Volquez to start NLDS Game 1, Harang Sunday

• Mooney44Cards

  

  http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2010/10/02/volquez-to-start-playoff-opener-harang-going-sunday/
  
  Good move on both parts.
  
  Wish I could be there to cheer Harang on one last time.
• Azubuike24

  

  I agree. This makes a lot of sense. Volquez is the guy I'd want in game 1 too because the Reds HAVE to win one of two on the road. Arroyo and Cueto are more consistent, but against Halladay, you have to almost be perfect and Volquez has the best chance of anyone on the staff to dominate and throw a gem on any given day.
• justincredible

  

  I'm going tomorrow. Gotta go see the big guys last game in a Reds uniform.
• Rotinaj

  

  Bronson should be pitching game 1. Or at least cueto. Not a fan of this move.
• Azubuike24

  

  You have to consider who you are facing. Against Halladay, you have to expect that you need a pitcher who will allow 2 or less runs. Arroyo is great at going 7 or 8 innings and allowing 3 runs, but he really doesn't have the stuff to absolutely shut out a team. The Reds are the underdog, they need a spark, and Volquez could do that. Yeah, he could also allow 5 runs in 2 innings, but if that happens, you are going to lose to Halladay anyway.
  
  I like the move. Save Cueto, Wood and Arroyo for later.
• gerb131

  

  I like move as well although Bronson technically deserves it but I'd rather run Bronson out down 1-0 than anybody else.
• Ironman92

  

  lefties have been killing Bronson have they not?
  
  though Volquez is better in Cincy
  
  versus Philly with games #1,2 and 5 in Philly....I might go
  
  Game 1 Halladay vs Wood
  Game 2 Oswalt vs Arroyo
  Game 3 Hamels vs Volquez
  Game 4 Halladay vs Cueto or Wood (depending on how well Wood did in game 1)
  Game 5 Oswalt vs Arroyo or Volquez (whoever pitched the best in their first start...everyone ready to assist)
• mhs95_06

  I also like Volquez going in game one, but I'd like Wood in game 2. Azubuike said Arroyo is great at going 7 innings and giving up 3, but that is on average in the NL. Against the Phils he'd more likely go 4 or 5 and be lucky up less than 5.
  
  But the Phils may not be the opponent in the first round. If you figure that both the Braves/Phils and Pads/Giants are 50/50 games on Sunday, then I figure that the Phils have just 8/16 chances to be the opponent while the Pads are 5/16 and the Giants are 3/16.
• Azubuike24

  

  Yeah and pitchers like Arroyo don't win playoff series'. They are good over a long season, especially if they can eat innings like Bronson, but they don't win must-win short series'. That why I take my chances with Volquez, and to a lesser extent, Wood. Both are more capable of throwing a gem than Arroyo. That doesn't mean you don't pitch Arroyo, you just don't do it against Halladay, or even Oswalt.
• Rotinaj

  

  I guess well just have to see. I hope Volquez pitches well, i just dont see it happening.
• mhs95_06

  Remember Glavine, Maddux, and Smoltz. Glavine and Maddux usually had more wins during the season, but when the chips were down I'd take Smoltz every time, a power pitcher that had a chance to shut them down, an ace neutralizer.
• Ironman92

  

  How do you explain Pettitte? Frank Viola? John Tudor?
• SportsAndLady

  

  So Dusty set his playoff rotation as Volquez, Arroyo, and Cueto. Hmmm, no Wood?
• Azubuike24

  

  Andy Pettitte has a career 3.90 ERA and his WHIP in the postseason is over 1.33. He has allowed 261 hits in 249 playoff innings. Bottom line, Andy Pettitte isn't a great postseason pitcher. He is known as one for 2 reasons:
  
  1. He played in New York (we all know the media elevates players in big markets)
  2. He was almost always on the best team (a testament to his 18-9 record, yet an ERA near 4)
  
  The Reds are the underdog. The last thing they can afford to do is run Arroyo out there, have him allow 3 runs, go 7 innings and lose 3-1 to Halladay. If that happens, the Reds waste their most consistent starter AND fall down in the series. Bottom line, in a short series, you have to match up your starter against the other starter.
• Ironman92

  

  I'm not on Arroyo's side.....just wanted to hear the reason why those 3 I mentioned have had good success in the postseason.
  
  18-9 with an era under 4 agaisnt the best teams during much of the roid era........that's still pretty darn successful....his not great stuff has kept his team in nearly every playoff game.
• jordo212000

  

  SportsAndLady;505692 wrote:So Dusty set his playoff rotation as Volquez, Arroyo, and Cueto. Hmmm, no Wood?

  
  Man talk about tough luck. I mean I understand, I was talking to a friend about this yesterday (Wood not getting a start in a 5 game series)... but Volquez going in game one when it was only a few weeks ago we were unsure if he'd even be in the playoff rotation?
• mhs95_06

  So we now know the 11 pitchers. Assume Votto, Phillips, Cabrera, Rolen, Janish, Cairo, Bruce, Stubbs, Gomes, Heisey, Hernandez, and Hanigan will be on the roster. That leaves two spots left. Since no mention of these players was made to go to Arizona and be ready, which two do you think will make the 25 man roster against the Phillies:
  
  Nix
  Edmonds
  Francisco
  Alonso
  Corky
• jordo212000

  

  Hopefully Alonso is one of them, and then the last spot is a toss up between Nix and Edmonds. The plus with Edmonds is that he can play 1B too
• justincredible

  

  I'd guess Nix and Edmonds.
• jordo212000

  

  justincredible;506228 wrote:I'd guess Nix and Edmonds.

  
  I'd be fine with that too. Alonso statistically isn't better than either of those guys, but the dude is a hitter
• mhs95_06

  I'll go with Nix and Alonso. Maybe that will make a point to Francisco that he needs to be more disciplined at the plate. I'd say Edmonds needs to go to Arizona to be ready if there is an outfield injury or maybe he'll be more healthy if they make it to the NLCS and/or the WS. Of course Corky and Franciso need to go to Arizona too to be ready.
• mhs95_06

  It's official, the Reds vs. the Phils as Wilson wins the saves title. Anyone know the game time Wednesday in Philly?
• SportsAndLady

  

  mhs95_06;506235 wrote:It's official, the Reds vs. the Phils as Wilson wins the saves title. Anyone know the game time Wednesday in Philly?

  
  It's not set yet; gotta imagine it will be 7 or 8 pm.
• justincredible

  

  I read on redszone that Marty Brennaman says 4pm.
• SportsAndLady

  

  I will be extremely pissed off if it's at 4 pm