Will Edinson Volquez solve his first inning problems? Will Kyle McClellan ease the pain of losing Adam Wainwright by continuing to be effective? Who will prevail between the two winningest active managers in the National League? Who will be in first place in the National League Central when the series concludes on Easter Sunday?
Okay, will there be any sign of the obvious bad blood between the two teams? Will they imitate hockey? Or just play baseball as Kirk Gibson would say, "balls out."
Tony La Russa was right when he stormed away from a post game interview earlier this month when concern over Albert Pujols lowly hitting was expressed. Pujols is back to normal. The Reds are one of his favorite victims. Pujols with five home runs and 10 RBI in his last 10 games, Pujols has a lifetime .356 average with 43 home runs and 133 RBI in 159 games the equivolent of on season.
New Cardinal, Lance Berkman, has 49 home runs and 137 RBI against the Reds in just 152 games with a .314 average.
Edinson Volquez is 1-1 with a 4,98 ERA in four starts against the Cardinals.
McClellen was skipped by La Russa because rain is threatening to halt the game. Miguel Batista is starting instead for St. Louis.
Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto has played just 44 games against the Cardinals in his career with a ,299 average eight home runs and 20 RBI.
Appropriate to the contentious tone of this series, Fox Sports Ohio has an undercard of boxing planned for rain delays.
Two years ago La Russa accused the Reds of doctoring the baseballs to make them slick for Cardinal pitchers. The Cardinals have asked umpires to check Bronson Arroyo's cap for foreign substances. And then hostilities exploded when Reds secondbaseman Brandon Phillips called La Russa and his team a group of "Whiny Bitches." Early this spring Jonny Gomes was incorrectly, showing delight that Wainwright suffered a serious injury. The incident did not happen as originally reported but some will still hold it against him.
Former Cardinal and current thirdbaseman, Scott Rolen, will sit out the opening game with a sore left shoulder. Rolen and La Russa did not part on friendly terms.
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Cincinnati Sports News and Commentary
About Me
- Gary Schatz
- I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992. I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble. I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.
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