farmer_fran

Great Job by Penny today, we're going to need that in the playoffs.

well, that dp will help so no damage done. Let's get looper in there for the 8th, and get him a 1-2-3 inning.

107 right now.

this is stupid. Penny should not be back in there. We've got a 6-run lead. We don't need to be overworking our pitchers right before the playoffs. I don't care if it doesn't hurt us like it did yesterday I still think it's stupid.

I say bring in Looper for the 7th.

Conine continues to tear up the Phillies.

great accomplishment for Juan.

Mesa is all over the place.

i am an astro fan also. but i wont be sad if the cubbies take it...i am a big fan of wood and prior. I would probably be happy to see the Cubs in the playoffs if the Marlins weren't in it, and the Cubs hadn't dominated us in the 2 series' against them.

I would let Helling pitch the 7th and 8th. Maybe we can even extend the lead a little bit and give Looper an inning or 2.

houston is winning the central. remember that. it will be houston/florida in the nlcs. I hope. The Cubs are scary I wouldn't want to play them in the NLCS.

Ok I was just checking espn's gamecast inning by inning coverage and they have Smitherman scoring twice so it is 8-5.

Ok CBS says it's 8-5 in the Reds Cubs game, and ESPN says 9-5. Anyone know who's right?

Wow, what a great AB by Sea Bass, that is great to see. How great would it be to have Alex get out of his slump for the playoffs.

8-4 Reds Casey Homered.

6-4 Reds

Reds take the lead! 2nd and 3rd. 1 out.

Good Job Reds, now get the lead.

I don't think the Cubs are any more dangerous than the Braves and Giants. Plus, if the Astros make it, who cares? They ALWAYS lose in the first round, we'd never see them, it'd just give the Braves an easier road. If the Cubs make the playoffs they have a huge advantage because of their top 3, and pitching wins in the playoffs, that's why I hope they don't make it. I'd much rather face the braves in the NLCS, than the Cubs.

I kinda have mixed feelings the most important things is winning tomorrow, but I'm really hoping the Astros make it in the central instead of the Cubs, because the cubs are dangerous. I'll be happy if we win tomorrow and the astros win tomorrow. That would mean our magic number would be down to 1 going into the series against NY, and the Phillies would be eliminated.

I agree - it's a glaring weakness. But I don't know if it's worth starting Pavano over Willis or Redman in Game 4 of the NLDS just to get a lefty in the bullpen. I was thinking that maybe we could go with a 3-man rotation for the division series, and a 4-man rotation for the rest of the playoffs. Just a thought because both Redman and Willis pitch well against lefty's. Lefty's are batting .201 against Redman and .202 against Willis. If Jack does decide to go with a 3-man rotation for the NLDS it could fill a much needed void. I feel that the Giants are the best team in the NL and we've got to do everything possible to put our best effort forward.

Lefties don't bother Bonds. He's actually hit lefties a little better than righties this year. Last year too. He doesn't walk as much against lefties, probably because they think they have a prayer of getting him out. That's true, but it would still be nice to have a lefty in the pen just for matchups, I'm not saying it's essential I'm just saying that it is a weakness.

My only worry is we have no one to get out lefty's because let's face it tejera sucks agains lefty's. I'm thinking maybe Jack should use Redman or Willis as our left-handed specialist against the Giants, because we're going to need a guy to put in, in the 7th or 8th inning to face Bonds. For any of the other teams I don't think it will be a factor, but we're going to need a lefty in the pen for the Giants.

If we win tomorrow do the astros have to lose for us to clinch the wild card?

That was a coaching error right there, you don't send your ace pitcher back out there in the eigth inning when he's already at 110 pitches and you have a 6 run lead. I just don't understand it.