NL Central

[Frayed Knot]

Currently Cincy in a 6.0 games lead over StL with everyone else as an also-ran and Houston, after that horrid start, is now in 3rd (albeit 13 games back)

Weird kind of race. The Cards took 5 of the last 6 from Cincy head-to-head but can't seem to beat anyone else.
Other than the 2 of 3 they took from Cincy last week, they're 7-15 since sweeping the Reds Aug 9-11 with most of those games coming against the likes of Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Chicago & the Nats.
Also, LaRussa is apparently feuding with CF Corey Rasmus who may or may not have asked the front office to be traded on account of it (not often you hear that from a 2nd year player). I have no idea what the feud's about, but Rasmus is a 23 y/o CF with an .850 OPS and it seems stupid to sit guys like that out of spite. LaGenius has also been tossed out of two games recently not for mere arguing but as the result of on-field brawls/near-brawls. Sounds like someone has been REAL cranky lately. He's also without a contract beyond this season and rumors are that he might step away.

Could the NL (and MLB as a whole) see Piniella, Cox, LaRussa & Torre all walk away for good basically at the same time? Those four gotta be the leading active winners right now and all towards the top of the all-time list.


Cincy, meanwhile, was doing pretty much the opposite of StL - beating everyone else except the rival - until losing three straight (one more game today) to the usual late-streaking Rox train this week.
Magic number for division = 19

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I kind of hate the Cardinals and sort of like the Reds so it's all good.

It's going to be a real derby with all the teams needing managers next year though, including the MFYs who will whack Joe II when they lose in the first round. SOMEONE will likely wind up with Bobby Vee. I also thought I saw a Wally Backman to the Marlins rumor, though that seemed like a plant from Backman's agent!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Active leaders in wins, with overall rank in parentheses:

1) LaRussa: 2624 (3)
2) Cox: 2493 (4)
3) Torre: 2315 (5)
4) Pinella: 1835 (14)
5) Leyland: 1482 (20)
6) Baker: 1393 (26, winningest black manager in MLB history)
7) Bochy: 1260 (33)
Valentine, if hired: 1117 (46)
8) Scoscia: 967 (59)
9) Francona: 928 (61)
10) Showalter: 847 (64)
...
Melvin: 493 (123)
Randolph: 302 (205)

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Sounds like LaRussa could use a cocktail and a nice, relaxing drive.

Go Chili People-- it's been a while since they won anything. Besides, Cards fans are such fantastic fans of based balls, they'll probably enjoy the playoffs just as much if the Reds win the division, right?

Edited September 9, 2010 by Guest

[Benjamin Grimm]

It's their duty, Judy!

[Guest attgig]

apparently, larussa threatened colby that he would demote him to AAA for showing up late to a game.... then colby requsted a trade...


messy stuff.

larussa's a FA, though, and colby's cheap and talented...

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Reds, caught flatfooted by injuries and forced to play Miguel Cairo (!) in right field (!), have completed a waiver deal and acquired Willie Bloomquist from the Royals.

Not a huge step up there even. (A step down to go by this year's numbers --- a year in which Cairo has actually hit a little.) They could use a little Francoeur is what they could use. Bloomquist won't even be eligible for the post-season.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Bloomquist? Yipe.

For a contender, he's like the adrenaline needle in the EMT's bag-- they've gotten to a bad, bad place if they're considering using it.

[Frayed Knot]

Must be nice to go 5-9 over the last two+ weeks and still be 7 games up.
Helps the Reds that StL has lost 21 of their last 31.
Where was that kind of help when we needed it in '07 + 08 ?

Dusty still clinging to the idea of using the shaky Francisco Cordero (4.11 ERA, 1.5 WHiP) as his closer while resisting the temptation that is Aroldis Chapman

[Guest Edgy DC]

Chapman is eligible for the post-season?

[Frayed Knot]

Yup!
They called him up on Aug 31 just for that reason.

[Frayed Knot]

Reds clinch on a walk-off 9th inning HR by Jay Bruce to beat Houston.

[Gwreck]

Watched that while on the subway on the way back from tonight's victory. Technology can be a wonderful thing.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Congrats to Porkopolis. It's been awhile for them.

[Gwreck]

Only teams with longer playoff droughts are Toronto, Pittsburgh and Kansas City.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I may be rooting for this team. I dunno.

[Lefty Specialist]

When I look at the alternatives (Phillies, Braves, Padres, Giants) I find myself rooting for the Reds to go all the way to the World Series.

I think they'd get smoked by any of the AL teams, though.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

CEO of Kroger, an $80 billion retailer based in Cincinnati, in a conference call yesterday congratulated the Reds for winning the division and Jay Bruce for his "walkaway" home run.

[Ceetar]

When I look at the alternatives (Phillies, Braves, Padres, Giants) I find myself rooting for the Reds to go all the way to the World Series.

I think they'd get smoked by any of the AL teams, though.[/quote:vlvzedol]

We'd be subjected to more Francessa-Arroyo lovefests that way though.

[Guest Edgy DC]

CEO of Kroger, an $80 billion retailer based in Cincinnati, in a conference call yesterday congratulated the Reds for winning the division and Jay Bruce for his "walkaway" home run.[/quote:2qqizd91]
I like that.

[Frayed Knot]

Too bad he didn't describe a Rene Lachman HR that way.
He could set it to music and make a fortune.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

You've got to be blowing smoke up my ass.

The Cincinnati Health Department will investigate the Cincinnati Reds for violations of the state smoking ban after people complained players smoked cigars indoors while celebrating their National League Central Division title Tuesday night. A lot of players could be seen on TV smoking the cigars, and Reds owner Bob Castellini was passing them out. But video doesn't affect the investigation - the health inspector has to actually see someone smoking, said Rocky Merz, health department spokesman. Five people called a statewide smoking ban complaint hotline, Merz said. Those complaints were sent to the city health department today for investigation. Castellini will get a letter soon notifying him of the alleged violation.