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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 3, 2007
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Might as well get this thread started early, so I can be in on the conversation rather than during the game because I have to work..
Now, I am a personal fan of Inter-league play just for this reason: I love playing the Indians. I live in Erie, about an hour and a half from Cleveland, which is even closer than Pittsburgh, though I live in PA. This place is littered with smug, arrogant Indians fans who think their team was placed here from God's devine graces as a gift to the game of baseball. Wins over the Indians bring me unbelievable joy.
Now, onto the series. This series may feature two of the best pitching match-ups in all of the Major leagues this weekend. Aaron Harang v. Fausto Carmona, and Edinson Volquez v. Cliff Lee. In all actuality, the match-up tonight between Cueto and Sowers faces two promising prospects, who have had some struggles but are still solid pitchers, against one another. The Reds are riding high on momentum from their three-game win streak, but Indians' starters haven't allowed an earned run in 6 games!
Should be a lot of fun this weekend.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 12, 2007
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I am a big fan of Inter-League play also. I think that Indians fans think they are the best fans in the world and that there team is unstoppable. Right now both the Reds and the Indians are playing well and unstoppable. I hope the Reds come out this weekend with another 3 wins.
With the pitching tonight I belieave the game can go either way. If Cueto has his stuff and keeps the ball low then I don't see why the Reds woulnd't win tonight. When Aaron pitches I don't see why the Reds wouldn't win either as long as the score 3 runs for us. When Edinson Pitches I don't see why the can't win this one either. As long as the offense gives the pitchers a little help then the Reds have a good chance at winning all 3 games.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 31, 2008
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Janish should definitely be starting tonight. Maybe it the two-hole with this....?
CF - Freel
SS - Janish
RF - Griffey
2B - Phillips
3B - Encarnarcion
LF - Dunn
1B - Votto
C - Ross
Looks about right, switching maybe Dunn and Encarnarcion. Like mentioned, if Cueto's on, we've got this. I remember we absolutely pummeled Sowers a few years ago.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 14, 2008
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i like votto or phillips in the 2-spot. i definitely think votto should be higher than 7th at least. i agree with the three pitchers we have going in this series, it's possible we could win all three if the bats show up. it would be about time for a decent win streak for the Reds, i don't think they've gone 6+ games in the last two years! it's too bad we didn't get to play that last game against the Marlins with the way we had their number.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:May 17, 2007
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I guess I find it amusing that Indians fans can be smug and/or arrogant.
Short memories perhaps of the most popular baseball movie in history, "Major League," which could not have been made without the Tribe's devotion to success. Yuk yuk.
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Reputation:86
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 31, 2008
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I think it's interesting that people find Indians fans smug and/or arrogant, because I am one as are most of the people I know....and we're the most negative people on the planet. The only positive things I can really say is about the starting pitching this year (better than expected) and the defense (but they are major leaguers and should be able to field, no?).
Our bullpen is a mess, our "closer" sucks (thank God he's on the DL), our best pitcher in the bullpen is pulling a Jekyll and Hyde impression while filling in for said "closer", and our hitting his depressing. It's a good thing the pitching has been so good, otherwise the Indians would be fighting the Tigers for the bottom of the basement of the AL Central. You can't win too many games by only scoring 1-2 runs per game. How bad is the hitting? If someone gets on base, I actually don't expect them to score. I make bets to see if he'll even get to stand on third base. Our clean-up hitter hasn't even hit a HR this season. The only thing that's keeping the fans going is the starting pitching and most of us know that it's not going to last. Fausto Carmona keeps walking people and Cliff Lee has to fall to earth eventually. Not to mention Jake Westbrook is due to come off the DL soon and who knows what he's going to do when he comes back.
The games with the Reds are the only interleague games that I'm looking forward too, and that's only because of the Ohio thing. I don't expect a sweep from either team, but I look for a series split (you guys win 2 this time, we win 2 in Cleveland). I guess my point here is that not all Indians fans are smug and think their team is the greatest and deserve to win everything. Who do you think we are, Yankees fans? 
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 13, 2008
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My two cents on Interleague play: I have mixed emotions. I like it for the obvious reasons. We are all baseball fans, I don't think I need to spell them out. What I don't like about it is that annually some teams get to play pansies just because they are "interstate rivals". For example: within the Reds division the Astros get to play the Rangers and the Cards get to play the Royals, 6 games each. Those two A.L. teams have been terrible since interleague play began. And let's be fair, the White Sox have only been decent for about the last 2-3 seasons so the Cubs have gotten a bit of a free ride there. Anyways, that is just my take on interleague play.
Really hope the Reds keep the MO going this weekend!!!
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 24, 2008
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My g/f is a diehard Indians fan so I always get pumped up for these games. I'm going on Sunday with 3 Indians fans and two other Reds fans so that should be hilarious. I do find it funny that they are so cocky when they have the second longest No-World Series stretch.
Here is my line up - I don't think Janish should be thrown into the 2 spot so soon but I wouldn't be opposed if he was. Might light a fire under him which would be sweet.
1. Freel/Patterson
2. Phillips
3. EE
4. Votto
5. Griffey
6. Dunn
7. Janish/Hairston
8. Bako/Ross
9. Pitcher
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 24, 2008
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Oh man, batting Dunn 7th, that's harsh. I think that really says a lot and yet he is getting paid mad cash. Kind of surprised they decided to go with Griff in the 3rd spot but I am glad we have Freel going tonight and I love, love, love the Phillips, Votto, EE triple threat in 4,5,6
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 9, 2008
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CK, are those official or are those just what you think they will be?
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 20, 2006
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It's curious to see that so many people support IL play. Yeah, it's cute to see two teams play each other that don't normally and yada yada yada. But wouldn't it be more exciting to see a World Series featuring two teams that never play?? Also, isn't it frustrating to see that we play the Indians (twice), Red Sox, Yankees, and Blue Jays (combined 87-82) when a potential contender (Cardinals) plays the Royals (twice), Tampa Bay, Detroit. and Boston (combined 79-86). That in mind, let's not forget that because of interleague play, it forces the league scheduling to have us play our division 18 times and all the east and west teams 6 times each. Is it really fair that not only could we potentially have a tougher IL schedule, but we could be competing for a wild card against a team like the Dodgers who play the struggling Padres and Rockies 18 times when right now the NL central has teams playing as well as anybody but we play them 18 times and only play the Rockies and Padres 6.
These are just scenarios that could be avoided if we just played each team in our own league the same number of times as everyone. It would certainly stop any question as to whether the best team is really getting in the wild card.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 20, 2006
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If you're taking bets- I'm betting on CKFresh's version....because I think he recognizes Dusty Baker's complete lack of understanding of how to put a lineup together that has a chance of scoring 4 runs every night.
Griffey wasn't a #2 hitter in his prime, and he sure as hell isn't one now at 39. I'm a big Brandon Phillips fan, but hitting him #4 is an injustice to him, and this team, as is Corey Patterson ANY time he plays and Jay Bruce is in AAA hitting the cover off the ball. Hitting Dunn without protection behind him (all year) has done 2 things very well: gain the thanks of every pitcher that has had the luxury of not having to worry about giving #44 a pitch he can hit, and to help Dunn have the most lopsided Batting Average to On Base Percentage of ANY player in my memory (.200 /.360).
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:May 30, 2007
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How's the weather up there today? Drying out yet? Any chance of more rain tonight?
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