Let’s recap today’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 4
St. Louis 3
W: A. Chapman (2-0)
L: M. Rzepczynski (0-1)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Lots of hits today. Two for Stubbs and Cozart, three for Valdez, four for Votto, 14 total. Not bad at all and nice after the last several days.
–Chapman! What can you say two innings. One hit. Five strikeouts. Wow.
–The Reds were not swept by the Cardinals. I guess the next 156 games will matter after all.
–Scott Rolen is old, but he can pick it.
NEGATIVES
–You would like to see more runs from all those hits, but that’s luck as much as anything.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Dear Reds, Start Aroldis Chapman. Just do it. I want to see what happens. I do not care whether or not he has a third pitch. I’m not sure he needs one. In the first few games this year, he has pitched five innings, allowed 2 hits, no walks, and has struck out 10 batters. If you go back to spring training, he’s thrown 23 innings, with two walks, and 27 strikeouts. Start him. Now. NOW. I mean it.
–That Chris Heisey, I like the cut of his jib.
–Everybody chill. It’s April 11. Today, Joey Votto raised his average from .188 to .333. Do you know how he was able to do that? Because it’s April. The Reds are 3-3. Last year, after six games against some very good baseball teams. The Cards were 2-4. They went on to win the World Series. Let’s see if we can keep our fingers off the panic button for a bit.
Tomorrow, the Reds start a ten game road trip and we get to see about this Nationals ball club. Go Reds.