The Thursday Morning Rush for September 2, 2010

It's Thursday September 2, 2010....

THE GREAT EIGHT: The Reds beat the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday night 6-1 and took an eight game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals, who lost in the afternoon to the Astros.

RALLYIN' REDS: The Reds trailed the Brewers heading into the seventh, but then Miguel Cairo singled in pinch-runner Brandon Phillips with the tying run.  Ryan Hanigan came on as a pinch hitter and hit a three-run homer.  Then Scott Rolen singled in two more runs. End of story

CHAPMANIA PART 2: Aroldis Chapman pitched the seventh inning for the Reds.  He retired all three batters he faced, two on strikeouts.  He hit 103 mph twice in the inning.  And he notched his first big league victory.

AND IT SPILLED OVER: The Reds big inning followed Chapman's performance and perhaps that made a difference.  Milwaukee Ken Macha thought it was a factor. "He comes in and pitches an inning and energizes the crowd, everybody" said Macha.

IT DIDN'T INSPIRE THE CROWD: The Reds drew more than 19,000 fans on Tuesday. Wednesday, the crowd was reduced to 16, 412.

FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET: Aroldis Chapman threw pitches Wednesday recorded at 103.9 and 103.8 miles an hour. Those are the fastest pitches thrown in the major leagues in the last three seasons.

IF I RAN A RADIO STATION: I'd promote Aroldis Chapman because "he throws at 103.9...Just like 103.9 FM".  Hey it wouldn't be the worst FM promotion you ever heard.

MAGIC NUMBER IS 23:  The Reds reduced their magic number to clinch the pennant on Wednesday and the Astros further reduced it on Wednesday afternoon with their win over St. Louis

MAGIC NUMBER? I had three people come up to me Wednesday and asked what this "magic number stuff is all about."  I don't blame them for being confused.  It's something we haven't had to deal with in Cincinnati for many years.  But the MAGIC NUMBER is any combination of Reds wins and Cardinals losses that total 23, in this case.  When the clock strikes 23, the Reds are NL Central champs and the Cards turn into pumpkins.

TOMORROW'S BASEBALL LESSON: What is the triple crown?  I've been asked that question the last few days as well.

NOW ONTO ST LOUIS: The Reds are off on Thursday and begin a three-game series in St. Louis on Friday. "There's more pressure on them than there is on us" said Bronson Arroyo. "So we can go in and play good baseball. Try not to get in any kind of scuffles, and hopefully leave one game better."

AWESOME AUGUST: The Reds had the best August in major league baseball with 19 victories and only 8 losses.  They were 13-4 after they got swept by the Cardinals.

SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER: They're unbeaten in September...now 1-0.

I'll end it there. Have a great Thursday

Popo