Loading ...So I went to last night’s game. Six hours round-trip in the train, an hour walk from downtown to the Stadium, and I’m left with the feeling (wrong, of course, but real) that I put forth more effort than the Reds.
Some notes, after the break:
- Dodger Stadium is very cool. It’s old (built in ‘62), but in very, very good condition. There are TONS of food options and stands (they run through all of them on the DodgerVision before the game, and it takes about 2 minutes). Dodger Dogs really are as good as you’ve heard. I had two. Fantastic. (I’ll post some pics from the game later).
- My seats looked good on paper, but were pretty lousy. Second-to-last row of the lower deck down in the LF corner. It wasn’t far away from the action, but was under the overhang, so I couldn’t see the big screen, the scoreboard, or the flight of any ball hit in the air. Dodger crowds are legendary for late arrivals, which meant that I could move down behind the foul pole, but also that the “no-shows” eventually “showed,” and I had to keep bouncing around. Eventually, I just walked around and watched the game from the concourse.
- Dodger Stadium is very segregated. Each level of the stadium has a separate entrance, so there’s no moving down for a better seat, or even walking around to explore. The upside is that since everybody in the field level has a field level ticket, the ushers don’t hassle you about what seat your’re in.
- My ticket got me free access to all but the $200 seats during batting practice, which was cool. Saw the tail-end of Dunn’s session, but he hit some tremendous blasts.
Now, to the game:
- I’m utterly exhausted by this team – and right when they’re coming to town. I have tix for Saturday, and typically attend at least 2 of the 3 games, but not this year. I just don’t have the energy. Tuesday night plus yesterday just did me it. I probably devoted 15 hours to the Reds over the past 36 hours, and got ZIP in return.
- LaRue is horrific. I have no clue how Freel was charged with an error on that play at the plate. LaRue simply failed to catch two separate throws home in the first what – 3 innings? AND he just dropped the ball coming out of his glove on Furcal(?)’s steal. All his career, LaRue’s been an offense-centric catcher, with a good arm but terrible catching skills. Now, the guy can’t hit, so he’s been annointed a defensive specialist?
- Clayton is awful. No range, and no offensive ability. Yeah, he got a hit, but it was yet another blooper over the second baseman.
- Dunn was lazy again. Furcal hit a single in the 1st. Dunn screwed around picking it up, flubbed it a little, and was surprised when Furcal kept hustling. Somehow no error on the play.
- Maddux took the Reds to school. First, an RBI single (boo, Harang), a successful squeeze, and great fielding. He’s awesome.
- Clayton is very concerned with looking cool. As he was coming off the field after BP, some kid asked him if the team was tired after Tuesday night’s marathon. You could actually see the wheels turning as Clayton pondered, “what would a Cool Guy’s say to that…” After a pause, he said, “Naaaahhhhh, we never get tired.” Small thing, but telling. Especially that little pause.
- Encarnacion played well, which was encouraging. He was carrying this team even more than we knew.
- Narron has to bear some of the blame for this team’s incredible lack of focus and inability to execute. It’s not even that the pressure seems to be getting to them – it’s that they’re not even in the ballpark, mentally.
I think there is enough to complain about Clayton’s production on the field to spare attacking his offhand comments to a kid asking a dumb question. He was probably just to trying to think of a clever response.
Can’t wait for the pictures, Chris.
I just got back from New York, and I had tickets to Tuesday’s Yankees/Tigers game that was rained out. I got to see Monument Park and snapped a few pics, but no game, so I was sad.
Yankees fans have it so easy, though. Reds fans have real problems to worry about. Yankee fans are complaining because A-Rod isn’t good enough. I wish we had such problems.
Coming home from NY last night (last leg of our flight was cancelled because of weather, and we ended up renting a car and driving), I listened to the entire game. Marty mentioned several times that the team was showing “no fire.”
Haven’t gotten to watch the team in the last week, but what a time of year for something like that to be true. They should be showing more fire than ever before.
I, too, have noticed a “lack of fire”…i.e. Dunn’s attitude in the outfield, lack of defensive concentration (LaRue in particular last night). It feels like I am more into the game rooting for this team than they are in playing it. I’m glad to see Junior’s 15 game hitting streak, too bad we have lost so many of those games. This series with the Pad’s is it. If we don’t do well in this one, I think we will just be left wondering about Palmer’s knee and who can stop 85.
Good News: David Wells is not comign to the Reds.
Bad News: David Wells is going to the Padres and will more than likely face the Reds, and we all know how pitchers like to impress their new club. Just hope he fails.
For the whole scoop, click here
Brokedown (to Tom Petty’s Breakdown)
It’s all right if hold a lead
It’s all right if you don’t
I’m not afraid of using Rheal Cormier
Or some crip from Bowden’s new home
There is no sense in pretendin’
The boxscores give it away
Something inside you is feelin’like I do
The ‘pen Wayne is in disarry
Brokedown, go ahead and give up the lead
Brokedown, quality start down the drain
Brokedown, Belisle and Fraklin again
Brokedown, third place is alright
Alright.
(Hope this is OK for open thread. I apologize to music fans everywhere)
GregD, that’s a fair point, to some degree. It was just striking how lame Clayton came across. I guess he could’ve just blatantly ignored the kid (like Bucky Dent did), and it was certainly a throwaway moment, but I thought it was interesting. If Dunn had said it, it probably would’ve come across as funny. Clayton came across as over-cocky and trying too hard.
The Padres got ripped off in that deal, IMO. Kotteras was their number one prospect, going into the year, and was supposed to be ready to compete for the catching job next year. He hit pretty well (845 OPS) at AA, but hadn’t done a lot at AAA in 18 games.
A steep price to pay for 5 or maybe 6 starts.
Is he expected to pitch this weekend? His “turn” is today, but the Padres have Hensley, Peavy, Williams set for the weekend, with Young going Monday. The 5th spot, which they’re presumably going to fill with Wells, doesn’t fall again until next Tuesday.
Interesting: Padres.com is saying they’re giving up, “a player to be named later or cash considerations.”
preach, you obviously don’t watch MLB.TV.
(same snippet of petty every single freaking commercail break. or maybe that is your point?)
Brandon Phillips was almost brought to tears when he hit into a double play in Tuesday’s game. Yea, this losing streak is from lack of effort.
Never seen MLB.TV; but I am grateful that someone sees a possible point to my mindless drivel
But on a little more serious note, does anyone else feel like the whole season comes down to this weekend? That we need to do well (possibly even sweep) in SD and get a little help in the wild card standings in order to have a legitimate shot at the post season? I know we have talked about important series before, but this seems vital to do well right now. The wild card standings can change so quickly that the Pads may not be the team to beat by the time we get them at home (not that our home record is anything to get excited about). I have been hoping, perhaps beyond hope, that acquiring all these mediocre arms would lead to some mind-blowing grand master trade, but I don’t see that happening. Unless we can somehow fuse two or three of these guys together, we may be in trouble. I don’t want to push the panic button quite yet, but I’m certainly inching towards it.
28 games left, its going to take 17-11 at a minimum, 18-10 would be better yet, and 20-8 should win the division. So, these three games do not a season make, but I think a series win would go far to get the bus turned around.
Good to see some others pick up on the lack of intensity by Dunn. Fact is, you’ll never see the guy go all out to get a ball, he’s perpetually stuck in third gear. These are the sorts of plays that go for doubles and triples and can really kill a pitcher. I suppose he learns from the best–Griffey. Countless times over the years when I attend a game, I focus solely on Griff (thinking by zoning in on him I’ll get some magical insight into how CF should really be played). I come away disappointed every time. Dude never takes his hands off his knees half the time. This delayed reaction time is ‘the step’ everyone says he’s lost. This is little league stuff, and goes to show you that major leaguers shouldn’t be emulated much of the time. Thank goodness Narron is an ‘old school’ guy who focuses on playing the game hard ‘the right way’. I guess that’s the tag they slap on all the baseball lifers. I call them ‘yes’ men.
In a roundabout way, you’re kinda saying this is the Reds whole season this weekend. If they don’t get the bus turned around, they’re cooked because the probability of reeling off 15 out of 17 or whatever is asking far more than this team is capable of achieving. This sucks. I shoulda never bragged last Friday to my Cubbie friends about first place. Damn karma got me again!
Last night’s Phl-Was game made me feel a little better about the Kearns-Lopez trade: Felipe drives in two with two outs in the 9th to tie it, DC goes on to win in extras! Hopefully other ex-Reds can pitch in. Rick White blowing a game for the Phillies would be a start.
For a team in playoff contention, the Reds seem to be just going through the motions. I see no desire or fire. It’s very frustrating as a fan to watch.
I was thinking that the team needs a little “Sweet Lou lovin’” and Jerry could dig up home plate with a back hoe and toss it in the bullpen. Problem is, no one down there could find it.
Here’s hoping that the Reds go on one more incredibly hot streak for another 6 weeks or so…..
Sultan, while he definitely has lapses in concentration, it’s a bit much to say that Dunn “never” goes hard after a ball. Like Darryl Strawberry, Dunn’s height makes him look like he’s running slower than he is. Morris’ double in SF the other night – I think Dunn went really hard after that one, but couldn’t get there. Not sure if Hollandsworth, for example, would have.
Maybe never is a poor choice of words, but we probably all can agree that too often there are catchable balls that aren’t caught. All the more reason to move him to first……or right. The Cubs hid Sosa there for years. To me, the weak/glove strongarm defender should be in RF, where flyballs go to die.
Lack of intensity. Lack of desire. Lack of determination. Those are just some of the winning elements that the Reds have lacked as of late.
San Francisco was just pathetic! Way too many runners stranded, and way to many swings at horrible pitches. Just pathetic!
In L.A the club showed some fight but just didn’t deliver the k.o. I wonder if the LA night life got the better of some of em? They just didn’t seem to want it , with so many blown opportunities at hand.
Chris Welsh always comments on the “streakyness” of this ball club. True as a die hard Reds fan, I’ve seen it all year long. We hit the ball likew it’s a freaking pinata then all of a sudden production ceases. This is not the time to be “streaky”. This is the wire… the time that you need consistency. The veteran Jr. seems to get this, he has been the one stable player on the squad during this west coast slide.
And for those that have singled Adam Dunn out for his lack of intensity, he is not alone. He has been the most obvious during this road trip, but he is not alone. Besides the fore mentioned Jr and Ryan Freel and at times Edwin the team has looked like a scene out of your most popular of zombie movies.
I hope the Reds can turn it around, because now it is WIN or DIE!
Atleast us Ohio native sports fans have one thing to be excited about. Buckeye football kicksoff Saturday… and that is the #1 Ohio team that hasn’t let us down! (since Jim Tressel)
Lets Go Reds!