Tonight’s the night. The Reds have an opportunity to clinch the NL Central Division championship with a win tonight against the Astronomicals. I’ll be there, as will many others, and a win would probably classify as the most fun I’ve ever had at the ol’ ballyard.
Edinson Volquez will pitch against our nemesis, Wandy Rodriguez — so Cincinnati’s work is cut out for them. This could be a fun night; hope you’ll follow along here in the game thread. See below the fold for information on what the Reds have planned for tonight, in the event the Reds clinch.
Here’s your game preview. Go Redlegs.
Should the Reds win, there will be a fireworks show following the game and a 10-by-22-foot congratulatory banner will be placed inside the ballpark that fans will have the opportunity to sign.
Should the Reds lose to the Astros, they still could clinch the title if the Pirates were to beat the Cardinals. That game starts an hour later, and the Reds said that in that case, the stadium will remain open and fans will be able to watch a live broadcast of the Cardinals game on the scoreboard.
Merry Clinchmas to all! I wish I could be there
ethan my sentiments exactly. wish i was there for the big one tonight.
I need some of that stuff too
Doesn’t mention any specific sites other than reds.com, but here’s a story about the Central Champions hats and shirts:
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100924/NEWS01/9250321/Reds-hats-T-s-ready-for-clinch
That’s how to start a game!
Last time i was this stoked for a game was the first game of the St. Louis series they got swept. Hope the results are a bit different.
Good 1st inning my Volquez. Forgot how to cover 1st, but not bad otherwise.
Very interesting lineup with Phillips AND Bruce dropped to the bottom of the order.
I bought playoff tix today…terrified that the purchase will go ahead and jinx the team.
Good eye by Stubbs. His plate discipline has improved.
Nice steal – a run here would be a great start.
YEs
8 more innings like that and its party time.
This is a bit scary. First two get on base.
Man, Cabrera is stiff out there in the field.
Fluky inning there. Nothing was hit particularly hard. If Janish had been in there, they probably wouldn’t have scored.
agreed.
He’s complaining about the call and is wasn’t even that close.
@Crutch23: Heisey is just as bad against lefties
SuperStubbs
Bruce’s was still better. At least in my mind.
@pinson343: It was definitely over the fence
@BJ Ruble: Hopefully there’s some champagne with that dinner
Stubbs caught that in the palm of his glove. Wow!
At least this is the last time the Reds face Wandy this year.
I feel like the Reds would do better against Wandy if they never bothered swinging the bat.
@Crutch23: Brandon never swung the bat, and he’s on 1st. Bruce should follow suit.
Bruce should just try to bunt for hits against Wandy. He looks clueless.
@Crutch23: I hope so too
@pinson343: Since nobody seems to be capable of hitting him at this point, should they just start working the count?
Wandy is just one of those guys that gets under my skin. Always have, always will.
I know. I hope we can somehow trade for him.
I don’t want to pick on Bruce, but he seriously would be better off just putting the bat on his shoulder and hoping Wandy walks him…because he ain’t close.
The entire team has been swinging at balls all night long.
Wandy Rodriguez is good but boy, oh boy, do the Reds make him look like Sandy Koufax.
If the Reds are not going to be more patient than this they will have no chance.
Why are these guys swinging at the first pitch? Or the second? This is getting really frustrating.
One and two pitch ab’s. And has been pointed out, swinging at some balls, especially deep in the count.
Reds 1 for 15 against Rodriquez with 8 k’s. I am glad he will not pitch in the playoffs.
WLB score 1, 3-1 Pit
I assume that’s it for Volquez. If so, he did his job.
Man Volquez just has some nasty stuff
Pittsburgh not really hitting Supan. I think the Cards come back.
O CAB
How about a home run, Joey?
Rodriguez doing a great job of getting ahead of Votto.
now here we go redlegs
MVottoP hitting with 2 strikes.
VOTTO
Let’s get it Rolen…
You can tell they are anxious up there.
Patience, Johnny…Patience.
I’m feeling the need to check into RN tonight.
Come on Gomes. We need some Good contact here.
GOMES
If Gomes gets a hit I’m going with the mohawk for the playoffs
No kidding.
C’mon Gomes. A hit here gets you the clinching sombrero.
3-2 Pitt. Score on an error.
Error? “You’re killin me, Smalls.”
Wandy’s pitch count is up to 96 already. At the very least, I think we’ve chased him after 6
jesus gomes…..
After those first three pitches, he went from “GOMES SMASH” to “Jonny Swing Good”. A pity it ended with a infield popup, but a good at bat.
When doesn’t Gomes get underneath the baseball.
Basically up to Brandon here with Bruce on deck.
Not a great result for Gomes, but it was a 10 pitch AB and he didn’t GIDP. Could be worse.
While I support having a new LF in 2011, that was a good AB from Gomes, at least after 2 strikes.
Man is Rodriquez tough.
Sometimes its better to be lucky than good.
Look at the old man get down that line!
Need some solid contact from Bruce. Come on Jay.
that how it works! let’s take care of this bruce
Great job by Brandon.
All I want from Bruce is a sac fly. Anything more is gravy.
Holy CRAP that was a changeup….
@MikeB: classic bruce
Astros lucky there.
I’d have loved to see Phillips go hard into second and try to break up the DP.
Why are they choking up on Rodriquez. Does he throw 100 mph?
@Truman48: Because he’s hard to make good contact on. Gets them more bat control.
Honestly, I don’t really want to see Rhodes here
Well, I was wrong. I guess that’s why I’m not a MLB manager
What’s it going to be tonight Arthur?
Pinch hitter, woot!
Bruce hit the ball hard. I would say it was more of a lucky break for Houston.
@RedZeppelin: What about the inning on Sunday when they roughed up Richards? That last inning doesn’t exemplify anything.
Anyone else watching the TireRack.com frozen commercial for the past ten minutes?
This atmosphere is crazy.
Cell service is spotty, or I’d comment more.
Good inning by Rhodes. If they’re going to use him, I think it needs to be a) at the start of an inning, or at least with no runners on, and b) with someone ready to come in after one batter if he doesn’t have it.
So far you are correct on your predictions. Keep up the good work.
I will predict that we see a rookie pinch hitter this inning.
I had to switch to my AtBat.com app on my iPhone because all I can see on Fox Sports Ohio is the TireRack.com commercial–still frozen.
Come on over! The Reds should be clinching right as you get here…
Playoff atmosphere at GABP…
If Rhodes can lock down the 7th like that, we might be playing 7 inning games in the playoffs (1-6,9).
Bloomquist on deck
@Ben Rutler: The FS feed is good here in TN. Good thing you have options.
Yes.
Don’t like the rookie pinch hitters.
Rather have them there with no on than later with baserunners.
I take back what I said. Should not be swinging at that pitch especially with Votto on deck. That stinks Cabrera.
With Nix and Edmonds hurt, the Reds dont have much for left handed pinch hitters.
Crap. Just missed.
But I like Cabrera here.
I hate doubles off the top of the wall!
They don’t want to face Votto so OC should see something good.
They’re pitching around OC to get to Votto…
😈
He was my choice too, but I had no problem with Alonso.
This sucks! I’ve watched 90% of the games on Fox Sports Ohio without a glitch until the day we can clinch a playoff birth.
The Phillies have officially chosen the 8-day NLDS schedule (which starts on Wednesday and has a game off between 1 and 2).
The Reds are just setting this up to win on a walk-off…
I have that feeling too
Not that he likely would…
Yeah they really need to be more patient at the plate. It is frustrating because you can see there where it really, likely, cost them.
Had to reset my Dish to get it back on. That was odd. Just ONE channel was frozen while everything else worked. Of course, it was the ONE channel I wanted to watch. Ok, I’ll shut up now.
Base hit Rolen!
Well…that was stupid.
If i hear another person get mad at me for consistently calling Gomes the worst batter in the history of the world…well to heck with you…he is…by far
What’s bothering you guys the most about Gomes? The 11-game hitting streak or the .272 in September?
😐
How awesome would a walk-off win be to clinch? They better not screw this up.
Another for the Pirates: 4-2 mid 6th
My champagne has been removed from the fridge, someone give me a reason to open it!
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
You got your reason!
Holy SHI…..
HOLY SHIT!!!!! BRUCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whomever called the walkoff an inning ago – go buy a lottery ticket.
BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Milk is my celebration beverage of choice.
Ben Rutler will probably agree when I say that MILK is the beverage of winners!
I finished a Corona already, but I may have another.
@elyk: now that was some CLASSIC BRUCE
Amazing – one pitch, game over
wish i was there
I told Ben Rutler that we should go to tonight’s game!
I backed out myself when I scored NLCS tickets this morning.
@Reds03: I feel your pain. Why can’t they show the post-game this one time.
BBBBBBBRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best day of my Reds fandom!!!!!!! Never thought I would see this. 😀 😀 😀
@Reds03: link?
@Reds03: Thanks.
http://www.foxsportsohio.com/09/28/10/LIVE-STREAMING-VIDEO-REDS-CELEBRATE-NL-C/landing.html?blockID=320465&feedID=3724
@John D.: much appreciated
MikeB
9/28/2010 at 8:28 pm
Bruce should just try to bunt for hits against Wandy. He looks clueless
I’m so happy right now.