Reds are up 4-1 in the 2nd now. 2 runs just scored on a wild pitch, and an error on the catcher!

I wouldn't shut Chapman down completely but I would limit his innings or pitch counts per week.

JR that sounds like the Tribe vs. Texas tonight.

Reds win! Broxton with the save.

Chapman shut down with fatigue
09/11/12 AROLDIS CHAPMAN thinks five day to a week of rest will get him over the fatigue he’s dealing with.

Closer Aroldis Chapman will be shut down for at least a few days with shoulder fatigue.

“A little of bit of fatigue,” Chapman said through a translator Tomas Vera. “For a couple games back, I feel like I haven’t been myself. I felt a lot of fatigue. I don’t think it’s anything major. I just feel weak.”

Chapman has had it before.

“I think it happens to every pitcher,” Chapman said. “The majority of pitchers have this problem.”

Chapman thinks “five days to a week” will be enough rest.

Chapman’s velocity has been down noticeably in his last two outings. He was throwing 94 to his first two batters last night.

“It affects the speed,” he said. “If the muscle is fatigued, you don’t have the strength you want.”

Chapman emphasized he is not having pain.

“No pain at all,” he said. “Just fatigue. Thank God.”

Chapman walked three batters last night.

“I wasn’t really worried about it (last night) as much as I was more worried about his command than I was his velocity,” Dusty Baker said. “Nobody goes out there with the same velocity all the time. I talked to Dr. Kremchek, our medical staff and our trainers. They just said he’s a bit fatigued.

“We’re lucky we got to this point. A guy throws 100 mph, he’s gonna fatigue something sooner or later. He’s reaching a plateau he hasn’t reached before. This is another step towards him learning how to be a closer and learn how to work away from the field to maintain his strength at the same time as keeping it on the field.

Chapman has thrown 67 2/3 innings. He threw a total of 63 last year. He threw 108 in 2010.

“He’s growing into the workload,” Baker said. “We monitor him about as closely as you can monitor a guy. The guy works hard, so when is a point when you’re working too hard or not working hard enough? That’s something you learn through time.”

If the current score in San Diego holds, The Reds will be 10 1/2 up. Giving Chapman a chance to recharge batteries for the post season is prudent.

This 2nd wild card is crazy.

Tough to believe that Philadelphia is now just 3 games out, Milwaukee 3 1/2 and Arizona 4 1/2.


http://espn.go.com/mlb/standings/_/type/wild-card

Reds win, 30 games over .500, magic number is 8.

J.J. Hoover with a save. Reds 2 Pirates 1.

I guess it doesn't matter who the Reds bring in. Talk about contributions. Even the Guys of September are contributing.

I just hope they give Hamilton an opportunity to contribute. Doesn't look like it's going to happen.

joez wrote:I guess it doesn't matter who the Reds bring in. Talk about contributions. Even the Guys of September are contributing.

A team of destiny?

O's win on a walkoff hit by McLouth

Them 'Cats, Champions of the Carolina League

The Hillcats earned the fourth Mills Cup Championship with a 5-4 win. An 11 inning marathon ended with an Adam Milligan sac fly to score Matt Weaver. John Cornely went three strong in relief to get the win. Nick Ahmed went 4-5 on the night to help carry the offense, but Michael Spina had the game-tying hit in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game to extras. Milligan was down to two strikes when he hit a deep fly to right field.

Game four of the Mills Cup Championship series pitted Aaron Northcraft versus Scott Snodgress. Each pitched six and two-thirds innings in their first post-season outing. Each allowed one run and got a no decision. However, game four was a tale of two very different pitchers that ended with the same result.

Lynchburg got the early lead in bottom of the first. It started with a Dan Brewer walk and was followed by a Nick Ahmed double. With runners at first and second base, Tommy La Stella hit a grounder to the left side to score Brewer and give the Hillcats a 1-0 lead. From there, Snodgress was dominant. He retired the next 16 batters he faced.

Northcraft would crack a half inning later in the top of the second. He started by hitting Michael Earley, then Ahmed robbed Mike Blanke of a hit, but it moved Earley to second. The next batter, Courtney Hawkins, came up with an RBI single down the left field line to plate Earley and tie the ball game at 1-1.

The top of the fifth was a tough inning for Northcraft, as well. A walk started the frame and a Northcraft errant throw to first allowed David Herbeck to move to second. A batter later, Keenyn Walker hit a double into the right-center field gap to give the Dash a 2-1 lead.

In Northcraft's sixth and final inning--with two outs--Mike Blanke hit a solo homer. The ball hit the top of the left field wall, bounced and went over the wall to push the lead to 3-1.

With Snodgress cruising in the sixth, he fanned his fourth consecutive batter and the sixteenth consecutive batter retired. However, Brewer would snap the streak with his second walk of the day. Ahmed would cut the lead to 3-2 with an RBI double down the left field line that scored Brewer from first. La Stella grounded out, but it moved Ahmed to third with Chris Garcia at the plate. On a 2-2 pitch, Snodgress delivered a ball the bounced in front of the plate, off of Blanke and went to the left of the batter's box. Ahmed raced home and the 'Cats tied it at 3-3.

The lead didn't last long for the Hillcats. In the top of the seventh, Ian Marshall entered for Northcraft. He immediately gave up a double to Herbek before seeing Herbek sacrificed over by Walker. Matt Chaffee entered and gave up a sac fly to center to Daniel Wagner. The play saw Herbeck score and give the Dash a 4-3 lead.

Taylor Thompson, who was 12 of 13 in save opportunities on the season, entered in the bottom of the ninth. He started by retiring Garcia. Edward Salcedo followed with a blast to center field. Salcedo began a home run trot, but the ball went off the top of the wall and he nearly was throw out at second base. Michael Spina, who hadn't played since September 1st, came up with an RBI double to tie it at 4-4. Matt Weaver would enter on the bases for Spina. With two outs, Mycal Jones walked to put runners at first and second base. However, Thompson was able to settle down and get Adam Milligan to pop out.

The bottom of the 10th began with Thompson back on the mound. He easily retired Brewer, but Ahmed was able to come up with his fourth hit of the game. It was dribbler down the line that Ahmed was able to beat out. La Stella followed with a walk to put runners at first and second for Garcia. After falling behind, Garcia battled back to work the count to 3-2. It was on the second pay-off pitch that he hit a slow roller that moved the runners to second and third. Salcedo would enter the batter's box to face Bryan Blough. However, Salcedo was sat down looking.

The bottom of the 11th began with a sharp ground ball hit to first baseman, Dan Black. After laying out for it, Black tossed it to Blough, but he couldn't find the bag and Weaver was safe. Schlehuber came up to lay down a sac bunt, but it was mishandled then thrown away by Blough. Runners were at first and second for Jones. After some stall tactics, Manager Tommy Thompson called in Steve Upchurch. He gave up a bunt single to Mycal Jones. Adam Milligan, with two strikes, hit a deep fly to right field. Weaver raced home and the Hillcats are your new Carolina League Champions.

The Hillcats send their sincerest thanks to all the fans for a wonderful season. Congratulations to the 2012 Mills Cup Champions.
[A second full professional baseball season under the belt for Edward Salcedo. He repeats at Lynchburg and has a so-so season. Offensively, he's been average. On defense, he's still committing a lot of errors. 80% of the errors have been on his throws. Someone has got to work with him on his footwork. I remember a guy named Aramis Ramirez having the same problems with Pittsburgh. All it took was one season in Chicago to get his footwork fixed and ever since, Ramirez has been a reliable and steady performer on defense. Salcedo just turned 21 so there is still a lot of room for growth.]

ANAHEIM --

A's outfielder Yoenis Cespedes left Thursday's game against the Angels with a sprained right wrist and has been deemed day to day.

Cespedes suffered the injury while sliding into second base in the fourth inning and was replaced in left field in the top of the fifth by Brandon Moss, who began the game at first base. Chris Carter assumed that position.

In his first big league season, Cespedes has endured a handful of injuries. But when healthy, his presence in the lineup is undeniable, as the A's are 70-38 when he plays, compared to 12-22 when he doesn't start.