Game 36: Mets 12, Reds 6

Saturday afternoon's rain-delayed series opener against the Mets was yet another example of a common theme for the Reds' 2008 season: it's always something.

Whether the bats don't show up or the arms can't get anyone out, it's been a tough row to hoe for the Redlegs, and in game one of the day/night doubleheader it was the latter that doomed them to their 22nd loss on the season, 12-6. Matt Belisle was knocked around in his third start back with the Reds (five innings, seven hits, six runs, five earned), and the bullpen was similarly inept. The newly-recalled Bill Bray combined with Mike Lincoln to allow five runs and six hits in two innings that broke the game open and sealed the deal for New York.

The loss puts the Reds' record at 14-22, while the Mets are now 18-15.

On the radio side it didn't take long for Marty and Jeff to start beating the drums for Homer Bailey's callup. His numbers have been good in Louisville, but I'm not sure that's the right move. It set him back six months when he was called up too soon last season, and now he's trying to learn a new pitch. Belisle was great in Louisville, too, but you don't see him setting the world on fire. This team isn't going anywhere even if Bailey were to be terrific, which he certainly wasn't last year.

Hal McCoy said in his guest spot he wouldn't be surprised if a trade gets made fairly soon. While he admitted this thought isn't based on any concrete rumor he's heard, it will still be worth keeping an eye on. Talk persists that Colorado is interested in bringing back Josh Fogg. Obviously the Reds should take whatever they can get for him, because they can find someone in Louisville to take his role in the bullpen pretty easily (Tom Shearn would be perfect). Fogg is only pitching when the Reds are down ten in the second inning anyway. If they can clear off the rest of Fogg's salary off the books and pick up a marginal A-ball prospect in the process, great.

As far as positives go on the day game of the doubleheader, Ryan Freel had three hits. Griffey had two hits including a double, as did Brandon Phillips. Edwin Encarnacion homered. The offense scored off every Met hurler save for Jorge Sosa's scoreless ninth, and pounded out fifteen hits (the Mets had just 12). The pitching just couldn't get anyone out. Bronson Arroyo gets the ball in the nightcap. His last start was the massacre in Atlanta. He's had five full days of rest between starts, though, and it's a night game, so he got to sleep in today. No excuses and no quarter... let's see the Reds manage a split, eh? For New York, righthander Mike Pelfrey takes the hill. On the year his ERA is 5.27 and he's only struck out 11 in 27 1/3 innings, so he should be hittable. His WHIP is 1.90. Come on.

Game time is 7:30 Eastern, or maybe 7:40, nobody was sure. It'll be three hours earlier here in Chargerland (people are mad about the Padres being so horribly disgustingly awful, so it isn't Padreland anymore). I might be back and I might not be before tomorrow. I'll leave you with some suspense. Peace.