National League Wild Card Standings

[dan_bgblue]

Saw Gibson pitch twice at old Busch Stadium when I was a teenager. Had seats with the family about 20 rows up right behind the 3rd base dugout. He pitched quicker than any other major leaguer of his day. Get the throw back from the McCarver, scratch the dirt a time or two like a stud bull, step on the rubber, get the sign, nod once, stand up and go into the windup. I loved it. He was so freaking fierce on the mound. And by the way, from my vantage point, when he threw the high hard one, I saw the ball in his hand at the point of release and heard the pop when it hit the catcher's mitt. I could not see the ball anywhere in between.

[Catonahottinroof]

Redbirds dropped one to the Nationals 6-4 tonight... :/

[Lfbj00]

Cards lose and my Dodger Blue win again!!! Knock knock....here we come!!!

[Darrell KSR]

Today is a huge day. Cards' Lance Lynn will face St. Louis native Ross Detwiler. David Freese, who pinch hit last night, is expected back.

Detwiler has great stuff, and has only lost once in a month. If St. Louis can win today, it will be a huge victory and mean a lot.

A loss/La win, and we're at 1 game with 3 to play, and feeling very nervous.

[Krank]

Today is a huge day. Cards' Lance Lynn will face St. Louis native Ross Detwiler. David Freese, who pinch hit last night, is expected back.

Detwiler has great stuff, and has only lost once in a month. If St. Louis can win today, it will be a huge victory and mean a lot.

A loss/La win, and we're at 1 game with 3 to play, and feeling very nervous.

Darrell, I also find it interesting that, if the Dodgers DO continue to keep it tight, the Cards will have to play their last three games against MY Cincinnati Reds.

Now, one might assume that St. Louis, since they NEED to win more than the Reds in that series, will be "more into it" than Cincinnati, but I would counter that the Reds, who so often had great battles with the Cards this year, will see it as an opportunity to DETERMINE who they play in the Divisional Series (IF they end up with a better record than the Nats), will want to beat the Cards no matter what due to the rivalry, AND will be able to determine IF they get home field THROUGHOUT the postseason.

Personally, I would prefer to play Atlanta, LA, or even SF before St. Louis. Rivalry postseason series always make me a little nervous.

[blue2ksr]

Cards won 10-4 today, reducing their magic number to 2.

Beltran hit two out. Great to see that. We need a hot Beltran.

The Dodgers are winning as I type this.

[Darrell KSR]

I heard the Cards score 5 runs...I only got to hear one-half inning on the radio today. I picked a good one

[Catonahottinroof]

Need a hot Beltran and Yadi Molina.

[Lfbj00]

Cards win, Dodgers win. Still separated by 2 games with 3 to play. My Dodger Blue hosting San Francisco, and St Louis hosting Cincy. I never ever thought I'd say this, but....GO BIG RED MACHINE!!

[Catonahottinroof]

Redbirds better the Redlegs 4-2

[Darrell KSR]

And Giants lead Dodgers 1-0 in the 4th.

C'mon, Giants.

[Catonahottinroof]

Cardinals are now 7-6 head to head against the Reds this season.

[Darrell KSR]

Dodgers score 2 in B4 to take a 2-1 lead. Dodgers batting in B5 leading Giants.

[jazyd]

As long as we win, they can't catch us.

and I can't go on Fri, found out I am helping babysit our two grandkids Fri nite and have to open the store on Sat since my wife will be home with the younguns. And I was going to be able to get us two free tickets.

Dodgers score 2 in B4 to take a 2-1 lead. Dodgers batting in B5 leading Giants.

[Darrell KSR]

Dodgers won in the 9th. You know it is bad when I'm listening to their radio broadcast.

I'm not making any plans until it is a certainty, but sorry you can't make it Jazy. I hope the Cards can wrap it up tonight.

[Catonahottinroof]

Only 1 of the 4 needs to go my way. Those are house odds

[Catfan73]

The Reds will start Latos tonight vs. Carpenter. Latos (13-4, 3.52) hasn't been very successful against the Cardinals this year, but he hasn't recorded a loss in 6 straight starts. If Carpenter can keep getting better it should be a good one.

I think the Cardinals will win at least one of these last two games. An interesting stat--if the Reds win today and tomorrow, it would make only the 4th series win in St. Louis since 2003.

[Lfbj00]

I knew I couldn't count on the Reds for anything!!

[Catonahottinroof]

I knew I couldn't count on the Reds for anything!!

Choking when big games are on the line is the Reds hallmark lol

[Krank]

I knew I couldn't count on the DODGERS for anything!!

Fixed that for ya... YOUR Dodgers LOST and that's on them, LOL!

[Krank]

Choking when big games are on the line is the Reds hallmark lol

The greatest baseball team in history, the 1975-'76 Reds, disavow your "truism".

[Catonahottinroof]

You're reaching 37 years back.... What have they done for you lately? 1990? Surely you've noticed the Reds have faded like daisies over the years when the grind occurs.
Maybe it's their time, but recent history lends nothing to support that.

[Lfbj00]

My DODGER BLUE sends Chris Capuano tonight vs. Barry Zito. Tomorrow we send Clayton Kershaw against Ryan Voglesong. Hopefully we send Beckett or Blanton against the Redbirds in LA for the tiebreaker, but I doubt the Reds will help!!

[Lfbj00]

fixed that for ya... Your dodgers lost and that's on them, lol!

No my Dodgers won!!! Just like they did 4 out of 6 against the Reds!! Maybe that is it....the Reds are tanking it because they are scared!!!

[Catfan73]

Choking when big games are on the line is the Reds hallmark lol

You realize of course that you just put the reverse jinx on them?

[Catonahottinroof]

You realize of course that you just put the reverse jinx on them?

1 out of 4 is all I need

[Krank]

You're reaching 37 years back.... What have they done for you lately? 1990? Surely you've noticed the Reds have faded like daisies over the years when the grind occurs.
Maybe it's their time, but recent history lends nothing to support that.

Hey, I have stated many times (well, maybe not HERE, LOL) that the Cards are, easily, the greatest franchise in National League history and the 2nd best in MLB history. I have a LOT of friends who are Card fans and give them mad respect.

Having said that, remember that being a team in a small market (i.e. MUCH smaller than St. Louis, for instance) has NOT been easy since the late '70's, but the Reds have still accomplished some amazing things given the uneven financial playing field.

BTW, I just like to talk about the '75-'76 Reds. I don't have to go back that far... how about 1990 (okay, still sorta far, LOL, but firmly within the era of large market dominance), the only team, at the time (and maybe still? unsure), to NEVER be anywhere but first place, from the start of the season until the end. Winning big games? I'd say they won plenty.

Let me be clear. I believe the St. Louis Cardinals, historically, are one of the greatest franchises in ALL of sports BECAUSE of how well they have done in a MEDIUM sized market. That is a testament to their fan support, primarily, something that I WOULD sometimes criticize Cincinnati for (too much Mike Brown influence in that town, unfortunately), yet there are too many skeletons, starting with Dick Wagner, who broke up the Big Red Machine IMMEDIATELY after free agency rules changed. He didn't even TRY to ride the financial wave the Reds had created, but I digress.

Yes, you are correct that the Reds, in recent years, have done little in the postseason. Yes, you are correct if PART of your sniping is due to how the Reds have generally fared against St. Louis, but you are incorrect about THIS year's team, strictly speaking.

The Reds have had the third most walk-offs in the Majors this year. THAT, strictly speaking renders your initial point without merit. They have won countless games with late inning heroics, walk-offs or not. I know because I have been watching.

Now, if you want to REALLY talk about what is going on with the Reds, recently, it's simple. Their hitting has slumped, as a team. We fans can only hope that it comes back. All year long, someone has taken up the slack when others have been injured, even when Dusty became ill, Speier did a pretty good job. This team has a better, more mature vibe, in my view. They didn't get to THIRTY-TWO games over .500 by choking fer cryin' out loud.

So, yeah, I get your little jab, if you just wanna take a jab, but I like the Reds' extremely good defense over the Cardinals average to awful. I will take our bullpen over yours. I will take SOME of our starters over yours.

I will even take some of our lineup over yours (Votto over everyone, though I am waiting for him to hit a high gear again... not sure if that injury isn't still affecting him), but if you must know, respect meant, I would prefer to play anyone in the NDL before St. Louis, mostly because I don't like the matchup. The Reds, for instance, have a much better record against the Braves and a slightly better one against the Giants.

Make no mistake, though, there are questions right now... will Chapman be completely back to his rested self?... will Cueto get back to dominance?... will Arroyo be good, bad, or ugly in the postseason?... will the Reds, as a team, stop leaving so many on base even though they still win at a high clip in low-scoring games?

A lot of good questions, but all of these teams have plenty themselves, including the Cards. It should be interesting. Good luck!

Peace.

[Krank]

No my Dodgers won!!! Just like they did 4 out of 6 against the Reds!! Maybe that is it....the Reds are tanking it because they are scared!!!

LOL, hey sorry dude... I had been told by a friend, late last night, that the Dodgers LOST and that the Cards had the spot, so I was proceeding with that incorrect info. Good luck!

P.S. are you still ticked that the Big Red Machine made Tommy LaSorda cry himself to sleep every night? Just curious.

[Krank]

My DODGER BLUE sends Chris Capuano tonight vs. Barry Zito. Tomorrow we send Clayton Kershaw against Ryan Voglesong. Hopefully we send Beckett or Blanton against the Redbirds in LA for the tiebreaker, but I doubt the Reds will help!!

I would never bet against Chris Carpenter, even recently coming off the DL, but Mat Latos has been one of the best pitchers in baseball for more than six weeks. Just lettin' ya know, and THAT has been with mostly pizz-poor run support. THAT is the key for the Reds as the postseason approaches.

[Catonahottinroof]

At this stage of the season, everyone has hitting in the playoffs. It's pitching that separates the haves from the have nots. The Reds held serve on the mound very well with Votto's bat gone from the line up midsaeason. Arroyo has faltered a bit. Cueto has been strong all year. Chapman is strong in the pen.
Do they have enough pitching? I don't think so. For the record, the Redbirds don't either :/