It’s here. Don’t know about you, but I can hardly breathe. I’ve seen five Redleg teams play in the World Series. You’d think I’d be past this now.
Go Redlegs!
Check out the series previews one more time:
The Playoff Roster by Chad Dotson
Records Against Playoff Teams by Greg Dafler
Nation Domination by Jason Linden
NLDS Preview: Giants’ Hitting and Starting Lineup by Steve Mancuso
NLDS Preview: A Discussion with Bay City Ball’s Chris Quick by Chad Dotson
NLDS Preview: Throw the Ball, Catch the Ball by Richard Fitch
Here is the Reds lineup:
1. Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
2. Zack Cozart (R) SS
3. Joey Votto (L) 1B
4. Ryan Ludwick (R) LF
5. Jay Bruce (L) RF
6. Scott Rolen (R) 3B
7. Ryan Hanigan (R) C
8. Drew Stubbs (R) CF
9. Johnny Cueto (R) P
And the Giants:
1. Angel Pagan (S) CF
2. Marco Scutaro (R) 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval (S) 3B
4. Buster Posey (R) C
5. Hunter Pence (R) RF
6. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
7. Gregor Blanco (L) LF
8. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
9. Matt Cain (R) P
Arghhhhhh, 90 more minutes.
Hahahhaha.
Bruce is gonna mash one into the bay! And the Reds are going to mash the Giants’ bones to make their bats!
I saw that in a commercial earlier, holy crap it is funny!!
Nervous….uncontrollably nervous
I got a couple six packs of good beer at the Root Cellar this afternoon, and just picked up some pub cheese and other various snacks at Trader Joe’s. I am ready.
Go Reds! Wooooooo!
I might just have to go through a nervous breakdown…45 minutes before the game starts. GO REDS!
I have to find a way to watch the game here in Korea. I am so pumped!!
I have the same nervous feeling as I did in 1990 when I was 8. I didn’t have this feeling in 2010.
BASEBALL….REDS …..REDS BASEBALL NEED SOME MAN COME ON JUST LITTLE I NEED IT!
I hope the reds do better than my buckeyes are doing so far…
ESPN commenters crack me up. Someone accused Chad of not having watched the Reds all year because he was negative about the 2 black holes on our bench.
All i know of the 74, 75 Reds is from stories. Id looooooooooove to have a few of my own. Starting tonight 😆
Lets go redlegs, lets go reds!
Wooooooooo!
Cueto.
In my eyes if Cueto isn’t the the star of this game tonight then we either didn’t win or it became a slugfest and we somehow came out on top. I can’t see it becoming a slugfest with these two teams in San Fran.
Drew Stubbs. He’s gonna get an important hit and make a big play on D.
Joey MVP hits his first homer since being back.
Jay owes us one in SF.
Wow Gamecocks handing it to Georgia.
Different umpiring crew from the one in Atlanta right? Right???
How do I change the channel from the SF feed?
Go Reds!
Wow what a catch!
so 2-0 and he swings for a lazy fly? Wow, Thats smart. ain’t going to get it done. full of lazy pop ups in a park that wont surrender home runs. why do they upper cut?
Work him Votto!
I didnt enjoy that 1/2 inning.
Did Joey just see 3 times the amount of pitches that Cozart and BP did?
Working the count may be more conducive to winning this game as opposed to trying to score a bunch of runs off Cain. If we get 3+ innings against their bullpen, I like the Reds’ chances tonight.
oh crap
Oh man. That is horrible.
no no no!
I wonder if he hurt himself not throwing that earlier pitch.
Better get Latos into uniform.
Anyone else wish we had Leake in the pen?
Man I hate that for Johnny.
Do Giants fans really have that little class? Cheering when a pitcher gets hurt? How ridiculous and childish.
Sure would be nice to have Leake on the roster… I worry that the NLDS rotation is gonna be one heck of a jumbled mess now.
The sports gods REALLY hate me.
Two huge horses this year are now basically injured Votto & now Cueto. Insane start to the game
@Steve Mancuso: Latos was starting to loosen up. My guess is LeCure then Latos.
Yep, LeSame coming in. I will say this though.. with almost any other team this would be a disaster but with our pen? We can do this.
*LeSam
Wow, i was already pessimistic regarding the playoffs, now i’m just inconsolable
So much for my Star of the Game prediction, oi.
Wow. Serious Carson Palmer 2005 playoffs kick in the nuts flashbacks here.
What a great comparison, that just nails it
Keep calm and carry on….let’s go Redlegs!
@Hank Aarons Teammate: He was holding his back, though. Hopefully it’s simply a strain.
Unbelievable. Why Le Cure? Why not or Latos?
This. You get as long as you need to warm up why not bring Latos in and move Bailey up to the game three? Don’t get this at all.
Well, that’s a great way to start.
Should’ve thrown that pitch, instead of holding onto the ball.
@George Culver: LeCure’s a former starter and Latos is only on three days’ rest. Hopefully Johnny’s okay and the rotation can go as normal without bringing out Leake.
I’m thinking they really want to save Latos for game 3 and not burn him this early in the series. Really sucks we don’t have leake tho
Can’t Leake be brought onto the roster if Cueto is taken off? How does that work?
I like Sam, but where do we go from here without Cueto? Can Leake be activated? This is a kick in the stones.
Reds made history with none of their starting pitchers missing a start due to injury, only to lose their ace due to injury a couple of pitches into the playoffs. unbeleiveable
Quote of the year. Did somebody curse the Reds?
Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. Maybe Cueto was about to pitch a crummy game, who knows.
I hope this sparks the rest of the team to step it up.
What would have been nice is if our genius manager had scratched Bailey from the meaningless game Wednesday and he could pitch tonight
If Johnny can’t go the rest of the series can’t Leake get called in for injury replacement.
@MaddShadez: nope. Cueto is one pitcher and this is one game. CP’s injury was much more damaging.
Well, by God, this is grounds for a Red’s sweep of the playofffs. They went 20 in a row without Votto, They can go 11 in a row without Cueto.
The Reds offense absolutely, positively better get it in gear now. The Reds bullpen has the talent to win this game.
After the Giants fans cheered when Cueto left, my blood is boiling. I didn’t think it was possible before, but I want to win this series 10 times more now.
Cain doesn’t need that kind of help
Again with Rolen?
Bruuuuuuuce!!!!
Brruuuucccceeeee!!!!
That walk would have been nice, blue.
Attaboy Jay. Need you on third, Brucey.
Laughing over here at the silly Giants fans desperately trying to snag Bruce’s (fair) ball down the 1B line. 😆
Atta boy Bruce! I agree with everyone else: if the bats show up, out pitching staff is plenty good enough to win this series even minus Cueto. If they don’t, we were probably going to lose anyway.
This strike zone is pretty silly right now.
Hope Cousins gives the Reds’ staff that kind of strike zone.
All I can say is that our pitchers better be getting that same call on the outside corner too.
Chapman cracks me up!
Hilarious with the Chapman version of Sham a lam a ding dong
So Latos will come in after this inning.. Homer pitches game 3 now?
And Mat Latos is in the bullpen. Just giving him time to warm up.
Latos to come in to pitch the 3rd, presumably. I like the improv management of the pitching staff, rather than wrecking a ton of relievers in game 1.
Strike three cousins!
Argh, I know I’m entirely too excited during this game but this ump is driving me berserk.
And that wasn’t a strike
Posey about screwed himself into the ground
Le Sam says le sit down.
Phew. Back spasms for Cueto.
😕
One advantage of tonight’s circumstances: A wider audience gets to bask in the glory of Sam LeCure, both his pitching and his beard.
Sam is lookin good right now.
What causes back spasms anyway?
Cousins officially sucks.
Where is the K zone now? This is terrible.
Now the home plate ump is squeezing us and I’m getting pissed
Boo, ump. Boo.
Apparently Cueto was feeling back spasms before the game even started?
The home plate ump is absolutely terrible, I mean terrible.
Looks like those of us who thought Latos should pitch in SF are going to get our wish. Hope he’s ready on short rest.
intentional walk to the pitcher
Stubbs cuttin that off is big.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: our guys cant walk, no matter how many balls are thrown.
I’m not upset with LeCure, he’s throwing very good pitches and not getting the calls.
Yeah baby! Bruuuuuuuuce! Le Sam gets us 2 solid. Game on.
Phew. Maybe cousins will get back spasms.
Sam the man.
LeCure scares the living blank out of me sometimes. But, then we get out of the inning, and Mat Latos comes in to pitch against the giants. Life is good.
After that inning I’m dragging out the old defibrillator, you know, just in case. Nice catch by Bruce.
@Hank Aarons Teammate: The TBS announcers think that this was so Latos didn’t feel rushed in his warm-up. I think both are plausible, though.
Atta boy Stubbs!
Leake to pinch hit for LeCure would have been nice.
Wait.. what?
Aaaaaaaaaaaagggggghhhhhh
waste of an out right there. hate that decision
Go time for Stubbs now
First time in my life I would have rather seen Valdez or Cairo come up and take a hack at it. That was stupid.
Brandon! Snap out of it!
Somebody please explain why Wilson Valdez wouldn’t have been a better option there???? Was he really saving HIM for later in the game? In case we go 20 innings and need an emergency pitcher
Yowwwwzer
BP!!!!!
BP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He just CRUSHED that ball.
Yeah!
GONE!!! DAT DUDE BP!
WAY TO STEP UP BP!
My Heart!
He heard me!
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two run HR by BP 2-0 Reds top 3rd.
That was HUGE. Did not see that coming at all, but it feels good to have an early lead against Cain. WHOOOOO!
@Steve Mancuso: I thought I had read somewhere that if someone was put on the DL in the DS that they were ineligible for the CS. I might be making that up though.
BP!!!
Now that’s what we needed. Way to go DatDude!
Please please tell me that didn’t break a finger. I do not want to see Valdez.
Ludwick makes them pay big time now
Cain is at 50 pitches already. Good at-bats tonight by the Reds.
OK That’s the excuse I was looking for. Time to hit Cain in the ribs, get him outta there. On second thought the way he’s pitching now….
It would be incredible if the Reds could knock Cain out of the game here. Just a few more baserunners this inning and they might reel him in…
With the way Cain is pitching, you’d think the Giants decided they were sure to win with Cueto out of the game.
Nuts. I would love to see that double play in slow-mo, it sure looked like the SS pulled off the bag early there.
Thanks, datdude. Cmon big matt.
@Jared: Cueto suffered back spasms after 8 pitches, possibly aggravated by a late time-out call by Angel Pagan where Cueto made a throwing motion without actually releasing the ball.
Good to see that Cozart’s OK after HBP. Send Cueto home tonight to get ready for game 3.
These game announcers act like a starting pitcher needs a deep tissue massage before s game.
Pitch around Posey. Don’t let him be the one to beat you?
Latos ain’t scared of nobody
Gotta love having one of the all-time greats in Rolen down at 3B. Those chopping grounders in an unfriendly ballpark can be a big concern, but he makes it look so darn easy. Especially after seeing Chipper’s error last night, makes you appreciate Rolen even more.
BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEE!
BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEE!
Bruuuuuuuuuce!!!!!! He is getting HOT baby!
BRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
GET HOT BRUCE YOOOWWWWZER
Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuce!
BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCEEEEE! HE’S ON FIRE!
!!! If Bruce is Red Hot this October we win the World Series.
That bats woke up! 🙂 BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!
Hunter Pence has the ugliest throwing motion ever
Early in the broadcast cast the TBS announcers said Votto was strictly arm swinging in explaining his lack of HR power. Excuse me for a second Bruuuuuuuuucccce Home Run yeah baby. 3-0 Reds top 4th. Now, where was I, oh yeah about Votto’s lack of power. They said it was apparent Votto could use his legs or leg to generate power.
@Steve Mancuso: And maybe pigs will start flying. I love Marty, but Bruce must have done something horrible to him earlier in life.
That Bruce HR may have scored someone a Toyota at GABP. Way out
@Sergeant2: Opps! Apparent Votto could NOT use his legs to generate power.
@Bill Lack: Difference is, he’s a professional athlete with practically unlimited care. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s good to go for game 3. I’m 25 and have had two instances of back spasms, one time that killed me for a week and another that lasted maybe a day. Both in the military and both times they just gave me bed rest.
Did a quick bit of research online, so don’t know how accurate it is, but it seems like if you replace a player in the middle of a series for an injury, then they have to stay out the entire postseason.
Wow, giving Rolen an error on that play? Sheesh.
Replay shows that a good throw gets the runner
@Bill Lack: I can’t fathom how using a reliever for 5 outs while giving up zero runs can be considered a “waste”. He did his job. Even if the pitcher is given as much time as desired to warm up, I would worry that Latos would not be prepared to enter the game on such short notice. If it was my call, I probably would have done the same thing (except not use Bailey as a PH, since Latos is probably the better hitter out of the two).
Excellent Point
DEFENSE baby!!!! Yeah!
Lighten Up Francis. Geez
Latos has no command of the breaking ball. Better have good location on the fastball or it could be bombs away.
What a lucky break to Votto’s glove
Yeah announcers, keep talking about how great of a defensive first baseman Belt is. He’s the one with a Gold Glove after all… Oh wait…
Per John Fay: If you DL Cueto he would haved to skip NLCS and cannot return till the world series
Dusty just got asked about the pitching, said Le Sam was Le Awesome and now Mat is there to save the day. Also said BP can hit anywhere in the lineup and is awesome. Awesome. I added all the awesome to those remarks. Awesome game so far.
Bill Lack – drink some positive juice, bro. You are killin our vibe.
Wooooooo! I say.
Okay, so if I’m interpreting Fay right, if the score stays exactly the same and Latos finishes out the game, LeSam gets the win and Latos gets the save?
That’s not correct is it? I thought it was scorer’s decision.
What I really like is that if this series goes to a game 5, Latos would be the starter. Advantage Reds 😀
Votto too anxious? That 1st pitch wasn’t that sweet enough.
@Scott: It is, but there would be two pitchers eligible for a win, so I think Latos would get a 7 inning save.
Was this Cain’s shortest outing?
@Steve Mancuso: Well, if we’ve learned one thing from this team all season, it’s that Cueto will probably be on the roster for the entire postseason whether he actually plays or not
@Bill Lack: well, I saw a reliever relieve. Nothing to have a hissy over.
Can’t tell if Latos is overthrowing that breaking pitch or what.
BP with a little flair on that one.
“He usually always makes the play.”
Brilliant
Lets see some basrunners here, redlegs.
Ludwick had been a pretty big hole in that 4 spot.
Ya gotta be encouraged by the way Bruce is making good hard contact on the ball. I know I am.
Picture of Jocketty texting in the booth with Joe Morgan. priceless
Rolen played good D tonight, but still I would like to see Frazier in the lineup for the next game.
I feel like Jay Bruce really wants to get home so he can crank out some Great American Homers. For now, I guess we’ll have to settle with a 3-0 lead after the one of the worst possible things happened in the first inning.
Time to get some action in the bullpen. Posey got all over that one.
Disagree, Latos fooled him and he was out in front and got lucky
Yep. Latos is done after this inning. As long as he gets through it…
LUDDDDDY!!!
What a catch. Ludwick with a game saver
Amazing catch! Just what the Reds needed there!!
Well, at least Ludwick is contributing defensively tonight. And everyone, say a few prayers so Marsahll will come out instead of Arredondo.
Two outs. Nice play ludwick!
Votto bailed out by an outstanding play by Phillips
Hope all little leaguers just took note of dat dude.
As plays which don’t show up on the scorecard go, what BP did there is as good as it gets. I’m hoisting one to him right now.
I’m getting aggravated at the announcers. Votto is “defensively challenged” when he doesn’t make two difficult plays that also depend on Rolen performing a minor miracle? Come on!
Oh, whoops. All little leaguers probably asleep. Thank you, Bud Selig.
Get the big lead. NOW. score a few. make it a breezer from here out. Arrendondo scares me in a close game.
I don’t like Marshall here vs. all RH hitters. Potential for trouble and burning another pitcher
Cairo leaves better hitters for later RBI situations. 😕
Anybody else think, even if he’s not going to pitch, Leake’s a better use of a roster spot than Cairo for his bat? Almost said Valdez, too, but I guess we need SOMEONE to back up Cozart.
Though this is not a bad option, I think this is huge mistake. As Latos can give you 2 more easily. Unless he pitches game 4 this is a dumb move. You are just interchanging parts until you find someone who cannot get the job done.
So it worked and I was wrong, I truely believe Latos does the same if he remains in. They are playing with fire with all the changes nut it works. Marshall and Broxton are gassed a bit, but possibly are have developed confidence. I am glad I cannot post a ” I Knew it”
You start messing with too much, you start losing when you should not. The Giants want to make outs, who ever the Reds put out there are helping them. How many innings do you allow Arroyo to go tomorrow, Broxton does not have his best stuff tonight an dneither does Chapman.
This Home plate ump can’t read Marshall’s Bresking ball
Amen
I do not want Posey to beat us, but he is not Bonds level. He is going to make an out over 60% of the time, go at him
Posey will make an out tomorrow! If they walked him it is a wash, I will take the match -up any day.
So what do you gotta say now; Sorry to be a jerk, but I feel I made a good point. Posey is more likely to make an out, what is your solution…walk him?
Absolutely
It was Pagan that homered off Marshall in Cincy to avoid the sweep
c’mon
Ludwick MVP baby!! Wooooo!
Or with one!
Ludwick!!!
Defense has been sick-nasty all game. Lordy!
I assume the reference to Chapman in the 8th was about bringing him in if Broxton gets into trouble. Not Chapman starting the 8th.
@earl: We’ll see, hard to see him taken out after two spectacular plays though. Can’t say for sure that Heisey would have gotten both of those balls, gotta be some amount of luck involved on Ryan’s part though.
Asking for the IBB for Votto?
How hard is it to bunt?
What a play by Phillips
Man, second smart play by BP.
Love the crafty footwork by BP. He really has a knack for pissing off the opposing team, and I fully applaud his efforts.
So it turns out Philips is a ninja…
Brandon Phillips comes to play.
That was more like Neo dodging bullets.
Why do you not leave Marshall in to face the lefty Sandoval? Then you could bring in Broxton for Posey and Pence.
Well, just because he got Sandoval out doesn’t mean it was the right decision. That ball was SCORCHED.
The defense is just taking the air out of this crowd.
So if Cueto cannot go in Game 3, I assume you go with Bailey, who starts game 4?Hopefully it will not matter as the Reds sweep!
At least Brox is missing low and away. If you’re going to miss, that’s a good place for it.
Cousins…
Broxton is missing Hanigan’s glove by feet, not inches. I find his lack of control disturbing…
YESSS!!! Huge strikeout there.
I would be upset if I was a Giants fan! That was pretty close. I feel we got a lot of break considering Cueto went out, the Giants blew this game. Is Aroyo bringing the dagger tomorrow?
Big backwards K! 😯
Oh how I hope Aroldis is ready to DOMINATE national television the way he has the ability.
Defibrillator don’t fail me now. Mercy! Whatta game.
Look at Drew. He knows how to take an at-bat, I think. Maybe.
That’s more like it
Isn’t it great to show the difference between fielding percentage and Dam good D? The Braves actually outranked us in fielding percentage but pissed away their season on errors. We played normal Reds defense which is not quantifiable and that is the reason we are the best team in the postseason!
X-man! Perhaps we can get a little something extra here.
Brandon Phillips — Your Game 1 MVP.
BP!!!!!!
TBS announcers are trying to talk about how great the Giants fans are, after they cheered immensely following Cueto’s injury. 🙄
Wow Posey just whiffed on that one!
I feel a lot of Reds came to play, what a game by Phillips. Ludwick had some bad AB, but got it done in the OF. Until Stubbs last Ab, I was impressed by the first 3. The Giants have not…
Chapman-Chapman-Chapman I don’t care I’m lookin for 100mph+
B9 here we go.
Wow, Giants just crumbled there. Let’s put this away Chapman!
OMG the server crashed there for a minute. Working now though.
Nothing is ever easy.
Finally, a strike!
I get worried when I don’t see any sliders.
That was a Cordero-esque 9th.
That was slightly huge.
So who feels there is no homefield advantage? Bailey should be starting tomorrow but I made a pact to let this one go, it is nice that tomorrow is just gravy if they win, but if Cueto cannot go the rest of the series tomorrow is a must win. What do you do for game 4, I will change my tune but feel Bailey at GaBP is a huge disadvantage…
YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! MVP’s bullpen/BP/Bruce, take your pick.
Yes!!!!!! 10 more to go!
Lets go redlegs!
Woooooooooooooooooo!
I like to think Chapman walked all those guys just to get to Posey and make him look silly on Strike 3. Maybe now people will shut up about Buster Posey.
To all you nattering nabobs of negativity: I Fart In Your General Direction. Go Reds!
@Sergeant2: Well said, Sarge. The dodgy way this game started, the Reds could have gotten flustered. Really impressed with the poise this team showed tonight.
First team in NL history to get a playoff win when it’s starter doesn’t make it out of the 1st inning.
@Matt WI: it means he lost.
@Matt WI: I honestly find him overhyped, but I like Jay Bruce.
Regardless, it’s nuts the Reds were able to win a game that by all accounts they should have lost. Cold bats coming in, your ace goes down on the second batter, your setup and closer don’t have their stuff, but the scoreboard says 5-2 in favor of the greatest franchise ever. Goodnight folks. Great job by BP, who is doubtlessly the team MVP this season.
Why? It is not like your starting QB going down…A lot of people felt Latos should have started this game anyway..Lecure really helped out, but it is not like he wa slights out. He gets a a guy out facing him on an 0-2 count. Then gets a bases loaded line drive to Bruce with bases loaded. The giants blew their chances and the Reds did what good teams do, win when the opposition sucks… The Giants sucked today I would be upset if I were a fan because there is better baseball to come from Votto, Rolen, Chapman, and more
@Richard Fitch: You da Man Fitch. Go Reds!
It is helpful when every does their job no matter who is in there…I am curious to where Latos falls, does he start Game 4 or 5, hopefully it does not come down to it. Is there any way Dusty does not get re-signed now? I had some fantasy that Francona would be the manager…
@vicferrari: I think you explained my point… the Giants, in theory, had a lot going for them in terms of the opposition not being on their A-game. The Reds were managed tonight to a point where the team became better than the Giants, and then the Giants couldn’t capitalize on anything while the Reds did on almost anything.
Did anyone else see the postgame interview with the Giant’s manager where he said that the Reds have a really strong offense?
Ooh, I was just reminded on the FS broadcast that we’re up against a lefty tomorrow! I think the offense could really take off for 7-10 runs or so. I hope Bruce stays in the lineup with how he was hitting the ball today. Exact same lineup 1 thru 8 would be juuuust fine.