Cincinnati Reds

Not really, but they said that about the Reds '90 world series sweep against the A's

Phillies team to beat in the NL. With Halliday, Oswalt and Hamels as 3 top pitchers, they will be tough.

Good luck to the Reds. Seeing Larussa fail, us Cubby fans loved it.

Yeah I'd say no to advancing. But the last time I actually cared about a team in the playoffs, they were supposed to get swept by the Yankees first round. They ended up winning the AL before losing the World Series.

There's a reason they play the games. The Phillies will be tough to beat and have to be the favorite. But we'll see.

Obviously this is the playoffs and anything can happen. But lets look at the Reds record vs. their potential opponents in the 1st round:

Padres lead series 4 - 2
Giants lead series 4 - 3
Phillies lead series 5 - 2

So, no matter who the Reds play, they are not going to be the favorite. It was also announced today that Edinson Volquez will start the first game of the playoffs. I have to think that will change depending on who the Reds play. they are planning on playing Philly right now. If it isn't Philly, Arroyo will start, I would assume.

Here's my question ... Where are all of you Reds fans? Attendance for the Reds clincher was 30,151. Followed Wednesday by 14,760 then 17,558. Fri. and Sat. were 28,844 and 28,173. You can't get a sellout crowd for a clincher and Division champ team? St. Louis was at home these 5 days also, with the smallest gate being 36,293. Don't be surprised when in a year or two you can't keep some of your key players paid enough to stay interested in playing in half-empty GABP.

Some towns have "fair weather fans." Cincinnati doesn't. The Bengals have a hard enough time selling out their stadium when they have a winner. The Reds can't pull in too many fans regardless of the record. I think the abysmal economy has something to do with it all, but the last time the Reds were the playoffs, they couldn't sell out their playoff home games, if I remember correctly. I think Cincinnati fans just root for their team from home or the local watering hole as opposed to going to the stadium.

Reds v. Phillies is the draw. I just hope it isn't a sweep, as the Reds were swept in 4 games by the Phils just before the All-Star break. Phillies are REALLY strong right now, so it will be tough, that is for sure.

Volquez game one......how about a five pm starting time wednesday, that sucks!

As a Reds fan, that was just embarrassing!

Roy Halladay pitches a no-hitter, and only misses the perfect game by a walk. How do the Reds recover from THAT? Halladay had so many first pitch strikes and Reds hitters stuck in an 0-2 count, it was absurd.

I still love the Reds, but that was ugly. Hoping for better on Friday.

Tough game. It's too bad teams have to go out and try to buy rings.

I think the reds win game 2 though. Go REDS!

I didn't consider it ugly ... just thought Halladay was incredibly "on". Movement (and he had a lot tonight) on pitches is everything. He'd have held any team down tonight. I did however think Dusty made a terrible decision in leaving Volquez in to face Victorino. He had just given up a sharp liner to the pitcher that made it 2-0. Granted its only the second inning but ... you are facing Hallady and 2 runs is enough to give up; he proceeded to walk Rollins and had no command of the zone; the bases are now loaded and you can't afford to give up any more; your staff is well rested after 2 days off not to mention coasting the last week (you can spare a pitcher to get Victorino); in the third you could have brought in an inexperienced Wood to start an inning. Instead Volquez was left in because Wood being a starter needed extended time to get loose, and Dusty was thinking the pitcher spot was due up next inning. He should have brought in a short man to get one out - instead it turned to 4-0. It would have been much easier to scratch out a run here and there instead of needing 4 and a long rally at this point. With Halladay tonight it didn't matter though.

Where did Philly try to buy rings? They let Lee go (did you see him earlier today?) so they could bring Halladay in. They traded prospects for Oswalt. About the only Free Agent they picked up was Polanco.

First off Roy Halladay is a stud. End of Story. However, it seems after watching the clinching celebration, the Reds are just happy to be in the playoffs. They were not obviously ready today. Halladay gets ahead with strikes and gets you out with balls. Everyone should know this yet the Reds took strike after strike after strike and then were at the mercy of Halladay's ten other out pitches...incredible.

I am not a fan of Dusty Baker and while the Reds had a great year, they end up being caught between a rock and a hard place by essentially having to offer him an extension. If not for his brutal handling of the pitching staff all season long the Reds could easily have had the best record, home field advantage and not having to face the Phils in the first round. The two game difference between the Reds and Giants record....how bout the two 7 plus run leads against the Braves and Giants that Dusty allowed to get out of hand. How about the pathetic effort over the course of the season given by our overpriced closer?

And while it would not have made a difference given the Reds being no hit, he once again stays one batter too long with Volquez before giving way to Wood who by the way shut the phillies down. Did you see the pitching coach tell Dusty that Wood was ready prior to Volquez pitching to the lefthanded Victorino? Volquez had thrown like 60 + pitches prior to that in an inning and two thirds and he leaves him in to face a guy who had already lined a double down the line after giving up a hit and two walks with two out and no one on. Wood may be a rookie but has shown all year that he has better makeup than half the staff and where is it written that a rookie can't start against a team he had success against all year. Play to win its the last three games of the season! If we get to a game four I hope Dusty is smart enough to hand the ball to Wood but I doubt it.

If the Reds find a way to scratch and claw to a game 4, Wood is starting.

Dont think they do.....

I don't think they will.

BUT, it's not as hard as you'd think. Forget about game 1, get a couple of runs off Oswalt early. Somehow steal game 2, and get it back home tied 1-1. Back in the series.

Edited by dhsdawg06, 07 October 2010 - 10:55 PM.

Happening at almost "gaffe-a-game" pace, there seems to be no difference between MLB and FIFA when it comes to being obstinate about the use of technology in their sports.

Now that is a true insult - comparing baseball to the dreaded "S" word! Maybe that would get Selig to think twice about replay!

The game certainly isn't "over" or anything like that because of it, but the Reds FINALLY got a hit in the series...with the first batter of the game...and got their first run, too! Brandon Phllips homer

Let's hope they can hold on and knot up this series.

Seriously? The best offense can't get ONE hit in game one and lose.

Now, game two, one of the best DEFENSES can't play worth a crap to get an out! 1st or 2nd defense in MLB this year, right? And now they have four errors, hit 3 batters, and are losing in the 8th inning. Only one earned run, but losing 6-4. Seriously?

This must be the last 15 years of Reds baseball again.

Up 4-0, lose 7-4. 4 errors, 3 batters hit by pitch, 6 walks. Just give the damn game away, seriously! Only two of the runs were earned. The Reds light up a pitcher who has been a nemesis his entire career, and then blow it. Just absolutely embarassing loss. This series is over on Sunday. The Reds do NOT recover from this. I mean, sure, Roy Halladay pitches the no-hitter, but he was "on" Wednesday night. Noboday was going to do much against him. Tonight, the Reds grasped defeat from the jaws of victory.