getting blood all over Cueto's cleats? Weak. That is funny!
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