Reds Make Statement, Come Home Up 2-0

While many were complaining about the 2-3 format this year in the NLDS and ALDS (myself included), the Reds travelled out to the West Coast and calmly took care of business, surprising many along the way. 

Game 1 Highlights

Reds Continue Dominance of Cain

Despite Cain owning the 2^nd best home ERA in the majors this year (2.03), he continued his struggles against the 2012 Cincinnati Reds. Coming into the game, Cain was 0-2 against the Reds in 2012 with a 5.54 ERA….Cain’s ERA in game 1? 5.40 – 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 HR.

Reds Stay Calm Under Adversity

Cincinnati sports fans have seen too many promising postseasons come to an early end due to star player being injured (Krumrie – Super Bowl XXIII, Palmer and Henry – 2005 1^st Round, Kenyon Martin – 2000 NCAA tournament). So, forgive Cincinnati fans everywhere when they had a “here we go again feeling” when the Reds Ace, Johnny Cueto had to leave the mound after only 8 pitches. However, this game was different. This team didn’t blink. Sam Lecure stepped in for 1.2 scoreless innings, and then Mat Latos stepped up and did what Mat Latos was brought to Cincinnati to do…be a top of the rotation stud. On three days rest, Latos, knowing his team needed him, took the mound and continued his dominance of the Giants (2-0, 16.0 IP, 0.56 ERA in 2012). Latos gave the Reds exactly what they needed, stability in a bad situation. Latos pitched 4 innings giving up 1 run and more importantly, bridged the gap to the majors best bullpen. While Latos was phenomenal, I give have to give Dusty his props here (this is not a normal occurrence). While Dusty takes a lot of crap in this city, some justified, some not, one thing he does is keeps this team calm. No better example than Saturday night. You could just see how this team has matured since 2010. In 2010, Cueto going down would have ended this series in favor the Giants. Remember the way things snowballed on the Reds in 2010? The way this team didn’t blink and had the next man step up, can be a direct tribute to Dusty and his calm demeanor.

Hello Offense, Good to See You Again

After batting a league worst .230 as a team in the month of September, the Reds picked the right time to awaken the bats. 9 H, 5 R and 2 HR in a pitcher friendly park and starting the scoring off one of the league’s best pitchers. Of all people to get it going, possibly the two coldest hitters in the lineup of late, BP and Bruce.  5 H, 2 HR and 4 RBIs between the two and an incredible heads up play by Phillips in foul territory on a wild throw.

Chapman Not Sharp

I did disagree with the decision to bring Chapman in the game in a non-save opportunity, but it was good to get his feet wet in a non-pressure situation….except Chapman turned it into a pressure situation. Hopefully this was just some nerves. For the Reds to win more than this series, they need the dominant Chapman.

Game 2 Highlights

Frisbee Dealing!

Possibly the most underrated pitcher in the game. He is not flashy, doesn’t have great stuff and doesn’t look the part of the prototypical pitcher. But every year, the guy gives you 200+ innings, a sub 4 ERA and double digit wins. One day when he retires, he will go into the Reds Hall of Fame (yes, I am calling it) and will go in as one of the best Reds pitchers of all time. Carried away? Not really. 7 straight years of 199+ IP, 91 wins (13 W/yr avg), and a 4.11 ERA – and, keep in mind, he pitched one of those years with mono (5.07 ERA) and his ERA is inflated by his 1 or 2 ‘Bronson’ starts that we are all aware of. More importantly, has my nickname for Arroyo, ‘Frisbee’ started catching on? Frazier referred to ‘frisbees’ in an SI article as did Lance McAlister on his blog.

Offense Rolling

Going up against a pitcher (Bumgarner) who had pitched a CG 1 hitter against them in July, and possesses the 5^th best home ERA in the majors (2.38), the Reds exploded for 9 runs on 13 hits, and more importantly, got a hit from every starter. We know this team can pitch. If their offense starts rolling like it can, this will be a tough team to beat. Though it is a short sample, through 2 postseason games, the Reds look like the most complete team (offense, defense, starting pitching and bullpen).

Top Notch Scouting

I don’t know if it is impeccable scouting, or just plain luck (I am going to go with scouting), but have you noticed how many times the Giants have hit a ball on the button, and it is right at a Reds defender? I am giving the scouting the credit, because on a number of occasions, the defender is not in their normal spot. Whatever it is, I like it.

My Man Hanigan

Speaking of underrated players, has anyone noticed how Hanigan is batting .375 (3-8) with 3 RBIs in this series? All this guy does is get on base….oh yeah, he also calls an excellent game behind the plate and leads the majors in catching runners stealing (throwing out 48.5% of base stealers).