Series Thread: CIN @ STL

[OS]

Arroyo and Wellemeyer going tonight.

[stinkdified]

Apr 28, 2008 CIN (Arroyo) @ STL (Wellemeyer) 8:15 PM ET
Apr 29, 2008 CIN (Cueto) @ STL (Pineiro) 8:15 PM ET
Apr 30, 2008 CIN (Harang) @ STL (Looper) 1:15 PM ET

Accuscore for today (28th): 53/47-StL

CIN - 5th NL Central 11-15
STL - 2nd NL Central 16-10

Izturis should be back

scrubs start a 3-game with the brewers tomorrow...Jason Marquis gets the series start...

[stlmark]

Not a good way to start the series. The Reds were 0-9 on first games of a series.

[cprice12]

The number of stranded runners we have each game is ridiculous.

[marco]

The number of stranded runners we have each game is ridiculous.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought this was also an issue last year?

It's like the Blues inept powerplay... when they have a chance to bury the game or make a dent in the score, they're incapable of it.

[BoxCar]

We tied for the most double plays grounded into last year. I also recall having a hard time with RISP and 2 out situations. The DPs though really hurt, couldn't have rallies even when we got a man on base.

What I've noticed recently:

Ludwick is striking out way too much. Even without the 4 SO performance last night, he needs to work on that. He doesn't supply the power that goes along with high SO counts like that.

Like everyone else, way too many left on base! The good news we can take from that is that we are hitting and getting men on base, but need some work on pressure and RISP situations. The worst example was Ankiel's SO on Friday night when almost any contact would have tied the game against Houston.

I'd like to see more stealing. We have the speed now with Barton to pinch run in situations and I think Schumaker, Miles, Kennedy, Ryan and Isturis should have steal attempts regularly. We had the 3rd least last year. If our power isn't going to be able to show up every night (which we can't expect it to) then we have to work on small ball and get those stolen bases.

Schumaker has been incredibly patient as a hitter and has been the most impressive player thus far in my opinion. His throws from the outfield are occasionally off-target, but even with that he is/was tied for the NL lead in assists. I think he went 3 games in a row leading the game off with a walk last week.

The strongest part of the team last year has been one of our weaker parts this year: the bullpen. McClellan has been superb other than one outing, but the rest have been basically average. We could have a few more wins for sure if the bullpen had done its job. Who knew we would see our starters playing so well?

Ryan should get the start before Isturis until he proves he doesn't deserve it. Isturis is on the way out, he hits around .200 and his fielding isn't that awesome to excuse that. It baffles me that LaRussa doesn't let Ryan play everyday. The only real problem I observe with Ryan is his lack of patience at the plate. He should take more of an Eckstein approach and really make the pitcher make pitches, especially at the end of the lineup where piling up pitches will really hurt the starters pitch count.

[Kreegz2]

i was just browsing mlb.com, and apparently, if we win today, it will be the first time in our history that we have won 18 games in april.

1-0 reds as i type this though, top of the second.

[dmiles2186]

i was just browsing mlb.com, and apparently, if we win today, it will be the first time in our history that we have won 18 games in april.

1-0 reds as i type this though, top of the second.

Really? Wow...with some of the teams we've had, that's quite the achievement, if we reach it. Either way, this game amazes me sometimes and that stat just did it right there...haha.

[Kreegz2]

i was just browsing mlb.com, and apparently, if we win today, it will be the first time in our history that we have won 18 games in april.

1-0 reds as i type this though, top of the second.

Really? Wow...with some of the teams we've had, that's quite the achievement, if we reach it. Either way, this game amazes me sometimes and that stat just did it right there...haha.

no kidding, even for a 130 year old franchise, there's still new things to be achieved.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.j ... p&c_id=mlb

[stlmark]

This team just finds ways to get it done. The last few series they have started out with a shitty game, but then they come back to take the series.

[cprice12]

18 wins...tied for 1st place...2nd most in the majors behind Arizona's 20 wins...most wins in April ever for the Cardinal franchise.
We're off to a nice start.

Are you watching Jeff Passan???

18-11...good for a tie for 1st place with the Cubs who are 17-10. We're two games up on Milwaukee.
Now we have a day off on Thursday and then we start a three game series with the Cubs on Friday. Should be fun.

Oh, btw...the Cubs destroyed Milwaukee tonight, 19-5. Ouch.