Sunday, August 18, 2002

The Reds slim hopes Reds get excellent pitching vs Astros in the series (with the exception of the 9th inning Saturday night,  where Hamilton and Graves gave up 6 hits and 5 runs between them --- Hamilton charged with 4 of them).   Other than that,  27 innings, 5 runs, 3 earned (1.00 ERA).  No ground gained on the Cardinals , who also won 2 of 3.  Keeping pace with them while they play Philly and we play Houston is a good thing.    As of now: StL   68-53 --      41(24h) left with: Pit 4(h), Phi 3(h),Cin 7(3h),Chi 7(3h),Mil 7(4h), Hou 7 (4h), Col 3, Arz 3 (h) Hou  64-59  5   39(22h) left with: Cin 4(3h), Chi 3(h), SD 6(3h), LA 6(3h), Tex 1,Col 3(h), StL 7(4h), Mil 6(3h), SF 3 Cin   63-59  5.5      40(25h) left with: Hou 4 (1h), Arz 3, StL 7 (4h), Mil 6 (3h), Pit 7 (3h), Chi 7 (4h), Phl 3 (3h), Mon 3 Wild Card LA   71-53  --  38(22h) left with: Fla 3(h), Atl 3(h),Arz 6(3h),Hou 6(3h), SF 7(4h),Col 6(2h), SD 7(4h) SF   66-56  4    39(22h) left with: Fla1, NY 3(h), Mon3(h), Col 6(2h), Arz7(4h), LA7(3h), Mil3, SD 6 (4h), Hou 3(h) Hou 64-59  6.5 Cin  63-59  7 The Reds have their last 26 games of the season against the Brewers,Pirates, Cubs, Phils , and Expos (half at home), so their next 7 against Houston and Arizona, 6 of those on the road,  are HUGE.  After that ,  there's 4 at home against the Cardinals and 3 at St.Louis,  then the final 26.   Getting swept in Colorado,  and then at home by the D-Backs were hugely damaging to the Reds' chances.  With 2 of those 3 in Cincinnati were against neither Johnson or Schilling,  the Reds realistically lost 4 games in the standings (should/could have won 4 of those 6),  and been 1.5 back and 3 in the wild card instead of 5.5 and 7 The Reds have to lose no more ground by their series with  the Cards,  and preferrably,  gain a couple during their upcoming week in Arizona and Houston while the Cardinals play in St.Louis vs Pittsburgh and Philadelphia (not likely).  If they somehow can, wining 3 of 4 in Cinci will still laeave them 3.5 back with 3 left in St. Louis.   Yikes!  The only hope for some grace after that is that the Cardinals will have 7 against Houston, 3 IN Colorado,  and 3 with Arizona among their final 27 games. Another goofed up, out of sync,  set of comments (first 3 comments here) really belong to the  The West Wing Bias? post   7:08:58 PM