SWEEP - Reds beat up on Cardinals, Carp Controversy

     May 15, 2011 - Chris Carpenter started the third game of the Reds Cards three game series off with his normal complaining. In the past couple of years, some Reds fans have begun to call him "Crying" Chris Carpenter. Crying Carp was complaining about the mound condition, at Great American Ball Park, shortly after he threw a few first inning pitches. However, the condition of the mound did not seem to bother any of the other pitchers in the game. Weird, how that happens?!

     In the third inning, Ramon Hernandez hit a big home run off of Carpenter. Fireworks were shot off from the GABP river boat stacks to celebrate the hit, as are all Reds home runs celebrated. Carpenter said in after game interviews that the smoke, from the fireworks, was a contributing factor to his pitching problems during the game. No other pitchers, that have given up Reds home runs, have ever used this excuse.
    
      Both of these so called "contributing factors" that caused Carpenter's pitching woes on Sunday, can be debunked by simple stat analysis. Lets look at Carps line for the 2011 season so far.

Games Started - 9
Wins - 1
Losses - 3
ERA - 4.95
WHIP - 1.49
Innings Pitched - 56.1
Hits Allowed - 67
Runs Allowed - 35
Earned Runs - 31
HR allowed - 7
BB - 17
IBB - 3
SO - 42
HBP - 3
WP - 1
BF - 251

     To the naked eye or casual baseball fan, nothing probably sticks out as overwhelmingly bad. To the serious baseball fan, there are several stats that jump out as if they have yellow highlighter on them. This season Carpenter's ERA, Whip, Hits Allowed, Earned Runs, and Base on Balls are all glaringly high, in comparison to past years.

     The stats show that the problems are far worse than bad mounds and fireworks smoke. The "real factors" are that Carpenter is up in age, his abilities are diminishing, and  he is not throwing like an ace. Instead of complaining or making excuses for his bad pitching, maybe Chris Carpenter should man up and accept the truth. The problem is that he has been complaining for so many years, he probably doesn't remember how to take actual responsibility.

Pujols hit by pitch update - Coco said in an interview he was not trying to hit anyone. He wanted to get Pujols out because he knew the Holliday and Berkman were on deck. Albert admits that he knew Cordero was not intentionally throwing at him. The issue has been excercised, this room is cleeaarrr!

Great SWEEP of the Cards this weekend.Lets Go Reds!

Thanks all and Cheers from the Cheap Seats.

He Shoots, He Sccooorrreesss! 5.1.2011 Bin Laden Dead

Please watch the attached link before reading my blog. Thanks much.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8j8LpwDo7Q

    
     My article is titled as such because my U.S. Air Force Military American being is grateful this horrible person has been deleted. Yes, DELETED, not defeated. My many Thanks, to the Navy Seals responsible for the final removal of the target.

    
     I want to believe and I need to believe for closure of my war experience. I want to go to sleep at night without the nightmares. I would like to be able to tell my children "the bad man, who helped the jets crash into the big buildings, is no longer a problem." We would all like to live in peace without fear of terrorism. Can we?     

    
     A small part of me has mixed emotions. Do we all finally get to sigh a big breath of relief or will someone else step up to take Bin Laden's throne? How can I or we be reassured this actually occurred? Something in me says this seems all too surreal. In this day and age of political propaganda hopefully it's not another ploy by our government to win popular support, with a year plus before a presidential election.

     Anyone else have thoughts they would like to share?

Sabres 2010-2011 - What a Season It Was!

     Good morning friends, fellow fans, and accidental readers. If you are a Sabres fan you know the season ended last night. Philadelphia came out in the first period with a fire that the Sabres just couldn't put out. The Sabres did get a moral victory as they scored two goals in the third period but it was not enough. The Flyers won in a strong contest 5-2, advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

     I tip my "Fan Hat" to the Flyers, Sabres players, the coaches, fellow fans, and new Sabres owners - the Pegulas. What a great ride this season has been. Hard to believe the season is over and my playoff beard has been shaved off (my face still hurts). Let me be the first to say, "Look out Loretta" for the Sabres in the coming seasons. The future is bright and I look forward to riding the roller coaster all over again.

Reds, Bills, and Devils blogs are forth coming. MLB is moving along, the NFL draft is tomorrow, and my NABA Baseball season starts May 1.  Lets Go Reds. Lets Go Buffalo Bills. Lets Go Devils.

Thanks and Cheers from the Cheap Seats.