Entering Wednesday's game against the San Francisco Giants, Reds' leadoff hitter Orlando Cabrera was sporting a 0-12 mini-slump. Cabrera led off the first inning with a single and scored on a Scott Rolen double giving Aaron Harang and the Reds an early 1-0 lead. Cabrera ended the day going 4-5 with three doubles and three runs scored. Scott Rolen went 3-3 driving in two runs with two doubles and Jonny Gomes went 1-2 with three RBI. Combined, the trio went 8-10 with six doubles.
Aaron Harang started for the Reds and went seven innings. Harang allowed only five hits while striking out three. After retiring the first five Giants' batters he faced, Harang walked Pat Burrell, and Buster Posey hit his first career home run into the left field bleachers at GABP. After Harang left the game, Danny Herrera and Logan Ondrusek combined for a scoreless eighth. The Giants scored again in the ninth inning off closer Francisco Cordero, but could not overcome the six runs the Reds had already put on the board. The Reds defeated the Giants 6-3 and gained a one-game lead for first place as the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Cardinals on Wednesday night.
In case you missed it, the Reds were featured on MLB Production's This Week in Baseball on Saturday afternoon (Watch it here). The show highlighted the Reds' double play combination of Orlando Cabrera and Brandon Phillips, former University of Texas Longhorn Drew Stubbs, and the friendship between rookie Mike Leake and veteran Bronson Arroyo. During the broadcast, Brandon Phillips talked about his teammate Orlando Cabrera:
"We're going to the playoffs because we have him on our team."
Mike "Godzilla" Leake (5-0, 2.22) will face Todd Wellemeyer (3-5, 5.72) and the Giants at 12:35pm on Thursday.
It is no longer an enigma; the Cincinnati Reds will need to locate bullpen help if they want to remain in the 2010 playoff hunt. The Reds have lost their last two attempts at the San Francisco Giants, both games being entirely within reach, until the Reds' bullpen entered the game.
On Monday, Johnny Cueto clearly struggled (6IP, 10H, 4ER, 5K) against the Giants, but held himself together enough to keep his team in the game. Cueto left the game down 4-3 in the sixth, but the Reds' offense offered two runs in the bottom half of the inning, giving the team a 5-4 lead and a possible victory for Cueto. Danny Herrera came into the game in the seventh with only one run allowed in his last nine appearances. Herrera quickly allowed two singles to Giants' hitters. After recording only one out, Herrera was pulled for the young Enerio Del Rosario. Giants' shortstop Juan Uribe drove in his third and fourth RBI of the game off Rosario with a single. Arthur Rhodes and Logan Ondrusek finished the game with scoreless appearances, but the Reds' offense was out of gas as they lost to the Giants 6-5.
On Tuesday, Sam LeCure made his third major league start against the Giants. LeCure pitched well during six innings allowing only one run on five hits. LeCure left the game trailing 1-0. After Logan Ondrusek and Arthur Rhodes recorded four outs without allowing a run (WOW!), Nick Masset entered the game. The Giants continued their singles parade from the previous day and scored two insurance runs off the seemingly hopeless Masset. In the end, the Giants only needed one as they blanked the Reds 3-0. Matt Cain pitched a complete game shutout (7H, 2BB, 5K).
The Reds' bullpen seems so desperate that even David Weathers has offered to help. Walt Jocketty quickly disposed of the rumors, but it still makes one wonder. Enduring the apparent inadequacies of the Reds pen, along with Mike Leake's innings beings closely monitored, Arthur Rhodes playing hurt, and closer Francisco Cordero remaining in his funk; the Reds may need even more help than suspected. Where will we find it?
The Reds' farm system is very deep when it comes to starters. Relievers; not so much. Aroldis Chapman has been speculated to possibly become an option out of the Reds' pen, but Walt Jocketty has said otherwise. It is hard to imagine that the Reds would risk his demise experimenting with him in relief situations. Chapman will likely spend more time developing in Louisville than any fan would like. Even when he is ready, he will probably have to wait for a hole in the rotation to open up. Not a bad problem to have.
Homer Bailey made his first rehab start in Louisville on Tuesday (4 1/3IP, 5ER, 6H) after coming off the 15-day disabled list. Rookie Sam LeCure has pitched very well (1-2, 3.12) as Bailey's replacement and could slide into a reliever role once Bailey returns to the Reds.
If Reds' starters remain healthy and effective, Edinson Volquez could become an option for the Reds when he returns from Tommy John surgery. Volquez is currently rehabbing in extended spring training in Goodyear, Arizona. His 50-day suspension will end on June 12, but he will not be available to pitch until mid-to-late July. The Reds will need help before then.
The obvious option would be Louisville, but there is not much there. Carlos Fisher (9.82), Logan Ondrusek (9.90), and Enerio Del Rosario (1.35) have already been up and down this season and have suffered from their inexperience. All three pitchers have showed signs of dominance, but are not ready to take on the savior role for the Reds' harrowing pen.
Louisville starters Travis Wood (3-4, 4.15) and Matt Maloney (4-3, 3.55) could be converted to relievers to help their major league affiliate, but the decision would deplete the Bats' rotation considerably, creating a contrary impression. We have already seen potential youngsters (Fisher, Ondrusek, Rosario) tangle with major league hitters and the dubious chance of a Wood or Maloney endeavor suspends the idea of farm system assistance.
Jared Burton is rehabbing in Louisville (1-1, 6.30 in 9 games). Burton did not make the team out of Spring Training and has been working his way back from fatigue issues this season. He has spent most of the last three seasons in the majors (10-3, 3.47) and will be back with the club once he regains his endurance. Burton's 4.40 ERA in 53 games during 2009 suggests he will assist, but not save, the Reds' bullpen.
It appears that the solution will need to come from another team. There are currently five teams in the majors that are ten games or more out of first place. With trade-bait like Yonder Alonso, Juan Francisco, and Chris Valaika; the Reds could easily acquire what they need. If the Reds' appetite craves the 2010 post-season, a serious addition to the bullpen is mandatory.
Walt Jocketty, here are some suggestions:
David Aardsma: RHP with 12 saves for Seattle this season. Seattle is currently 13 games out of first place and desperate for a bat after Junior announced his retirement. Just kidding about Junior, but the M's do lack outfield depth.
Chris Perez: RHP with 5 saves and a 2.95 ERA in 23 games for Cleveland this season. The Indians have slid 12.5 games behind the Twins in the AL Central.
Will Ohman: LHP with a 3.38 ERA in 29 games so far for the Orioles. Ohman knows the NL Central (spent '00-'07 in Chicago), and was second in the NL in games (83) and fourth in holds (23) during 2008. The guy is a workhorse who knows how to get hitters out. Ohman has great breaking pitches and could capitalize with the Reds' solid defense behind him. The Orioles are already 20 games out of first place and will be unloading soon.
Aaron Heilman: RHP with a 2.84 ERA in 26 games with Arizona. The D-Backs are 11.5 games away from first place and have a trade history with the Reds. Heilman and Arthur Rhodes would be a nasty R/L setup-man combination.
Kyle Farnsworth: Another ex-Cub who has posted a 2.70 ERA in 20 games for Kansas City this season. Farnsworth's heat and control would be a great ingredient for the Reds during late innings. Kansas City is currently 10.5 games out of first. Farnsworth would probably fair well in a return to the National League since his departure during the 2005 season. He can fight too.
Mike "Godzilla" Leake finally received his fifth win of the season on Saturday against the Washington Nationals pitching seven innings (7H, 0BB, 5K) of one-run ball. The rookie has put together quality starts for the Reds ten times over his eleven starts and has posted a 2.22 ERA on the season. The undefeated right-hander is undoubtedly the best pitcher in the Reds rotation.
"The thing about him is he pitches to the situation," Baker said. "If he needs a double play, he throws his best double-play pitch. If he needs a strikeout, he’ll go for the strikeout. That’s tough to teach. Most guys don’t learn that until far into their careers."
Avoiding their third straight loss, the Reds defeated the Nationals 5-1 on Saturday. Joey Votto and Orlando Cabrera each had two hits and a RBI while Mr. Leake helped himself out, as he usually does, going 2-3 and scoring a run. Leake became the first Reds' pitcher to have a four-game hitting streak since Bobby Livingston's in 2007. Godzilla can do it all.
Reds' second baseman Brandon Phillips added some hysteria during the eighth inning. After driving in Orlando Cabrera with a single, Phillips went to third on a wild pitch with Joey Votto at the plate. Phillips was clearly out at third, but the Nationals' Ian Desmond unintentionally clogged the base-path and was called for interference. After Votto walked, Scott Rolen hit a ball to short. Phillips aggressively charged home, bulldozing over National's catcher Luis Nieves as he blocked the plate. Nieves dropped the ball and Phillips scored causing him to beat his chest in celebration. During the bottom of the eighth, Phillips was drilled by a Miguel Batista pitch. Batista was promptly ejected by umpire Joe West.
"I just go out there and play the game of baseball the way I know how," Phillips said. "I just play with a lot of excitement. I didn’t see nothing wrong with what I did. If people think I did something wrong, I apologize to whoever thinks so, but it’s baseball."
Bronson Arroyo (5-3, 4.92) will face Craig Stammen (1-2, 5.88) and the Washington Nationals at 1:35pm on Sunday.
Ken Griffey Junior's final hit of his hall of fame career was a walk-off pinch-hit single to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 at Safeco field in Seattle on May 20, 2010. His final home run was hit on October 4, 2009 helping the Mariners defeat the Teas Rangers 2-1. Junior hit 19 home runs in 2009. He failed to go yard this season. After batting only .184 in 98 at-bats this year as the Mariner's left handed specialist and dealing with rumors surrounding his decline, Junior decided to walk away from the game of baseball on June 2, 2010 at the age of forty.
Although it didn't bolster Junior's career homerun total of 630 (5th all-time), Cincinnati fans will always remember the walk-off grand slam he hit to defeat the Reds 6-5 on March 26, 2010 during spring training while playing for the Mariners. It was the first game in which Junior had ever faced his former team. After hitting 210 home runs for the Reds in nine injury plagued seasons, Junior crushed a 3-2 Kip Wells pitch for his final (unofficial) homerun to defeat them.
There was nothing unofficial about Junior's 21-plus year major league career. During baseball's steroid era, Junior will always be know as the one who did it right. Because of that, he suffered multiple injuries over the years that sidelined his numbers and himself. Juicing could have potentially prevented, or at least minimized, his stints on the disabled list, but Junior never submitted to the temptation. He played the game that he loved aristocratically, and when he failed to have fun, he stopped.
"I've come to a decision today to retire from Major League Baseball as an active player," Griffey said. "This has been on my mind recently, but it's not an easy decision to come by. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to play Major League Baseball for so long and thankful for all the friendships I have made, while also being proud of my accomplishments. While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field, and nobody in the front office asked me to retire, I told the Mariners when I met with them prior to the 2009 season and was invited back, that I will never allow myself to become a distraction. I feel that without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my teammates, and their success as a team is what the ultimate goal should be."
Ken Griffey Junior will always be remembered as a dedicated family man, a congenial sports icon, and an extraordinary baseball player. Long live The Kid.
After Monday's 12-4 blowout against the Cardinals, first place for the Cincinnati Reds appeared to be fading away. Bronson Arroyo allowed seven runs in just over four innings of work and the bullpen looked terrible, as Mike Lincoln and Carlos Fisher allowed five more after Arroyo's exit. The offense was stale as the wheels seemed to be falling off for the Reds. After Monday's game, St. Louis moved back into a tie for first with the Reds.
Prior to Tuesday's game the Reds decided to make some changes. Mike Lincoln was placed on the disabled list and Carlos Fisher was sent back to AAA Louisville. Logan Ondrusek and Enerio Del Rosario were called up to remedy the Reds' ailing pen and Joey Votto started at first after missing six games with a stiff neck. Some speculated that Votto spent the week voting for himself.
On Tuesday, the Reds' offense exploded to defeat the Cardinals, reclaiming an isolated spot atop the NL Central. Despite Johnny Cueto having a rough night (5IP, 10H, 8ER, 0K) and the score fluctuating constantly, the Reds held on and put together enough runs to defeat the Cardinals 9-8. Dusty was delighted:
"Both sides were battling. That was probably the best game of the year. That was as close to a playoff atmosphere as a young team can get in. That’s just a sample of what exciting baseball is all about. That was big for us to win that game tonight."
Joey "Capone" Votto confirmed his "gangster" going 4-5 with a home run and Scott Rolen went yard twice, as he went 3-5 on the night with four RBI. The Reds' bullpen rebounded triumphantly, pitching four scoreless innings after Cueto's departure. Enerio Del Rosario received his first career win and Arthur Rhodes assembled his 21st consecutive scoreless appearance (19 2/3 innings).
"Tomorrow, we've got a chance to win a series," said Scott Rolen. "That's important. It's a series. It's not the battle of first place in June. We've got a chance to win a series. That's why we're here in the position we're in playing good baseball and tied for first place. It's because we played well and won series. It doesn't matter who you're playing, you win series and play good baseball, you'll find yourself in good position."
Sam LeCure (1-0, 3.00) will face Chris Carpenter (6-1, 2.93) and the Cardinals at 8:15pm on Wednesday.
