The Reds earned a split of their day/night doubleheader Saturday in New York, downing the Mets in the nightcap, 7-1.
The Reds’ effort was spurred by the excellent night by the embattled Bronson Arroyo. Coming into tonight he’d pitched really well in one out of seven starts, and it showed to the tune of a 1-4 record and 8.63 ERA. His last start was so bad they examined him for injuries, but he was just superb tonight, keeping Met hitters off-balance. When he’s on, he’s putting breaking balls into awkward places in the zone, moving in and out, mixing speeds and nothing looks to be thrown hard enough to break a windowpane. Fortunately for the Reds tonight was one of the good nights.
New York starter Mike Pelfrey was nearly as good, and after seven this game was tight, with the Reds clinging to a 2-1 lead. The way the Reds’ season has been going it felt like the roof was going to cave in at any moment, but the offense came alive in the eighth against the Mets’ bullpen. Duaner Sanchez allowed two runs in the eighth on singles by Scott Hatteberg (who looked great in a rare start) and Paul Bako, and the Reds got three more in the ninth off Billy Wagner. Francisco Cordero finished things for the Reds with a scoreless ninth.
The Reds’ effort was spurred by the excellent night by the embattled Bronson Arroyo. Coming into tonight he’d pitched really well in one out of seven starts, and it showed to the tune of a 1-4 record and 8.63 ERA. His last start was so bad they examined him for injuries, but he was just superb tonight, keeping Met hitters off-balance. When he’s on, he’s putting breaking balls into awkward places in the zone, moving in and out, mixing speeds and nothing looks to be thrown hard enough to break a windowpane. Fortunately for the Reds tonight was one of the good nights.
New York starter Mike Pelfrey was nearly as good, and after seven this game was tight, with the Reds clinging to a 2-1 lead. The way the Reds’ season has been going it felt like the roof was going to cave in at any moment, but the offense came alive in the eighth against the Mets’ bullpen. Duaner Sanchez allowed two runs in the eighth on singles by Scott Hatteberg (who looked great in a rare start) and Paul Bako, and the Reds got three more in the ninth off Billy Wagner. Francisco Cordero finished things for the Reds with a scoreless ninth.
OTHER NOTES...
Surprising to see Griffey play both games. Dusty said multiple times Griffey was trying to talk himself into the lineup both games, and apparently it worked. He had a couple of little dunky singles and a walk in the nightcap. Now we'll see if he plays tomorrow. It's really a testament to how messed-up his legs were, and how much they've improved since then, when you look at how he's treated now (playing every single day for the most part) versus how he was treated in the Bob Boone era (removed from games early at the first opportunity, benched every time the outfield was even marginally wet). It's probably a combination of better conditioning along with Griffey knowing his limits better than he used to (which basically means I can outrun him in a 40-yard dash), but since the operation to screw his hamstring to the bone, he really hasn't had the hammy issue anymore. Yes, he's had his season end early the last three years even though he's been relatively healthy, but it hasn't been the hamstring putting him out, which is nice.
Surprising to see Griffey play both games. Dusty said multiple times Griffey was trying to talk himself into the lineup both games, and apparently it worked. He had a couple of little dunky singles and a walk in the nightcap. Now we'll see if he plays tomorrow. It's really a testament to how messed-up his legs were, and how much they've improved since then, when you look at how he's treated now (playing every single day for the most part) versus how he was treated in the Bob Boone era (removed from games early at the first opportunity, benched every time the outfield was even marginally wet). It's probably a combination of better conditioning along with Griffey knowing his limits better than he used to (which basically means I can outrun him in a 40-yard dash), but since the operation to screw his hamstring to the bone, he really hasn't had the hammy issue anymore. Yes, he's had his season end early the last three years even though he's been relatively healthy, but it hasn't been the hamstring putting him out, which is nice.
Hatteberg looked good at the plate. Some guys just know how to hit. Yes, if he was in the lineup he'd hit a soft .300 like last year, but maybe Jocketty can find a place for him somewhere in a trade. Much like Fogg, he's gone after this year, so if anyone will give a marginal class A prospect for him, I think you have to take it at this point. Of course, if Bob Castellini is still in "win-now" mode, the point is moot, because Hat is pretty much the only (ostensibly) useful pinch hitter off the bench. It should be noted, though, that he's been awful in that role this season.
How about Keppinger going five-for-five with five singles? Pete Rose would be proud.
TOMORROW
Reds and Mets, Part III: THE RUBBER GAME. Final go-around for the Reds at Shea, and from hearing Marty Brenneman and Hal McCoy on the radio no one will be missing it. Twas really funny reading McCoy's column from Thursday (or was it Friday?) where he basically said Shea was shaped like a toilet and was a piece of crap. All the Mets fans were jumping on the comments section at the DDN website and being all like "it's shaped like a horseshoe not a toilet, nice journalism idiot" and "Shea rules, you're a moron and the Reds suck" and stuff like that. I've never been there, but it looks as bad as it's described from seeing it on television. I grew up going to games at Riverfront and as many fond memories as I have of the place, it was crummy. No one is saying the Mets are awful or people who go to games there are stupid. If you're a Mets fan, you want to go there because that's where your team plays, but it looks like a masoleum on television and I'll trust someone who's been there. I've never seen a ballpark review site that liked Shea. So maybe you're the idiot, Mets fan Shea defender.
Reds and Mets, Part III: THE RUBBER GAME. Final go-around for the Reds at Shea, and from hearing Marty Brenneman and Hal McCoy on the radio no one will be missing it. Twas really funny reading McCoy's column from Thursday (or was it Friday?) where he basically said Shea was shaped like a toilet and was a piece of crap. All the Mets fans were jumping on the comments section at the DDN website and being all like "it's shaped like a horseshoe not a toilet, nice journalism idiot" and "Shea rules, you're a moron and the Reds suck" and stuff like that. I've never been there, but it looks as bad as it's described from seeing it on television. I grew up going to games at Riverfront and as many fond memories as I have of the place, it was crummy. No one is saying the Mets are awful or people who go to games there are stupid. If you're a Mets fan, you want to go there because that's where your team plays, but it looks like a masoleum on television and I'll trust someone who's been there. I've never seen a ballpark review site that liked Shea. So maybe you're the idiot, Mets fan Shea defender.
Anyway, Johnny Cueto faces Oliver Perez in the series finale. 1:10 start back east, 10:10 here in Chargerland.
HERO OF THE DAY
GOOD BRONSON ARROYO8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 9 K, 2 BB
Just a sparkling effort from a guy who's had a really tough year. Note to Big Dust: Only pitch him in night games.
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