Hal McCoy reports that there will be a homerun hitting contest at Great American Ballpark in the near future. Ryan Freel has challenged Adam Dunn. The wrinkle is that Adam Dunn will hit right-handed.
Bet the Mets are glad that Jim Thome didn’t stay in Philly. The way the Phiilies are playing plus Thome would give the Metropolitans some major competition.
Day games are a little slow around here – no biggie. I think the large standard deviation is appealing – I wouldn’t want to read through 300-400 posts for every game.
And Redleg Nation is less than a year removed from 35 posts being a record high for any thread.
We know the bats will come around – but this homestand has been encouraging for me, because of how the starters have performed…this could be a much, much better summer than I’d feared…
Who would’ve thought that with our #3, 4 and 5 starters going and all giving good outings that we would be scrapping to eeck one win out in this series.
Well, there were about 5 throws over to first in between the last three pitches, so I can forgive LaRue for losing track since the at-bat took so long.
Two things I can say for Weathers:
1. He’s not Danny Graves, who wouldn’t give you a heart attack because you always knew what was going to happen.
2. He’s not Scott Williamson, the real Heart Attack Man.
Hal McCoy and Marty discussed the Hall-of-Fame game, and Narron apparently is saying that the lineup will start off with a lot of regulars but most will probably come out after one AB, perhaps before taking the field. They also said something about “adding personnel” for the Cooperstown game.
Screwball is basically a backwards curve ball. It is pretty hard on the arm. Fernando Valenzuela and Mike Marshall were two of the most notable screwball pitchers.
I’ve been thrilled by this weekend…we’ve seen top notch pitching from our 3, 4 and 5 starters, with Milton due back soon…the bats will take care of themselves, nobody can doubt that. But pitching? Who’d have imagined the performances we’d be seeing? Such promising news.
Bullpen meltdowns and errors are a concern, but this weekend has confirmed that we’ve got some great arms in the rotation…
Now, Adam. You know all that talk about solo shots? The fans are just kidding you. It’s alright to hit solo shots. If you were to hit one now, everyone would applaud madly. So go ahead and hit one. Right here. Right now.
The question about the pitching this weekend though is whether it was largely influenced by the same weather factors that also had an effect on the hitting.
It seems like a coincidence that Ramirez, Williams, and Claussen all pitched well on the same weekend.
Well, Ramirez has been pitching well, so not as big a difference for him. Claussen has pitched well, except for typically one horrendous inning around the fifth – he just avoided that one bad inning today.
Chris Hammond. Best choice available under the circumstances. I guess he’ll only pitch one inning max – pitcher’s spot due up first in the bottom of the 11th.
If Milton pitches well, I would guess that he come into the rotation and EZ would be shipped. If Milton gets rocked, I would expect Milton to become a long man until he eases his way back into the rotation.
I can’t believe that the Reds or MLB don’t post it on the schedule. What’s that say about the Hall of Fame game? Why do they even have it if it doesn’t coincide with the induction ceremonies?
The Reds will hit better than this weekend (couldn’t get much worse), but the Phillies staff and pen was very impressive overall. It’s also worth noting that they played the whole series without their starting CF and the last two games without Abreu (back spasms). Should be a good NL East race between them, the Mets and maybe the Braves this summer. For us, a day off followed by the Pirates will hopefully be just what the doctor ordered.
I’d hate to have my best slugger on the bench the day he breaks out of his slump.
The Phillies pretty much shut down all the Reds hitters this weekend. Dunn was the guy who broke up Lieber’s perfect game and was only 1 of 2 batters to get a hit off him. He also had some hard hit balls yesterday.
If he’s 0-for-a week with a lot of K’s and weak groundouts, maybe he sits a game. He’s got some hits and homers, especially against pitchers no one else is hitting, got some hard hit balls, I leave him in the lineup.
I was very impressed by the quality job our starting pitchers did this weekend. Too bad the offense took the weekend off. If the team can get both going at the same time, only the Cardinals can stay with them in the NL Central.
I’d hate to have my best slugger on the bench the day he breaks out of his slump.
The Phillies pretty much shut down all the Reds hitters this weekend. Dunn was the guy who broke up Lieber’s perfect game and was only 1 of 2 batters to get a hit off him. He also had some hard hit balls yesterday.
If he’s 0-for-a week with a lot of K’s and weak groundouts, maybe he sits a game. He’s got some hits and homers, especially against pitchers no one else is hitting, got some hard hit balls, I leave him in the lineup.
Comment by GregD of Indy — 5/15/2006 @ 10:30 am
I’d hate that too — the problem is no one knows when he is breaking out — and it just as easily might not happen.
Other players have shown they benefit from an ocassional off-day. Dunn just might as well.
I’m sure some folks will see the need to take this comment to task — but I said it before and I’ll say it again, this club has a Rick Aurilia shaped void right now.
The sooner Aurilia is back in the lineup — the better it looks to produce runs.
Like it or not, Aurilia is a key component to our offense.
Has anyone else noticed that Brandon Phillips has developed the long loopy swing that he was criticized for when he was an Indian? It almost looks like he is trying to pull the long-ball — instead of a short, quick stroke to pop the ball spraying it all over the park.
I’d hate that too — the problem is no one knows when he is breaking out — and it just as easily might not happen.
He might never break out of his “slump”?:roll:
Other players have shown they benefit from an ocassional off-day. Dunn just might as well.
Some hard hit balls right at people are the difference between a few extra outs instead of a few extra hits. I don’t take Adam Dunn out of the lineup just because people are standing where he lines it.
Some hard hit balls right at people are the difference between a few extra outs instead of a few extra hits. I don’t take Adam Dunn out of the lineup just because people are standing where he lines it.
Comment by GregD of Indy — 5/15/2006 @ 4:30 pm
[Utilizing GregD's technique of inserting assumpstions into statements made by others that just are not there]
….so Dunn has hit nothing but hard linedrives straight at people for all his outs? I thought he had struck out a time or two.
Dunn’s career OPS is over .900 and he’s only 26….there is no readon to believe his best years are not ahead of him.
He’s put up numbers for the Reds that, at his age, no one other than Frank Robinson has ever come close to.
Comment by Bill — 5/15/2006 @ 5:32 pm
And Frank Robinson was (a) rested on oacssion and (b) fielded his position as well as anyone at his time — something Dunn will never ever be accused of doing.
This isn’t Strat-O-Matic — and even in SOM Dunn would clearly be a 4 in LF and at 1B — (or do they have 5’s now in Start-O-Matic, it’s been 30 years since I played).
Bob Castellini is not a patient man. I suppose many of you read the account (in both the Enquirer and the DDN) where Castellini was asked how he was doing after the Reds Sunday loss to the Phillies. “Lousy” was his one word abrupt reply.
Wayne Krivsky knows how to read people and he is well aware that the Reds good start this year may well have raised the ante on Castellini’s early expectations of this club.
He didn’t get to where he is by standing back and letting things play out the way they are gonna. He makes things happen — and I believe that the three game swoon against the Phils had Krivsky explaining a few things to his big boss.
The questions are right there for all to see — the defensive lapses continue; the inconsistent albeit potent offense; the relief corp with no real general.
Look for something to come down within six weeks that changes the way this club approaches the game night in and night out. We have a surplus of guys at a couple of positions and the needs are very clear to see.
My technique is called reading/writing comprehension. I don’t know what you mean, I only know what you write. For example, when you say “the problem is no one knows when he is breaking out — and it just as easily might not happen” what does that mean? To us English speaking folks, you are saying that he might not break out of his slump.
When you read what I said, no where did I say he only hit line outs.
2009 stats: Sarasota 2-1 8 Games 8 Games Started 42.1 IP 4.89 ERA 1.44 WHIP
Carolina 3-2 6 Game 6 Game Started 36 2/3 IP 2.95 ERA 1.09 WHIP
Louisville 2-2 5 Game 5 Game Started 29 IP 2.48 ERA 1.21 WHIP
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The Big Board -- In-Depth Reds Organizational Depth Chart (updated 2/23/10)
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Mercker on the DL.
Mike Burns called up.
Oh dear, not Mike Burns. Is there no one else?
I’m away from a tv or radio. Who’s in the lineup?
López
Encarnacion
Griffey
Dunn
Kearns
Hatteberg
Phillips
LaRue
Claussen
We really need to salvage this game. This has been a rough homestand in a lot of ways.
The Ol’ Lefthander is on the radio today.
Nice. I need to find a radio.
I don’t have a problem with this lineup, but Hatteberg in the 2 spot and EE makes more sense to me.
Hal McCoy reports that there will be a homerun hitting contest at Great American Ballpark in the near future. Ryan Freel has challenged Adam Dunn. The wrinkle is that Adam Dunn will hit right-handed.
Hit and run with Dunn on base and Hatteberg in a full count. Yee-ha!
Boy, when it’s going bad…great play to retire LaRue and end the inning.
LaRue is now hitting .190 . He started last year slowly too, but competition with LLM eventually spurred him to the best year of his career thus far.
Chris Welch was hot over the 2-0 strike call on Phillips.
aah yes, the voice I learned to love the Reds by, the old lefthander!
Myers was caught loafing down the line. He’s lucky the throw was high.
Ohhhh…Kearns almost throws Myers out at first base on a line-drive hit, but pulled Hatteberg off the bag. So no perfect game for Claussen today.
Brandon Claussen has been pretty sharp so far. Let’s hope that Ned Flanders doesn’t show up.
Let’s hope that the Reds remember that they’re supposed to be the top offense in the land. The pink bats hopefully will help wake them up.
What’s the timetable on Rich Aurilla?
Aurilia is ready to come off the DL now, he says, but he is eligible to come off this Friday in Detroit. Just like Milton.
t’s encouraging to see a ball find its way through the infield like that. Maybe Lady Luck will return to Cincy.
No contact made with the pink bats yet. At least by the Reds.
Bet the Mets are glad that Jim Thome didn’t stay in Philly. The way the Phiilies are playing plus Thome would give the Metropolitans some major competition.
Are they going to use blue bats on Father’s Day?
Solo Shot Time?
The pink bats are producing warning track power to this point for Griffey & Dunn.
With the cooler temps, it is going to take a rocket shot to hit one out.
Interesting physics lessons being given by Chris Welch today.
Phillips looks like Wily Mo on those curve balls.
13 straight scoreless innings.
Encarnacion’s a 3b wizard. All he needs to do is harness his arm and he’ll be golden.
There’s the rocket shot we needed. Was that a pink bat HR?
LaRue! There’s something. Solo shot, 1-0 Reds. Now that you mention it, I think LaRue was going to be a pink-bat guy today.
Don’t think we will have a 400+ post today
Is anyone watching the game today….Is Claussen pitching with movement on the ball today?
Day games are a little slow around here – no biggie. I think the large standard deviation is appealing – I wouldn’t want to read through 300-400 posts for every game.
And Redleg Nation is less than a year removed from 35 posts being a record high for any thread.
Nuxhall says that Claussen has a great change-up working today.
We know the bats will come around – but this homestand has been encouraging for me, because of how the starters have performed…this could be a much, much better summer than I’d feared…
It seems that whenever the Reds get an above average pitching performance, the bats go to sleep
Where is the offense? Elizardo and Williams and Claussen are putting great performances out there and getting no support.
Listening to Joe is like listening to your grandpa tell you about the game. Some things you never get tired of
That even sounded solid, 1-1
Well, you can’t require your guy to throw a shutout in order to win. Tie game after Ryan Howard’s pinch-hit solo homer.
Fantastic job by Claussen today. Now they’ll try to push a run across in the bottom of the eighth and give him a win.
1st & 2nd with one out in the 8th, and heart of the order coming up. Pink bats at the ready, no less.
Wow. High drive by Griffey caught. That was close on both ends.
And another linedrive off the bat of Adam Dunn…caught. So close. So who comes in to pitch the ninth in a low-scoring tie game?
It’s Java Time!
Coffey is on pace for a Mike Marshall type of year in relief. This is his 19th outing already. On pace for 81 games and almost 100 innings.
Who would’ve thought that with our #3, 4 and 5 starters going and all giving good outings that we would be scrapping to eeck one win out in this series.
Double play!
Yee-ha – strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double play.
Happy Mother’s Day to any Mothers following along with us this afternoon.
I know it’s mother’s day, but I’m disappointed in the crowd. Less than 20,000.
Lots of warning track power today. Kearns gets in on the action.
Narron may have learned his lesson – no double-switching Dunn out of this game when Coffey came in.
Sure would like to finish this in 9. Phillips still tryin’ Nice hit
Lets hope we don’t see anymore on the middle of the order double switchs this year.
Our on base speed is distracting the pitchers
LaRue wanted to keep batting – stayed at the plate after ball 4, until the ump told to get over to first.
on to 10. This can not get away from us.
Bottom of the ninth, tied game, one on, two out…did LaRue honestly lose track of the frickin’ count?
Another warning track flyout. And this game will have some free baseball.
Well, there were about 5 throws over to first in between the last three pitches, so I can forgive LaRue for losing track since the at-bat took so long.
David Weathers. I hope this ends well.
I’m a pretty forgiving guy, but that one (LaRue losing track of the count) is one I don’t comprehend…but no harm, no foul…
At least he knew it was a 2-strike count, and he didn’t take strike 3 without realizing it.
Weathers in to make this interesting. Good thing he will retire before I grow old and my heart can’t take his antics
Smart move to walk Howard
Two things I can say for Weathers:
1. He’s not Danny Graves, who wouldn’t give you a heart attack because you always knew what was going to happen.
2. He’s not Scott Williamson, the real Heart Attack Man.
Is Bobby Abreu injured? He hasn’t played the past 2 days.
I’m so sick of Weathers.
Remember the last time Weathers was with the Reds, in 1998. He was terrible, ERA over 6.
I think he lulled us into thinking he was a serviceable major league pitcher last year…but it’s clear he’s just hanging on by a string.
This is the guy Narron calls our “closer.”
They should find Jeff Shaw and bring him out of retirement.
I didn’t say to walk Rollins
Whew!!!
Either somebody drill one into the teeth of this cold, damp air or let’s play little ball.
Top of the order. Time to get a run.
Wonder what kind of line-up the Reds will throw out at Pittsburgh in the Hall of Fame game tomorrow?
Another warning track flyout.
Whimper went the Reds’ offense.
Hal McCoy and Marty discussed the Hall-of-Fame game, and Narron apparently is saying that the lineup will start off with a lot of regulars but most will probably come out after one AB, perhaps before taking the field. They also said something about “adding personnel” for the Cooperstown game.
26 K’s the past three games?
For the hitters or the pitchers?
Hitters.
What’s the start time on the Hall of Fame game tomorrow? Louisville starts play before noon.
Weathers out there for another inning. The question is, who comes in after him if need be?
This weekend series really bit the big one, you know.
Winning today will help but overall it stunk.
Leave Weathers out there until his arm falls off.
Does anyone in the majors throw a screwball anymore?
What’s a screwball?
That probably answers your question.
EE – Error No. ???
#11 for EdE, apparently.
Screwball is basically a backwards curve ball. It is pretty hard on the arm. Fernando Valenzuela and Mike Marshall were two of the most notable screwball pitchers.
Do you suppose the pitching coach or catcher ever tell the pitcher that he stinks when they have those conversations?
I’ve been thrilled by this weekend…we’ve seen top notch pitching from our 3, 4 and 5 starters, with Milton due back soon…the bats will take care of themselves, nobody can doubt that. But pitching? Who’d have imagined the performances we’d be seeing? Such promising news.
Bullpen meltdowns and errors are a concern, but this weekend has confirmed that we’ve got some great arms in the rotation…
It breaks right for a righthander and left for a lefthander? I’ll just bet that’s hard on the arm – it’s fighting natural tendency.
Now, Adam. You know all that talk about solo shots? The fans are just kidding you. It’s alright to hit solo shots. If you were to hit one now, everyone would applaud madly. So go ahead and hit one. Right here. Right now.
Marty on the good play by Encarnacion to end the inning: “That’s what you call a redeemer.”
The question about the pitching this weekend though is whether it was largely influenced by the same weather factors that also had an effect on the hitting.
It seems like a coincidence that Ramirez, Williams, and Claussen all pitched well on the same weekend.
On the subject of the screwball, Jim Mecir was the last pitcher to throw it. He retired last season.
Well, Ramirez has been pitching well, so not as big a difference for him. Claussen has pitched well, except for typically one horrendous inning around the fifth – he just avoided that one bad inning today.
Weathers threw 52 pitches in two innings.
Well, he had that about ten pitch fight with Bell, who then got on with the Eddie error.
This would be a nice time for Brandon to go extra bases.
Do you now steal 2B?
I guess Dunn will be moving to first base in the 12th, with the pinch-runner for Hatteberg.
If it goes that far. LaRue with a chance to win the game here…
Was that pitiful or what?
First pitch, no patience…
Is that Ron Jeremy batting for the Phillies?
Chris Hammond. Best choice available under the circumstances. I guess he’ll only pitch one inning max – pitcher’s spot due up first in the bottom of the 11th.
Ryan Howard. 2-1.
Howard=1 man wrecking crew
Interesting move of Eddie to 1B
Encarnacion at first base? Giga-wha?
Somebody needs to hit a game winner in the bottom of the inning for all our mommies.
The pink bats will not have an opportunity unless someone gets on base.
Pinch hit with Bronson Arroyo instead of McCracken!
Here comes Flash Gordon.
Way to work the count Q -1 out
Gotta hit ‘em where they ain’t, Quin-Ton.
Why the ^%&( did we sign Chris Hammond? He’s terrible. We could have gotten someone off the scrap heap for the minimum and been better for it.
You know when your reliever throws ten or less pitches an inning they can come back three games in a row.
Is Father’s Day usually Junior’s big day at the plate?
Hammond has been decent since his bad start. The problem is that he’s the second or third best reliever on the staff.
Let’s see Griffey hit one here for his mom.
Next year, no Hammond, Burns, Mercker, Weathers. To bad we may not see Wagner either
I HATE THIS BULLPEN.
The Ryan Wagner scenario has been a major blow to this team. Imagine if this guy has his act together like he did the year he was drafted.
Everyone say this with me:
THE OFFENSE IS TO BLAME FOR THESE THREE LOSSES.
The offense is to blame for the last two losses.
One run in four innings is good for a 2.25 ERA. If a team requires the bullpen to be better than that, that team is up the creek.
Where’d the bats go?
This vanishing offense is a real cause for concern.
Dunn needs to sit for a game or two. This off-day is coming at a good time.
This is so frustrating — to get great pitching from our starters — only to see the offense meekly dwindle to nothingness.
What do you do — now — with Milton coming back next Friday?
At least we’re not Cubs fans right now.
If it had not been for the 2 out error in the top of the 10th, Howard may have never batted in the 11th so part of the blame should go on that error.
Milton’s fate rest on his performance tomorrow. I would guess Ramirez is the odd man out on Milton’s return.
Can we beat the Pirates in our current state?
The Pirates’ pitching may be the cure for this offense. Haven’t they allowed the most runs in the league?
If Milton pitches well, I would guess that he come into the rotation and EZ would be shipped. If Milton gets rocked, I would expect Milton to become a long man until he eases his way back into the rotation.
Does anybody know if WLW is broadcasting the HOF game tomorrow?
I can’t believe that the Reds or MLB don’t post it on the schedule. What’s that say about the Hall of Fame game? Why do they even have it if it doesn’t coincide with the induction ceremonies?
I’ll be amazed if they play it. There’s a 70% chance of rain in Cooperstown tomorrow.
Seems like there’s been a 70% chance of rain for about the past week — but they have played every game.
Amazingly
Does the ball field at Cooperstown drain as well as MLB fields?
That’s doubtful — I’ve never been to Cooperstown — that’s one of my goals in life that is still yet to be accomplished.
The Reds will hit better than this weekend (couldn’t get much worse), but the Phillies staff and pen was very impressive overall. It’s also worth noting that they played the whole series without their starting CF and the last two games without Abreu (back spasms). Should be a good NL East race between them, the Mets and maybe the Braves this summer. For us, a day off followed by the Pirates will hopefully be just what the doctor ordered.
Dunn needs to sit for a game or two. This off-day is coming at a good time.
Why??
Sorry moms. I mean no disrespect, but those pink bats cursed us. They’ve got to go.
We weren’t hitting before those pink bats.
Dunn is struggling mightily — both at the plate and in the field. Sometimes a day off or two can help to get things righted.
I’d hate to have my best slugger on the bench the day he breaks out of his slump.
The Phillies pretty much shut down all the Reds hitters this weekend. Dunn was the guy who broke up Lieber’s perfect game and was only 1 of 2 batters to get a hit off him. He also had some hard hit balls yesterday.
If he’s 0-for-a week with a lot of K’s and weak groundouts, maybe he sits a game. He’s got some hits and homers, especially against pitchers no one else is hitting, got some hard hit balls, I leave him in the lineup.
The upside is how well the Reds 3-4-5 starters fared against the Phils. Ramirez, Williams, and Claussen had great weekends.
That’s what we want to hear. The starting pitching is beginning to come around.
I was very impressed by the quality job our starting pitchers did this weekend. Too bad the offense took the weekend off. If the team can get both going at the same time, only the Cardinals can stay with them in the NL Central.
I’d hate to have my best slugger on the bench the day he breaks out of his slump.
The Phillies pretty much shut down all the Reds hitters this weekend. Dunn was the guy who broke up Lieber’s perfect game and was only 1 of 2 batters to get a hit off him. He also had some hard hit balls yesterday.
If he’s 0-for-a week with a lot of K’s and weak groundouts, maybe he sits a game. He’s got some hits and homers, especially against pitchers no one else is hitting, got some hard hit balls, I leave him in the lineup.
Comment by GregD of Indy — 5/15/2006 @ 10:30 am
I’d hate that too — the problem is no one knows when he is breaking out — and it just as easily might not happen.
Other players have shown they benefit from an ocassional off-day. Dunn just might as well.
I’m sure some folks will see the need to take this comment to task — but I said it before and I’ll say it again, this club has a Rick Aurilia shaped void right now.
The sooner Aurilia is back in the lineup — the better it looks to produce runs.
Like it or not, Aurilia is a key component to our offense.
Has anyone else noticed that Brandon Phillips has developed the long loopy swing that he was criticized for when he was an Indian? It almost looks like he is trying to pull the long-ball — instead of a short, quick stroke to pop the ball spraying it all over the park.
I’d hate that too — the problem is no one knows when he is breaking out — and it just as easily might not happen.
He might never break out of his “slump”?:roll:
Other players have shown they benefit from an ocassional off-day. Dunn just might as well.
Some hard hit balls right at people are the difference between a few extra outs instead of a few extra hits. I don’t take Adam Dunn out of the lineup just because people are standing where he lines it.
Dunn’s career OPS is over .900 and he’s only 26….there is no readon to believe his best years are not ahead of him.
He’s put up numbers for the Reds that, at his age, no one other than Frank Robinson has ever come close to.
Some hard hit balls right at people are the difference between a few extra outs instead of a few extra hits. I don’t take Adam Dunn out of the lineup just because people are standing where he lines it.
Comment by GregD of Indy — 5/15/2006 @ 4:30 pm
[Utilizing GregD's technique of inserting assumpstions into statements made by others that just are not there]
….so Dunn has hit nothing but hard linedrives straight at people for all his outs? I thought he had struck out a time or two.
Dunn’s career OPS is over .900 and he’s only 26….there is no readon to believe his best years are not ahead of him.
He’s put up numbers for the Reds that, at his age, no one other than Frank Robinson has ever come close to.
Comment by Bill — 5/15/2006 @ 5:32 pm
And Frank Robinson was (a) rested on oacssion and (b) fielded his position as well as anyone at his time — something Dunn will never ever be accused of doing.
This isn’t Strat-O-Matic — and even in SOM Dunn would clearly be a 4 in LF and at 1B — (or do they have 5’s now in Start-O-Matic, it’s been 30 years since I played).
Bob Castellini is not a patient man. I suppose many of you read the account (in both the Enquirer and the DDN) where Castellini was asked how he was doing after the Reds Sunday loss to the Phillies. “Lousy” was his one word abrupt reply.
Wayne Krivsky knows how to read people and he is well aware that the Reds good start this year may well have raised the ante on Castellini’s early expectations of this club.
He didn’t get to where he is by standing back and letting things play out the way they are gonna. He makes things happen — and I believe that the three game swoon against the Phils had Krivsky explaining a few things to his big boss.
The questions are right there for all to see — the defensive lapses continue; the inconsistent albeit potent offense; the relief corp with no real general.
Look for something to come down within six weeks that changes the way this club approaches the game night in and night out. We have a surplus of guys at a couple of positions and the needs are very clear to see.
Speaking of Adam Dunn’s Start-O-Matic card — does anyone out there have it or have you seen it?
What is he defensively and what do they have him stealing and/or taking the extra base?
My technique is called reading/writing comprehension. I don’t know what you mean, I only know what you write. For example, when you say “the problem is no one knows when he is breaking out — and it just as easily might not happen” what does that mean? To us English speaking folks, you are saying that he might not break out of his slump.
When you read what I said, no where did I say he only hit line outs.